《The Support Ate it All》 Chapter 42: Duel Battle (4) Chapter 42: Duel Battle (4) Go Hyeon-woo was watching the duel battle from the spectator stands alongside Seo Ye-in and Shin Byeong-chul. He let out a brief exclamation of admiration. Wow. That is truly a remarkable technique. The martial arts practiced by Go Hyeon-woo were also closely related to the wind, so his insight into the flow of the wind was better than that of others. He immediately noticed a swift and powerful flow near Kim Hos hand. However, even he could not read it perfectly until what happened afterward. Seo Ye-in was also unusually focused on the duel with her eyes wide open. Whats that? Whats happening? Only Shin Byeong-chul was completely at a loss and unable to grasp the situation. Go Hyeon-woo was about to explain as best as he knew but he suddenly recalled a past incident. Heh, Im not telling~. Lets leave it as a surprise for tomorrow Haah, the principles of the martial world have fallen indeed Are you curious? I am. How did he suddenly get attacked by a stone? Ill tell you after it ends. Oh come on, really? This must have been how Shin-hyung felt back then. Go Hyeon-woo laughed joyfully. Kwak Seung-jae and the third-year students had more experience, so they saw much more but they too hadnt fully grasped the situation. Dang Gyu-young had a high understanding of hidden weapons so she was closest to the truth. Wind magic, isnt it? As soon as the duel started, Kim Ho launched a highly compressed stream of wind. He used this wind to strike a stone and then guided the struck stone to accurately fly towards Kwak Ji-chuls face. She understood it in her head, but frankly, it was unbelievable. Hitting a small target from a distance is basic, but using the hit target to strike another?Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only This was no easy feat even for Dang Gyu-young. Naturally, the question that had been lingering before surfaced again in her mind. Is he really a first-year student? Ugh Kwak Ji-chul who was struck in the face by the stone struggled to regain his senses for quite some time. At this point, the duel was essentially decided. If it had been a real battle, he would have died several times already. However, Kim Ho stood leisurely at his spot and just waited. As if he was saying that the first hit was just a taste, and the real match was just beginning. Damn it What was that? Another trick? For Kwak Ji-chul, the participant, it was a deeply mystifying experience. For a moment, his vision flashed with light and he barely managed to keep his consciousness from fading away. If it werent for the armor he borrowed from his senior, he likely would have been knocked out. Kwak Ji-cheol, who was desperately trying to maintain his posture, saw Kim Hos hand move. Fearing that he would get beaten without being able to do anything again, he hurriedly gathered mana to cast a counterspell. The situation was dire, but his spellcasting was quick. [Earth Cluster] Small and large stones scattered on the ground began to move as if pulled by a magnet towards a point in the air, clustering together to form a large ball. The spell fused the earth into a ball that was useful for both attack and defense. Kwak Ji-cheol maneuvered the ball to protect his front. In the next moment, with a sharp snap! a stone flew off. It was obvious that it had been launched by that guy. When Kwak Ji-cheol lightly brushed the Earth Cluster with his hand, the ball began to rotate faster. One by one, the clustered rocks shot out. Kim Ho, walking as leisurely as if on a stroll, passed by the incoming projectiles. The look he gave seemed provocatively challenging, causing Kwak Ji-cheol to grit his teeth in anger. Lets see how long he can keep up this attitude. The emerald embedded in his staff shone brightly. As the stones gathered, another [Earth Cluster] was formed. The quality of his equipment was indeed remarkable. Wrapped in the gear of the second and third-year level, any spell he cast was significantly faster and more powerful than usual. Normally, maintaining two [Earth Clusters] would have been difficult, but now he could handle them with ease. With this level, even three would be possible. And just like he had guessed, he easily completed a third ball. Three Earth Clusters rotated and they started firing stones like a machine gun. Tutututututu! Yes, this is it! The sense of wielding enormous power. The awareness that this strength was borrowed from others began to fade gradually. Anyone can see that its a third-year golem; what will people think? It wouldnt be much help in boosting the prestige of the Emerald Magic Tower. I understand. Ill try to win without the golem. And overwhelmingly Yet now, he was being overwhelmingly beaten. Using the golem to win would be just breaking even. But what if he held back and lost in the end? The Emerald club would become a laughingstock for years to come. And he, as the protagonist of the replay, would be too. Then theres the expulsion. A dreadfully scary word. That must be avoided at all costs. Alright I admit youve got some skills. But Ill be the one laughing last! Just when Kim Ho, who had been swinging punches in pursuit, suddenly kicked the ground and retreated. Boom! A tree trunk-sized wooden fist then crashed down in his place. The stones on the ground shattered into smaller pieces, scattering in all directions. The giant wooden golem. Its upper body was abnormally large compared to its lower body, and the hands were especially large. Oh, so thats the golem? What, youve never seen one before? Shin Byeong-cheol asked, to which Go Hyeon-woo nodded, his eyes still fixed on the wooden golem. Yes. Ive indeed seen many firsts since enrolling at Dragon Slayer Academy. But I thought golems were made using elements of the terrain Could I be mistaken? Why had a wooden golem emerged in a terrain where not even a single blade of grass, let alone a tree, was visible? Shin Byeong-cheol initially considered retaliating against Go Hyeon-woo for his irritating behavior but decided instead to explain. What you know is correct, fundamentally. But if you rely only on the terrain, you end up helpless when theres no material available. Thats why golems are prepared in advance like that. A golem refined with high-quality materials, extensive time, and layered with countless spells. Far more powerful than those summoned on the spot. And this wooden golem was certainly not something a first-year could refine. If that were the case, the promising star of the Magic Tower Association would have been Kwak Ji-cheol, not Hong Yeon-hwa. It made sense why Dang Gyu-young had immediately cursed upon seeing it. Hey! You shameless bastards! This is not right! Mok Jong-hwa did not respond and was only looking forward. Kwak Seung-jae wore a complicated expression as if he hadnt expected Mok Jong-hwa to go this far, but there was nothing he could do at the moment. Dang Gyu-young pondered briefly. Should this be stopped? Can that thing even be defeated? Only Dang Gyu-young knew that Kim Ho had learned [Inferno Fist]. But the Inferno Fist was a strictly prohibited skill. It couldnt be used in an official setting like this. The replay was ongoing, and Kwak Seung-jae from the disciplinary committee was watching the battle intently with sharp eyes. This meant that the situation had to be resolved without the use of the inferno fist. I see the kid looks fine for now When she looked at Kim Ho, he appeared as calm as ever. His body was constantly in motion as he dodged the golems fists. Dang Gyu-young decided to watch a bit longer. If Kim Ho took even a single hit, she would have to step in. Boom! A heavy wooden arm swept across the ground. Then, the other wooden hand, clenched into a fist, slammed down. Despite its large and heavy body, the golems movements were agile. That weight combined with that speed. Even one hit would result in immediate defeat. A slow smile crept onto Kwak Ji-cheols lips. Think its just the golem? Try dodging this. Tututututut! The Earth Cluster, which had stopped moving, began to rotate again. Kim Ho was now busier than before as he was dodging the golem while simultaneously avoiding the flying rocks. [Kim Ho 100% vs Kwak Ji-cheol 74%] Even amidst this, the fact that his health hadnt dropped from 100% was commendable. It meant he had dodged every single attack without fail. But the question was, how long could he keep this up? While the golem could last indefinitely, his energy was finite. As Kwak Ji-cheol accelerated the Earth Cluster, the ball began to spin even faster. At that moment, Kim Ho looked directly at Kwak Ji-cheol and waved his hand. A strong wind blew from somewhere, forcefully pushing Kwak Ji-cheols body. The latter then crashed into the rapidly spinning ball. Aaaaaaaaagh! Chapter 1: Reincarnation Quest (1) Chapter 1: Reincarnation Quest (1) I moved forward without hesitation. A tremendous number of monsters filled my sight, swarming towards me, but I paid them no heed.Updated from As the monsters approached closer, the black knight at my right reacted. He smoothly drew his dark greatsword and launched a massive sword strike. Swoosh! Crack! The monsters where the slash passed were obliterated without a trace. Above the knights head, a small status window floated. [Serene, black knight] [Graduate] [Rank: S] Following suit, the mage on my left side started chanting a series of spells softly. Soon, countless magic circles appeared above the monster horde, causing a series of explosions. Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom! [Hong Hyun-ah, Ruby Tower Master] [Graduate] [Rank: S] Thanks to the efforts of these two S-rank characters, the path was cleared. And I continued on my way. There were relentless attackers who still refused to give up and were coming at us from all sides, yet they were all repelled and annihilated before they could even get close. There was a priestess walking right behind me. It was all thanks to the powerful protective shield she maintained. [Lee Seo, Saintess] [Graduate] [Rank: S] In addition to this, if you look at the other party members, they were all plastered with S ranks as well. In a sense, it was all natural for the monster horde before us to give way before our power. As the pesky flies were swept away, the ruined temple came into my view. I kicked open the half-destroyed main gate and walked inside. In the center of the temple, there was an altar, and on it lay a gem emitting a sinister red light. I carelessly picked it up and tossed it over my shoulder, and a woman suddenly emerged from the shadows to catch it with utmost grace. Sharp fangs were protruding from the corners of her mouth. [Carmilla, Last Vampire] [Graduate] [Rank: A] Flash! The gem that Carmilla caught emitted an explosive radiance. It gradually shrank in size and turned into a red mist before it was completely absorbed by her. Having absorbed the power of the gem, Carmilla opened her eyes. [Carmilla, Vampire Queen] [Graduate] [Rank: S] I nodded in approval as I witnessed the scene. This makes the 1,000th one. MMORPG Academy In this game, players grow through numerous incidents and accidents during their time at the academy. After graduation, they are tasked with subduing various boss monsters, including dragons, on the front lines. In this game, my role was that of a support. Why, among the many classes, did I choose to be a support? It was because this role was closely linked to my favorite content in the game. Hero Cultivation. I would take a first-year newbie NPC, freshly enrolled in the academy, and develop them into the strongest graduates and then into S-rank heroes. And the support class was the best fit for this task. Though It was a bit difficult in the beginning. It is not easy for the player himself to become S-rank, let alone elevate an NPC to S-rank. However, I poured everything I had into it and eventually succeeded in raising one, then two NPCs to S-rank. As the number of heroes under my command grew, so did my expertise and the pace of my work. At some point, other players began referring to me as the S-rank Hero Factory. At the same time, my own power also grew stronger. My class remained that of a support, but as I became interested in and delved into the classes of the heroes I was raising, I unexpectedly became an expert in all kinds of fields. And so, [Carmilla] who just achieved S-rank was my 1,000th hero. . A thousand S-rank heroes under my command. The skills I learned while nurturing them numbered in the thousands. Number one in the integrated rankings. The strongest support. That was me. But even someone like me had some worries Theres a lack of content. I had frequented the academy hundreds of times and nurtured a thousand heroes. Among them were knights, warriors, mages, shamans, priests, explorers, alchemists, blacksmiths, merchants, and even farmers, coachmen, and fishermen. All kinds of professions were included. Having raised all of them to S-rank, I found that there was nothing left. To be more prcise, all that was left were ordinary friends who were duplicates of the heroes I had already raised. Should I raise the duplicates too? There are already many duplicates. But isnt that better than doing nothing? While I was seriously thinking about this, a note-shaped icon flashed in the corner of my vision. This basically meant that an important notification had appeared. [You have accomplished a great feat that no one else has before.] [1,000 S-rank Graduates!] [You can now undertake a special quest.] Prevent the worlds destruction. Difficulty: EX-rank !!Caution!! This is a Reincarnation Quest!! [Accept/Decline] Inventory 5 silvers As soon as I finished checking my status, a message popped up as if it had been waiting for me. [Tutorial I] Objective: Survive for 10 minutes. Reward: Dragon Slayer Academy New Student Kit [Time Remaining 9:56] Without giving me a moment to catch my breath, the tutorial quest was thrust upon me. The goal was to stay on the run for 10 minutes. Usually, the tutorial would involve surviving 10 minutes on a beginners training ground among the lowest-tier monsters, like goblins or trolls. However, my current location was in the middle of an unknown forest. Boom! Thud! As soon as I thought of that, heavy footsteps rang out. The sound of trees cracking and breaking added to the commotion. Soon, a large monster emerged, tearing through the underbrush. An ogre already? Grrrrr The rank of an ogre is between C and D. This was excessively high for a tutorial. The creature was holding a club as big as a human body in one hand. As soon as our eyes met, it swung the club at me without hesitation. I quickly moved to the side, and the club, with a chilling whoosh, embedded itself in the ground. Boom! I ducked to avoid the club as it was swung horizontally. As a C-D rank monster, the ogre was so strong and agile that I couldnt be compared to it in terms of physical abilities. Still, the ogres movements were monotonous, so if I could anticipate its moves well, I should be able to dodge them. Id like to take it down if possible. After all, defeating something youre not supposed to usually yields greater rewards. But the disparity in physical abilities seemed too vast to overcome Should I at least give it try then? [Copy-Trait] For a solo support struggling to learn proper attack techniques, this was like a ray of hope. It was a technique that literally copied the abilities of the opponent. The skill [Copy-Skill] replicated opponents skills. While [Copy-Trait] copied their traits. However, there were some restrictions. I had to witness the opponents skill or trait in action and correctly identify its name and rank. That was why I had been dodging the ogres attacks until now. From what I could estimate, this creature possessed C-rank traits. [Activate Copy-Trait] [Registering the targets Trait Super Strength (C) in the slot.] Copy-Trait[1/1] 1. Super Strength (C) A surge of power flooded through my body. The ogre must have sensed the change in my body as it grew confused. But that lasted only for a moment, and it resumed swinging its club wildly. I deftly dodged its attacks while closing in. Thump! I landed a punch deep into its abdomen. Once again, I deftly twisted my body, and the club whooshed past me, missing by a mere papers width. Then, I drove another deep punch into the ogres abdomen. After repeating this several times, I clicked my tongue softly. Tsk. The strikes felt solid in my hand, yet they failed to inflict any serious damage. Ad when I checked the remaining time, [Tutorial I] Objective: Survive for 10 minutes. [Time Left 06:03] It was already nearly halfway through. With enough time, I would have pummeled it all day to defeat it, but unfortunately, the tutorial was about to end soon. And then, at that moment, ROOOOAAAAAAR! The ogres face became pale, and it trembled as if it was scared of something. Then it hastily turned its back to me and fled the scene. The ogre was not the kind of monster to flee after taking just a couple of punches. So why did it react like that? Just as I wondered for the reason, GUOOOOOOO! A deafening roar erupted overhead. As soon as I raised my head to look upward, a huge flying object whooshed past. GRAWRAWRAWRA! The roar sounded again. This time, I could clearly see the identity of the flying object. It was the strongest creature in the game and an S-rank boss monster, The dragon. And not just one, but two of them. Chapter 2: Reincarnation Quest (2) Chapter 2: Reincarnation Quest (2) The creature covered in blood-red scales was known as the red dragon, while the one with a dark blue body and three horns on its forehead was the blue dragon. Each one of them possessed the element of flame and lightning, respectively. And now that I had no means of resistance, these dragons were akin to flying natural disasters. Perhaps I should say that it was a silver lining in an otherwise dire situation. The two of them seemed more interested in attacking each other than in paying any attention to me. Grawrawraw! Guooooo! Every clash between the two dragons sent shockwaves throughout the area. I quickly hugged a thick tree nearby to brace myself. It was a very uncomfortable experience to be rocked back and forth by the shock waves, yet a look of excitement was spreading across my face. This is an opportunity. And not just any opportunity, but a golden one that might never come again. How often does one get to witness two final boss-level monsters fighting right in front of them? If I use [Copy] now to acquire their powerful traits, it will be helpful for a long time to come. ! The tide of battle was turning against the red dragon. With each clash, it was receiving one-sided injuries. Just moments ago, the blue one grazed past and left long claw marks on the red dragons wing. Sparks of blue lightning crackled from the wound. The red dragon roared in pain. Guooooo! Are you angry? Then use your magic, just once. As if hearing my thoughts, a red magic circle appeared near the redo dragon, unleashing dozens of fireballs at the blue one. The latter didnt bother to dodge or defend, as it took the full brunt of the attack. Yet, astonishingly, there wasnt a single scorch mark on its body. Perfect. I almost shouted in joy. This is because I met the conditions to use [Copy]. The trait activated when the blue dragon took the magic attack head-on was [Elemental Resistance]. This was a trait that greatly reduced the damage taken from all elemental types such as ice, lightning, and wind, and since it was a dragon, its rank was naturally S. [Activate Copy-Trait] [Registering the targets Trait Elemental Resistance (S) in the slot] Copy-Trait[1/1] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) Since I only had one slot available, I had to relinquish the [Super Strength] Trait I copied from the ogre earlier. Still, it was an S-rank rather than a C-rank. I easily made the decision to discard the former and switched to [Elemental Resistance]. Now, its time to leave. Ive seen everything there was to see. The slot for [Copy-Skill] was still empty, but it would be pointless to steal a skill from dragons. The dragons were primarily using high-grade magic, which required an equivalent amount of mana power, meaning that without a high-grade [Core], those skills would be unusable for me. So, without any regrets, I decided to leave the scene. Guooooo! The red dragon, who was on the receiving end of the attacks, seemed to decide that this could not go on and abruptly retreated with a powerful flap of its wings. It opened its jaws wide and then sucked in the surrounding air and mana at a frightening speed, causing its belly to swell like an inflated balloon. It seems to be preparing for a final move. The blue dragon responded in kind as it began gathering mana around the horns on its forehead. A huge sphere of lightning began to grow in size, crackling with energy. And there I was, watching from below, when I realized something important. They were both preparing for their most powerful blow. The mightiest blow a dragon can deliver? That would be its dragon breath. And what would happen when two breaths of different elements collided? They would clash and cause an explosion. Then what about me who was standing below? Im going to get caught up in this, right? A wise person would have already been running at full speed upon realizing this. The farther you got away from here, the greater your chance of survival. But I was not one to die so easily. Again, my experimental spirit kicked in. After all, my [Elemental Resistance] was S-rank. The color of the pin varied with each grade, and the one he produced was the same white color as the one I had on my uniform. It meant we were in the same grade. With an even more cheerful expression, he continued to introduce himself. My name is Go Hyeon-woo. We might be in the same grade, but Im probably a bit younger than huyng. Feel free to speak casually to me. Sure. Im Kim Ho. Kim-hyung, huh? Since weve met like this, why dont we travel together? Thats fine by me. It wasnt a bad idea for me. On the way, I considered that encountering monsters would be a needless waste of time. Fortunately, this Go Hyeon-woo had a sword, so it seemed sensible to ride along with him. I observed Go Hyeon-woo, who was leading the way, with increased attention. From his stride to every minor movement, there was a remarkable restraint. This suggested he had undergone grueling training over many years. Hes worth raising. At first glance, he appeared quite strong. With such potential, he could reach an A-rank on his own, but with my help, achieving S-rank seemed entirely feasible. Perhaps even beyond that. There was another thing that stood out. Around his waist hung a cheap iron sword, the kind one could find anywhere, and on his back, he carried a long, thin object tightly wrapped in cloth. Judging by its length and thickness, it was likely another long sword. Is that a long sword on your back? Youve seen right. Its a sacred artifact of our sect. Why is it wrapped up so tightly? It was not just wrapped in cloth but also heavily secured with iron chains, almost as if it were sealed. It seemed as if he had no intention of using it. Go Hyeon-woo smiled bitterly and gently stroked the iron sword at his waist. Regrettably, Im not yet qualified to unseal it. Until then, this iron sword remains my companion. Is that so? But worry not. So far, this sword alone has been more than enough. Of course, Im not sure how it will fare at the Dragon Slayer Academy, haha. His confident declaration suggested he had considerable skill. Go Hyeon-woo pointed to the place I passed by and asked. By the way, Kim-hyung, did you come from over there? Yes. Why do you ask? Just now, I saw two dragons flying around that area. They were there until a moment ago. Theyre gone now. Oh, seems Im a bit late. I had hoped to catch a glimpse of them as I passed by. A deep sense of regret crossed Go Hyeon-woos face. Then, as if struck by a thought, he tilted his head. Did you see anything at that place, Kim-hyung? I saw as much as I needed to. Oh, how was it? I portrayed the battle between the two dragons as realistically as possible, adding just about 2% of embellishment to the tale. Go Hyeon-woo listened with eyes shining like a child hearing tales of heroes valor. And then, in the end, they started ripping into each other with their breaths. Breaths? What are those? Put simply, theyre like secret techniques or ultimate moves. Ultimate moves! Indeed, that must have been the massive explosion I saw earlier. Go Hyeon-woo nodded thoughtfully. Then, seemingly struck by a new question, he asked again. So, Kim-hyung, did you witness this breath from a fairly close distance? If you call it close, yes, I did. Why do you ask? Its just that for an attack that caused such a huge explosion, you seem remarkably unscathed. It was definitely a point worthy of raising questions. If I had been close enough to witness two dragons exchanging blows and even their breaths, I should have been affected to some degree. Then how come there wasnt a single scratch on me? In such situations, its beneficial to keep my cards hidden. I have a trick or two up my sleeve, just like that long sword on your back. I see. They say the world is teeming with mighty warriors, much like grains of sand. And yet, here I am, already crossing paths with you, Kim-hyung. If the chance arises, Id like to ask you to teach me a thing or two. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. For now, lets go. Were going to miss the train. Oh, look at me losing track of time. I completely forgot. Lets hurry. Go Hyeon-woo took the lead with energetic strides. Chapter 3: Train to the Academy (1) Chapter 3: Train to the Academy (1) At , various worldviews were intertwined. There could be a medieval fantasy city with swords and magic, and just a step away, you could find a martial arts world. And then, if you shifted your gaze slightly, modern buildings would catch your eye. Therefore, it wasnt strange that the platform in front of us was made up of ancient-looking pavilions. Fortunately, we made it in time. Its all thanks to Kim-hyung. There was a reason why Go Hyeon-woo praised me; he wasnt particularly talented at finding his way. On the other hand, I just had to follow the quest arrows, so there was no chance of us getting lost. Still, this guy was helpful. Go Hyeon-woo dealt with minor monsters we encountered on our path, so it wasnt a loss for me. The train had already arrived and was waiting on the platform, and I could see students in school uniform coming and going. We approached the station attendant. He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, with an unexpectedly full head of hair for his age. Moreover, his hair was so well-kept that it gleamed and swayed neatly. Could that be a wig? With those doubts in mind, I handed over my ticket. The station attendant checked the tickets and looked us over before asking. First year? Yes. First-year students should board the carriages from number 1 to 10. Thank you. As we scanned the series of carriages, we soon spotted one marked with the number <10>. The moment we stepped onto the train, a notification message popped up. [Tutorial II Completed] [Tutorial III] Objective: Attend the entrance ceremony. [TIP: Make different friends on the train.] The train to Dragon Slayer Academy was of the cabin type. The right half was a corridor for people to pass through, and the left half consisted of small rooms. Go Hyeon-woo and I walked down the corridor, peering through the small windows on each cabin door. We were looking for an empty cabin. But it was difficult to find even an empty seat, let alone an empty cabin. It made sense, as students must have boarded at other platforms the train had passed through. We walked from carriage 10, peering and walking, until around carriage 8. Finally, Go Hyeon-woo found a suitable cabin. Kim-hyung, there seems to be space here. Peeking inside, there was only one person. We slid the door open. The inside of the cabin was about two pyeong (6 square meters) in size. In the middle of the cabin, there was a small table with built-in seats facing each other around it. The arrangement was such that four people could sit in each cabin. A female student with light gray hair was lying face down on the window seat. When she sensed someones presence, she slowly sat up. When I met the gray-haired girls eyes, my first thought was that she was beautiful. Even among the many attractive men and women in , she stood out as exceptionally beautiful. The instincts of men are indeed unavoidable. The next thing I noticed about her was that she looked to be sleepy. Her languid face, dripping with fatigue, and her half-closed eyes seemed to debate whether to fall back asleep. Although she had just woken up, I got the feeling that this was her usual state. Lastly, my long experience as a collector whispered to me, This is a raw gem. It was just a vague intuition at the moment, but characters like her usually reached S-tier without much difficulty in ninety-nine out of a hundred cases. Whether my feeling was correct or not would be something to find out in the future. Anyway, since we couldnt just keep staring at each other, I took the initiative to ask, Are the seats empty? Yes. Her hoodie worn over her school uniform seemed slightly oversized, as only the tips of her fingers peeked out from the loose sleeves. She tapped the seat next to her. She wants me to sit there, I suppose? I didnt hesitate and quickly took the seat. Go Hyeon-woo chose a spot across from me, near the window. My name is Go Hyeon-woo. Im Kim Ho. Seo Ye-in. After our brief introductions, I found myself lost in thought. I had memorized all the characters in from the named ones to the minor extras in its story and quests. But Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in were both new to me.oreover, from my brief observation at the platform, other students and station staff were all unfamiliar faces. The setting was the same, but the characters were different. Still, it felt uncomfortable just making eye contact, so I searched for a topic of conversation. Its good. Did you bake it yourself? Mhm, have another. At this time, Go Hyeon-woo coughed lightly and asked, albeit hesitantly, Ahem, if its not too rude, may I have one too? This is the last one. Seo Ye-in cut him off with an almost cold, decisive tone. At the same time, she fed the last cookie from the paper bag into my mouth, and it was indeed the last one. I couldnt shake the feeling that she just didnt want to give one to him Go Hyeon-woo opened his mouth to say something but then as if realizing it was pointless he closed it. Just then, Drrrrr Suddenly, the cabin door slid open, and a boy with a buzz cut burst in. He promptly plopped down in the empty seat next to Go Hyeon-woo. Sorry everyone, I need to intrude for a moment. Ill just sit here for a bit if you dont mind. I dont mind at all. Feel free to stay as long as you need. Me neither. The seats empty anyway. Instead of replying, Seo Ye-in simply nodded her head slightly. The boy with the buzz cut grinned. I like this welcoming vibe. Im Byeong-cheol. Shin Byeong-cheol. This guy is ordinary. As soon as I laid my eyes on this Shin Byeong-cheol, a rough estimate immediately came to mind. If he took the easy route, hed be a C-grade, but with real effort, perhaps hed end up a B-grade. The potential seen in Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in was so dazzling that this level hardly caught the eye. However, despite my harsh evaluation, it seemed beneficial to familiarize myself with Shin Byeong-cheol. From the moment he entered the cabin, I had a rough idea of his identity. A clue was that despite his flashy entrance, he barely made any sound. When Shin Byeong-cheol introduced himself, everyone responded with a light exchange of names. He showed particular interest in Go Hyeon-woo. Seeing that you are wearing a martial artists clothing, you must be from a sect, right? Which sect are you from? Im from Heavenly Wind Gate. Heavenly Wind Gate? Heavenly Wind Gate? Wind Gate Ive never heard of it. Its an obscure, single-succession sect that is not well-known to the public. Its possible you havent heard of it. Is that so? Ill make a note of it. Lets see Shin Byeong-cheol then pulled out a small notebook and swiftly jotted something down. Next, he turned his attention to Seo Ye-in and me. Do you two belong to any sects or magic towers? No. Seo Ye-in, once again, responded silently by shaking her head from side to side. Shin Byeong-cheol continued to scribble something in his notebook. Information is crucial. It translates to money, you know. From the way you talk about it, it seems you trade information too. Of course. And I dont just deal in information. When I showed interest, he seemed to think I could be a potential customer, so he quickly took out a business card and handed it to me. The cards cheap design resembled those distributed in low-end pubs, with the following written in the center: [Dragon Slayer Academy Errand Service!] Seek out this Shin Byeong-cheol whenever and wherever! Ill procure anything for the right price. I examined the card with curiosity, flipped it over, and asked, Anything, you say Does that include breaking out some rules? Ah, certainly. Just give the word. Youre on the run for that right now, arent you? ! Shin Byeong-cheol who had been chattering excitedly suddenly clamped his mouth shut. It was clear now that his reason for entering this cabin was not merely to socialize with us. Was it that obvious? Your eyes kept darting towards the door. Hehe, well, I tried to hide it. Seizing the moment, Shin Byeong-cheol peered outside the cabin once more. Suddenly, after seeing something, he hurried back to his seat, pretending as if he had always been part of this cabins company. However, Drrrrrr! The rooms door opened again. *********** TN: when author says with the brackets he is talking about the game not the academy. Chapter 4: Train to the Academy (2) Chapter 4: Train to the Academy (2) The cabin door opened again and a female student walked in. She was a beauty comparable to Seo Ye-in, but her cold and stern appearance made her seem unapproachable as if it would be difficult to even strike up a conversation with her. Her light brown hair was neatly tied up, and she wore an armband that read disciplinary committee. Outside the door, a large man, a noble-looking young man, and a smiling female student took their positions beside her and they were all wearing similar armbands. Ive gotten involved with the disciplinary committee right from the start. The disciplinary committee. This student organization manages the law and order within and outside of Dragon Slayer Academy. Traditionally, first-year council members are admitted early. They get acquainted with the basic guidelines and are then immediately deployed onto the train. Just like now. This is because the train heading to Dragon Slayer Academy, attracting vigorous youths from all over, serves as an excellent stage for the new council member to gain experience. And it seemed that Shin Byeong-cheol was about to become a part of that experience, the reason for which would soon become apparent. The female student glared at Shin Byeong-cheol and extended her hand. Please give it back. Thats something you shouldnt have. However, Shin Byeong-cheol didnt seem inclined to give up the item. He maintained a playful expression, while his eyes kept darting over the girls shoulder, likely plotting a possible escape route. The female student asked him, Whats so funny? Nothing, just thinking youre a bit too clingy. With such a pretty face but acting so strict, you wont be popular with the boysugh! Fzzt! A brief electric current struck Shin Byeong-cheol. It was the simple lightning magic spell, [Zap]. Lightning attribute mages are rare. Initially, my plan was to avoid getting involved and just observe, but this development changed the scenario. Since my [Copy-Skill] slot was empty, perhaps this was an opportunity to intervene and acquire a new skill? In the brief moment when Shin Byeong-cheol was hit by the lightning, I finished my calculations. And first, I apologized to Seo Ye-in in my mind. Sorry. Shin Byeong-cheol seemed to have fallen into a mild state of paralysis, trembling as he nearly fell sideways but managed to stay upright by leaning on the cabins table. The full weight of his body bore down, so when he leaned on the table, the recoil hit my elbow. Thud! Now. The handmade cookie I was slowly enjoying slipped from my hand and rolled across the floor. When the train jerked slightly, the cookie rolled further away from me. It was too late now. Any food that falls on the ground and stays for more than three seconds is no longer edible. Ive created a pretext. Now, all that was left was to find the right moment to step in. Shin Byeong-cheol struggled to his feet, shaking off the paralysis that had gripped his body. His hand subtly moved towards the back pocket of his pants. Ah, this is getting tricky. Im not confident in a head-to-head fight It seems you have no intention of surrendering willingly. I will have to subdue you. The female student slipped a dark-blue glove onto one hand. It appears to be a fairly high-quality artifact as it is embroidered with golden embroidery and has topaz studded here and there. As she flicked her finger, the glove began to emit a strong light and electrical currents. The crackling electricity took the form of a small hummingbird and darted towards Shin Byeong-cheol. [Hummingbird] Fzzzt! However, the Hummingbird failed to inflict any damage on Shin Byeong-cheol. It was intercepted mid-flight by my outstretched hand. A small explosion of electricity erupted from my palm and sparks were sent flying around the place. Feeling the impact firsthand, I was certain. It looks like a D-rank, but its E-rank. I shook the tingling sensation from my hand. The female student slightly furrowed her brows at the unexpected interference. She stared at my face for a moment, as if trying to recall something, then slightly tilted her head. Are you in cahoots with him? I havent seen you on the watch list. Not really. Just had some unexpected business to attend to. What business? My cookie. Excuse me? I pointed to the half-eaten homemade cookie still rolling back and forth on the floor. It fell because of you guys. Thats something you cant buy even with money. Youre interrupting the disciplinary committees club actions over a mere cookie? It might just be a cookie, but to someone who was enjoying it, its quite annoying. The female student looked at me as if I were an illogical guy. However, she seemed to find some reason in my words and hesitated before taking any immediate action. Meanwhile, the noble young man of the disciplinary committee entered the cabin. He looked ready to draw the golden sword at his hip at any moment. Youre picking a pointless quarrel. Why dont you step aside while youre being asked nicely? If not, youll taste something much hotter than a cookie. I advise you to think carefully and act wisely. Go Hyeon-woo slowly stood up from his seat. If you intend to draw your sword, know that you wont be the only one taking action. . The gaze of the young nobleman was fixated on Go Hyeon-woo. Upon noticing he was dressed in martial arts clothing, the nobles eyes shifted to the sword sheath in his hand. Realizing it was a cheap iron sword, a sneer spread across his face. With that, he vanished out of the room like the wind. Heh, quite a lively fellow, isnt he? Dont you think so, Kim-hyung? Indeed. I quietly turned my gaze to Seo Ye-in, who had been silently watching us. Sorry. The cookie was really tasty. Ill make more. Really? Mhm. I had inadvertently received a promise for cookies. Seo Ye-in seemed to be slowly getting tired again, and after saying that, she slumped down on the table. And she became motionless. .. .. Perhaps due to the whirlwind of events that had just swept through, the quiet atmosphere of the afternoons parlor was quite pleasant. Go Hyeon-woo and I were just looking out the window without saying anything. After a while, Go Hyeon-woo broke the silence. By the way, Kim-hyung, may I ask you something? What is it? Did you really get involved just for the sake of the cookie? I agree that getting your snack time interrupted angers you but it seemed like there might be more to the story. Hes sharper than I thought. Despite his appearance of a well-mannered young man, his mind was quite astute. It was an unexpected side of Go Hyeon-woo that I had seen. Feeling somewhat refreshed by this revelation, I began to explain. The primary reason was to meet the conditions of the [Copy-Skill], but even excluding that, there was another reason. Its rare to see a lightning-attribute mage, so I just wanted to casually check out her abilities. Hmm But all Kim-hyung did was to counter Miss Songs move, right? All I had done was to interrupt in the middle, catch the Hummingbird spell, and then leave. This was hardly enough to assess someones capabilities. I asked him back. How much do you know about the Hummingbird spell? I saw it for the first time just now. So, what did you think of it at first glance? Hmm Go Hyeon-woo closed his eyes for a moment and was lost in thought. He seemed to be recalling the scenes he had witnessed. Its extremely fast, hard to follow with the eye, and the technique seems more focused on controlling the enemy, like causing paralysis or stiffness, rather than inflicting damage. Youre half right. Whats the other half? Watch closely. I created a hummingbird on my palm. It was the size of a fly so it was different from Song Cheon-hyes hummingbird. Since the mana power source, the [Core], has not yet been created, I couldnt properly manifest even low-level spells. Still, this size was enough to demonstrate its movements. The hummingbird took flight from my hand. Following my control, it formed a figure 8 in the air and moved irregularly in a zigzag pattern. Its called a hummingbird because it was made to imitate the flight of a hummingbird. Indeed, such movements would be quite tricky to counter. The performance varies greatly depending on the practitioners skill level. Go Hyeon-woo tilted his head, still not quite understanding. But what does that have to do with Miss Songs abilities? Think of it in reverse. If the hummingbirds movements change depending on the skill of the practitioner Ah! Then one could gauge skill level by the hummingbirds movements. Exactly. If Song Cheon-hye had been a truly skilled mage, there should have been some change in the hummingbirds movement the moment I intervened. For instance, it could have flown around my hand, or it could have retreated briefly before flying again. However, Song Cheon-hyes hummingbird had plunged straight into my palm. This was evidence of either poor control of magic or a lack of experience in actual combat. So much information was contained in Miss Songs single move. But thats not all. From what I had personally discerned, although it was E-rank, it was so powerful that it could actually be considered a D-rank. Either she had learned a powerful trait to assist her magic, or she was born with an enormous amount of magical power. Either way, it indicated high potential. The granddaughter of the Thunder Lord. She certainly lives up to her name. I added Song Cheon-hyes name to my list of heroes to be recruited someday. While I was pondering this, Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head and smiled pleasantly. It hasnt been long since I met Kim-hung, but Ive learned so much. It must be fate. Theres no need to call it fate. I can teach you at least this much. Kim-hyung is indeed generous. I think I chose well for my first friend. My judgment isnt too bad, it seems. Haha. Go Hyeon-woo was someone who always interpreted things positively. Suddenly, Go Hyeon-woos expression turned serious. If you ever need my help, just let me know. Ill do my best to help you. Really? Well, since its come up. Theres a saying, Strike while the iron is hot. I stood up from my seat. Lets go somewhere together. Just to pick up one hidden piece. Chapter 5: Drawing the Hidden Piece (1) Chapter 5: Drawing the Hidden Piece (1) Since the chase was over, the disciplinary committee members patrolled the train as usual. Was there a need to let him off? Song Cheon-hye glanced over her shoulder with a fleeting look. The one who broke the silence was Geum Jo-han, a fellow member of the disciplinary committee just like her. Ever since their first meeting, he had constantly engaged her in conversation, even over trivial matters. She was aware that his actions stemmed from kindness but she had no intention of returning the favor. However, to maintain harmony in group settings she couldnt completely ignore him either. In the end, Song Cheon-hye sighed inwardly and responded. What are you talking about? That guy who butted in talking about cookies or something. If it were me, I wouldve shown him whats what just out of annoyance, but he seemed fine even after taking your Hummingbird. Han So-mi also nodded in agreement and added her two cents. Right, you went easy on him at the end, didnt you? Your control over your spells has improved~ . Jo Byeok was silent by his nature so he didnt say anything, but his demeanor equally suggested agreement with the other twos words. Song Cheon-hye suddenly remembered something and stopped for a moment. Geum Jo-han asked her. Whats wrong? Its nothing. She pretended like nothing was wrong and resumed walking but her mind was now twice as cluttered. Honestly, the mans interference had been completely unexpected. Because it was so sudden, it had momentarily disrupted her focus, and embarrassingly, her control over the Hummingbird was a beat too slow. When she saw the lightning explode against the mans hand, her heart sank. Did I accidentally harm an innocent person? But somehow, that man had taken the full brunt of her Hummingbird and remained unscathed. Not just unscathed, but he looked to be unaffected altogether. Even the expert in the Magic Tower would have shown a brief disruption in their movements if they were hit, but that guy just brushed it off. How is this possible? A vague sense of unease took on a more concrete shape in her mind. Song Cheon-hye mulled over the recent events. She found the situation increasingly bizarre the more she thought about it. Did I make some rookie mistake? Perhaps she hadnt channeled enough magical power, or her spell was sloppy. But her train of thought was abruptly cut short. A voice came through the small communicator in her ear. [There is a student conflict in cabin 4-C. Assistance is requested.] Ill be right there. Song Cheon-hye shifted her gaze to the other members of the disciplinary committee. It seemed they had also received the same message as they nodded in agreement. Lets go. Thats right. Then she handed the zipper bag which contained the wig to the smiling Han So-mi. So-mi, please take this to the station attendant. He should be around carriage 13. Also, check if there are any issues with the slot machines on your way back. Okay! Ill be back soon! Han So-mi waved cheerily as she departed. Song Cheon-hye walked along the train corridor and let out a small sigh. Lets just forget about it for now. When I pulled the lever, the three screens started spinning chaotically. Whirring Whirring Various symbols flashed by. Ice, spider, apple, diamond, flame, elephant, mana And then, [Ice] [Mana] [Water] There was a clattering sound and an item emerged from the slot machines prize outlet. It was a 500mL bottle of water. Obviously, this one was a dud. I didnt expect much anyway. I inserted another coin nonchalantly and pulled the lever again. The three screens whirled once more. Go Hyeon-woo, who had been watching with interest, asked, So, Kim hyung, why did you bring me here? Technically, what were doing is against school rules. I dont understand. Its just an old gambling machine. How does that breach the rules? Its not the use of the machine thats the issue. Its the items it gives out that are problematic. The slot machines top rewards were [Dark Ice Crystal], [Cute Deadly Poison], and [Purgatory Lava]. These were all prohibited items that students were not allowed to possess. This means that from the moment you get one of those items you have to avoid the attention of the disciplinary committee. I see, then youll just have to look out for any trouble, wont you? Yeah. And if by chance we get caught, delaying them would be even better. Hmm We might end up dealing with those guys we saw earlier. Theres a high chance of that. Does it seem difficult to you? I asked this as if it were a passing remark, but inwardly, I was keenly observing Go Hyeon-woos reaction. In truth, it was a one-sidedly risky situation for him. There was no real benefit for him in this, while the risks included violating school rules and potentially clashing with the disciplinary committee members. However, Go Hyeon-woo readily nodded his head. Ill give it a try. It may be hard to guarantee victory, but I can certainly buy us some time. Thats unexpected. I thought you would at least ponder over it a bit. Haha Once you step into something, its the warriors way to see it through to the end. Just like when I got involved in the dispute between Miss Song and Shin-hyung, there must be something more to this. Youll explain everything later, right? Yes, thank you. Though he spoke boldly, Go Hyeon-woo seemed slightly tense as he subtly caressed his iron sword. I reassured him as I inserted the next coin. But its unlikely anything will happen. The disciplinary committee doesnt come here that often. Considering the timing, they should be heading towards carriage 1 right now, so no need to worry. Hello, hello! What are you doing over there? ?! ?! We both whipped our heads around simultaneously. From the direction of the number 11 carriage that was located in the second-year students area, a female student approached us. She wasnt a second-year student but she was a face I had seen before. She had a cute smiling face and a disciplinary committee armband on her arm. It was Han Somi. I guess we do need to worry after all. . Shes a disciple of the Sword Marquis, right? So weve heard. Its said that if you speak of the tiger, it appears. And there she was. Chapter 6: Drawing the Hidden Piece (2) Chapter 6: Drawing the Hidden Piece (2) Inside the train, the disciplinary committee members usually formed teams of four, which was the standard party size, but in very special cases they would operate individually. It seemed that this was one of those very special cases, which was just my luck. Still, I had no intention of giving up. Before the fight began, I spoke to Go Hyeon-woo. Lend me just one silver coin. Will one silver coin do? One is enough. Having more would be pointless. I caught the silver coin Go Hyeon-woo flicked into the air. I trust you. Leave it to me. Watching me insert the coin and pull the lever, Han So-mi spoke in a tone like she was scolding a child. Hey guys, you shouldnt use that, you know~. Students are not allowed to touch it~. However, as Han So-mi took a step forward, Go Hyeon-woo also stepped up and blocked her path. ? I apologize in advance for any rudeness, but you cannot pass any further. Are you saying youll continue to use it? Thats the situation. Han So-mi tilted her head slightly in confusion. She thought Go Hyeon-woo didnt understand the situation and began to explain carefully. If you break the school rules, you could receive demerit points. And helping a student who violates the rules is also subject to demerit points. That doesnt concern me. Why arent you concerned about getting demerit points at the start of the semester? Its a choice I made. Therefore, its only right that I face the consequences. Haaah. Han So-mi let out a small sigh. It was then that she realized she was dealing with someone who couldnt be reasoned with. From my perspective, as his ally, it was reassuring, but I could see how it would be extremely frustrating for her. Just as Han So-mi was about to say something more, Go Hyeon-woo replied in what could be said as formal politeness. Ive heard that Miss Han has been trained in swordsmanship by the Sword Marquis. Would you grant me the opportunity to witness your skill? His attitude was polite, but if twisted a bit his words meant something like this: Ah~, if youre so great, try getting past me with the swordsmanship you learned from the Sword Marquis~. Han So-mi seemed to understand the underlying message as she pursed her lips several times before asking. Whats your name? I am Go Hyeon-woo. I dont particularly like fighting. But my master said that when someone challenges you, you must neither ignore nor avoid them. Thats a wise advice. My own master said something similar. Go Hyeon-woo nodded in agreement. Han So-mi was about to draw her sword but then hesitated. Thats right. I shouldnt be using a sword right now. The uniforms at Dragon Slayer Academy are covered with multiple layers of D-rank defensive magic, providing greater protection than armor. However, Go Hyeon-woo had just recently come down from the mountain, so he was still wearing a martial artists clothing. In such attire, engaging in a sword fight against him could lead to serious injuries. In cases where a student must be subdued by force While fumbling, she pulled out something else. It was a short rod made of steel, and when she pressed the attached button, Click! The rod extended to three times its length. It was a three-section baton used for riot control. I should use this! Though it was somewhat less lethal than a sword, it was more than enough to subdue an opponent. Especially when wielded by a disciple of a sword marquis, even an iron bar could exhibit some form of swordsmanship. Go Hyeon-woo smiled at that sight. Holding back a bit, are we? Then I cant go all out either, can I? He then unfastened the steel sword from his waist and lifted it, sheath and all. Ill use this. I request a fair match. Alright, lets go! Han So-mi cutely stamped her foot. She seemed to lightly bounce in place, but in the blink of an eye, she had charged right up to Go Hyeon-woo. The three-section baton thrust straight for his throat. Go Hyeon-woo slightly twisted his body to evade, but Han So-mi as if anticipating this, changed the trajectory of her thrust to a sweeping strike. The screen spun rapidly, the images whirring by. Just dont land on [Cute Deadly Poison]. There were three types of top rewards, but I couldnt immediately use [Cute Deadly Poison] if I actually got it. Meaning Id have to hand it over to the disciplinary committee, which is the same as wasting my investment of 6 silver coins. In fact, there was a 1/3 chance of losing the 6 silver coins investment, so ideally, I wanted to avoid that outcome. However, considering the 2/3 chance of receiving the desired reward and the benefits that came with it, it was worth taking the risk. Whirrrr Soon, the speed of the three fast-moving screens gradually decreased, and the results were displayed one by one. [Ice] [Ice] [Ice] Thats it. Clunk The item that dropped was a small glass bottle. Ice crystals the size of star candies were enclosed inside but their pitch-black color gave off an ominous vibe. [Dark Ice Crystal (C)] Intensely cold taste. Exercise extreme caution when consuming. Warning: You may die! You cant take that with you. Han So-mis demeanor as she said that was quite different from before. Until now, she had interacted with us with a pleasant smile, and her sparring with Go Hyeon-woo had felt somewhat friendly. But now, she was as serious as if she were facing a life-or-death situation. The reason for her reaction was that this [Dark Ice Crystal] was considered a prohibited item. By possessing it, I was actively breaking the school rules. Hand it over. Id rather not. Han So-mi approached me and extended her hand but I shook my head. If I had intended to hand it over easily, I wouldnt have started this in the first place. And then, as if he was in agreement with me, Go Hyeon-woo stepped forward to block her path. . Realizing that words were futile, Han So-mi raised her three-section baton to a ready position. It was a stance she had adopted numerous times while sparring with Go Hyeon-woo. However, this time, the air around her seemed to freeze, turning bitterly cold. She was beginning to ramp up her momentum. As Han So-mi shifted her feet, her figure blurred and disappeared from my sight. ! Go Hyeon-woo hurriedly lifted his sword sheath, and in a flash of light, Swoosh!! Ugh! Struck by a blow of a different caliber, Go Hyeon-woos figure was pushed sideways. He managed to block the attack, but as a result, a small crack appeared on his sword sheath. Go Hyeon-woo regained his stance and intensified his energy, Swoosh!! and narrowly defended against another strike from Han So-mi. His [Core] is a bit weak. While mana continued to surge from Han So-mis three-section baton, the mana emanating from Go Hyeon-woos sword sheath seemed weak, as if it might extinguish at any moment. The grade of Go Hyeon-woos [Core] was inferior to Han So-mis, resulting in a lesser amount of mana available to him. Can you hold out any longer? Honestly, it seems difficult. Go Hyeon-woo appeared to be acutely aware of his own weakness. He also realized that his chances of winning were slim. But I wont let him give up just yet. Because there was still more to see. Just try for one more minute. In times like these, compensating for a teammates shortcomings is precisely the role of a support. [Activate Amplification] [The targets Core rank increased. (E->C)] [Duration 00:00:58] [Cooldown period 00:59:58] Soon, the mana flowing from the sword sheath intensified. Go Hyeon-woo, sensing the power boiling up from his lower abdomen, turned to me with surprised eyes. I responded with a slight nod of my head. Just try a little longer. Chapter 7: Drawing the Hidden Piece (3) Chapter 7: Drawing the Hidden Piece (3) One of the three skills I acquired as a special perk from the reincarnation quest was [Amplification]. It had the effect of raising the rank of a designated skill for the duration it was active. For instance, my current F-rank [Amplification] could raise a skills rank by two levels for one minute. An E-rank would become a C-rank, and a C-rank would turn into an A-rank. The skill was powerful enough to warrant its one-hour cooldown time, despite being active for only a minute. Swoosh!!Updated from Contrary to moments before when Go Hyeon-woo was relentlessly pushed back each time their weapons clashed, he now stood his ground steadfastly, like a steel tower. The sword sheath he gripped was swathed in a swirling blue energy. This was only possible because the rank of his [Core] had risen from E to C. Rather than just defend he now launched into an aggressive offense. Han So-mi looked to be momentarily flustered by the sudden surge in Go Hyeon-woos momentum. However, she quickly regained her composure and dodged each of the incoming attacks before striking back. The exchange between the two became much faster and more intense. So much so that you couldnt even see their movements if you didnt concentrate. Impressive. Although one might expect Go Hyeon-woo to struggle with the sudden surge in mana, he adeptly managed it as if it had always been his own. Like a fish that had found water. I wish I could see his swordsmanship a bit more too. [Duration 00:00:16] That was probably asking for too much. No matter what I wanted to see, there were limits with just one minute. And it seemed likely that the outcome would be decided even before the duration ended. Crack Damn! Go Hyeon-woo, in the midst of fighting, looked down abruptly. His sword sheath had developed web-like cracks. The very small crack that appeared while blocking Han So-mis blow continued to grow and eventually became like this. Soon, the iron sword, along with a final cracking sound, broke in two along with its sheath. If the material had been just a bit better, it might have withstood the attacks without cracking. This was the limit of a cheap iron sword. Ive seen enough for now. It had been quite an insightful time. I uncapped the [Dark Ice Crystal] and poured its contents into my mouth in one go. Wha-!! Han So-mi was shocked at this scene. She closed the distance in a flash and grabbed my hand, but the dark blue crystals had already vanished into my stomach. Her face turned deathly pale. You, you ate that If you eat it What happens if you eat it? At first, it feels as refreshing as gulping down a glass of ice. But gradually, that coolness turns into a bone-chilling cold. A sensation of everything inside, starting with the inner organs, freezing. [Freezing status ailment is applied.] For beginners first starting , this Dark Ice Crystal is extremely deadly. Even a piece as small as a fingernail can turn someone into an ice statue in an instant. Of course, Im an exception. I possessed the S-rank [Elemental Resistance] after all. [Freezing status ailment is removed.] [Freezing status ailment is applied.] [Freezing status ailment is removed.] . The dark ice crystals continued to emit cold air, but it was immediately neutralized as if it were nothing. While the chilling effect that harms players faded away, the immense energy contained in the crystal remained undiminished. This energy accumulated steadily within my body. The difference between poison and elixir is just a thin line. If one could control the side effects of the poison, wouldnt it become an elixir? If the [Purgatory Lava] had appeared instead of the [Dark Ice Crystal], my body would have similarly tamed the flames and made them my own. From the start, my confidence in [Elemental Resistance] led me to seek out this hidden piece. Han So-mis face remained deathly pale. She must have had some idea about the true nature of this dark ice crystal. At the very least, she knew it was a dangerous item that students should neither possess nor consume. So she must have expected me to freeze or collapse. But as I just stood there, her complexion slowly returned to normal. She asked me while carefully examining my face. Are you okay? Cough! The moment Han So-mi asked if I was okay, I clutched my throat with both hands and contorted my face in agony. Then I began to tremble violently, bending my body more and more. Kim-hyung! Uh, Uh, Ill go call the others right away! Just as Han So-mi was about to kick off from her spot to leave, I returned to a relaxed expression and a normal posture as if nothing had happened. that was just an act. Ah!! Hahaha. Kim-hyung, thats too much of a prank. Han So-mi who realized that she had been fooled pointed her finger at me angrily, while Go Hyeon-woo burst into laughter. I showed Han So-mi the empty bottle, shaking it. I dont know what you thought it was, but this isnt it, right? Didnt you see it wrong? It wasnt a mistake that her homemade cookies lacked sugar; it was purely her taste preference. Ooh, what are these sweets made of? They have a truly unique flavor. On the other hand, Go Hyeon-woo would put any snack in his mouth regardless of whether it was light, sweet, spicy, or salty. He popped them into his mouth without hesitation, savoring each one and exclaiming in delight. Is it that good? Since my sect is deep in the mountains, we rarely get a chance to try such things. Now and then, gifts from my masters close friends were all we got. Yeah, it cant be helped for a sect deep in the mountains. I pushed the snack bag toward him. Go Hyeon-woo, who was savoring a chicken leg-shaped snack, suddenly looked out the window and asked, How much longer until we arrive? Almost there, I think? The reason I answered that way was because everything outside the window was blue. A lake so vast it reminded one of the sea. The train had been crossing the middle of this enormous lake for some time. Looking out the window, it almost seemed as though the train was running on water, but in reality, it was traveling on tracks laid shallowly on the waters surface. I pointed toward an island with only a vague outline visible in front of us. We just need to get there, so it wont be long. Indeed, we should arrive in no more than a quarter of an hour. The huge lake and the island at its center. A strange island made up of countless dungeons, called Dungeon Island, was the final stop of this train. In the past, Dungeon Island was a lawless zone swarming with all sorts of criminals. From the perspective of someone fleeing, they just need to select and hide in a dungeon with a moderate level of danger. On the other hand, those in pursuit had to first figure out which dungeon the escaping fugitive was hiding in, and even if they were lucky to find it, a complicated chase awaited them inside the dungeon. Therefore, it was a place that was abandoned as a lawless area for a long time. Then one day, the first hero and dragon slayer set foot on this Dungeon Island. He swept away all the criminals without leaving any behind. He conquered the dungeons completely. He founded a city and established an academy. This was the Dragon Slayer Academy. The once blurry image of Dungeon Island gradually became clearer. As the land neared, the train slowed down, and by the time the blue view outside the window transformed into well-paved roads, the train finally came to a complete stop. Go Hyeon-woo had been reveling in his own snack festival among the bags of snacks until then. When it was time to leave, he gathered the bags together and crushed them into one bundle, even though he still had quite a bit of snacks left. He tossed the combined mass lightly into a trash bin and declared, Weve arrived. Lets get up. Seo Ye-in, who had been dozing off and on, stretched herself in her seat. Her clothes are all messed up, likely because she slept against the table or wall. I couldnt help myself and tugged at her clothes to straighten them out. Upon disembarking from the train, we were surrounded by a bustling crowd of students. A red-haired female students wand sparked with a small flame. A palm-sized cat was perched on the shoulder of a timid-looking girl. It was swiping at the continuously passing students with tiny meow punches. Everyones individuality was so pronounced that finding someone ordinary seemed like a more difficult task. The presence of so many distinctly unique students in one place only added to the sense of chaos. First years! First years, this way! Dont come this way! Dont follow the upperclassmen! Hey, grab that one! Senior students wearing disciplinary committee armbands were waving their batons and shouting at the top of their lungs. Because the second-and third-year students and freshmen had different destinations, the seniors stopped the freshmen who were attempting to follow them and guided them in a specific direction. Having been to the island more than once, I could navigate Dungeon Island with my eyes closed. Following the disciplinary committee members directions led to a large auditorium where the entrance ceremony would be held. The three of us were simply following the student ahead, focusing only on the back of their head. However, along the way someone blocked our path. Song Cheon-hye crossed her arms and glared at me with an expression that screamed, Ive caught you red-handed! Sparks of faint electricity crackled from the glove she wore on one of her hands as if she was putting on a show of force. Ninety-nine out of a hundred, she must have come to confront me because of the incident that happened at the slot machine earlier. Though there was no concrete evidence on her side, It seemed neat from my perspective to tie up loose ends here and now. Please, follow me for a moment. Do I have to accompany you as well? When Go Hyeon-woo asked, Song Cheon-hye shifted her gaze to him. I heard you sparred with So-mi. Upon hearing that she was the disciple of the sword marquis, I couldnt help but feel a sense of rivalry. Next time, I would appreciate it if you could discern the time and place more appropriately. If a similar incident occurs again, I wont let it slide so easily. Ill bear that in mind. It seems this time she chose not to make an issue out of the fact that he helped me. Thats good. I waved lightly at Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. Dont worry, go ahead without me. I understand. Well save you a seat. Miss Seo. Seo Ye-in, with her sleepy eyes that made it hard to guess her thoughts, alternated her gaze between me and Song Cheon-hye. When Go Hyeon-woo urged her, she nodded her head slightly and then headed towards the auditorium with him. As I watched the two of them walk away, Song Cheon-hye also started to move. This way. Lets go. Chapter 8: Entrance Ceremony (1) Chapter 8: Entrance Ceremony (1) While she was taking me to some place, not a word was exchanged between Song Cheon-hye and me. Song Cheon-hye who was leading the way occasionally glanced back to ensure I was following. . Judging from the displeasure that came out every time we made eye contact, it didnt seem like I made a good impression at all.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only In her view, I must have seemed like a strange person who caused trouble for the disciplinary committee over a cookie. Moreover, due to that slight friction with Han So-mi I was probably on the verge of being branded as a troublemaker. I was probably just a notch above Shin Byeong-cheol, who was already a student known for being problematic. Eventually, we arrived at the office marked disciplinary committee Club. The office was neatly organized. Except for a corner stacked with piles of documents. On one side of the room, there was a door leading to another room. Song Cheon-hye approached it first, opened the door, and gestured for me to enter. If the disciplinary committee office was neat and orderly, this room felt barren and stark. The only furniture was a table in the middle with two folding chairs facing each other. A single dim incandescent bulb faintly illuminated the dark room. Anyone could see that this was an interrogation room. The place was known among players as The Room of Truth. It was said that anyone who entered would come out a good person. Please, take a seat. Okay. At Song Cheon-hyes words, I pulled up a folding chair and sat down. I settled into the folding chair, leaning back with leisurely ease. This apparently looked too comfortable to Song Cheon-hye, as her eyes twitched once in response. She closed her eyes tightly as if suppressing anger, then reopened them. Just wait a moment. Song Cheon-hye left the Room of Truth and soon returned with another male student. Judging from the golden color of the pin on his tie, he must be a third-year senior. His sturdy build and benign appearance reminded me of a gentle bear, perhaps more so because of his narrow, slit-like eyes. It was hard to tell if he was smiling or expressionless, as only the corners of his mouth were slightly turned up. The senior with narrowed eyes placed a few items on the table and asked, Hello. Your name is Kim Ho, right? Yes, senior. Alright, Kim Ho. My name is Oh Se-hoon. Most people know me as the president of the disciplinary committee or Slit-Eye Senior. Feel free to call me whatever youre comfortable with. . People with narrow eyes usually dont like being called that, do they? I wasnt sure if Oh Se-hoon was genuinely indifferent to such a nickname or if he was testing me. In situations like this, its best to keep quiet. Oh Se-hoon asked while pouring coffee from a thermos in his hand. Would you like something to drink? Ive got honey water, green tea, and coffee But its almost evening, and coffee might keep you awake, right? Ill just have some cold water, thank you. Please stay seated. Ill get it for you. Before Oh Se-hoon could rise, Song Cheon-hye quickly left the room and returned almost right away. She was so fast that one might have thought there was a water dispenser right outside the door. Song Cheon-hye, still showing her displeasure, briskly placed a paper cup in front of me and then positioned herself upright behind Oh Se-hoon. Oh Se-hoon took a sip of his coffee and then began to speak. So, Kim Ho, we wont keep you long since you cant be late for the entrance ceremony. Just answer a few questions, and you can go. Okay. I heard you used the slot machine in carriage number 10. So-mi warned you it was against school rules, but you continued. Why is that? He went straight into questioning about the incident on the train. My response did not change despite knowing the other party was the head of the disciplinary committee. I persisted with my strategy of feigning ignorance. I dont understand why it was against the rules, so being told not to do it just made me more rebellious. Pardon? If we use the magnifying glass and it doesnt reveal any problematic skills, what then? That is Song Cheon-hye found herself unable to respond easily. Although she was almost 100% certain in her suspicion, what if she pushed hard and it turned up nothing? The backlash would affect not just the disciplinary committee but also the Topaz Magic Tower that she was a part of. On the other hand, even if the Magnifying Glass did reveal a prohibited skill the chances of it being something egregiously evil were slim. At most, the perpetrator might get demerit points or a minor disciplinary action. The risk seemed too great compared to what could be gained. Oh Se-hoon had likely already considered this when he decided to let Kim Ho go. Song Cheon-hye bowed her head. Im sorry. I was careless. Oh Se-hoon was pleased with his juniors attitude. This was a time when the students were full of self-esteem as elites. Recognizing and admitting ones mistakes during such a period was no easy feat. Oh Se-hoon gently advised her. Cheon-hye, I understand that your heart is in the right place. But remember, in matters like these, pushing aggressively isnt always the solution. Lets take it slow and look at the bigger picture. Yes. If Kim Ho was indeed using something prohibited, he would inevitably get caught, even without the use of the magnifying glass. Unless he causes more trouble, let Kim Ho be. Our priority now is to monitor the trends among the clubs. Understood. Come on, you better hurry too. Youll be late for the entrance ceremony if you dont leave now. *** The time I spent in the Room of Truth was very brief. But by the time I stepped outside, the sun was already halfway down. Walking on the land bathed in the crimson hue of the setting sun, I arrived at the auditorium. Hundreds of freshmen were seated, waiting for the entrance ceremony. The noise of their chatter combined, sounding like a swarm of bees buzzing. While casually looking around, I noticed someone with gray hair. Although it was a game world where all kinds of worldviews were mixed, gray hair was still surprisingly rare. Seo Ye-in seemed to sense my gaze and turned her head towards me just in time. Following her gaze, Go Hyeon-woo also looked my way and soon he spotted me and waved his hand. Kim-hyung, over here! In a rather calculated move, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in had strategically left a seat empty between them. Unless you have a very thick face, it would have been difficult to put your butt in between them. The moment I sat down in the empty seat, a notification message was displayed in the corner of my eye. [Tutorial III Completed] You have attended the entrance ceremony on time. Reward: E-rank weapon selection, 5 silver coins [Weapon Selection (E)] You can acquire any E-rank weapon of your choice. Even though it was called an E-rank weapon, it was merely mass-produced equipment that was no better than Go Hyeon-woos iron sword. But it was still better than nothing. The 5 silver coins I had squandered on the slot machine were also fully reimbursed. ! ! The bustling auditorium began to quiet down, beginning from the front rows. The reason was that a group had entered the stage at the front of the auditorium. Judging by the timing of their appearance and their age range, it was clear they were the teachers and staff of the Dragon Slayer Academy. As the students attention converged on them, the teachers displayed varying reactions. Some completely ignored the sea of faces, focusing straight ahead as if nothing else existed, while others responded with faint smiles and friendly waves. Among them, a man who appeared to be in his late thirties, with a roughly trimmed beard, stepped up onto the podium. Chapter 9: Entrance Ceremony (2) Chapter 9: Entrance Ceremony (2) Looking at the middle-aged man reminded me of the typical fool in the neighborhood. The fool who was always shabbily dressed in a tracksuit and dragging his worn-out slippers everywhere. It seemed I wasnt the only one who thought so as two female students who were sitting in front of me were whispering such things to each other. However, their whispers were so loud that they could be heard by those around them. Thats the principal, right? He doesnt look very impressive No, youre mistaken. Even if he looks like that, he was the leader of the dragon slayer team when he was young. I heard he even killed two adult fire dragons. Wow, really? Traditionally, the principal of the Dragon Slayer Academy is a position held by a hero who retired from the front lines. And the title of , much like that of , is bestowed only upon one among the many powerful S-rank individuals. Despite his unimpressive appearance, he harbors an unimaginable amount of power within him. Since the heroes I raised before had about 20 S-rank skills, Im guessing hes about the same. But hes still single. Really? I heard hes been rejected by the saintess four times! No, its actually five now. He proposed again recently and got turned down again. Oh my~ Ah, the principal What kind of battles had this man faced The perception of the principal in my mind suddenly became that of pity. He looked around the crowd with weary eyes and opened his mouth. Welcome, new students. I sincerely welcome you to the Dragon Slayer Academy. The auditorium suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The principals expression, which started with a gentle greeting, turned serious. Long ago, the Dragon Slayer Academy, as its name suggests, was established to prepare for the war against dragons and to nurture dragon slayers. The reason the first hero insisted on including the character for slayer among many good words was probably to encourage you all to deeply consider what it means to be a Slayer. What is a slayer? You cant become an ogre slayer without slaying an ogre, nor a dragon slayer without slaying a dragon. As such, taking life is both our fate and essence as slayers. Do not turn away from this truth. At the same time, you must think it through. Why do I want to become a slayer? For what purpose do I wish to take life? I hope that by the time you graduate, you will have found your own answers. The reason the principal began by mentioning these uncomfortable truths was that: Beyond physical training, tempering ones inner self is of great importance. And this inner tempering starts with setting a clear goal in mind. The A-rank and S-rank monsters the students would have to face after graduation are akin to living natural disasters. With vague aspirations like wanting to live well or become rich, one would simply crumble like a candle in the wind when confronted with such monsters. Besides me, there were quite a few students who nodded their heads in understanding or were lost deep in thought at the principals words. It would have actually been an excellent opening speech if he had stopped there. Just one more thing Unfortunately, the principal was someone who didnt know how to stop at the first verse. His sermon went on and on. The students twisted in agony, but the principal was oblivious to their discomfort and continued at a lullabys slow pace, insisting on saying what he wanted. This time for real, just one last thing *** Had someone not intervened, his talk might have continued for hours more.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only A woman in a suit who was waiting near the podium made a gesture as if pointing to her wristwatch. Only then did the principal seem to decide to wrap things up. I hope you all become true heroes at Dragon Slayer Academy. Thats all. Ugh. Mom my head hurts All of the new students were in a state of deep despair, some were clutching their faces and others complaining of headaches. Amidst this, Go Hyeon-woo kept nodding his head with a smile, as if he was deeply moved by the principals words. Hmm. Truly a meaningful time. Werent you bored? Bored? Kim-hyung, how can you say that? Each word was a valuable lesson, like flesh and blood. My master used to give me such advice every day. You heard this kind of thing every day? So he was already well-trained for this, huh? I gave up on the conversation. In life, there are some battles that you simply cannot win, and this was precisely one of those moments. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in had her arms crossed and her head was bowed ever so slightly. I waved my hand lightly in front of her face, but she showed no reaction. Its nothing big. Just wait until tomorrow. Ehum Im still curious though Miss Seo? I dont know. Seo Ye-in didnt even spare Go Hyeon-woo a glance. Feeling left out, Go Hyeon-woo sighed softly. Haah, the principles of the martial world have fallen indeed After dinner, we continued chatting about trivial matters. Of course, out of consideration for Go Hyeon-woo, we never mentioned what the next day was about As time passed, the members of the disciplinary committee announced that it was getting late. Lets start wrapping things up! Everyone, head to your dorms! If you dont know the way, dont wander around; just come and ask! Now that darkness had set in, our final destination was the dormitory. When I took out my student ID, I noticed the number 3-406 engraved on the back. This meant that it was in building 3, room 406. When I found building 3 and put my student ID card on the device that glowed softly with magic, the front door opened. But Go Hyeon-woo kept following me. We went through the same gate, climbed the same stairs, passed through the same hallway Even when I stopped in front of room 406, he was still with me, so I asked him. Hey, which room are you in? Im in 407. What about you, Kim-hyung? 406. Oh. It was like that. It seemed like some twist of fate had made us neighbors overnight. What a pleasant coincidence to be next-door neighbors. Im not so happy about it. Haha, then rest well, Kim-hyung. I waved my hand nonchalantly at his polite greeting and entered my room. The room was unexpectedly stylish and spacious for a dormitory and was fully equipped with the necessary facilities. It was so good that it could have been mistaken for a hotel room. The elements I had casually encountered in the game have now become my reality. I sat down on the bed, feeling a strange mix of emotions. The bed was also of a very high quality and it was so comfortable that I felt like I would fall asleep right away the moment I laid down on it. But I wouldnt sleep tonight. There was something I needed to do. Create the [Core]. [Kim Ho] Skills Amplification (F) Copy-Skill [1/1] 1. Hummingbird (E) Traits Monarch (F) Copy-Trait [1/1] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) Equipment School Uniform (D) Inventory E-rank weapon selection (E) 5 silver coins I copied the [Hummingbird] skill from Song Cheon-Hye, but I couldnt use it right away. To use skills that require magic power or inner power, one must have a power source to provide it. And the primary power source for this is the [Core]. Usually, it takes weeks of dedicated effort to create one, but I have walked the shortcut hundreds of times before. One night should be enough. I had already accumulated an abundance of mana within my body, thanks to the [Dark Ice Crystal] I absorbed on the train. Now, all I needed to do was compress it into a complete [Core]. I began to clear my mind and focus my thoughts. This was necessary to control the huge energy accumulated inside me. Chapter 10: The First Class Chapter 10: The First Class There was another person who couldnt sleep at this hour. Go Hyeon-woo was sitting upright while focusing intently. Instead of the soft bed, he chose the hard floor. As he closed his eyes, memories of what had transpired on the train flashed through his mind. Scenes hurried by like a fast-forwarded film and then slowed to a crawl when he encountered Han So-mi. A three-section baton flew towards him with fierce momentum, as if intent on breaking his bone, and he was there, exerting utmost effort to block each strike meticulously. The intertwining trajectories of the baton and sheath were beautiful. Han So-mi was the first strong opponent he met after descending the mountain. A disciple of the Sword Marquis, one of the strongest men in the entire world. Though they both held back their true abilities in their duel, even if they clashed with all their might, it would have been difficult to achieve victory. No, the odds of him losing were high. As their battle intensified, his shortcomings were glaringly apparent. If Kim Ho hadnt intervened at the right moment, he would have fallen before his iron sword shattered. An expert. This was the word that had continuously come to mind since Go Hyeon-woo first met Kim Ho. Kim Ho possessed the poise that only a strong person possesses, as well as eyes that seemed to see through everything. Then Go Hyeon-woos gaze, momentarily drifting from his thoughts, settled on a long object in the corner of the room. The sacred artifact of his sect, wrapped in thick cloth and tightly bound with iron chains. Go Hyeon-woo had inherited the sects sacred artifact with a clear goal in mind. Kim Ho would be a great help in achieving his goal. However, he smiled bitterly and shook his head. I cannot. He wasnt ready to ask for help yet. After all, Kim Ho was his first friend. He decided to try as much as he could on his own. Go Hyeon-woo closed his eyes again and began to relive his battle with Han So-mi. A gentle breeze stirred around him, accompanied by a faint wave of energy. *** [Core trait acquired.] [Core rank increases. (F->E)] Indeed, the elixir was effective. Even after getting [Core(F)] I still had plenty of mana, so I decided to upgrade it to E rank. And there was still quite a bit of surplus mana. Picking up just a couple more of those elixirs could quickly elevate my core to D rank. Fzzt A hummingbird made of electric currents was created. In the train, it was barely the size of a fly and its movements were weak, but now it had the full form and agile movements of a hummingbird. The hummingbird circled the room once before being absorbed back into my hand. I looked out of the window suddenly and realized it was already morning. I glanced at the clock and saw that the alarm was about to go off soon. It was too hard to try and sleep for just a short while, so I decided it was better to stay awake and pass the time. Come to think of it, I earned the right to choose a weapon after completing the tutorial. Seizing the moment, I decided to use it. [Weapon Selection (E)] You can acquire an E-rank weapon of your choice. Refined Longsword (E) Sharp Spear (E) Flexible Longbow (E) I didnt hesitate. I had already decided which weapon to choose. So I quickly scrolled through the list. [You have acquired the Earth Staff (E).] [Earth Staff (E)] Contains a faint aura of earth. Enhances earth magic and protective spells slightly. A long staff carved from wood with an emerald the size of a fingernail embedded at the end. And why did I choose the Earth Staff? Its all a foundation for the future. As soon as the alarm went off, I quickly silenced it and hurriedly got ready. Just as I was leaving my room, the next-door room opened and Go Hyeon-woo stepped out. Unlike yesterday when he wore martial artists attire, today he was neatly dressed in a school uniform. Of course, like yesterday, he had his sects sacred weapon on his back and an iron sword at his waist. I noticed that he had replaced the one he had broken yesterday. Good morning. Her face which was already pale with fright turned even more white. Tell me what people call me. S-s-s, Slayer Hunter Besides that. Its two words. Ah That, that is I wont get angry; just say it. If you dont speak up quickly, I will. The girls eyes flitted around. Whatever those two words were, they seemed too uncomfortable to utter in his presence. However, as Lee Soo-doks gaze intensified, she lowered her eyes and barely managed to squeeze out each letter and her voice was shrinking with each syllable. Hu, hhumanbu-b, b-bu-butcher That is correct. As if he were satisfied with the answer, Lee Soo-dok wrote down the two words that the female student mentioned below his own name. Human Butcher. So it has come to this In the world of , there were as many superhumans who exceeded the limits of human beings as there were grains of sand. Among the numerous superhumans there were villains who wielded their power for corrupt desires. It could be presumed that Lee Soo-dok was tasked with tracking and apprehending these evildoers. Additionally, the term Human Butcher implied that the number of humans he executed far exceeded the number he arrested. And if we were to judge based on their frightened faces, the count of villains he had eliminated should as well be over a hundred? It was understandable to feel intimidated in the presence of such a person. Im not here by choice. If it werent for a request from the principal, I wouldnt have even considered it. Regardless, this is a job and I am a professional. And one of my few prides is that I have perfectly completed every assignment that was given to me so far. I sincerely hope you dont mess that up. As Lee Soo-dok spoke, the atmosphere in the classroom grew even colder. I was probably not the only one who heard the underlying words of I will personally kill any student who fails before they even get a failing grade. Theres no time to waste, so lets skip further introductions and get to the main point. Ill explain the grading system. With a snap of his fingers, the words on the blackboard vanished as if they had evaporated. He began to write anew on the now-clean blackboard. + Written Exams 30% Written exams account for 30% of the grade. This includes midterms, finals, reports, and assignments. Personally, I would have preferred to make it 20%, but thats not within my control. Lee Soo-dok clicked his tongue in disappointment, recalling that in his time, it was indeed 20%. Just like he said the proportion of written exams changed every year. It fluctuated from 20% to 30%, and sometimes even dropped to 15%. What is certain is that in all the hundreds of times I attended , I never saw the written exams exceed 30%. The academy clearly prioritized other aspects over desk-bound academic performance. Next Lee Soo-dok added a line beneath the 30% for written exams. + Attitude Score 10% Just by not causing trouble and simply breathing, you can earn as much as 10%. For some, its like free points. However, He spoke leisurely, then as if he had just remembered, he added, This attitude score is deducted a little each time you receive a demerit point for breaking a school rule. And if it goes below 0%, it can even reduce other grades. I wonder if anyone would take the rules lightly enough to let that happen It might have been intentional, but for a moment Lee Soo-doks gaze seemed to fix on Shin Byeong-cheol and his group. They quickly averted their eyes. Ill keep an eye on the bad seeds. Who knows? We might meet again after graduation. The students trembled in fear. They probably imagined what it would mean to encounter the Human Butcher after graduation. In their minds, they were most likely desperately resolving never to break the school rules, even at the risk of death, but thats easier said than done. Theres a reason why they start with giving out 10%. Next is the most crucial part: the practical exams. + Strategy Battle 30% + Duel Battle 30% Practical exams are divided into strategy battles, where you clear various dungeons, and duel battles, where you compete against other students. And its all based on relative grading. If you want to score, you have to work harder and perform better than those around you. To put it in terms commonly used by players, strategy battles are PVE and duel battles are PVP. Take duel battles for example where you compete with other students, stealing and losing points in a competitive ranking system. With the maximum score for duel battles at 30%, The top 10% would score 27% out of a perfect 30%, While the top 50% would score 15% of the total 30%. The same applies to strategy battles. Lee Soo-dok circled the contents he had written on the blackboard. Lastly, he wrote 100% at the bottom of the list. + Written Exams 30% + Attitude Score 10% + Strategy Battle 30% + Duel Battle 30% = Total Score 100% The evaluation criteria for the first semester of the first year are as follows. I will give you time for questions. If anyone has any questions, raise your hand now. No one raised their hand. It was unclear whether this was because everyone completely understood Lee Soo-doks explanation or because they were afraid that raising their hand might lead to immediate and severe consequences. No questions? Good. Today, we will be conducting a placement test to provide some light discrimination between students. Everyone, move to the arena. Chapter 11: Placement Test (1) Chapter 11: Placement Test (1) Perhaps it was due to the menacing aura that Lee Soo-dok had exuded throughout his explanation, but the entire class seemed tense and on edge as they moved toward the arena. In contrast, Go Hyeon-woos face was slightly flushed with excitement. Ah, so this is what Shin-hyung meant by Big Day yesterday. I am quite looking forward to it. Right, you seem like someone who would enjoy a good duel. Duels with strong opponents are always fun. But how does this placement test work? I held out three fingers. Youll be randomly matched with three others, and you earn points for each victory. 300 points per win. So if you win all three matches, you get as much as 900 points? Exactly. And if you lose or draw? Do you lose points as well? You dont lose points; just nothing happens. A record of one win, one draw, and one loss would be 300 points, 0 points, 0 points. I see. I understand. If everyone begins the competition with zero points, its inevitable that lower-ranking students will be at a disadvantage. To prevent this, at least to some extent, a placement test was conducted on the first day, and points were allocated in increments of 300 based on performance. Led by Lee Soo-dok, Class 3 soon joined the other first-year students and then all converged towards the arena together. This is because even though the classes were different, the placement test was held at the same time for all first years. After walking a bit, a massive dome-shaped building filled my field of vision. The structure of the arena was similar to modern stadiums, with the central stage where the games took place surrounded by spectator seats. The difference lay in that stage. It was the epitome of various magical and scientific technologies, capable of creating every imaginable type of terrain. This included volcanic areas where meteorites fell and lava flowed, canyons with lightning striking like rain, and even deep lakes. At that moment, however, there was nothing special; just grey tiles laid out. Above them floated scoreboards, but instead of scores, something else was written on them since the placement test hadnt started yet. MAP: [Round Arena] RULE: [Deathmatch][5-minute limit] The two elements that make up a duel are the map (environment) and the rule. As you carry out requests as a hero, you realize that overpowering the opponent is not the only objective. A prime example is escort missions. In these missions, protecting the key figures takes precedence over subduing assassins. If you just foolishly focus on enhancing your power, you will inevitably find yourself in the tragic situation where you wipe out your enemies with overwhelming force but the very individuals you were supposed to protect end up dead. In order to prepare students for various environments and situations, the rules of duel battles change frequently. The rule for this particular placement test, [Deathmatch], was a regular feature in duel battles. It was a simple rule: the match wouldnt end until one person either ran out of all their stamina, became unable to fight, or declared defeat. The additional [5-minute limit] rule meant that if there was no clear winner within five minutes, the match would conclude as either a victory by decision or a draw. The environment was a round arena. It was a circular space that was just the right size for two people to fight. The large central stage was divided into several independent fighting rings, each set to host one-on-one student battles. After seating the students of class 3 in the spectator area, Lee Soo-Dok explained these details. The teacher from the neighboring class seemed to be giving a similar explanation a short distance away. Lets begin. The students called should head to the arena. Choi Jeong-Pil. Park Kyung-Ah. One male student and one female student stood up. As soon as they stepped onto the magical circle in front of the central stage, they disappeared for a moment only to reappear in one of the several fighting rings. The content of the scoreboard above changed to display: [Choi Jeong-Pil 100% vs Park Kyung-Ah 100%] [Remaining Time 5:00] After confirming that everything was ready, Lee Soo-Dok nodded his head. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] As soon as the match started, both contestants began to gather mana without any delay. Shrouding themselves in swirling mana-like armor, they swiftly closed the distance and collided in the center with a loud crash. Boom!! With that explosion, the numbers on the scoreboard shifted: [Choi Jeong-Pil 89% vs Park Kyung-Ah 92%] [Remaining Time 4:43] Lee Soo-Dok checked the scoreboard briefly before turning his attention elsewhere. There were still many empty arenas and a long list of names to call. Next. Go Hyeon-Woo. Hwang Hyeok. Oh! Its my turn. Go Hyeon-woo was visibly excited and sprang up from his seat. He seemed to be already itching for action as he began to absentmindedly stroke the iron sword at his waist. Ill be back. Go for it and do well. While I was waiting for my turn, I brought up the quest that had just arrived: [Side Quest: Placement Test] Objective: Achieve a mid-tier or higher rank on the placement test. Win at least once in the duel battle placement test (0/1) Rank in the top 50% in the strategy battle placement test (Current Ranking: N/A) Reward: [Copy-Skill] Slot +1 All I had to do was secure at least one victory in the duel battle and achieve a mid-tier or higher rank in the strategy battle placement test. To put it simply, this task was a piece of cake, so in reality, it was no different from a passing quest for me. But the truly important matter was something else. Scouting. The placement test wasnt just about performing well personally. This duel battle test was happening in front of the entire first-year gathering. This meant you could observe every detail of the other students matches. Gathering various pieces of information was crucial for everyone. If you could understand the other students weapons, skills, tendencies, habits, and weaknesses in advance, it would be immensely useful in the duel battles throughout the semester. Those who were fidgeting and just waiting for their turn were useless. The quick-witted ones had already fixed their gazes on the arena. Because they want to absorb every bit of information from even a single battle. This was a great opportunity for me as well. It seemed like a gesture to disperse the opponents magic with his hand. Seeing this, Hong Yeon-hwa frowned. It was a movement no mage could be ignorant of. Dispel. A spell for negating magic. But in her understanding, dispel was a spell used covertly, without giving away any hint. Such an overt act of casting carried one of these two implications: I am a novice and cant use dispel properly. Or. I can use it blatantly against someone like you and it will still work. Thats pissing me off. Though she thought the latter option was a bit of a stretch, Hong Yeon-hwas mood soured regardless. Contrary to her boiling emotions, she cooled her head and focused on completing the spell. Regardless, she already realized that he intended to use Dispel. If that was the case, all she needed to do was to quickly complete her spell and release it before Dispel could take effect. Kim Ho still had one hand stretched out towards her. However, seeing that her magic was not being interfered with, it seemed he had yet to find the right timing. Although he maintained a calm expression, she guessed that he was feeling the pressure inside. Hong Yeon-hwa smiled triumphantly. Its too late already! A huge ball of flame the size of a human body was completed. Hong Yeon-hwa hurled it directly at her opponent. Dare to play tricks against me? Ill make you regret it! [Flame Orb] Boom! The blazing fireball engulfed Kim Hos body. The fireball erupted once again, engulfing the entire area in flames. Feeling the heat brushing against her cheeks, Hong Yeon-hwa raised the corner of her mouth in a smile. Its over. If he had been hit by the Flame Orb in a real battle, he would have been reduced to ashes, but their school uniform had its own D-rank protective magic, and various safety measures protected students in the arena, so he wouldnt have died. Of course, it was clear he was now in no condition to continue the fight. However [Kim Ho 100% vs. Hong Yeon-hwa 100%] [Remaining Time: 3:58] Huh? Hong Yeon-hwas mouth slowly opened as she checked the scoreboard. When she hurriedly turned her gaze to the front, she saw Kim Ho slowly emerging from the diminishing flames. He was unharmed. Just like before he was standing there as if nothing had happened. As if he were saying that this level of flames didnt bother him at all. Did he really use Dispel? Otherwise, there was no explanation for why he appeared unscathed. Did he use Dispel in that brief moment just before the magic hit, causing it to dissipate? But was it even possible to dispel a completed spell? What surprised Hong Yeon-hwa the most, however, was that she couldnt even detect when he used Dispel. A shiver ran down her spine. Th-thats right. I let my guard down. She reprimanded herself for underestimating her opponent based solely on his outward appearance. After all, this man had too entered the Dragon Slayer Academy after overcoming numerous competitions as a hero candidate. He couldnt be an easy opponent. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her staff. There was a good chance that her next spell could be disrupted as well. In that case, she decided to compete using magic circle-based spells that were less susceptible to dispelling. Boommm Hong Yeon-hwa gathered up her mana. The mana emanating from the ruby drew a crimson magic circle beneath Kim Hos feet. His gaze briefly lowered to inspect the magic circle. Magic would promptly fall to the location where the magic circle appeared. It was a simple cause-and-effect relationship that anyone could understand. Therefore, if a magic circle appeared beneath ones feet, it was only natural to move as far away from it as possible. Hong Yeon-hwa had anticipated that Kim Ho would hastily evade, so she had prepared her next move to trap him. However Hes not moving? It seemed like Kim Ho intended to hold his ground. Instead of dodging, he slammed his staff into the ground. This meant that he completely abandoned even the slightest amount of mobility he had. Considering that he was likely to be a support, it appeared he intended to confront her head-on with powerful defensive magic. Hah. Haha. Hong Yeon-hwa couldnt help but laugh in disbelief. There was no way he couldnt know that she came from the Ruby Magic Tower. Even though he knew that her fire magic was unmatched in terms of destructive power, he dared to challenge her head-on with defensive magic? If so, great. Flash! The ruby embedded in her staff emitted a radiant glow. The diameter of the red magic circle doubled, with additional runes filling the empty spaces, and it took on an even more vivid shade of red. Meanwhile, Kim Ho remained as still as a statue and his staff was firmly planted in the ground, simply waiting for her to make a move. To Hong Yeon-hwa, it seemed as if he was silently asking, So, when are you going to use your magic? No need to rush me, Im about to use it now! Lets see you try to block this! [Fire Pillar] Whoosh! A towering pillar of fire erupted from the huge magic circle bellow him. Chapter 12: Placement Test (2) Chapter 12: Placement Test (2) Fire Pillar. This spell transformed a designated area into a towering pillar of burning flames. In general, it was used not to inflict damage on enemies but to restrict their movement or to enhance the effects of following fire spells. However, there was an exception for cases when the opponent foolishly stood right on top of the magic circle. Just like what was happening now. Kwaah! The enhanced Fire Pillars power exceeded Hong Yeon-hwas expectations. The intensity of the flames bursting forth was so great that even she, the caster, was unable to withstand the blistering heat wave and had to take a few steps back. The heat wave also kicked up a dense cloud of dust, obscuring visibility within the arena. As a result, nothing was visible for a while. After a short period, as the Fire Pillars duration came to an end and gradually died down, the thick dust began to clear. Once her vision was restored, Hong Yeon-hwa immediately checked the scoreboard. [Kim Ho 100% vs Hong Yeon-hwa 99%] [Remaining Time 1:01] No! Could he really remain unharmed like this? Did he actually manage to defend flawlessly against the enhanced Fire Pillar? Anyone else in such a situation would have lost their will to fight. But Hong Yeon-hwa was not just anyone. I am I will be the next master of the Ruby Magic Tower. She gritted her teeth as she repeated this to herself. At this point, there was no turning back. The secret cards she had kept hidden, reserved for facing stronger opponents around mid-semester. She would use them now. Do whatever it takes to win. Just as Hong Yeon-hwa was gathering mana to cast another spell, something small and bright flickered amidst the slowly clearing dust. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a hummingbird made of lightning. Tzzzzt Hummingbird!? She hastily began to recite a counter-spell to strike down the hummingbird, but the spell darted erratically and soon it vanished from her sight. As Hong Yeon-hwa frantically searched for the hummingbird, a sharp, electrifying pain shot through her shoulder. Fzzzt! Ugh! [Paralysis status ailment applied.] Gritting her teeth, she managed to steady her stiffening body and prevent herself from collapsing. But she knew, deep down. She was aware of the fact that her chances of winning had drastically diminished due to the paralysis. Kim Ho emerged slowly from the cloud of dust and stood before her and he was casually resting his long staff on his shoulder. Lets end it here. ! His gaze which was devoid of any emotion met hers. And with a voice as cold as his impassive stare, he spoke. Its better to hold back and save your cards rather than reveal everything here. Especially if youre thinking about the remaining matches. ! Thats when Hong Yeon-hwa realized. Throughout the match, her moves had been completely seen through, from start to finish. She had been entirely played by this man. And when she thought about it calmly, his advice made sense. Pouring out all her remaining magic here offered no guarantee of success. On the other hand, revealing her hidden cards would negatively impact her in subsequent matches and throughout the semester. Withdrawing seemed to be the wiser choice now. Moreover, Hong Yeon-hwa didnt really have much of a choice. Her opponents weapon was already nonchalantly placed over his shoulder. Rejecting his proposal would mean facing an unknown spell, and being hit at such close range would certainly be fatal. She could envision herself pathetically sprawled out before even the spell was cast. The man was offering her a way to concede with some dignity intact before such an event could unfold. I get it, I understand! She understood all of this in her mind, but for Hong Yeon-hwa who had been burning with fighting spirit until just moments before admitting defeat was extremely difficult. After clenching her fists tightly and trembling for a long while, she finally lowered her head. I lost; I admit defeat *** [Kim Ho Win vs Hong Yeon-hwa Lose] Before the start of the match, no one would have doubted the victory of the Ruby Magic Tower student. This was especially true since her opponent seemed like an insignificant nobody. Therefore, when Hong Yeon-hwa, looking half out of her soul, trudged off the stage, the audience started buzzing with chatter. Wow, did the Ruby Magic Tower student lose? Who is that guy? Did you see what magic he used? No, when I saw it, it wasnt magic. I didnt see any casting at all. What are you talking about? He must have used magic spells since he didnt receive any health loss. Oh, so youre saying it wasnt magic? But how can his health not drop at all from 100%? Is that even possible? Most were focused on how I perfectly defended against the onslaught of her flame magic. And this would remain a long-standing mystery even for Hong Yeon-hwa who had faced me directly. I wonder if she will feel incredibly disappointed when she finds out the truth? Song Cheon-hye completely ignored me and began to walk away with her long strides. In truth, I did want to stick around, but the situation wasnt great. Ive already attracted too much attention. In the first match, I forced a surrender from Hong Yeon-hwa, which led to me being labeled as the Mysterious Talent who Defeated a student from the Ruby Magic Tower. That alone was enough to make things quite troublesome in the future, and to top it off, defeating the granddaughter of the Thunder Lord? That would make me an instant superstar from the start of the semester. Fame is a double-edged sword. And more often than not, the negative side is sharper and more cutting. The more my name gets known, the more the analyzing and scrutinizing eyes increase. The S-grade [Elemental Resistance] is an incredible trait that not only the students of Dragon Slayer Academy but even the teachers find difficult to overcome. At the moment, only my Elemental Resistance is ranked S, and my other abilities are still unremarkable. If this information leaks out, future duel battles will become exceedingly troublesome. For this reason, engaging Song Cheon-hye now would be the worst of strategies. Those who had observed my previous match with Hong Yeon-hwa were likely already harboring suspicions, and using the same tactics a few times would solidify these doubts into convictions. A war of information was in full swing. Until I acquired other means, I had to conceal the cards I held as much as possible. Hey, why did they stop all of a sudden? Theyre saying he forfeit? Forfeit? Who forfeits in a placement test? Maybe he chickened out because its Song Cheon-hye. Even so, to just run away without even trying? Thats so disappointing. What a coward, a super coward. Naturally, the audience couldnt understand the real reason behind it. The gaze of curiosity that initially held the question, Who is that person? quickly transformed into a mix of mocking and derisive looks, as if to say, Just as expected. The nobody who luckily defeated the Ruby Magic Tower student. But then, upon facing the Topaz Magic Tower student, he immediately tucked his tail and ran like a coward. Perfect. Just perfect. It was precisely the evaluation I had intended. Ignoring the jeers coming from somewhere, I returned to the spectator seats. Since it was about midway through the placement tests, there were surprisingly few students waiting in the stands. Most were probably waiting near the stage for their next match to be called. Shin Byeong-cheol was one of the few students seated in the spectator area. He was intently scribbling something in his notebook while keeping his gaze fixed on the stage. Since he was someone who traded in information, he was particularly diligent in such moments. As I took my seat, Shin Byeong-cheol asked me, Finished already? How many wins? One win, two losses. How about you? The same. An unspoken understanding formed between Shin Byeong-cheol and me. We clasped hands firmly. For Song Cheon-hyes next opponent, a male student wielding a spear stepped up. He seemed to be making a bold declaration before the start, but Song Cheon-hye merely returned a cold gaze. Watching the standoff between the two, Shin Byeong-cheol asked, I was kind of looking forward to you going up against her. Why did you forfeit? Just felt like I couldnt win. Yeah, with Song Cheon-hye, it cant be helped. As a victim of lightning magic, Shin Byeong-cheol seemed to deeply sympathize with my decision. It appeared that he thought it was better to concede early than to embarrassingly squirm on the floor, paralyzed, in a battle that was bound to be lost. While this interpretation was quite different from my original intent, I was rather grateful for his perspective. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] As soon as the match began, the spear-wielding male student who had charged forward suddenly lost speed and staggered. He had carelessly been struck squarely by the hummingbird. Struggling to maintain his stance, the spearman desperately clung to his knees, trying to avoid falling to the ground. However, the next thing he saw was Song Cheon-hye hurling a lightning bolt as large as a human body towards him. Rumble!! Boom!! A deafening thunderclap shook the arena. Do you think shes angry? Seems so. Song Cheon-hye, who was looking agitated, scanned the audience and eventually located me. She sent a sharp, piercing look my way before vanishing from the arena due to the teleportation magic circle. Meanwhile, the spear-wielding male student ended up being carried out on a stretcher. Shin Byeong-cheol clicked his tongue in sympathy. Ah, thats tough. He hadnt even fought three matches yet and now hes out without even a chance to compete. Such an unfortunate situation. Its not just him whos unfortunate. Song Cheon-hye hasnt completed three matches either. Oh, youre right. Who do you think is next? Who would be the next sacrifice in Song Cheon-hyes placement test? As if to answer Shin Byeong-cheols question, Lee Soo-dok mentioned two names. Song Cheon-hye. And then, Seo Ye-in. Chapter 13: Placement Test (3) Chapter 13: Placement Test (3) Song Cheon-hye silently looked at Seo Ye-in across from her and then took out a glove from her pocket before slipping it onto her right hand. The glove was black, adorned with golden embroidery and tiny topazes, like grains of rice embedded in it. It must be a unique artifact of the Topaz Magic Tower. She had been completely bare-handed when she faced the spear-wielding male student, which seemed to imply that she intended to approach this final placement test more seriously. On the other hand, Seo Ye-in was wearing something like suspenders over her school uniform shirt. Upon closer inspection, they were holsters for pistols. And she had one pistol on each side. Shin Byeong-cheol saw this and asked me. Shes a gunslinger, isnt she? Did you know that? No, I didnt. I just realized it myself. A gunslinger, or gunner. A long-range class that subdues enemies with bullets filled with magical power. From her appearance, I never expected Seo Ye-in to be a gunslinger. Well, when I think about it, we had only met a day ago, and half of that time she had just been sleeping. Its hard to imagine a nimble, target-striking gunslinger from what Ive seen of her so far. Shin Byeong-cheol watched both sides with interest. This is getting interesting. A gunslinger is a complete counter to a mage, right? Is it 6 to 4? 7 to 3? Song Cheon-hye might actually lose this one. Well, thats hard to say. Well have to wait and see. Come on, even if its the Topaz Magic Tower, its tough to lose if youre a gunslinger and just stick to the basics, right? How about a bet then? At the mention of a bet, Shin Byeong-cheol grinned, revealing his teeth. Aha, a bet. Im always up for that. Whats at stake? Five silver. Okay. Five silver is a bit much, but thats what makes it exciting, right? Alright, youre betting on Seo Ye-in, and Im betting on Song Cheon-hye. Deal. I had put in my entire fortune of five silver coins. It was soon to double. Meanwhile, a heated discussion was going on between male student A and student B sitting nearby about Song Cheon-hye and Seo Ye-in. However, their topic was slightly different from ours. Which side are you on? Umm Its really hard to decide. Its hard to choose when both are such rare beauties. If I had to choose, Id say Song Cheon-hye is more my type. Her aloof gaze reminds me of gazing at ice flowers. Is that so? We seem to have different tastes then. Not just student A and B but other male students were also divided, not over who would win? though. Their opinions were divided over who was more beautiful? and who is more to my taste? The opinions of those in the Song Cheon-hye camp, when summarized, mainly expressed their desire to serve her like a queen for life and a wish to be stepped on by her, even if just once. In contrast, the Seo Ye-in camp didnt put forth any clear opinions, instead concentrating their gaze in one direction and remaining silent. The thoughts of men are similar in all worlds. [Song Cheon-hye 100% vs Seo Ye-in 100%] [Time Remaining 5:00] The scoreboard displayed the two competitors health and the remaining time. Immediately afterward, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] As soon as the match began, Seo Ye-in already had a pistol in each hand. The pistols took turns in emitting blue light. Tututututu! Song Cheon-hye didnt even attempt to dodge the barrage of magic bullets raining down on her. She simply extended her gloveless hand forward. As if to say, Stop right here. Zizz! Zizzz! Sparks flew incessantly just in front of her outstretched palms. The magic bullets were blocked by the barrier Song Cheon-hye had erected. Shin Byeong-cheols eyes widened as he witnessed the scene unfold. What? How is that blocked? It shouldnt be blocked? This is why we need to keep watching. While the amount of magical power that Seo Ye-in packs into each shot was above average, the amount of magical power that Song Cheon-hye possessed was exceedingly huge. The amount of mana she poured into each spell made an E-rank Hummingbird look like a D-rank spell. Even the simple barrier spell she was using now was almost twice as thick as usual. This is why the magic bullets which would normally have pierced through a light barrier lost their power halfway and dispersed Song Cheon-hye maintained the barrier with one hand and raised two hummingbirds made of lightning with her other hand. [Hummingbird] The two hummingbirds sliced through the air. Between her hands, dozens of thin threads of electricity formed. Song Cheon-hye began to spread them widely in all directions. Thats right. Smart move. What is that? Simply put, its like a spider web. Shes set it up and is waiting for her opponent to get caught in it. As I explained, it wasnt long before the entire round arena was filled with lightning threads. Zzzt! And then a reaction occurred. In a corner of the arena, a faint spark flickered over an entity that wriggled almost transparently. The moment her location was pinpointed, Seo Ye-ins rifle spewed fire. Dong! But Song Cheon-hye was not one to be fooled by the same attack four times. Especially when the snipers position was clearly visible. She concentrated all her magical barriers on one side and blocked the magical bullet without suffering any damage. Bang! Deciding it was now pointless, Seo Ye-in discarded her invisible ghillie suit and set off another smoke bomb. However, for Song Cheon-hye, there was no longer any need to clear away the smoke. The continual sparking revealed the rough location of her opponent anyway. Once again, a hummingbird darted across the arena. This time, there was only one, but it was relatively larger. Its movement was also much more erratic. Seo Ye-in failed to react in time to the movement that resembled a mix of zigzags and whirls. Fzzt! There is a bit of improvement. By my standards, the spell deserved 30 out of 100 points. Until just now, it wouldnt have even scored 10 points. How I longed to offer advice when I witnessed how she sent the hummingbird on a straight trajectory like a sparrow before. Indeed, it is through real battles that one learns the most. Regrettably, it seemed Seo Ye-in had no more cards left to play. Because she was hit hard by the hummingbird, her mobility was close to zero. Thus, she decided to unleash her maximum firepower in one final attempt, whether it would work or not. Her rifle was rapidly disassembled and reassembled into two pistols. Tutututu! However, as her initial attacks had been ineffective, it was no surprise that this time too, the shots were easily blocked by the barrier. Every time Song Cheon-hye maintained her steadfast defense and launched a counterattack, Seo Ye-ins health continued to deplete. Its over. Ah. [Remaining Time 0:00] [Song Cheon-hye 85% vs Seo Ye-in 68%] As the five-minute time limit expired, Song Cheon-hye swiftly retracted all her magical power as if it had never been exerted. Watching her manipulate mana as naturally as she did her own body, I was convinced. Theres almost no match for her among the first-years. Seo Ye-ins skills were indeed great, though she had the misfortune of facing a very tough opponent. The fact that she held her own against a student of the Topaz Magic Tower without being overwhelmed until the end of the match was praiseworthy in itself. [Song Cheon-hye Win vs Seo Ye-in Lose] Of course, an evaluation is an evaluation, and a bet is a bet. I extended my hand to Shin Byung-cheol. 5 silver coins. No way~ I lost~ Ah~ He looked incredulously as he reluctantly pulled out and placed 5 silver coins in my hand. Though he had said that betting 5 silver made it exciting, losing the bet seemed to be a bitter pill for him to swallow. Come on, lets bet one more time. Just once more. Why keep betting? Its not good for you to do this after losing, you know? Oh come on, just hear me out. The placement tests are joint for all first-years and everythings out in the open, but you know, usually these duel battles are pretty private. When else will we get a chance to bet while munching on popcorn like this? I was, of course, already aware of this. Unless there was a tournament in the fall, opportunities to spectate student duel battles were rare. So, I agreed to another bet and pretended to be persuaded. Alright, just one more time then. Great decision! This time, lets bet on. Shin Byung-cheols eyes began to roam across this and that arena, searching for potential subjects for our next bet. Han So-mi was overpowering her opponent with fierce sword energy, ultimately dominating them. Hong Yeon-hwa turned one of the arenas into a sea of fire. Both were more than suitable for a betting subject, but unfortunately, they were almost finishing their third placement test. Ah! Then, Shin Byung-cheol spotted someone and his eyes lit up. How about Go Hyeon-woo? Chapter 14: Placement Test (4) Chapter 14: Placement Test (4) [Go Hyeon-woo 100% vs Baek Jun-seok 87%] [Remaining Time 3:08] Go Hyeon-woo was in the midst of his second placement test. His opponent looked just like a typical knight, wearing sturdy armor over his school uniform and wielding a two-handed sword. Each time the heavy, thick blade sliced through the air, a menacing whoosh echoed around. However, such deadly-looking attacks were futile if they didnt connect. Clearly, Baek Jun-seok was the one who was launching the attacks one after another, while Go Hyeon-woo focused solely on evading. Yet Baek Jun-seok didnt seem to have the upper hand in this match. Baek Jun-seok looked exhausted and was drenched in sweat, while Go Hyeon-woo continued to move with graceful ease and a calm expression. Huff, Huff, Hooh. Baek Jun-seok stopped his attack and created some distance. He had exhausted himself with continuous swings that never hit their mark. As Baek Jun-seok gasped for breath, Go Hyeon-woo pointed his sword at him and asked, Shall we continue? Aaagh! Baek Jun-seok got angry and charged in. Even though he had little stamina left, he recklessly swung his longsword without even considering the aftermath of depleting all his energy. At that moment, Go Hyeon-woo, who had been consistently evading, stepped forward. Then, with the fluidity of a brushstroke, he drew his iron sword across the air. Dzzzzt And with a chilling friction sound, a long diagonal cut was etched across Baek Jun-seoks armor. [Go Hyeon-woo 100% vs Baek Jun-seok 87%] [Go Hyeon-woo 100% vs Baek Jun-seok 68%] A significant chunk of health was shaved off in an instant. Baek Jun-seok fell to one knee, clutching his chest in great pain. Once again, a sword was pointed at him. Shall we continue? Ive lost. [Go Hyeon-woo Win vs Baek Jun-seok Lose] He truly is remarkable. Go Hyeon-woo took a light step forward and casually swung his sword as if it were nothing. I could see the profound intricacies embedded within that movement. While he still had many shortcomings, his swordsmanship alone was nearing perfection. Anyone who knew me would have been shocked to hear this assessment. As I am known for being extremely critical in my evaluation. Shin Byeong-cheol seemed to agree that Go Hyeon-woo was quite strong., even if he couldnt read his profound movements. Wow Baek Jun-seok is no easy opponent, and he just sliced through him. I heard he fought to a standstill against Han So-mi as well. Where did you hear that? Hehe, even if I look like this, I am someone who deals in information. Thats what I do. Gotta keep up with such details. Anyway, this makes Go Hyeon-woos second win, right? Lets compare our insights in the third match. Go Hyeon-woo stepped onto the teleportation magic circle for his final placement test. And then another person emerged from the opposite side. This person was a head taller than the average male student, with a robust build made of steel-like muscles. [Go Hyeon-woo 100% vs Jo Byeok 100%] This third match is going to be tough. Whos stronger between Han So-mi and Jo Byeok? In response to my question, Shin Byeong-cheol rubbed his chin with a rare serious expression on his face. Well, based on public opinion alone, the Fist King is slightly above the Sword Marquis. But thats just comparing the Fist King and the Sword Marquis. Their disciples skills are another matter, right? In short, you dont know? Shin Byeong-cheol, briefly at a loss for words, quickly changed the subject. Anyway! Lets change the conditions for the bet this time. Its not about who wins, but how many minutes it takes for the match to end. How about that? Sure, you go first. At the end of the match, how many of the 5-minute limit would have elapsed? After a brief moment of contemplation, Shin Byeong-cheol decided on a time. Ill say 4 minutes. No, lets go with the full 5 minutes. If their skills are similar, it wont end quickly, right? Then Ill go with a 2-minute finish. Huh? Shin Byeong-cheol displayed an unmistakable look of astonishment. It was rare for a match to conclude in just two minutes unless one side was overwhelmingly superior. No, why the 2-minute limit? Do you think hell lose that quickly? Who said anything about a quick loss? I never said that. Then what are you saying? Youll see. Hey, do you always have to be so mysterious? Even so, under 2 minutes seems far-fetched. If its far-fetched, you get your 5 silver coins back. Lets wait and see what happens. *** Kim-hyung is watching. Go Hyeon-woo spotted Kim Ho in his field of vision. In the spectator seats, he was looking down at him, engaged in a serious conversation with Shin Byeong-cheol. Even though he didnt know the details of their conversation, it probably wasnt unrelated to him. If possible, he wanted to show a winning performance in front of his friend. Though the result of the match might not impact their friendship, winning would certainly be more honorable. However, it wouldnt be as easy as it sounds. Given the caliber of his opponent, [100% Go Hyeon-woo vs 100% Jo Byeok] Therefore, the source of this gentle breeze must be Go Hyeon-woo himself. Somethings not right. Jo Byeoks instincts sounded an alarm within him. This time, he needed to be more cautious. Uncharacteristically, he maintained a certain distance and sent out his third punch. But the energy, which was once like a huge boulder, dissolved instantly upon touching the breeze and vanished. His subsequent punch also evaporated quickly. Then Jo Byeok was certain. That breeze is some kind of sword energy. From his first two strikes, he realized that any half-hearted attack was just a waste of energy. Hence, he decided to concentrate all his power into a single decisive move. Jo Byeoks body emanated a tangible surge of energy He carefully wrapped himself in this aura and then leaped into the gently blowing wind. This is Elevating his energy to its peak had been the right decision. The soft wind, as it brushed past him, pressed in from all sides like a raging sword energy. Any ordinary warrior would have been instantly torn apart and their body would turn into a cold corpse in mere moments. The energy enveloping his body rapidly diminished, but this was within his expectations. There was still enough left to reach his target. Facing the approaching Jo Byeok, Go Hyeon-woo also sensed that his opponent had made a critical move. As he raised his iron sword above his head, all the gentle breezes converging towards Jo Byeok were now focused on the blade. At the moment Jo Byeok threw his punch, Go Hyeon-woos iron sword also descended. Flash! In the blink of an eye, the positions of the two got reversed. After a brief silence, Jo Byeok was the first to speak. What is the name of this technique? Clear Stream. Jo Byeok slowly lowered his gaze. A small part of his school uniforms shoulder was slightly cut. This means that Go Hyeon-woos single sword strike surpassed the school uniforms D-rank defensive magic, even if it was only for a brief moment. However, the absence of more severe injuries suggests that Go Hyeon-woos attack had little effect on the protective aura enveloping Jo Byeok. Ill remember it, but its a shame. Psssst Go Hyeon-woos dangling iron sword began to crumble from the tip, slowly disintegrating. It was the result of the durability being exhausted by the recoil of the clashing techniques. As he released the handle, which was all that remained, the rest of the sword also vanished. With the destruction of his iron sword, Go Hyeon-woo was left with two choices. Either draw the long sword on his back to continue the duel or accept defeat. He chose the latter. I have lost. I look forward to our next match. Then, I hope to see your full strength. Go Hyeon-woo silently watched the departing figure of Jo Byeok in silence. What he was thinking remained unknown. *** I paid close attention to the iron sword that Go Hyeon-woo always carried with him. It was understandable that he would use a different sword instead of the sacred weapon of his sect, which was likely due to some personal reasons. But was it necessary for the sword to specifically be an iron sword? After contemplating this question, I arrived at the conclusion that it was because the sword was used as a disposable item. Go Hyeon-woo seemed unfazed even when his iron sword broke on the train. His attitude was not that of someone experiencing such a situation for the first or second time. It was probably due to the nature of the martial arts that Go Hyeon-woo practiced. Since most equipment cant fully contain that energy, the weapons durability quickly decreases and it eventually breaks. Therefore, the same thing could have easily happened during the placement test. Especially when facing a strong opponent like Jo Byeok, the probability of such thing happening was very high. Thus, my bet on a 2-minute limit was not about the duration of the fight but rather the time until the iron sword would inevitably break. [Go Hyeon-woo Lose vs Jo Byeok Win] The match lasted for 2 minutes and 28 seconds. Since it was much closer to 2 minutes than 5 minutes, I was the winner of the bet. Come on, this is unbelievable. It ended just like that? Hey, this isnt right. How could anyone predict this? You talk too much. 5 silver. As I reached out my hand to collect the money, Shin Byeong-chul showed a begrudging smile. Hey, I dont have the money right now, but Ill borrow it and pay you back real soon. Really soon. You were the one who wanted to bet. Why did you make a bet if you didnt have the money? Well, I thought I would win this time I mean, its Shin Byeong-chul betting, but my luck is just terrible today. From the way he spoke, it seemed he had quite a bit of confidence. Unfortunately for him, I was his opponent in this match of insight. I could have just written off the 5 silver coins as a debt, But theres no need to settle it in money though. Really? Then what? Shin Byeong-cheol smiled and asked. I nodded towards the notebook he was holding with a gesture of my chin. Information. Chapter 15: Placement Test (5) Chapter 15: Placement Test (5) After the last student completed their placement test, we all moved out of the round arena. We left the stage empty just like it was in the beginning. Alright, that settles it. Everyone, gather around me. Lee Su-dok called the first-year class 3 students to assemble around him. Some of you may have had bad luck in the draw, resulting in a lower win rate than expected. Remember, the placement test is just a means to minimally differentiate abilities, so dont read too much into it. Several students looked visibly upset. They had mid-tier abilities but had faced a string of losses against students from magic towers or prestigious families. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the placement test system along with the thought, This score doesnt reflect my true skills. But actually, its fairer than they might think. Starting off with a different score than your original skill level might seem unfair at first, but has many mechanisms and events in place to balance this out. As students continue to participate in duel battles throughout the semester, they eventually find their true level. And of course, improving their skills can take them even higher. I too started with a zero score in my first-year placement test, losing every match. I was ridiculed a lot. But I worked hard to improve my skills, silencing one critic after another. By my second year, everyone had quieted down. In my third year, there were hardly any who could beat me in duel battles. Now? Everyone else is dead. As Lee Su-dok continued his story, the students faces grew increasingly pale. Especially at the end, when he said, Everyone else is dead whether it was just a feeling or not, it sounded more like I killed them all. Lee Su-dok revealed his teeth in a menacing grin. So, if you lost to someone stronger, dont waste time questioning the fairness of the placement test. Get stronger and seek your revenge. Thats the spirit befitting a student of Dragon Slayer Academy. After lunch, well continue with the strategy battle placement test. Dont be late and gather at the dungeon area. Dismissed. The students hurried towards the cafeteria with very quick steps. Everyone was physically and mentally exhausted and they must have been quite hungry as a result. Moreover, with the strategy battle placement test scheduled for after lunch, it was important to eat well and store up energy for good performance. Hey, Byeong-chul! Arent you coming to eat? One of Shin Byeong-chuls friends called out to him. Shin Byeong-chul rested his hand on my shoulder and replied, You guys go ahead. I need to discuss some business matters with this person. Business? Alright, got it. His friends showed an indifferent attitude and they left with a sense of do as you please. The business Shin Byeong-chul referred to was about passing on the information he had gathered during the recent duel battles. In place of the 5 silver coins he owed from our bet. Shin Byeong-cheol lamented half-jokingly. Ah, what a mistake I made with that bet. Lets go. I heard todays lunch is sandwiches. Sounds good, sandwiches. I turned to fetch Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. Perhaps because the afterglow of defeat had not yet completely subsided, both were in poor condition. Go Hyeon-woo looked especially worse for wear; his complexion was so pale that he seemed on the verge of collapsing. It was an expected outcome, considering he had expended so much of his magical power in his fight against Jo Byeok. Moreover, the technique he used at the end, called [Clear Stream] seemed like a monster that voraciously consumed energy just by the looks of it. He would have reached his limits even if his iron sword hadnt broken. Hey. Hmm? What is it, Kim-hyung? Are you coming? For lunch. I was lost in thought for a moment. Lets go. Just then, I stopped the creaking figure that had just begun to move. No, you should go to the dormitory and rest. Youre in no condition to be here. I can still endure it. Enduring isnt the point. We have a strategy battle coming up. Go and recover as much as you can. Ill pack you a sandwich. Will you really do that? I owe you one, Kim-hyung. Enough, go on. Dont be late later. Thank you. Go Hyeon-woo expressed his gratitude briefly and left. If he practiced energy cultivation throughout lunchtime, he should be able to restore his depleted [Core] enough to participate in the strategy battle. I then spoke to Shin Byeong-cheol and Seo Ye-in. Lets go eat lunch by ourselves. *** Just like Shin Byeong-cheol said, the lunch menu was sandwiches. Ham, cheese, egg sandwiches, and crabstick salad sandwiches. Considering the lovely spring weather, it didnt seem necessary to sit in a cafeteria to eat sandwiches. So, we laid a mat on the grass. Quite a few students had gathered in groups on the grass beside us. It wasnt just because it was the first day of the semester; there was something about todays weather that lifted peoples spirits. Yet Seo Ye-in was still in a somber mood as she quietly nibbled on her sandwich. Watching a ladybug crawl across the grass. In contrast, Shin Byeong-cheol was shoveling sandwiches into his mouth as if he had a bottomless pit for a stomach. With a mouth full of a mix of ham, cheese, egg, and crabstick salad, he opened his mouth to speak. Mmm-guah mochuirous-mumshun Hey, why are you curious about all this? Its like market research. Market research? What are you planning to sell? Something similar. Once Ive figured out who Im going to focus on in the major powers and what kind of hidden pieces they will need in the future, Trade is possible. After identifying the hidden pieces the major powers desired, I planned to secure them for trade. Whether it involved artifacts of equal value or the rights and privileges they possessed. As the placement test concluded, a rough sketch of how the game board would be structured started to take shape in my mind. Ah, come on, tell me a bit more. Youve got me curious now. Hey, youve got a message. Huh? Shin Byeong-cheol, who had been pestering me for information, looked down. His pocket was shining brightly. He reached in and, after rummaging around for a moment, pulled out his student ID. He began to read the words appearing on the back in a disjointed manner. You where are you come to the office now or else your hair Damn, right. I forgot. Sounds like someones really angry. Who is it? Our club president. A very very scary person. He shivered as if the mere thought of the president sent a chill down his spine. The problem seemed to be that he had somehow upset this frightening person, but that was his issue to deal with. Shin Byeong-cheol quickly gathered his things and stood up. I need to go. If I dont hurry, who knows what might happen to me. Alright, see you later. And then, he dashed off in a full sprint. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was still quietly nibbling on a sandwich even after Shin Byeong-cheol had left. Still, she had almost finished it off. Her gray eyes were gazing at me. It was still impossible to discern her thoughts, but now there seemed to be an unusually subdued air about her. Go Hyeon-woo, Seo Ye-in, Shin Byeong-cheol. Regardless of my ultimate goal of raising EX-rank heroes, these guys were special. They were the first relationships I had made since entering the world of the game through a reincarnation quest. It just didnt feel right to leave her so downcast. So, to lighten the mood, there was one simple yet effective method. Remember the cookie you dropped on the train yesterday? ? Caught in the scuffle between the disciplinary committee and Shin Byeong-cheol, there had been an incident where the cookie given by Seo Ye-in ended up on the floor. What about it? Her eyes seemed to convey to me. Song Cheon-hye sent a dessert coupon as an apology. Song Cheon-hye was someone with a clear-cut way of dealing with things. My reputation had plummeted almost to the level of Shin Byeong-cheols due to forfeiting a duel battle, but it seemed she still thought a promise was a promise to be kept. The moment lunchtime started, a dessert coupon came flying my way. A coupon that could be exchanged for any dessert offered in the student cafeteria, regardless of the price. What I chose using that was, Ta-daaa. I pulled out a neatly wrapped paper box from the inventory. When I opened the box, there emerged a slice of fresh cream cake studded with fruits. I didnt think much about it when I ordered it, but when I saw it in front of my eyes, it was extraordinary. It could be said that it was not a cake but a work of art. Had I bought it with money, a single piece would have cost as much as a meal at a top-tier restaurant. Moreover, its limited quantity added a premium to its value; I nearly missed the chance to buy it even with the dessert coupon. Seo Ye-ins eyes were focused on the cake, as it seemed unusual to her eyes. I handed her a disposable fork, and she took it somewhat bewilderedly. Technically, it was your cookie that got us this, so you have a share in it too. Lets eat together. Thank you. After offering a brief word of gratitude, Seo Ye-ins eyes widened ever so slightly as she carefully removed a corner with her fork and placed it in her mouth. I too tasted a corner from my side and couldnt help but nod in agreement. Its worth the price. The harmony of the sponge, fresh cream, and fruits in the cake was nearly perfect. Especially with the fresh cream, it felt more like eating clouds than cream. The sweetness was not too overpowering, which seemed to suit Seo Ye-ins preference for milder flavors. For a while, we just ate in silence, taking turns with the fork. By the time only crumbs of the cake were left, Hey. Seo Ye-in opened her mouth. Chapter 16: Fixed Zone (1) Chapter 16: Fixed Zone (1) Hey. Yeah? Why do you think I lost? To Song Cheon-hye? Mhmm. The fact that she was willing to open up about her concerns was a positive sign. It meant she was starting to open up to me if only a little. Therefore, it was important for me to respond with care. I took a moment to choose my words carefully. The terrain played a big part, I think. The arena was cramped, and there was nowhere to hide. Its a disadvantage for a gunslinger. A round arena and a deathmatch were essentially an environment and a rule that forced a head-on confrontation with your opponent. If the match had been played under different conditions, the outcome might have been different. If the space had been two to three times larger, it would have been extremely difficult to cover it with [Lightning Thread]. And if there had been places to take cover, there was a high chance of remaining undetected for the entire five minutes, which could have led to a victory by decision. But Seo Ye-in slowly shook her head. Thats not what Im asking. She desired a fundamental solution rather than blaming external factors. As a gunslinger, how could she break through the magical barrier of Song Cheon-hye, who was a mage, and the even more powerful high-level mages? That was the real question. I already had the answer but for the moment, I decided to step back. Ive thought about it while watching, but Im not sure if hearing from me will be of any help. Im a support, you know. My score is even lower than yours. I still want to hear it. She wanted to hear my thoughts whether they were helpful or not. Having come this far, it wouldnt hurt to offer some advice as an experienced gunslinger, not just as a support. I spread my palms open. Look at this. Mana blossomed in each hand, compressing into the shape of bullets. I deliberately made the two magic bullets differ in form. One barely maintained its shape, while the other was so exquisitely crafted that it could have been mistaken for a real bullet painted blue. If you had to use just one shot against the magical barrier, which one would you take? . It was a question with an obvious answer. Seo Ye-ins finger pointed towards the more intricately shaped bullet. At the same time, she seemed slightly surprised; it must have been her first time seeing such a perfectly shaped magic bullet. I wonder if I should have made it a little more clumsy? When I think about it, what was basic for me might not be so for a first-year student. In such situations, its important to smoothly transition without showing any surprise. First, I took the clumsy magic bullet and prodded its edge with my palm. Almost immediately, the bullet shape collapsed and dispersed. When you try to break through a magic barrier with a normally formed magic bullet, it turns it into a battle of magical power against magical power. In that case, a mage with superior magical power quantity will naturally have the upper hand. Next, I picked up the more intricately shaped bullet and poked its edge in the same manner. Though the edge was destroyed and a little blue energy leaked out, the bullets shape remained intact. However, the reason a swordsman can cut through a mages barrier and a gunslinger can penetrate it is by using concentrated and condensed magical power at a single point. So, investing more time in magical power training and paying attention to the crafting of each magic bullet might just reveal you the answer you seek. . Seo Ye-in listened silently until I finished explaining. Then, tilting her head slightly, she asked, How do you train your magical power? What? I couldnt believe my ears and had to ask again for confirmation. If you dont know how to train magical power, how have you been creating magic bullets until now? I just did, and it worked. What about the [Magic Bullet] skill? I didnt learn it. ? ? She still looked like she was unable to understand my reaction. This is unexpected. The magic bullet I had just created seemed real, but it was really just for show. The difference in lethality between a casually made magic bullet and one enhanced with the [Magic Bullet] skill was like night and day. This skill forms the basic foundation of a gunslinger. Yet she had not learned it up to this point. Since she didnt even know how to train her magical power, I guessed that her related skills and traits were likely elementary. In essence, she had been winging everything by her intuition alone, which meant one thing: Shes a prodigy. In fact, I should probably raise my assessment of Seo Ye-in a notch. Considering she managed to give Song Cheon-hye a run for her money without even having the basics down. The extent of her talent was something I felt the need to verify with my own hands. Would you mind if I take some time to check it out for you? Mhmm. Seo Ye-in immediately accepted my offer. I thought about testing a few things on the spot, but then The melody flowing from the speaker signaled the end of lunchtime. It was time for the strategy battle test to begin. Argh! A students scream echoed as they were ejected from the portal. The rule was to kill as many monsters as possible within 10 minutes, but this student was ejected not even 3 minutes after entering. It was a premature retirement. The dungeons safety mechanism decided that the test could no longer proceed for some reason, and the participant was kicked out. Argh! Another student was ejected from the portal. This one managed to last 5 minutes, 2 minutes longer than the previous one. Of course, the fact that it was a premature retirement was the same. It looks like they proceeded as usual. It was obvious what had happened inside without even having to see it. These students must have tried to wipe out the monsters with a barrage of skills like they always did. Forgetting that the power of their skills had dropped to an F-rank. The monsters, which should have been swept away in droves, were very much alive and attacking, which likely left them flustered and they got severely beaten up. And so, after being continuously pummeled, they were eventually ejected. Ouch! Aaah! One after another, students started failing. This meant an increasing number of students were disgracefully sprawled on the ground. Those waiting for their turn watched the scene unfold and they became even more tense. I must absolutely not end up like that. Ugh Stop, stop hitting me, you bastards! Even after being expelled from the dungeon, the eliminated participants rolled on the floor and groaned. Since it was an artificial dungeon and there were multiple safety mechanisms put into place, there was no physical damage, but being swarmed and lynched by a horde of monsters was enough to mentally shatter anyone. In the midst of this, 10 minutes had passed since the start of the strategy battle test. The first person from our class to complete the 10-minute duration emerged. It was Choi Jeong-pil who had entered first. He staggered out, looking mentally exhausted, but he was, after all, standing on his feet. [Choi Jeong-pil, 530 points, 20%] A little distance from the strategy battle portals floated a large hologram window the size of a poster. This was supposed to be the leaderboard. It displayed the [Name, Score, Ranking] of the entire grade in real-time. Soon after Choi Jeong-pil, Han So-mi, who had entered next, and then Park Kyung-ah, who followed, also completed their trials and walked out. [Han So-mi, 928 points, 1st place] New! [Park Kyung-ah, 543 points, 40%] [Choi Jeong-pil, 530 points, 45%] Students from other classes also started coming out one after another after they succeeded in their trials. With each new emergence, their names and scores were added to the leaderboard, and the rankings were continuously updated. Choi Jeong-pils rank, which was initially in the top 20%, began to plummet. Wow, look at Han So-mis score. Its almost twice as much, twice as much. Is this the difference in skill? I told you shes really scary when you get to know her. She looks so cute though. The attention of the audience, which had been focused on the eliminated students, swiftly shifted to the leaderboard. As the students began to talk about the rankings, their enthusiasm was ignited. Although still nervous due to the [Fixed Zone] rule, the desire to secure a high position on the publicly visible leaderboard seemed to motivate them. Seo Ye-in. It was Seo Ye-ins turn. I offered a brief piece of advice to Seo Ye-in, who was checking her two pistols for the last time. It might be better to switch to a rifle. If you feel that mana management is becoming difficult, just focus on headshots for those that get close. Mhmm. Seo Ye-in accepted my advice without question. The pistols in her hands were swiftly disassembled and reassembled into a rifle. She glanced at me with an expressionless face, as if to ask, Did I do well? I nodded in approval, and she responded with a slight nod before entering the dungeon. . Feeling a stinging sensation at the back of my head, I turned around to find Song Cheon-hye looking at me with a disapproving look. From her perspective, she probably wondered what right I had to give advice. When our eyes met, she quickly turned her head away. Kim Ho. As I waited, my name was eventually called. Upon stepping one foot into the portal, I was swiftly pulled into somewhere else. In the next moment, I found myself standing in the midst of a forest thick with fog. It was a forest in the early hours before dawn, retaining the darkness and dampness of the early morning. [Monsters will be summoned shortly.] [Remaining time 10:00] I curled the corners of my mouth upwards as I read the notification message. Its been a long time since Ive been here. At , I was called by many nicknames. The S-rank Hero Factory, the top ranker, the strongest supporter. And yet there was one more. The God of the Fixed Zone. Chapter 17: Fixed Zone (2) Chapter 17: Fixed Zone (2) was essentially a single-player game but it also had content where players could compete and battle against each other. For instance, in the competitive content, some practical evaluations and events were tallied across all users. Of course, I was ranked first. No matter which ranking I checked, my name was always at the top. And that too, with a considerable margin over the second place. The gap was even more significant in the Fixed Zone. To the extent that the word overwhelming would be an understatement. Thats why I earned the nickname God which I found to be a bit embarrassing. There was no one who could rival me in the Fixed Zone. [Entering the Fixed Zone.] [The rank of some skills/traits/equipment will be adjusted.] I glanced at the notification message and brought up the status window. [Kim Ho] Skills Amplification (F) Copy-Skill [1/1] 1. Hummingbird (F) Traits Core (F) Monarch (F) Copy-Trait [1/1] 1. Elemental Resistance (F) Equipment School Uniform (F) Earth Staff (F) According to the Fixed Zone rule, the rank of all skills, traits, and equipment was fixed at F-rank. Since most of what I originally had was around E-rank, there wasnt much change for me. Additionally, a skill like [Hummingbird], whose main purpose was controlling enemies rather than destruction, would perform similarly even at F rank. However, this time I planned to challenge myself by using only my basic physical abilities without even using Hummingbird. I need to warm up. This was my first experience in the Fixed Zone since enrolling in the academy, and it was a chance to see what I was capable of. And my physical abilities alone should be sufficient. After all, I didnt get the nickname God of the Fixed Zone for nothing. I surveyed my surroundings. The terrain of the [Mist Forest] was randomly formed the moment a challenger entered through the portal. But random as it may be, this dungeon was ultimately created by humans. Broadly speaking, there are several standardized patterns. If you can figure out these patterns, you can predict when, where, what kind of monsters will appear, and in what numbers. Judging by the arrangement of the bushes, trees, weeds, rocks around me, and the direction of the mist flow, Its the C pattern. I took my position in front of an empty space near a rock. Gripping the Earth Staff with both hands, I raised it high above my head. The system began the countdown. [3] [2]New novel chapters are published on [1] [Start!] [Monsters will be summoned.] [Remaining Time: 9:59] [Current score: 0 points] Black and dirty smoke billowed in the air before me. From within the smoke, a monster with green skin the size of a five- or six-year-old child burst out. Keuk, keureuk. As soon as the goblin was summoned, its yellow eyes flashed and it tried to find a target to kill. However, the first thing that came into its view was a thick wooden stick plummeting towards its head. Kwajik! I crushed the first goblins skull and immediately snatched the dagger it was holding. At the same time, I swung the staff with all my might to the left, exploding another head. I grabbed that goblins dagger too and ran recklessly towards the bushes. Before the three plumes of black smoke could even transform into the shapes of goblins, I swung my staff at them. Kwajik, kwajik, kwajik! [Accept/Decline] Yes. [Do you want to save the replay?] [Accept/Decline] No. The exit promptly opened its mouth, And I leisurely walked outside. *** Buch of weaklings. Lee Soo-dok frowned. His already fierce face grew even more menacing, which caused the passing students to involuntarily lower their gaze. At the end of his gaze were the weaklings, that is, the ones who failed the test. The placement test had been underway for quite some time, yet there they were, still sprawled or sitting helplessly on the ground. Still unable to get up? Though he wouldnt mention it outright due to his nature, Lee Soo-dok, as a teacher, had the discretion to offer students who retired a chance to retry. If even one of them had asked for help or asked if there was any way to make amends, he would have given them a chance. But there was no such indication from those defeated ones. They seemed to have completely lost their will. Just over something like this. Lee Soo-dok himself was once a student at the Dragon Slayer Academy. The path he had walked was far more brutal and treacherous; it was much worse than this. Even in such conditions, he had climbed up from the very bottom with sheer will. So, it was only natural for him to be dissatisfied with their early surrender. Lee Soo-doks gaze briefly shifted to the side. A portal that had been closed earlier just opened, and another student emerged from it. He remembered that this student had entered about 3 or 4 minutes ago. This meant that this student didnt last the 10 minutes period. Another one retired. He didnt know the students name, but his face was one he remembered. A student who had forfeited in the duel battle test with the claim that he was in a bad shape. And now, it seemed, he had retired from the strategy battle test as well. What kind of dragon are you going to catch with such rotten spirit? He doubted that student could even handle a B-rank boss after graduation, let alone catch a dragon. If his own subordinates had engaged in such pathetic antics, he would have beaten them to a pulp. But this was Dragon Slayer Academy, and that guy was a student in his class. The thought of having to teach and lead such a worthless creature as a homeroom teacher was already giving him a headache. Despite it being a request from a former legendary hero, Lee Soo-Dok regretted his hasty decision to accept it. Wait a minute Lee Soo-Dok turned his head. He felt an inexplicable sense of unease. After pondering the source of this feeling, he realized it only after his eyes caught the faces of the disqualified students. That student, he walked out. The safety mechanisms in the artificial dungeons employ a forced teleportation spell to eject students when their safety is at risk during the strategy battle. The reason students were seen tumbling out of the dungeon was precisely because of this. The lingering effects left them disoriented for a while. But this student was walking out nonchalantly and checking the leaderboard as if nothing had happened. At the very least, it meant he hadnt been ejected. Lee Soo-Doks gaze followed the students gaze to the leaderboard. [Kim Ho, 683 points, 38%] Upper middle range? Such score couldnt possibly be achieved in just three minutes. Even if one were to exaggerate and assume a polymorphed dragon appeared in the dungeon, such a feat would still be impossible. So does that mean he lasted the full 10 minutes? But he had only entered about 3 minutes ago. Did I see it wrong? Lee Soo-Dok, who always maintained a cold demeanor, felt a slight sense of bewilderment this time. His name was Kim Ho, right? Lee Soo-Dok made a mental note of the students name. He resolved to definitely check the replay of his dungeon battle later. ******* TN: Its already erased though. Chapter 18: Fixed Zone (3) Chapter 18: Fixed Zone (3) [Kim Ho, 683 points, 38%] My score found its place around the middle of the leaderboard. Perhaps due to the overall high level of this years batch, it had fallen a bit short of my expectations. Still, this should be sufficient for me to finish the strategy battle test in the upper middle range without any issues. By this stage of the placement test, the topics of conversation among the first years had been divided into two main themes. The leaderboard and the test content. And most of the talk about the test content was filled with complaints. Damn, I totally got wrecked. Me too. When I went in, it was like my body wasnt my own. It wouldnt listen to me. Exactly. I was swinging my sword, but it felt so slow. Never thought Id see the day when fighting a goblin would be tough. The seniors are going to hate it. The more skills and traits one usually boasts, the more profoundly they will feel the impact of the F-rank fixed zone. Its going to be quite a struggle to get used to it. I understand why they dislike it, but theres really no other choice. The [Fixed Zone] isnt a common rule, but it pops up every now and then, just when youre about to forget it. Several infamous boss monsters were placed in their dungeons, which led to disasters where even well-performing parties were annihilated in the fixed zone. If one didnt want to become the protagonist of such a disaster they had no choice but to quickly get used to this rule. [Lee Seong-hyeon, 951 points, 1st place] [Han So-mi, 928 points, 2nd place] [Mo Yong-jun, 903 points, 3rd place] The top ranks lived up to their reputation even under such harsh conditions. The names surrounding Han So-mi must have been the promising students I heard about from Shin Byeong-cheol. Lee Seong-hyeon was the son of a Sword Master, and Mo Yong-jun was the grandson of a Sword Saint. If their skills were at a similar level to Han So-mi, then, Go Hyeon-woo might stand a chance. That guy hadnt been outmatched in swordsmanship when he faced Han So-mi on the train. If only in swordsmanship, the syllogism of Go Hyeon-woo = Han So-mi = the promising students could be established. With the rules being the fixed zone and the spec elements almost completely excluded, the likelihood of him ranking high was very strong. I was quite curious to see how many points he would score. I didnt find his figure when looking around, and I didnt see his name on the leaderboard so he must still be taking the test. As I alternated my gaze between the leaderboard and the teleportation portal while waiting, Seo Ye-in emerged before Go Hyeon-woo did. She moved her head slowly as if looking around, and then upon spotting me, she approached. I asked her. How was it? Did good? . It was tough. [Seo Ye-in, 781 points, 21%] Though she said it was tough, her score wasnt too shabby. The fixed zone was a very unfavorable rule for magic-based classes such as gunslingers and mages. They had to score points with extremely limited magical power. While high scores werent impossible, it was easier for someone like me who relied on physical strength to smash through everything. Considering that, as a gunslinger, securing a top 21% ranking on her first try was quite commendable. Seeing that she still held her rifle, it seemed she had followed the strategy I suggested to her earlier. Wow! Right then, exclamations erupted among the students who were watching the leaderboard. The reason was clear. The first place has been updated. [Go Hyeon-woo, 1,023 points, 1st place] New! [Lee Seong-hyeon, 951 points, 2nd place] [Han So-mi, 928 points, 3rd place] Oh. I thought there was actually a very high chance of him ranking very high, but he ended up taking the top spot. And that too, with a significant margin over the second place. The audience was ecstatic as if it were their own achievement. Because they experienced it themselves, they knew how impressive that score was. So, 1,000 points were possible I am less than nothing in comparison Which club is he with? The sword club? No, hes not in our club. I checked; hes unaffiliated. An unaffiliated student just beat all the promising ones and took first place. Didnt he fight Jo Byeok in the duel match earlier? I think so. No wonder, he was good even back then. I need to check out the replay later. All eyes were on Go Hyeon-woo as he walked confidently through the crowd. Go Hyeon-woo then expressed his gratitude to me. Its all thanks to you, Kim-hyung. Not really. Youre the one who did well. No, if I hadnt regained my strength during lunchtime, I wouldnt have been able to score so high. Was that really the case? Though it seemed a bit of an overinterpretation, it wasnt entirely incorrect. Since the crowd was closely watching Go Hyeon-woos every move, naturally, their attention also drifted to me who standing beside him. Whos that guy next to him? Isnt he the one who forfeited against Song Cheon-hye? Oh, that coward? Is he already clinging to Go Hyeon-woo? Theres always someone like that. They should use that effort to improve their skills. Even though I was just having a normal conversation with Go Hyeon-woo, my image seemed to be deteriorating in real-time, perhaps due to the poor first impression. There was no way Go Hyeon-woo, with his keen ears, didnt hear such murmuring. His expression hardened in an instant. I stopped Go Hyeon-woo as he seemed about to rebuke the crowd. Forget it, let it be. But, Kim-hyung Its okay, really. Alright. If thats what you wish, Kim-hyung. As I cut him off decisively, he closed his mouth and suppressed his anger. His expression remained stern though. Magic was ineffective, time was passing, and the number of monsters was increasing. Her mind turned blank in confusion. Then, it happened. The mans advice suddenly came to mind. It might be better to switch to a rifle. Even as she frowned, wondering why this thought came to her, Song Cheon-hye continued pondering. Why did he suggest switching to a rifle? The biggest difference between a pistol and a rifle would be multiple light shots versus a single heavy shot. Maybe Song Cheon-hye raised one of her hands. The electric current generated on the black glove coalesced and compressed, forming a sphere the size of a baseball. The F-rank single-target spell, [Thunder Ball]. When she hurled it at an approaching goblin, kwaeaeg! [+4 points] It worked surprisingly well. That was it. If area-of-effect spells didnt work, she could use single-target spells. How had she not thought of something so simple? Song Cheon-hye kept throwing [Thunder Ball]. I must be a retard. I must be an idiot. I must be a retarded idiot! She repeated to herself with each throw. But soon, she hit another limit. My mana It wasnt completely depleted, but there was too little left for the remaining time. Moreover, the increasing number of orcs and trolls made [Thunder Ball] less effective. Then, Kim Hos second piece of advice echoed in her ears. If you feel that mana management is becoming difficult, just focus on headshots for those that get close. Only headshots for the ones that get close. If I interpret this for myself Suddenly, a sense of rebellion stirred in a corner of her heart. Do I really have to do as he said? I thought his idea was ridiculous earlier. Dont you have any pride? But its still better than retiring Images of the eliminated participants rolling on the ground flashed in her mind. The thought of ending up in such an embarrassing state was unbearable to her. Just imagining it made her face burn with humiliation. I absolutely cant let that happen! Song Cheon-hye made her decision. She would choose the lesser of the two evils. [Lightning Enchant] She wrapped currents of electricity around her gloved fists. Then, she assumed a clumsy fighting stance. It felt like the first time she was fighting this way since kindergarten, but what other choice did she have? Grrrrr A troll stood right in front of her and growled menacingly. Maybe because it was in the fixed zone, it seemed twice as big as the ones she had defeated before. !! With her eyes tightly shut, Song Cheon-hye thrust her fist forward. *** [Remaining Time: 0:00] [Current Score: 571 Points] As soon as the remaining time hit zero, the monsters that had been charging at her all evaporated. The misty forest regained its initial stillness. Only then did Song Cheon-hye let out a deep sigh and collapsed on the spot. Its over, finally She lasted 10 minutes. For those 10 minutes, she managed to survive. She was never so glad to see the exit open its mouth. Wait a minute. Just as Song Cheon-hye was about to step outside, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Looking at herself, she realized she looked no better than a ghost. After all, in the final moments, she had been grappling and wildly swinging her fists at the monsters. In any case, she couldnt go out looking like this. Fzzzt A short current of electricity buzzed at the tips of Song Cheon-hyes fingers. As she brushed it from the top of her head down, her disheveled hair was instantly neatened. She tidied her hair into a neat bun, straightened her clothes, and finally, sent another current through to blow away every speck of dust on her body. [Would you like to save the replay?] [Accept/Decline] Never. Absolutely not. She couldnt bear the thought of this embarrassing history being saved, even in death. *** When she stepped outside, Song Cheon-hye caught the attention of the other students as usual. Despite enduring ten hellish minutes in the fixed zone, she appeared completely unruffled and perfectly in control of herself. The others even let out an impressed sigh at her composure. There were already those searching for her name on the leaderboard. But they would not find it easily. [Song Cheon-hye, 571 points, 47%] Her score was much lower than what they might have expected. It didnt meet the reputation of the Topaz Magic Tower, but that wasnt important to Song Cheon-hye at the moment. I want something sweet She promised herself to buy strawberry milk after it ended. Song Cheon-hye, who was walking back with a graceful gait, spotted Kim Ho in the crowd. She suddenly felt embarrassed. The realization hit her that she had overheard, dismissed, and, ultimately, survived thanks to his advice. Song Cheon-hye quickened her pace slightly. Chapter 19: The Replay (1) Chapter 19: The Replay (1) When the strategy battles test concluded, Lee Soo-dok gathered the class 3 students just like he had done during the duel battles. Ill explain about the scores and points. Check the back of your student ID cards. As the students pulled out their student IDs, they saw a new entry added where there had been a blank space. Kim Ho [Duel Battle: 300 points] [Strategy Battle: 683 points] (2,049pt) At the same time, a large student ID card appeared in the empty space next to Lee Soo-dok. It was a sample ID of Mr. Student with a question mark for a face. Mr. Student [Duel Battle: 300 points] +30 points -25 points The duel battle test is similar to a zero-sum game you are all familiar with. If you win you gain points, if you lose you lose them. [Strategy Battle: 500 points] +400 points +300 points On the other hand, in the strategy battle test, points are continuously accumulated each time you successfully conquer a dungeon. In both practical tests, the higher the total score, the higher your rank. Now, pay attention. Mr. Student [Strategy Battle: 500 points] (1,500pt) A new line was added under Mr. Students strategy battle score. Available points are currency that can only be used at Dragon Slayer Academy. They can be used to purchase various items that will help you in your future duel battles and strategy battles. Please refer to the catalog for more details.New novel chapters are published on The main things you could buy with these available points included replays from other student battles, simplified dungeon maps, and escape items. If one wanted it, they could even purchase elixirs, skill books, or equipment. That is, if one had enough points. So, how do these points get earned? The quick-witted among you might have already guessed. Mr. Student [Strategy Battle: 500 points] * 3.0 multiplier = 1,500 points The points you earn in the strategy battle are converted into points at a certain multiplier. This was the first strategy battle, and taking into account the fact that it was a fixed zone, a 3.0x multiplier was applied. Ah. A look of regret shadowed the students faces. Even though they hadnt fully grasped this concept of points, they intuitively understood that a 3.0 multiplier was fairly high. This was the source of their disappointment. They wished they had tried a bit harder during the tests. To earn even just one more point. Especially the students who had retired early wore expressions as if the sky had fallen. They might have thought to give up on the tough fixed zone and do better next time but they never imagined they would be awarded so many points. But it was a situation they had brought upon themselves; it was too late for regrets now. Their eyes might have been filled with desperate hope, but they quickly lowered their gaze under Lee Soo-doks intense and threatening stare. Lee Soo-dok concluded his explanation. The key is to accumulate points by conquering dungeons and then using those points wisely. Everyone should look at the catalog and think about the most efficient strategies. Thats all for today. Make sure to get enough rest so youre ready for tomorrows classes. Dismissed. While other teachers stayed back to engage in Q&A sessions with their students, Lee Soo-dok appeared to be heading somewhere else immediately. Even as the eliminated students tried to speak to him at the last moment, he ignored them and went on his way. He seemed to have little interest in the students. Since the strategy battle test itself did not take up much time, there was still a long time left until dinner. In such a situation, one way to pass the time was, Lets have a cup of coffee. Good idea. Ive been quite curious about this coffee myself. Go Hyeon-woo readily accepted. I invited Seo Ye-in as well, Would you like to join us, Miss Seo? Instead of replying, Seo Ye-in covered her mouth and yawned softly. She then slowly shook her head. Im sleepy. Im going to go sleep Her eyelids had been drooping a bit since earlier. It seemed better to let her rest than to force her to come along. Lets go by ourselves. *** We ordered iced coffee at the cafeteria and each of us held a cup. You must have realized today that your skills are comparable to those of the top first-year students. I know Kim-hyun has a great eye for talent. If youve judged it to be true, then it must be. However, you know your weaknesses better than anyone. I have painfully realized them, especially after todays events. Go Hyeon-woo gave out a self-deprecating bitter smile. His first weakness was the lack of internal energy due to a low-rank [Core]. The second was his weapon which broke too easily. There was nothing I could do immediately about the weapon issue. This was because it looked to be deeply related to Go Hyeon-woos long sword, which was said to be a sacred artifact of his sect. If I meddled carelessly, it could appear as me interfering in his sects matters and this was very disrespectful to a warrior and a martial artist. I could only help after we built more trust and Go Hyeon-woo reached out to me first. So, back to the issue of the [Core]. Go Hyeon-woo had been significantly overpowered in the internal energy clash against Han So-mi. It was only after I enhanced his Core by two ranks with [Amplification] that he could somewhat keep up. At first glance, it seemed like the match against Jo Byeok was an evenly matched one, but in reality, that was not the case. Not only was his weapon destroyed, but he had also exhausted all his internal energy. As a result, he needed to perform energy circulation and recovery immediately after the duel battle ended. To put it bluntly, you only ranked first in this strategy battle because it was a fixed zone. In a mana fight, youd lose without a doubt. So right now, you should set everything else aside and focus on your [Core]. What should I do? Go to the Training Center. The training center. It was more than a simple training ground. Similar to an arena, it was a place infused with the essence of magic engineering, allowing for all kinds of training. If you go to the training center, youll find a mana cultivation room. ! The concentration of mana there is much denser, so the same amount of time spent in energy cultivation will build your internal energy much faster. Theres such a place? Go Hyeon-woo exclaimed in amazement. His body seemed eager to rush there immediately. I held back Go Hyeon-woo from going and continued my explanation. Listen to the end. This is the most important part. Theres also a place called the Special Cultivation Room. The concentration of mana there is extremely high, easily more than ten times that of a regular mana cultivation room. !! Go Hyeon-woos eyes trembled intensely. Any warrior would react the same way. The efficiency of a regular cultivation room was already impressive, but what kind of place was this special cultivation room that surpassed it by more than tenfold? Of course, such an incredible place cannot exist for just anyones use. Not just anyone can enter. Following the flow of this conversation it requires points. Thats right. 500 points for six hours of use. The cost was exorbitant. Even if used only six hours a day, Go Hyeon-woo would burn through the 3,000 points he earned from the strategy battle in less than a week. On weekends, warriors often devote an entire day to cultivation. In such cases, 18 hours would cost 1,500 points, and 24 hours would quickly consume 2,000 points. To use this throughout a semester it was unimaginable how many points would be needed. Its possible if you really work hard to gather points and pour them all into the special cultivation room but you wont be able to afford anything else. Hmm Is there no other way? There is. A Season Pass. The Season Pass. If you owned it, you could have free access to the special cultivation room throughout the semester without consuming any points. Such an item must be incredibly difficult to obtain. The easiest way is through an auction. They usually go for between 30,000 to 40,000 points. Heh, thats the easiest way? Then whats the other method? The Season Pass is one of the many privileges at Dragon Slayer Academy. Its mainly given to clubs with good performance. Traditional powerhouses like the swordsmanship club or the white magic club usually have five or six of them. Even these powerful clubs struggle to allocate one or two passes each to their first-, second-, and third-year students. So, they distribute them to the most outstanding members. All you have to do is join the swordsmanship club and take the spot of a promising first-year student. The problem was that Mo Yong-juns skills were on par with Han So-mi and Jo Byeok. When asked if he could win against him, Go Hyeon-woo shook his head. To be honest, its difficult right now. I guess Ill have to put the season pass on hold. But if I invest points from time to time, I can still frequently visit the special cultivation room. No, its too early to give up. Is there another way? Of course there is. I then pointed to myself. Ill get it for you. Chapter 20: The Replay (2) Chapter 20: The Replay (2) Really, can Kim-hyung really get me the Season Pass? Its possible for me. How? As I casually waved the catalog, Go Hyeon-woo coughed softly. I could explain it to you, but even if I did, you probably wouldnt understand. Ahem Considering he couldnt even recognize all the items in the catalog, how could he comprehend their uses? What matters isnt how, but the fact that I can get the season pass. Thats true. So, what do you want from me? It was a natural question for him to ask, considering the value of the season pass. The easiest way was to win it in an auction by spending tens of thousands of points, so there was no way such a valuable item could be obtained for free I made this suggestion because there was something I wanted, and he must have reached that conclusion. Dungeons arent just solo dungeons like the misty forest we entered today. There are also raid dungeons that two, four, or dozens of people can enter at the same time. So, you mean you want me to enter with Kim-hyung. Although I could handle most two-person dungeons alone, some were structurally impossible to solo. Like paths that split or require role-sharing. For example, there were some dungeons where one person had to solve puzzles or traps while the other had to fend off waves of monsters. Go Hyeon-woo replied with a tone that was half-playful and half-disappointed. I feel a bit let down. If it were such, I would help Kim-hyung even without the season pass. Arent we friends? For a normal dungeon, thats true. Upon seeing my expression remain serious, Go Hyeon-woo also adopted a serious demeanor and listened attentively to what I had to say. I pointed to the ground. The place Im targeting is much deeper, a dungeon in the depths. Even with your skills, it could be difficult. In some cases, you might even risk your life. ! On the train, he helped me without any promise of a reward. But then, the risk was minimal at the time so I asked for his help without much hesitation. However, I couldnt do the same for a life-threatening situation. A fair compensation had to be offered. Go Hyeon-woo asked a question. If I agree, when do you plan to attempt this deep dungeon? Of course, its out of the question for now. Both you and I need to improve our skills. The faster you grow, the sooner we can attempt it. So, the season pass is a kind of investment. Exactly. And there will be dungeon rewards too. Legendary swords, elixirs, opportunities. Umm Give me a moment to think about it. Take your time. You dont have to answer right now. Just a minute will do. While Go Hyeon-woo was lost in thought, I drank my iced coffee and waited. I wasnt exactly a one-shot drinker either, but I was fairly quick, so my coffee was soon finished. In the meantime, Go Hyeon-woo finished his contemplation. I will accept Kim-hyungs proposal. Are you sure? I must say it again, you could die. Go Hyeon-woo smiled confidently. I am a warrior, always craving the path to greater strength. When Kim-hyung shows me such a path, how can I not walk it, even at the risk of my life? It was clear that his decision was not just a rash one but made with full resolve. I nodded in agreement. Good. Spend as much time as you can in the special training room from now on. Dont hesitate to use your points. Will my points be sufficient for that? The replay sales will keep coming in, so you shouldnt run short for the next two weeks. Ill get you the season pass within that time. Two weeks sounds reasonable. I will wait accordingly. *** After sending Go Hyeon-woo off to the training center, I pulled up the quest window. [Side Quest: Placement Test] (Completed) Objective: Achieve a mid-tier or higher rank on the placement test. Win at least once in the duel battle placement test (1/1) Rank in the top 50% in the strategy battle placement test (Current Ranking: 41%) Reward: [Copy-Skill] Slot +1 Copy-Skill [1/2] 1. Hummingbird (E) 2. None A graduate of Dragon Slayer Academy like him should already be aware of this; why did he need an explanation? Yet Lee Soo-dok seemed to insist on hearing it. With no other choice, the data room staff member explained. Our authority might be higher, but this isnt about authority. The replay wasnt saved at all. Its impossible to access something that isnt even in the database. Lee Soo-doks expression hardened as he stood there silently. Seeing his reaction, the staff member reflected. How unexpected this man is He knew him as someone who was indifferent to anyone but the criminals he hunted. Could such a person be genuinely interested in a mere student? He would be lying if he said he wasnt interested. So the staff member cautiously asked a question. Why are you curious about this? There seems to be nothing noteworthy about the students scores. Kim Ho left the dungeon in less than four minutes after entering. What? That cant be right. Exiting in less than four minutes with a score of 683? That sounded impossible. He must have completed the full ten minutes, and Lee Soo-dok was probably mistaken. On the other hand, if the score was actually achieved in just four minutes, even the ruthless hunter might be intrigued. Lee Soo-dok added, I wanted to check if I had misread the time. Oh, there is actually a way to verify that. The data room staff began typing again. Since the replay isnt available, we cant access it, but we can check the dungeon entry and exit logs. We can see when the student entered and when he left. With a final tap on the Enter key, the log appeared. And the two of them stiffened at the same time. [Kim Ho][Misty Forest][13:31:02] [Kim Ho][Misty Forest][13:34:28] !! The data room staff member doubted his own eyes. He took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and then squinted after reopening them. But the numbers remained the same as before. When he looked back at Lee Soo-dok, he saw that he too had a stern expression and he was intently scrutinizing the entry and exit log. Kim Ho actually entered in the 31st minute and came off in the 34th minute. It was this that confirmed Lee Soo-doks suspicions to be true. Lee Soo-dok thought to himself, If its almost 700 points in 3 minutes, then by simple calculation, he can probably do about 1,400 in 6 minutes and over 2,000 in 10 minutes. He wondered how many points he himself had scored in the Misty Forest fixed zone. As he recalled, it was in the late 1300s at the end of his third year. He had heard that the highest score of the previous hero, who was now the principal, was just under 1,500. Even that score was legendary, but over 2,000 points was simply unimaginable. While Lee Soo-dok was deeply engrossed in these thoughts, the staff member asked him, Shouldnt we inform the principal? If someone capable of scoring 2,000 points in the fixed zone had enrolled, it should be a cause for celebration as a member of the Dragon Slayer Academy. The issue, however, was that this extraordinary talent was hiding his skills. And in most cases, those who hide their abilities often harbor bad intentions. Dragon Slayer Academy had as many enemies as it had allies. The dragons minions, apostles of evil gods, criminal gangs If one of them had infiltrated the school, it would be wise to alert the authorities and devise a plan immediately. Yet Lee Soo-dok shook his head. No. I would like to observe him a bit longer. He judged that it was still too early. After all, a hidden thorn was bound to reveal itself eventually. The duel battles were scheduled to start from tomorrow. Since these battles were fought between two individuals, a replay would be automatically saved unless both parties disagreed. By observing these, he would gradually get closer to the truth. Whether the student was exceptionally gifted, a dragon minion, or perhaps an actual dragon. And if the outcome leaned towards the latter I am the homeroom teacher, after all. His words were laced with deep killing intent. Chapter 21: Searching Through Junk (1) Chapter 21: Searching Through Junk (1) Even though it was the first day of the semester, the magic engineering workshop was very busy. Just as combat classes put their lives on the line to win or lose in duel battles and get high scores in strategy battles, production classes also did their best to produce high-quality items. Well-crafted items not only earned points by being featured in the catalog but some were even sold outside the Dragon Slayer Academy. This was their way of compensating for lower scores in practical combat tests due to insufficient fighting skills. Hence, from the very first day, there was a fervent rush to create more stuff. There were several workshops, but Workshop No. 1, used by the first group, boasted the best facilities, and for this reason, it had the most users. When approaching the area, the noisy whir of machines would cause a ringing in the ears, and the intermittent flashes of bright blue light seemed almost blinding. On the other hand, as the number in front of the workshop increases, the level of facilities decreases and naturally there are fewer people. So, by the time I got close to Workshop No. 4, the noise had almost completely died down and it was quiet. The door of Workshop No. 4 was half-open. I could feel the hum of a small machine and the vibrations of mana inside the workshop. I peeked through the open door and saw a student with his back turned, fiddling with something. Each of his hands held a different tool, and all ten fingers glowed transparently blue. This was a sign that the [Magical Engineering] skill was being activated. Knock, knock I raised my hand and knocked on the door. Loud enough to break concentration, but soft enough to avoid annoying him. Whos there? The student turned his head from where he was sitting to look towards the door and made eye contact with me. I began with a nod in greeting. Given the time and place, he must be a senior. A quick look at his tie pin confirmed he was a third-year. Hello, senior. A freshman? Yes. Interested in joining the magic engineering club? I am interested. Though It sounded similar it meant something different. I was merely interested and had no intention of joining. Whether the third-year senior didnt notice the difference, or simply didnt care, he seemed more inclined to return to his work than to engage in further talk with me. Why come all the way here then? You should have started at Workshop No. 1. I showed a look of embarrassment.New novel chapters are published on Actually, I did start there, but the seniors there told me to check out Workshop No. 4 first Ah seriously. The third-year seniors face crumpled in frustration. Who would appreciate being saddled with extra work? But since it was a task that was passed down from the first group, he couldnt just ignore it. Actually, I had never even set foot in Workshop No. 1, but I felt like he would just ignore me if I didnt lie. Feigning ignorance, I asked with an innocent look, May I look around? . Just take a quick look and go. Im busy, so dont disturb me. Thank you~! Ill be quiet. . He waved his hand dismissively and then returned to his work. The tools whirred back to life, and his hands turned a shade of blue. I observed him from the corner of my eye and assessed the level of his [Magical Engineering]. B-rank. Even a fish rots from the head down, they say, but still, a third-year student at the Dragon Slayer Academy, no matter how relegated to a corner in Workshop No. 4, carries a certain standard. His primary skill had clearly achieved B-rank. This was my first goal in coming here. [Activate Copy-Skill.] [Registering the targets skill Magical Engineering (B) in the slot.] Um, senior. I found this in there ? The senior, about to burst into anger due to constant interruptions, noticed the cube in my hand. However, his indifferent attitude suggested he thought it was just another item from the pile of junk. Its just a blueprint. Whats the matter? Isnt 10x10x10 something tremendous? Like a legendary item? Only if its completed. Thats just trash. Even a 6x6x6 is hard to complete. Who knows what greedy person started this? Just like he said, a blueprint that will never be completed is nothing but trash. Thats why he was so dismissive about t. I played the part of an eagerly studious freshman. This looks so interesting; can I take it with me and dissect it? You wont be able to complete it, you know? If it were possible, we would have done it already. I might not be able to finish it, but I want to study it. I also have a hobby of collecting these things As the senior was about to exclaim something like No way, brat! he abruptly closed his mouth. That is of course after he saw the item I had timely retrieved from my inventory. A [Heat Catalyst Reagent] purchased for 1,000 points. To anyone immersed in magical engineering, no amount of this item is ever enough. Id feel guilty just taking it, and it would be shameless of me So, how about I give you this in exchange? The seniors eyes wavered. His mind must be spinning rapidly at this moment. The price of a [Heat Catalyst Reagent]] is 1,000 points. Thats the amount of points one could earn from one or two low-rank dungeons. However, from another perspective, accepting this reagent from me means one or two fewer dungeons to enter. This would save him time, effort, and stress that could be fully dedicated to magical engineering. On the other side of the scale lies an item totally irrelevant to him. The high-grade cube blueprint slightly piques his interest, but after all, who could complete it? If it disappeared from here, no one would seek out or care for this trash. A choice between an item worth 1,000 points that was immediately useful and a piece of junk. The answer was obvious. The senior stealthily reached out and took the [Heat Catalyst Reagent]. Im making an exception this time. Normally, you cant just take these things. Thank you, senior! Dont tell anyone else. Its just between us. If the president finds out, hell take it back, you understand? Of course. Even though these miscellaneous items were practically junk items, only the club president had the authority to pass them on to outsiders. He would likely want to keep the exchange a secret, considering he was giving it to me for a minor saving of points. I nodded in agreement to the seniors repeated cautions. Then Ill be going in. Thank you. Sure. After politely bidding farewell, I closed the door to Workshop No. 4 behind me. From beyond the door, I heard an exclamation, Yes! Saved a thousand points! He must be thrilled, thinking that he sold what he considered junk to an unsuspecting freshman like selling water from the Taedong River. But Is it really just junk? The first reason I declined the cubes chain quest was because it consumed too much time. The first year is crucial for laying the foundation, and focusing solely on the quest could mean missing out on more important hidden pieces. It would slow down my own growth and leave me with less time to take care of Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. And the second reason? I was too lazy to go through the chain quest for this. After all. I already know how to make it. Chapter 22: Searching Through Junk (2) Chapter 22: Searching Through Junk (2) The [Cube of Life] chain quest was one of the processes that had to be undertaken to raise an S-rank magic engineer. In addition, many heroes related to the keyword life benefited from this quest. I had repeated this tedious quest dozens of times. As I repeated the quest, the finished product of the [Cube of Life] gradually became more and more familiar to my eyes. Then, an idea suddenly struck me: Why not just make it myself? Somehow, it seemed possible even without the quest. So, I studied the quest. I memorized it. Every single arrangement of the thousands of cubes. Of course, just memorizing them didnt magically transform the blueprints into a finished product. I had to fit each piece together manually. So I struggled for a while at first, but I got the hang of it as I started completing one or two cubes, just like when I raised those S-rank heroes. And from then, if the quest wasnt essential for hero training, I just skipped it and only took care of the cube. Just like now. I first went to the training center and chose a mana cultivation room. There was no need to go to a special cultivation room. Go Hyeon-woo was pouring all his points into the growth of his [Core] as it was the most important thing for him at the moment, but I found it more useful to spend mine elsewhere. The mana cultivation room was a confined space, barely a few pyeong in size, and it was virtually like a solitary confinement cell.Follow current novels at novelhall.com) The room was different only in that mana overflowed everywhere within it. I sat in the middle of it and took out the cube blueprint. In order to make meaningful changes to the cube, a [Magical Engineering] skill of a certain rank is required. If one falls short of the minimum condition, no matter how diligently they manipulate the cube, its all in vain. And the minimum requirement for making changes to this huge 10x10x10 blueprint was an A-rank or higher. Even within Dragon Slayer Academy, there might be only one or two faculty members with A-rank in [Magical Engineering]. The president of the magic engineering club was probably just at the tail end of B-rank. Thats why theres a step in the chain quest where external craftsmen are invited. The grade of the skill I copied at Workshop No. 4 was also B and likewise fell short of the requirement. If it cant be done, Ill just make it possible. Before starting, I closely examined the cubes blueprint. This was to plan in advance how I would complete it. After a long time of turning it this way and that, comparing the blueprint with the finished product in my memory, I started to get a feel for it. Lets start. [Activate Amplification] [The rank of Magical Engineering increases. (B->S)] [Duration 00:00:59] [Cooldown 00:59:58] [Amplification] elevated the skill rank by two ranks to S-rank. This surpassed the minimum requirement. My hands holding the cube emitted a vivid blue light. My fingers moved like spiders, rapidly touching different parts of the cube. Chalalalalak! In a flurry of motion, I spun the cube, folded and unfolded it, detached and reattached the tiny cubes in new positions, and spun it once more. As the huge puzzle was slowly coming together, [Duration 00:00:00] [Cooldown 00:58:54] I released my hold on it as soon as a minute had passed. This was because the duration of the [Amplification] had ended and the rank had reverted to its original state. The duration of the F-rank amplification was one minute, with a cooldown of one hour. This meant I could only touch the cube for a minute every hour. So, what was I to do while waiting? More mana is always better. Meditating and refining my [Core] was the answer. Increasing my rank to have a larger mana pool would also expand the range of magic I could use. There could be nothing wrong with investing time in this occasionally. I placed the cube nearby and focused my mind. *** After spending an hour in meditation, then a minute adjusting the cube, and repeating this process in a trance-like state, a whole day had passed and morning had arrived before I knew it. When I picked up the cube to examine it, a very faint green light seemed to flow from one corner. This was the energy of life. This was a sign that the cube was gradually being completed. However, it was just one corner for now. More time investment was needed. Judging by this progress, it might take three days to complete. Finishing by Friday seems a bit tight. On the first Friday of the month, the likelihood of that event occurring was very high. It reaffirmed my belief that its good to give and share in life. After sharing a strawberry and cream cake, here I was receiving homemade cookies in return. I picked one up and tried it, and the taste seemed to have improved a bit compared to before. The cookies retained their characteristic mild sweetness and simplicity. This time, instead of chocolate chips, she used black sesame seeds. I thought to myself that this was better than the somewhat mediocre 65% cacao chocolate. As Seo Ye-in looked on, I praised her with a very high percentage of sincerity. Hmm, these are tasty. Very savory. And the dinosaurs are cute and well made too. She tilted her head slightly and asked, . Dinosaurs? Arent these dinosaurs? She remained silent for a moment. Seo Ye-ins eyes seemed to narrow a bit. Whats this? If these arent dinosaurs, then what are they? As I reached into the paper bag to grab one for a closer look, she quickly pulled it back. Why, whats wrong? Theyre bears. That was a bear??? I felt a moment of confusion but quickly calmed myself. I couldnt afford to show any more surprise. If I did, I might never see these homemade cookies again. No wonder. I was slightly confused whether the cookies were bears or dinosaurs. I guess it was because I was looking at them upside down. Ill just have one more. Theyre delicious. Though still looking somewhat dubious, Seo Ye-in opened the bag for me again. Before putting another cookie in my mouth, I took a quick glance. When I look at it this way, they are bears. My mistake. How are these supposed to be bears? The words coming out of my mouth were the exact opposite of what I was thinking. Still, I couldnt fault the taste, so my hand kept reaching back into the paper bag. As Seo Ye-in and I took turns eating the cookies, Go Hyeon-woo arrived at the class. Good morning, Kim-hyung, Miss Seo. What does it look like? Seo Ye-in suddenly handed Go Hyeon-woo one of the so-called bear-like cookies and asked him a question. Go Hyeon-woo was delighted and accepted it with a smile. Oh! These cookies look delicious. And its almost as if the lizard is alive and breathing. Oh dear Seo Ye-ins eyebrows twitched, but Go Hyeon-woo seemed to be oblivious to this subtle change as he casually took the seat next to me. In times like this, swiftly changing the subject is the best strategy. How was it? I was curious about his impression after practicing his internal energy in the special training room. Go Hyeon-woo expressed his admiration without reserve. It was a novel and valuable experience. I didnt expect my internal energy to accumulate so quickly. Was it worth the cost? The 500 points were not a waste at all. On the contrary, I felt like it was too much of an opportunity compared to the effort I had put in. he had been skeptical about the replay feature at first. He was uneasy with the idea that others could scrutinize his martial arts skills. Now, it seemed, he had come to realize its worth. Refining ones core in the special training room was similar in efficiency to constantly taking low- to intermediate-rank elixirs. With a bit more effort, I feel like I could make another break-through. I plan to practically live in the special training room for a while, just as Kim-hyung advised. Thats good. Just focus on that for now. Ill get you the season pass as soon as possible. Thank you. Go Hyeon-woo showed his gratitude with proper etiquette. In stark contrast to the warm atmosphere that filled the air around here, the classroom resembled a bustling marketplace. At the center of this chaos were Shin Byeong-chul and his gang, actively promoting the by distributing business cards. We can get you anything! Special discounts for the new semester! Song Cheon-hye looked at them with a very disapproving eye, but since they hadnt yet broken any school rules, she couldnt step in. It seemed like she was biding her time for a mishap. Han So-mi, for her part, seemed lost in her own thoughts with a cheerful smile and narrowed eyes. However, this market-like scene was surprisingly resolved in an instant. As the door slid open, the once noisy classroom fell silent as if doused in cold water. Lee Soo-dok stood at the entrance as he surveyed the classroom with a stern glare. Without a word being spoken to take their seats, everyone swiftly and uniformly found their way to their places and sat down. Only then did Lee Soo-dok step inside and take his place in front of the teachers desk. And then a melody echoed through the room that was now filled with silence, signaling the start of the class. Chapter 23: 1st Week Duel Battles (1) Chapter 23: 1st Week Duel Battles (1) Lee Soo-dok was an exceptionally talented duel battle instructor. Even I who was a veteran among veterans in the game would admit that. After graduating from Dragon Slayer Academy, he captured and killed numerous villains. His systematic organization and presentation of these experiences made his classes incredibly beneficial. Still, one minor yet not-so-minor drawback was that all his stories were extremely violent. When I saw the boss, I knew he wouldnt surrender. So, I grabbed his spine and ripped it out. Then I caught his right hand man and told him: Youre the boss now, so make everyone kneel. Otherwise, Ill have to find a new boss The students in Class 3 shivered. Lee Soo-doks tone was as casual as someone recounting their morning routine of waking up, showering, and having breakfast. But if you listened closely, his stories were filled with gruesome details like crushing someones head, smashing jaws, or slicing necks. It seemed that for him, such events were just part of his daily life. After telling the story of how one band of thieves was annihilated, Lee Soo-dok checked the time. He then realized that the bell would soon ring and moved on to conclude the lesson. Todays class ends here. Before we finish, I have an announcement. Starting today, duel battles will be conducted in the arena. With a light gesture, Lee Soo-dok made words appear on the blackboard. MAP: [Random] RULE: [Deathmatch] [10-minute limit] From now on, all duel battle environments will be randomly determined. The time limit has also been extended from 5 minutes to 10, so be mindful of your approach. First-year students must participate in a minimum of three duel matches this week. Be aware that failure to participate will result in an automatic deduction of points. Thats all. During his explanation, I noticed Lee Soo-doks gaze frequently landing on me. How could that man possibly be interested in me?Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Since nothing immediate came to mind, I dismissed it as just a feeling. After Lee Soo-dok left Class 3, I took a closer look at a quest that had just arrived. [Side Quest: 1st Week Duel Battles] Objective: Complete 3 duel matches. (0/3) Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. Reward: Varies based on the number of wins. (0/3 wins) I need to win all of them. Though it seemed like a simple passing quest, the rewards for a triple victory were exceptionally generous. There was a high chance of obtaining an item that could reduce the production time of the [Life Cube], so I was determined to win them all. I called over Go Hyeon-woo. Lets go to the arena. Now? Its better to get these things done early. Plus, replays sell more on the first day. Since this was the start of the official duel matches after the placement test, everyone would be cautious at first. They thought it was more advantageous to watch replays of those in similar score ranges before entering themselves. People would start flocking to the arena around Friday after spending the early part of the week just observing. For this reason, replays of the duel matches conducted now were in higher demand. Go Hyeon-woo happily nodded his head when I mentioned it was a good opportunity to earn points. Then theres no reason to delay. Lets go. I was about to go straight to the arena, but Seo Ye-in weakly grabbed my sleeve. Her eyes met mine and she said. Im free today. ? Upon hearing Seo Ye-ins words, the keen aspirants of heroism around us promptly reacted. The female students covered their mouths and whispered rapidly among themselves, while the male students expressions were dividedhalf displaying sly grins, the other half looking envious. Go Hyeon-woo glanced at me to see if he should excuse himself from the situation. Of course, misunderstandings were bound to arise with such abrupt and incomplete statements. It was necessary to fill in the missing words in situations like these. Youre suggesting we practice magic bullets together? Mhm. I dont know if Ill have time today. Ill have a clearer idea by the evening, so lets talk again then. Okay. My top priority now is to complete the cube by Friday. If the rewards for a three-win streak were as I anticipated, the cube would be created faster, and then I would have some time to devote to Seo Ye-in. Id make a decision after seeing the rewards of the quest. *** Since we headed straight to the arena after class, I believed we would be the first ones there, but surprisingly, there were already other students. It seemed another class had finished a bit earlier than ours. There were two male students, one wielding a long spear and the other a heavy two-handed sword. Judging by the form of their weapons and the energy flowing around them, I guessed they were both warriors. The student with the spear seemed to recognize me. That one is Do you know him? Hes the one who forfeited against Miss Song. Ah, so hes that coward. A disgrace to manhood indeed. Truly shameful. Although they openly mocked me, I wasnt particularly bothered by it. Back when I was ranked number one, I was constantly the subject of peoples conversations and was often facing criticism laced with envy and jealousy. After experiencing such things so many times, I had become indifferent to words like coward. As I tried to ignore them and move on, Go Hyeon-woo, who wasnt as immune to such remarks, took offense as if it was him who was mocked. How despicable you are. How can you be so disrespectful, especially in the presence of the person youre talking about? The two warriors bristled at being called despicable, but they stopped in their tracks. They recognized Go Hyeon-woos face. He was a celebrity in his own right as he was the top scorer in the strategy battle placement test. As if they sensed that he was not someone to be trifled with, they countered with a slightly subdued tone. Ahem, ahem, have we said anything incorrect? [Duel Battle Score: 300+30 Points] Since Yang Ji-hong was unable to fight anymore, the match ended and 30 points were awarded. After stepping through the teleportation portal, I waited and soon Yang Ji-hong appeared on the ground, still unconscious. When he was defeated by Song Chon-hye, his condition was very serious and he had to be carried away, but this time it wasnt that severe, so no staff appeared. I had controlled my strength to some extent. Huh! Yang Ji-hong suddenly regained consciousness and sprang up to his feet. He looked around, found me, checked the score on the back of his student ID, and quickly grasped the situation. Perhaps because he was frustrated by this unexpected defeat, he gritted his teeth in vexation. Ugh I won, didnt I? I just let my guard down. If we fight again, Ill win. Is that so? Then lets have another match. And so a revenge match was set. This time, the battlefield was a wasteland. [Kim Ho 100% vs. Yang Ji-hong 100%] [Remaining Time: 10:00] [3] [2] [1] [Start!] As soon as the match began, I created a hummingbird out of lightning and sent it flying towards him. Yang Ji-hong, who was charging toward me, kicked the ground powerfully and jumped to the side just before the hummingbird could reach him. Seeing that the hummingbird had missed, he lunged at me with his spear. Its over! Yes, it is. Fzzzzt! Yang Ji-hongs body became paralyzed. Struggling to turn his stiff neck, he managed to look back and saw sparks flying off his back. This damn it Thought you dodged it, huh? The hummingbird spell wasnt just a simple projectile. It flies continuously, following the casters control until it hits the target or is destroyed. The hummingbird that had passed Yang Ji-hong turned around, followed him, and struck him in the back. He twisted his face in agony and asked, How did you do that? Check the replay later. Thump! Thump! Crack! I mercilessly struck his head and temples with the heavy wooden staff. [Kim Ho Win vs Yang Ji-hong Lose] [Duel Battle Score: 330+29 Points] I went through the magic circle and went outside once again. It seemed that Go Hyeon-woo and the swordsman were still fighting. My own duel had ended rather quickly. I had racked up points almost as easily as one would from a vending machine. Huh! Yang Ji-hong regained his composure. He gripped his spear from where he sat, his body trembled, and then he opened his mouth to speak. Lets fight one more time. This time, I will surely win. Id rather not. Winning twice is enough for me. If we end it like this, I will lose face! Thats your problem. Im tired, so Im going to call it a day. Ugh Actually, if you really want to I paused deliberately. Right before Yang Ji-hong could ask what I meant by If you really want to, I extended an open hand. a match fee. ! To complete the quest, I would eventually need to fight three duels anyway. It was also part of this weeks quota. But I deliberately showed disinterest in order to raise the match price. Based on the brief assessment I had of Yang Ji-hongs personality, it seemed likely he would agree to any condition I set just to have a rematch. In reality, the outcome of a duel isnt something to be so desperately obsessed over. Its no big deal to just shrug off a loss and say, I lost two matches because I was not prepared. But it was his stubborn pride that wouldnt allow him to accept ending things this way. Yang Ji-hong took a small wooden box out of his pocket and opened it to show me. Inside was a single pill. This is a spiritual pill made by my family. Ill give you this. That sounds good. Lets add one more condition. What is it? This match stays private. No saving replays or disclosing details. Thats fine with me. It wouldnt do me any good if it leaked out anyway. The match was set. As I swiped my student ID on the terminal, I said, Ill accompany you until youre completely satisfied. Chapter 24: 1st Week Duel Battles (2) Chapter 24: 1st Week Duel Battles (2) TN: One part that has never been explained by author is mana. From what Ive read, mana seems to be a source of energy that anyone can use regardless of their chose class. It is stored in the [Core] and depending on ones class, it will be then changed to magical power or to Internal energy. ******** [3] [2] [1] [Start!] . Yang Ji-hong no longer charged forward recklessly. Maintaining a defensive stance, he began to slowly close the distance between us, one step at a time. I nodded in approval as this approach was pretty close to the correct answer. Yes, after being beaten three times, he should have learned something. I cast [Hummingbird] and sent it flying. As the approaching hummingbird moved towards him, Yang Ji-hongs eyes shone brightly. His spear was pulled back and then launched forward like an arrow. The hummingbird was pierced and dispersed in mid-air. The second one I threw was also sliced through by his whirling spear. Was this too easy? I had deliberately sent it in a simple trajectory to go easy on him, but seeing how effortlessly he brushed it aside, I might have underestimated him too much. I cast Hummingbird again. This time, the hummingbird fluttered irregularly as it flew. Yang Ji-hong tried to stab it, but just before it could be pierced, the hummingbird evaded gracefully and climbed along the shaft of his spear. As Yang Ji-hong leaped to the side, the hummingbird, as if anticipating his move, sharply altered its course and followed him. Fzzzt! Guhhh Yang Ji-hong grimaced in pain. He seemed somewhat shocked. It was a match he asked for and he even offered a family-made spiritual pill for it, only for the match to end in just three moves. I asked him then, Are you convinced now? This cant be. If I had another chance! I guess not yet. . . ? Yang Ji-hongs expression, which was initially full of resentment, gradually turned to bewilderment. I had successfully hit him with the hummingbird but I didnt move in to finish him off with my staff like I always did; I just stood there and didnt move. Youre not going to finish it? I told you, Id stick around until youre convinced. ! Let me know when the paralysis wears off. Now that I had received a spiritual pill, I felt obligated to ensure he got an appropriate lesson. Complex, indescribable emotions flickered across Yang Ji-hongs face. Eventually, he seemed to resolve himself to do as much as he could and his eyes hardened with determination. He soon gripped his spear again and took up his stance. This was his way of signaling that he was ready. Sparks danced above my hand. Here we go again. *** The thunderous hummingbird continuously struck. Since I had roughly gauged Yang Ji-hongs skill level, I adjusted the difficulty appropriately. Tricky enough to ward off but not so overwhelming that he stood no chance. Fzzzt! Whenever he fell into paralysis, I would wait for him to recover before casting the spell again. Yang Ji-hong now seemed more focused on learning than on his pride. His original goal might have been to defeat me, but now he was wholly concentrated on the hummingbird. He lunged and swung his spear wildly, trying to counter the diverse movements of the bird targeting him. It was all clear to see how his skills were rapidly improving. Fzzzt! Ugh. Yang Ji-hong was hit by the hummingbird for the eighth time. I took the opportunity during the break to glance at the scoreboard. [Kim Ho 100% vs Yang Ji-hong 93%] [Time Remaining 00:43] The 10-minute limit for the duel match was almost up. I posed a question to Yang Ji-hong as he gathered himself. Are you convinced now? I am. By now, he must have realized. The defeats in the previous two matches werent due to his complacency or bad luck, but purely because of the difference in our skills. Ill show you one last time. Try to catch this. [Activate Amplify.] [Hummingbirds rank increased. (E->C)] A hummingbird made of electric currents materialized. It was larger and the light it emitted was more vivid. Yang Ji-hong seemed to have noticed the difference as well, and he tensed up while gripping his spear tightly. Zap! !! Clap Seo Ye-in clapped silently. She was about to take out her magic pistol, but I raised my hand to stop her. Put the pistol away. We wont be using it for a while. Mhm. Want to try making a magic bullet first? I needed to see her attempt so I could understand where she was lacking. Following my instructions, Seo Ye-in gathered mana in her hand. The mana gathered above her palm compressed into a fluffy cluster of magical power. I watched the process, unable to hide my admiration. Shes really amazing How did Seo Ye-in then lose to Song Cheon-hye with that hastily made clump of magical power rather than this proper magic bullet? Moreover, Seo Ye-ins score in duel battles was 600 points. This meant that apart from the match she lost to Song Cheon-hye, she had won two others. She did use equipment that was excessively advanced for a freshman, like the high-grade rifle and the invisible ghillie suit, but that alone couldnt explain everything. I should see how she manipulates mana. Now, try to follow what I do. I manipulated mana to draw a circle. Seo Ye-in replicated the action, creating a circle with her mana as well. When I changed the circle into a triangle, her circle also transformed into a triangle. Circle, triangle, square, star I had her follow and draw various shapes. Shes quite good at manipulating mana. I say quite good, but objectively speaking, she belonged to the exceptionally talented category. According to her, she had never practiced mana training before, but to be this skilled without any training meant she was a natural talent. I guess that with just the right direction from me, she would grow rapidly. Today, lets start learning distribution. I took out a glass box. It was an item provided for training at the training center. It was small enough to be easily held with two hands and had a hole the size of a fist on one side. Take a look. I blew mana into the hole and the glass box was quickly filled with mana. When I intentionally blew more mana in, it began to leak out from the hole slightly. This box is exactly the amount that goes into an F-rank [Magic Bullet]. Using the appropriate amount for each bullet is the first step. The second is I shook the glass box once. The mana inside the box displayed a gradient of colors, ranging from a deep navy blue to a light sky blue that was almost white. You cant have parts of the mana denser or lighter like this. Distributing the mana evenly to achieve a solid, uniform color is the essence of distribution. Seo Ye-in raised her hand over her shoulder. This probably meant she had a question. Yes, go ahead. Why does the mana need to be evenly distributed? Watch and Ill explain. The gradient mana in the box quickly converged into a single point and compressed. I showed the finished magic bullet to Seo Ye-in. Even upon close inspection, it was difficult to notice the very fine flaws in it. Mana that isnt evenly distributed gets distorted during compression. Right now, its okay to use it as is, but beyond a certain level, these flaws become a problem. For example, high-grade magic bullets compress much more mana than what fits in this box. If theres a flaw, mana could leak from that spot or the bullet could lose its shape altogether. Its better to learn correctly from the start than to try to fix bad habits later on. To summarize, fill the box with the right amount of mana and ensure the color is uniform without any variation. Lastly, Snap! A magic bullet formed instantly with a flick of my fingers. If you can do these two steps in one breath, youve mastered distribution. Now, try it yourself. I handed the glass box to Seo Ye-in. When Seo Ye-in blew mana into the hole, excess mana began to trickle out. The inside of the box was speckled with various shades of blue. Mastering this in one breath was still far from her reach. . With each attempt leading to failure, Seo Ye-ins eyebrows slightly furrowed. She looked at me with eyes seeking advice but I shook my head. This was largely a matter of instinct, and there was little advice I could offer. The best thing to do is to keep practicing until you achieve it. Ill be in the next room; send me a message when youre done. Got it. Though she agreed, this wasnt something that would be over in a day or two. It was essentially a homework assignment I had given her. I had my own tasks to attend to. Finding an empty mana training room, I settled in and took out the cube blueprint. Chalalalalak! While I was effortlessly assembling the cube with my hands, my mind wandered elsewhere. How long will it take her? An S-rank gunslinger I had trained in the past took a truckload of time. There were over a dozen gunslingers like Seo Ye-in, who built their foundation from scratch. The fastest among them took two days to grasp distribution, and even I had spent a whole day on it the first time. I didnt expect her to reach that level, but given Seo Ye-ins talent, perhaps she would manage it in three days. However My expectations were completely off the mark. [Seo Ye-in: Done] Chapter 25: 1st Week Duel Battles (3) Chapter 25: 1st Week Duel Battles (3) [The Core rank increased. (E->C)] [Kim Ho] Skills Amplification (E) Copy-Skill [2/2] 1. Hummingbird (E) 2. Magical Engineering (B) Traits Core (D) Monarch (F) Copy-Trait [1/1] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) Equipment School Uniform (D) Earth Staff (E) Inventory 10 Silver Coins 10x10x10 Cube Blueprint [Duel Battle Score: 386 points] [Strategy Battle Score: 683 points] (949 +1,200pt) Throughout the night until dawn broke, I had been constantly working on the cube creation and meditating. Having absorbed the Dark Ice Crystal and added two spiritual pills which were received as a tuition fee from Yang Ji-hong, I was able to achieve a D-rank [Core]. Though I never showed it, the mana consumption was severe whenever I used magical engineering or hummingbird with amplification. Now, it felt like I could breathe a bit more freely. The creation of the [Cube of Life] had also made great progress. The emanating green energy became denser, and in one corner, sprouts seemed almost ready to emerge. I had come more than halfway through. One more day of effort and it would be complete. After taking care of the current urgent matters, my thoughts wandered to Seo Ye-in and what she might be doing. When I focused on the cube or meditation, I often entered a semi-trance state and since it was unlikely that she would have mastered distribution overnight, I hadnt been too concerned. But then, when I checked the back of my student ID, I saw that a message had arrived. [Seo Ye-in: Done] She did it already? It wasnt likely that Seo Ye-in had quit out of boredom; rather, there was a high chance that she had actually mastered distribution. When I went to the mana cultivation room that Seo Ye-in used, I found it empty. She must have left because my response was delayed. [Kim Ho: Hey] [Kim Ho: Where are you?] [Kim Ho: Where are you now?] I sent a few messages but no reply came. She must be sleeping. Given that she had been practicing distribution and constantly infusing mana into a glass box, it made sense that she would be exhausted. In such situations, its better to take it easy. Although I was curious to know if she had really finished my assignment, it wasnt something I could find out by being impatient. I decided to wait and check with her when we met in class. *** [Seo Ye-in: On my way] [Seo Ye-in: (Running dog emoji)] Just like I had guessed, Seo Ye-in had gone to sleep. And she also slept very soundly. I knew this because her reply arrived only around lunchtime. Naturally, she had missed all classes until then. Click As the classroom door opened, all eyes in Class 3 turned simultaneously towards Seo Ye-in. She passed by these gazes indifferently and as she trudged to her seat, Seo Ye-in. Lee Soo-doks cold voice stopped Seo Ye-in in her tracks. He glared at her and asked as if interrogating her. Why were you late? I overslept Seo Ye-in replied as she yawned softly. Seo Ye-in looked to be unfazed by Lee Soo-doks intense glare and she brushed it off casually while the watching students turned pale. Faced with the Human Butcher, her nonchalant attitude suggested they might be dealing with a corpse today. Perhaps they wouldnt even find a body What were you doing to oversleep? I was practicing my magical power. What kind of practice? Imbuing magic bullets, I guess. When she said bullets, her eyes unconsciously shifted towards me and Lee Soo-dok seemed to catch that. His eyes flickered in my direction. And his gaze grew even more intense than before. Its unnerving I couldnt understand why he always did that. No matter how much I thought about it, I had no connection with that manFollow current novels at novelhall.com) [Seo Ye-in: Got it] [Kim Ho: Magic Bullet?] [Seo Ye-in: Yep] [Seo Ye-in: (Dancing bear emoji)] [Kim Ho: Good job] When I entered the mana cultivation room, Seo Ye-in proudly extended her hand to me. A blue bullet lay on her palm. It was a perfectly shaped F-rank magic bullet. I let out a hollow laugh. Its hard to believe even as I see it. Would anyone believe me if I said that it took her less than half a day to go through distribution, compression, and acquiring the [Magic Bullet] skill? Even I, who witnessed the entire process, found it hard to believe. A sense of greed began to unfurl within me. Having saved considerable time, I felt it might be feasible to advance another step. Why not try for an E-rank while were at it? Mhm. I borrowed a larger glass box from the training center. An E-rank requires compressing over three times more mana, meaning the initial amount needed is greater than that for an F-rank. It meant starting from distribution again. However, since she had gotten the hang of it with the F-rank, I expected the E-rank to take significantly less time. That day, Seo Ye-in ultimately succeeded in raising the rank of her [Magic Bullet] by one level. *** Sandstorms swirled around. With the sun blazing fiercely and occasionally heated sand whipping through the air, clinging to the skin, anyone would yearn to escape this place swiftly. Yet Seo Ye-in seemed unfazed as she settled herself on the scorching sand. In her hand, she held a long, thick rifle shimmering with a black gloss and the optical camouflage ghillie suit made her invisible. [Seo Ye-in 99% vs Kwak Ji-cheol 98%] The figure of her opponent, Kwak Ji-cheol, was equally obscured. Not through an invisible ghillie suit, but by hiding within a bulging mound of sand. An earth mage from the Emerald Magic Tower. In a desert area like today, he was literally the worst opponent she could face. Of course, for the mage Kwak Ji-cheol, facing a gunslinger wasnt exactly a welcome scenario either. Theres always a reason why people say gunslingers and mages are incompatible. However, he had observed the placement test duel battle between Seo Ye-in and Song Cheon-hye. He had learned how to fight a hidden gunslinger by watching Song Cheon-hye and he was now imitating the tactics she used. While he may not have overwhelming magical power like Song Cheon-hye, he was more confident in his defensive capabilities since he was skilled at earth magic. Kwak Ji-cheol first wrapped magical power around his body like armor. Then he pulled the surrounding sand up to form a mound and infused it with mana to harden it. Seo Ye-in read all this information through her eyes. [Magic Armor (E)] [Earth Barrier (D)] Kwak Ji-cheol solidified his defense like a turtle and then cast an additional spell. [Earth Grabber (E)] Hands made of sand groped and roamed the ground. The moment they detected Seo Ye-ins position, those hands would move to simultaneously grab her and impede her movements. It would be very easy to finish off a gunslinger who couldnt move. The sandy hands were gradually expanding their search area. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before she was discovered. Even if she wasnt caught by these hands, the footprints she left in the sand as she moved were highly likely to give her away. However, there was not a hint of crisis on Seo Ye-ins face. She opened one hand. Mana gathered and condensed into a bullet shape on her white palm. The completed Magic Bullet was brought to the rifle and seamlessly absorbed into it. Seo Ye-in observed the sand mound where Kwak Ji-cheol was hiding through her scope. Her eyes read the flow of mana maintaining the sand mound. She noticed parts where the flow of mana shifted unnaturally. Places like that had always been the weak spot. She aimed calmly and then pulled the trigger of her rifle. Crack! The Magic Bullet, slicing through the air, not only shattered Kwak Ji-cheols solid sand mound but also his thinly layered magical armor. As the sand mound crumbled, Kwak Ji-cheols figure was revealed. Caught off guard by the sudden clearing of his view, Kwak Ji-cheol couldnt grasp the situation immediately, but his face quickly turned to one of horror. No, this, this cant be. How could something so unbelievable happen? How could his barrier which was supposedly stronger than Song Cheon-hyes, be so easily destroyed when hers had withstood the attack before? But there was no time for panic. I must block it! Kwak Ji-cheol hurriedly tried to gather sand to restore his Earth Barrier, but before he could, a second bullet struck his face. Boom! . Kwak Ji-cheol lost consciousness and fell backward. [Seo Ye-in Win vs Kwak Ji-cheol Lose] [Duel Battle Score: 630+30 points] Seo Ye-in stared pensively at the scoreboard and then tilted her head slightly. She raised her finger and tapped the corner of her mouth. Her mouth seemed to have curled up slightly, perhaps. Chapter 26: 1st Week Duel Battles (4) Chapter 26: 1st Week Duel Battles (4) It was late at night. Song Cheon-hye comfortably settled on the chair in her room with her pajamas. She browsed the student store while slowly spinning left and then right on the rotating chair. She paid 200 points and two of her replay crystal orbs landed in her hands. [Kim Ho 300 Yang Ji-hong 300_Duel Battle_1st Week.replay] [Kim Ho 330 Yang Ji-hong 270_Due Battle_1st Week.replay] Song Cheon-hye had watched Kim Hos placement test. And throughout, he had endured the magical onslaught of Hong Yeon-hwa, only to release a single hummingbird in the end. [Hummingbird] was a spell not exclusive to the Topaz Magic Tower affiliates and could be learned by outsiders. The reason why the Topaz Magic Tower overlooked this is because although it was easy to learn, it was extremely difficult to master. It was, after all, a low-rank spell that was unlikely to be useful even if mastered. So it was left as a challenge by the Topaz Magic Towe as if to say, Go ahead, try it. Thus, Kim Hos adept handling of the hummingbird naturally piqued her curiosity. Coincidentally, he was to be her next opponent in the placement test, and she had intended to experience his skills firsthand. I forfeit. Lets say you won. But the man had excused himself with the lame excuse that he wasnt feeling well. She tried to persuade him, but he seemed disinterested in both victory and score. Regardless of the criticism that he lacked the mindset of a hero, her curiosity about the hummingbird spell still lingered. However, there was not even the slightest chance that Kim Ho, who had a score of 300, and she, who had a score of 900, would be matched to fight in a duel battle against each other, so she resorted to watching replays like these. His opponent in the replay was Yang Ji-hong who was a warrior spearman. She remembered him as her second opponent in the placement test. It was right after Kim Ho had rejected her challenge, and perhaps, in a bit of a rage, she had exerted more force than necessary. Her memories of Yang Ji-hong ended there. Now, it was time to examine the content of the match between Kim Ho and the other guy. With a fluttering heart, Song Cheon-hye fixed her gaze on the crystal orb. As she started playing the replay and began to focus, Uh? the match was already over. The moment it began, Yang Ji-hong charged, got hit by a hummingbird, and fell into paralysis. Unable to move, Yang Ji-hong was mercilessly beaten by Kim Ho, and that was it. The second match followed the same pattern. There was a brief attempt by Yang Ji-hong to dodge, but he quickly got hit by a hummingbird in the back and it ended. The two replays combined didnt even last a minute. Too short, and ridiculously so. My 200 points She felt as if shed been duped by false advertising. To think he took 200 points for just showing this! How could he have no conscience? It was like a bag of chips filled with more air than actual chips! While Kim Ho, who had done nothing wrong except save the replay, was being criticized, the crystal orb continued to replay it over and over again. ? Song Cheon-hye who had been watching with a blank expression on her face slowly began to show a flicker of interest in her eyes. At first, the spell seemed no different from her own hummingbird, but the more she watched the battle, the more she felt a mystery about it that was difficult to express in words. What was it? She held the crystal orb for a long time, replaying it dozens of times with focus, but still couldnt pinpoint the essence of this mystery. It was like a novice admiring a masters technique, sensing its greatness but unable to grasp what exactly made it remarkable. In fact, she started to feel a mental strain; each time she read the trajectory of the hummingbird, her mind seemed to grow more numb. Yet she felt she was on the verge of understanding and couldnt stop herself. Around the time her mind was about 80% numb, Can I do it like that too? Song Cheon-hye cast a spell almost unconsciously. Structural formulas appeared in the air, electric currents converged, and a hummingbird was formed. It wasnt appropriate to treat a student of Dragon Slayer Academy carelessly, and probing without clear evidence was the exact opposite of his style. So the conclusion came full circle and back to the starting point. At the moment, Lee Soo-dok had no choice but to continue observing. To complete a puzzle whose outline was still not fully revealed, more pieces needed to be collected. The replay analysis seemed set to continue for the foreseeable future. Tsk. Since he wasnt particularly thrilled about it, Lee Soo-dok clicked his tongue briefly. Why was he making life difficult for himself this year? Involving himself in an ill-fitting role as a teacher, and he was even diligently watching replays because of a suspicious student. It seems all the human butchers in the world are dead. Sudog Lee thought about that and turned off the screen. The replay crystal orbs were also removed. *** [Activate Amplification] [The Magical Engineering rank increased. (B->S)] [Duration 00:01:13] [Cooldown 00:49:13] Chwalalalalak A glowing blue hand moved at incredible speed as it touched different parts of the cube. With each touch, the arrangement of the thousands of tiny cubes shifted ceaselessly. Click, click Gradually, the hand manipulating the cube began to slow down. Instead, each movement became more deliberate and precise. Carefully scanning the cube, And at the moment when the final piece was placed. Whoom The cube trembled and resonated. Even as I stopped my hand, the cube continued to assemble itself, its interior emptying out, ultimately transforming into a small box with a lid that could be opened and closed. After the box was completed, an intense green light began to surge from inside and various plants sprouted and bloomed through the small gaps. The plants quickly covered the entire cube and it now looked as if it had been made from interwoven tree branches from the start. Its complete. [Cube of Life (B)] The Cube of Life had only one effect. It amplified the effects of life type items stored inside it by 1.3 times. For example, if the basic effect of [Healing Totem] was heal allies within range every 10 seconds, placing the totem inside the cube would reduce the time to 7 seconds and increase the healing amount. [Processed Emerald] had the effect of increasing wood-type magic, and storing it in the cube would apply a 1.3 times multiplier to the increase. So, a 20% increase would become 26%. Furthermore, as long as the boxs capacity allowed, multiple items could be stored, making it an almost cheat-like item. Even this was somewhat inferior to the S-rank Cube of Life obtained by taking the normal route and clearing all of the chain quests. The S-rank increased the multiplier to a whopping 2 times. The cube I created was a forced completion of a prototype design, which is why both its rank and effects were somewhat inferior. But even that was sufficient. Even 1.3 times is huge. It was an item potent enough to cause a stir at Dragon Slayer Academy. In particular, it would make the four major powers drool in desire. Whichever club I took it to would likely easily offer a season pass in exchange. Fulfilling my promise to Go Hyeon-woo would be no issue with this approach, but, Thats not enough. I had no intention of being content with exchanging it for just one season pass. Chapter 27: Cube of Life (1) Chapter 27: Cube of Life (1) On Thursday. During a break between classes, I called Shin Byeong-chul out into the hallway. Why, whats up? You know about the promising students we talked about last time. Yeah, what about it? You mentioned a talented druid from the guild union. Which class is she in? Oh, Park Nari? Shes in the class right next to ours. There she is. When I peeked into Class 2, I saw a timid-looking girl sitting at her desk. While other students were clustered in groups, chatting away, she was like an isolated island, playing with a cat on her desk. When she waved a pen in the air, the cat batted at it like a punching bag. According to Shin Byeong-chul, this seemingly shy girl was Park Nari, the strongest talent of the guild union. The palm-sized cat on her desk, as it turns out, was actually a tiger under a shrinking spell. As I fixed my gaze on Park Nari for a moment, Shin Byeong-chuls eyes narrowed into slits and a sly smile appeared on his lips. Why, are you interested? Should I call her over? No, theres no need to call her. I can make her come here on her own. The distance should be sufficient for my plan. I pulled out the [Cube of Life]. Shin Byeong-chuls curiosity was piqued at the sight of the small box that was reminiscent of a small jungle. Wow What is that? It looks like a pretty valuable item. Later. Right now, I need you to play along with me. Acting, huh? When it comes to acting, you cant leave out Shin Byeong-chul. What do you want me to do? When I opened the lid of the cube, a fresh green light spread out. Of course, the inside was empty. Lets just say theres some really interesting stuff in this box. Its true. It looks so fascinating, I could stare at it all day. Ah! A sudden exclamation from a female student rang out from behind me. It was likely Park Nari. I stopped Shin Byeong-chul from turning around and reset his half-turned head to its original position. Dont look behind you. . Ah, I see what youre doing. He seemed to have half-realized my intention and focused on his acting. Though our acting was nothing more than intently staring into the empty cube. After maintaining this pose for a few seconds Tap, tap Something small tapped gently on my leg. I looked down and saw Nari Parks cat resting its paw on my leg. Although it was the size of a kitten, if you looked closely, its fur pattern bore a striking resemblance to that of a tiger. Shin Byeong-chul who noticed the cat a moment later was startled. Huh? When did this little one get here? Just as I had expected. The unique vibration emitted by the Cube of Life. Animals tend to be more sensitive to such things than humans. If it was a spiritual creature that had accumulated mana over many years, it would be even more sensitive. I already anticipated that it would detect the cubes vibrations from afar and approach me. Watching it approach would only heighten its wariness, so I pretended not to notice until it made contact with me. As our eyes met, the cat, while keeping one paw on my leg, pointed with the other at the Cube of Life. When I shook the cube gently and asked, What, this? Eowww. The cat let out a short cry as if it was affirming my words. I crouched down, adjusting my height to be level with the cube and the cat. The cat then lifted the lid slightly and squeezed inside. It curled up inside and purred contentedly. It made itself quite at home.Visit for the best novel reading experience I heard that cats have a habit of being fascinated by boxes, but was it the same for tigers? Bum, you cant do that! Park Nari rushed in, chasing after her pet tiger. I deliberately made a face to show how embarrassed I felt. Park Nari immediately started apologizing repeatedly. Um, that is, sorry. Ill take it away right now! [Seo Ye-in: Mmmmmm] [Seo Ye-in: (Sleepy puppy emoji)] [Kim Ho: Breakfast?] [Seo Ye-in: Ok] [Kim Ho: Meet in front of the student cafeteria] As for Go Hyeon-woo, he would undoubtedly have set up camp in the special cultivation room. Absorbed in cultivating his internal energy, he often resorted to quick meals like protein bars or instant energy packs, so inviting him for breakfast usually ended in him not showing up. And so, this morning, it was just Seo Yein and me having breakfast together. Perhaps because Seo Ye-in had a small appetite, she put down her fork after eating only half of her omelet. She nibbled on the remaining hash browns while quietly watching me eat. When I looked up, her gray eyes were intently fixed on me. Then, out of the blue, she asked: Do you want anything? Out of nowhere? There should be a balance of giving and receiving. Who told you that? Our butler. Looking at the level of her equipment, I already assumed she was from a well-off family, but she even had a butler. In return for the magic bullet lessons I had given her, she was offering to give me an item. Naturally, I had no reason to decline such an offer. I had been feeling the need to start gathering some things one by one. Mr. Butler who thought her, I dont know who you are, but you have a big heart. I silently sent a word of thanks in my mind and responded. If theres something I really need right now, it might be something to increase my movement speed. I wish I had a pair of shoes. Got it. And by the way, have you finished all your duel battles for this week? Mhm. Seo Ye-in answered and showed three fingers. Three wins? Nod If she had finished the first weeks duels, unless something special happened, she wouldnt use her equipment anymore this week. I asked a bit cautiously. Could you lend me your invisible ghillie suit just for this weekend if youre not using it? Sure. Borrowing someone elses equipment was somewhat considered rude, so I thought there was a good chance she would refuse, but Seo Ye-in readily agreed, making my concerns seem pointless. She pulled out a neatly folded piece of clothing from her inventory. [Optical Camouflage Ghillie Suit (B)] Invisibility (B) applied Detection Resistance (D) applied Automatic Durability Recovery This is indeed B-rank. Like the [Cube of Life], its a high-grade item that freshmen usually cant even get their hands on. In addition to stealth, it has [Detection Resistance], which ignores the opponents detection skills to a certain extent. The item also had [Automatic Durability Recovery], which meant it would repair and mend itself over time as long as it wasnt completely destroyed. Thank you. Ill use it carefully and return it clean. Just give me another special lesson on magic bullets. Sure, lets find another time to do that. *** The teacher of Monster Ecology was an elderly woman known among the students as Madam Cho Ok-soon. Madam Cho Ok-soon was very knowledgeable about the ecology of monsters as a veteran who had spent half her life on battlefields infested with monsters. which is why goblins are often seen as monsters for beginners. But, just like each of us is unique and cannot be solely defined by the word human, there are also special goblins. Youll encounter them in various places in the future. For instances of clashes with goblin champions and swordmasters, refer to page 76 of the textbook The fatal flaw of this class was that it was heavily lecture-based, which meant there was a lot of information to absorb and remember. Additionally, Madam Jos slow and soft-spoken manner made it all too easy to feel sleepy just by listening. Seo Ye-in had already succumbed to the pressure and fell to the table, and many other students were also hanging their heads in defeat. The few survivors kept their eyes fixed on the clock, fervently wishing for the class to end. Finally, there were only five minutes remaining. Soon, everyone would abruptly wake up, as if they had never been asleep, bustling around and chatting animatedly. However, this break time would be an exception. I turned my attention to the front-row seats. The seats of Song Cheon-hye and Han Somi had been empty for some time now. Specifically, only those of the disciplinary committee. Five minutes to go. Chapter 28: Cube of Life (2) Chapter 28: Cube of Life (2) Make sure to review todays lesson. It will be helpful for next weeks strategy battle session. Madam Cho Ok-soon finished her class exactly before the break time. Usually, she stayed during the break to answer questions from some students, but today she left the classroom unusually quickly, as if in a hurry. Because teachers are not supposed to get involved in what happens from now on. As soon as Madam Cho Ok-soons figure disappeared from sight, the students of Class 3 who had been slumped over like wilted cabbages sprang to their feet. Freedom! The fatigue that had been plastered on their faces vanished in an instant and their bodies overflowed with vitality. One particularly lively boy burst open the classroom door and lunged into the corridor, but Thump! Ouch! He was suddenly repelled backward as if he had hit something invisible. Feeling around the open classroom door revealed an invisible barrier blocking the way. Thump! Ugh! A female student who opened the window to get some fresh air tried to stick her face out the window and ended up accidentally hitting her face against this invisible barrier. She rubbed her bumped face and muttered. A barrier? What was currently surrounding the classroom was a wide-area barrier that was cast on a large scale over the entire Dragon Slayer Academy. It was far more robust than anything a single mage could conjure and it was nearly impossible for a mere student to breach. Of course, the newcomers were unaware of this fact. They were wondering whether to try breaking the invisible barrier before them or to wait a little longer. When a second large-scale spell was activated. Zzzzzzt A thin film made of magnetic fields appeared at one end of the classroom. It swept across to the opposite end of the room, passing over the students before they could even react. Ah! Eek! The magnetic field moved so swiftly that the students who were caught off guard reflexively covered their faces, crouched, or stepped back. However, they soon realized that they were unharmed and looked bewildered. This film was not meant to harm anyone. Its purpose was to search for people. Or more precisely, to select them. What is this! What exactly is happening? Parts of some students bodies were emitting a red glow. Notably around their school uniform pockets or on their foreheads. One of the female students reached into her inner pocket and took out something. It was a cursed doll that was radiating a red glow. In a panic, she threw the doll away, only to realize the next moment that it was connected to her by a red line. Other students didnt have glowing pockets; instead, a large red I was marked on their foreheads. This meant that the problematic item was in their inventory. This was an item check. A Ban Wave. Items deemed unsuitable for possession and use by the students of Dragon Slayer Academy were listed in the or in the players terms, the . And just like now, a Ban Wave would be activated to weed them out and impose sanctions. The first Ban Wave of the new school year typically occurred with high probability on the first Friday of the first week. It was the day when most newcomers started flocking to the arena for duel battles. They would have spent days watching replays of other students to gauge the level of skill in their own score range. In the process, some might have felt their own abilities were insufficient. Usually, they would accept this reality, still challenge themselves, clash, break, and grow. And this was exactly what Dragon Slayer Academy expected of its students. However, some resorted to shortcuts, namely prohibited items. All to avoid losing points. Even though using such items would only maintain their scores temporarily and offered no real benefit, they became blinded by the immediate points and their judgment was clouded. The Dragon Slayer Academy responded to these people with merciless iron fists. Boom! A heavy crash sounded from afar. That must be the barrier wall. Judging by the distance, it seems they are starting from Class 1. However, I wasnt particularly disappointed. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future, and right now, these didnt even qualify as appetizers. I stored the [Cube of Life] in my inventory. Not all the prohibited items had been moved, so the I mark still lingered on Shin Byeong-cheols forehead, but it was significantly lighter than before. He should handle the rest on his own. Stop right there. Crack! A bolt of lightning struck next to me and Shin Byeong-cheol, and then Song Cheon-hye appeared out of nowhere as if she traversed space in an instant. Her gloved hand crackled menacingly with electricity as she asked her question. What are you doing there? The Wave had just been activated, and a mark had been imprinted on Shin Byeong-cheols forehead. With both Shin Byeong-cheol and I turning our backs in a corner of the classroom, it must have looked incredibly suspicious to anyone. I tried my best to look innocent. I dont know what youre talking about. Shin Byeong-cheol defended me as well. Thats right. This friend of mine has done nothing wrong. I see. Of course, Song Cheon-hye was not likely to take those words at face value. She then thrust a device with a shining crystal orb embedded in it towards me. It was an item similar to the Ban Wave as it would turn red if the target possessed any prohibited items. Wooong There was no reaction. Song Cheon-hye activated the crystal orb again but the result was the same. . Can I go now? Return to your seat. Members of the disciplinary committee kept coming in from class 2. They moved around the classroom and confiscated all prohibited items before registering the owners student IDs on their devices. Additional demerit points and disciplinary action will be imposed depending on the level or number of prohibited items. Bang, Bang! Any student who resisted was subdued without mercy. A male student who drew a knife was struck by Jo Byeoks fist and pinned against the wall, which caused another boy who had been resisting to quietly put away his weapon and present his own items. . Meanwhile, Song Cheon-hye continued to cast suspicious glances at me. She seemed eager to check my inventory, but without concrete evidence, she couldnt forcefully proceed with such actions. In fact, my inventory was now full of prohibited items. Thats why I tried to finish it before Friday. The waves emitted by the Cube of Life were so powerful that they could lure Park Naris cat from afar. These waves of energy wrap the cube in a thick armor-like layer and disrupt the Ban Wave so that whatever you put inside will appear as a Life type item from the outside. I once found this hidden piece purely by chance. By using the Cube of Life in this way, Shin Byeong-cheol and the club he belonged to owed a large debt to me, and at the same time this would promote its value. An item that conceals prohibited items from the Ban Wave. Even those in completely unrelated classes would be desperate to have it. *** After class ended. I met up with Shin Byeong-cheol in a secluded area. As soon as he saw me, he tried to hug me in gratitude, but I pushed him away. Shin Byeong-cheol was standing awkwardly as he offered me his thanks. Wow, really, thank you. If it werent for you, I would have been completely stripped and ended up either a corpse or a slave. Keep it as a debt. Ill collect it in full later. Of course, I wouldnt dream of skipping out on this. The debt for saving Shin Byeong-cheol from trouble could be collected later, but now I planned to separately demand payment for extracting the confiscated items. And from his clubs president. Lets deal with the prohibited items in your club room. Sure, lets do that. Actually, the club president wants to meet you too. Shall we go now? Lets go. Following Shin Byeong-cheols lead, I headed toward the club room. The troublemakers at Dragon Slayer Academy were responsible for all kinds of accidents and mishaps in here, including trading prohibited items through [Dragon Slayer Academy errand service!]. Off to the thieves club room then. Chapter 29: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (1) Chapter 29: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (1) The thieves club room was located in a very remote area. Although they ranked in the upper-middle tier in terms of size and performance, the problem was their frequent violation of school rules. In addition to individual demerit points and disciplinary action, club-level sanctions were also applied quite frequently. This included cuts in the clubs budget. As evidence, the interior of the room was remarkably shabby. The leather on the sofas was completely peeled off, and the chairs picked up from who knows where were mismatched in appearance. There, sitting on an old wooden table that also seemed to have been scavenged, was the president of the thieves club. She was a tall beauty with long black hair that fell to her waist. Even though she was just sitting expressionless and doing nothing, her charisma seemed to radiate naturally. Perhaps this was only natural, given that she was running a club. Were here, noonim ... The club president silently flicked her index finger.Updated from As Shin Byeong-cheol hesitantly approached, a white hand roughly grabbed his buzz-cut hair. Did I or did I not tell you to be careful? Ow! Sister! Not the hair! Not the hair! Its important! Listen and dont get distracted! I told you so! Im sorry! Oww! Stop! Im going to go bald! Every time the club president tightened her grip, Shin Byeong-cheol was pitifully dragged around. This farce seemed to have cost Shin Byeong-cheol a handful of hair if not more. The club president released his head and gave him a final slap on the back of it, making a loud thwack! sound. Cant stand the sight of you. Get out. Yes, Im sorry. Shin Byeong-cheol massaged his aching head and made his exit, leaving just the two of us. As the club president shifted her gaze towards me, I immediately bowed my head. Hello, senior. Im Dang Gyu-young. You probably already know, but Im the club president here. Im Kim Ho. Lets get straight to the goods. Dang Gyu-young looked to be a very straightforward person. From my perspective, it was more comfortable to just exchange formalities and get straight to the point rather than beating around the bush with meaningless chatter. I pulled out the [Cube of Life] from my inventory and showed it to her. Dang Gyu-young stared at the densely packed prohibited items inside and then picked one to examine it. Its real. Honestly, I was half in doubt until just now. An item that can deceive the ban wave, it just sounds too false to believe. The world is vast and items are plenty. So it seems. I thought I had seen all kinds of items, but it looks like I still have a long way to go. Hey, can I steal this? Her gaze was 20% playful and 80% serious. And as the president of the thieves club, stealing an item from a freshman would be a piece of cake if she set her mind to it. Of course, I had considered this possibility as well. Youll be caught quickly. Even though it looks like this, this is a magic engineering item. What? Dang Gyu-young scrutinized the cube more closely. It was hard to notice at first glance since it was covered with various plants and flowers, but traces of the 10x10x10 blueprint could be seen here and there. Whats this? Is it a magic engineering item? Ive never seen anything like it. Who made it? I did. Hey, youre pretty skilled with your hands? Dang Gyu-young realized the situation and let go of her desire to take it. The theft prevention mechanism of a magic engineering item was more complex than that of a regular magic item. It can be deeply embedded during the manufacturing stage, making it difficult to find and bypass. Of course, I hadnt actually done that but bluffing alone was enough to deter her. If what I said was true and she was tracked, shed be completely trapped. Tch, anyway, you must want something from me; thats why you didnt pass things to Byeong-chul and came directly to me, right? You got it right. As you can see, were quite poor here. If this had been stolen too, we would have ended up in deficit this month. So, there isnt much I can offer you. Dang Gyu-young might have expected me to request something else at this point, but I had no intention of changing my demand. Instead, adding just one more item to the scale would complete the trade. I started. The temporary storage. Its guarded by the disciplinary committee, right? Needless to say. Its like a fortress. The ban wave had been triggered countless times even before I enrolled. Each time, the thieves club eyed the temporary storage, and each time, the disciplinary committee mobilized all its members to defend it. It would be the same this time. It is not only difficult to break in, but also hard to escape after the job. If anything, the latter is harder. Entering unnoticed and leaving the same way would be perfect, but the likelihood of being spotted by the patrol during the process was quite high. The disciplinary committee was the strongest force of power in Dragon Slayer Academy. Maybe a few from the four major powers could stand a chance, but the thieves club was no match for them. A direct confrontation would lead to them getting instantly overpowered and being caught during the escape meant game over. All the painstakingly gathered items would have to be relinquished. The condition I was about to propose was related to this very issue. If I can solve the latter for you? Come on, be realistic. Even we cant do that, but you wait a minute. As I casually opened the [Cube of Life], Dang Gyu-youngs eyes widened. Right. Why didnt I think of that? Just gather the important things and put them in And we can bring them out surely. A hidden piece that could avoid the detection of the ban wave and the crystal orb. Even if every member of the thieves club who broke in was caught, the items stored in the cube would remain undetected. She cant possibly refuse this. Of course, I understood Dang Gyu-youngs position. Given the immense effort put into their project, it must be frustrating to have an outsider jump in at the final stage. But she would hate it even more if the project fell apart at the last minute. Not gaining anything at all would be the worst outcome. By accepting my proposal, they would at least ensure some profit. And not just any profit, but items of high value in the storage. Dang Gyu-young seemed almost convinced. Yet, still slightly uncomfortable with the situation, she tentatively made a counteroffer. Hey, how about just giving me that box, or rather, lending it to me? Just for one night. No way. It was a preposterous suggestion. Ah, why! If there are good items, I can just bring them to you! I need to see and choose them myself. What Dang Gyu-young considers good items and what I consider good are clearly different. I had to see with my own eyes to judge what was useful to me. Are you going to do it? If you really dont want to, then it cant be helped. fine, Ill do it! Happy now? Then well go together. Tch. Dang Gyu-young reluctantly accepted the deal. She stared at me with a stern expression on her face and then asked. Hey, be honest. Youve repeated a year, havent you? How could I repeat a year here? If you dont get good grades, youre expelled right away. I have a good intuition. You just dont seem like a freshman to me. You caught me. Im only telling you this, but actuallyIve graduated over 200 times from this academy. . haah, I shouldve just kept my mouth shut. Dang Gyu-youngs face soured. She shook her head and then stood up. I was telling the truth though. Chapter 30: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (2) Chapter 30: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (2) A thin crescent moon faintly illuminated the sky. It was a night darker than usual with thick clouds constantly obscuring even the slim crescent moon. Such dark nights were perfect for thieves to strike. Black figures gathered in front of a large statue near the old school building. They were dressed uniformly in black with masks covering their faces. And among such people, I was also present. I quickly recognized the slender masked person in the bunch to be Dang Gyu-young. I didnt know the real faces of the others though. Two male students who looked to be twins even though their faces were concealed by masks as they were strikingly similar in both build and demeanor. A female student who was busily tapping away on a tablet. A male student with a very short wand strapped to his arm, And a male student who exuded a carefree attitude and who turned out to be Shin Byeong-chul upon closer inspection. They exchanged glances and nodded their heads in unison as if they could recognize each other even with masks on. On the other hand, since it was my first time meeting them, one of the twins felt puzzled and asked. Hey, theres someone unfamiliar here. Whos this? This person will be helping us with our task tonight. Be careful not to be rude. Hmm. The twin didnt seem entirely convinced but nodded his head in acknowledgment anyway. It was better to keep the number of people aware of the [Cube of Life]s existence and capabilities to a minimum. Any careless talk could jeopardize not only the mission but also the safety of the items we intended to store inside. For now, my cover identity was that of a mysterious expert invited by Dang Gyu-young. Ah, nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you tonight. Shin Byeong-chul bowed his head while winking with one eye at me. He seemed to have figured out who I was from the bits of my face visible through the mask and the general situation. He was quick-witted and owed me a favor, so I was confident he wouldnt reveal my identity. Dang Gyu-young asked the girl with the tablet. How much time do we have left? At her question, the girls fingers flew faster over the tablet. Numbers crowded the screen as she seemed to be making some calculations, and her gaze occasionally shifted to the sky, more precisely, to the moon. Three minutes left. Good, lets get ready. Everyone made a final check of their gear or gathered their mana. I secretly exchanged glances with Dang Gyu-young. Her shadow squirmed as it formed letters. Do just as youve been instructed. I had received a separate briefing on the operation beforehand. Although the others would handle everything necessary, I needed to understand how to enter and exit without making mistakes. Now that I knew all the details, my role tonight was to follow along quietly and not cause them any trouble. Isnt this the essence of being a bystander? As the three minutes mentioned by the tablet-carrying female student approached, Clouds gathered, completely obscuring the moon. Rush in. [Shadows Safe Haven] The shadow emanating from Dang Gyu-young formed a dome, and everyone promptly gathered within its range. The shadow clung to our bodies and it enhanced our stealth. Even at close range, we could barely discern each others silhouettes, so it would be even harder to be recognized from a distance. The thieves club members soon began to run with Dang Gyu-young in the lead. Despite several people running, there was no sound of footsteps or rustling clothes. I ran alongside them while observing Dang Gyu-youngs legs. More precisely, her footwork. B-rank. The [Thiefs Step] was the primary mobility skill of the Rogue class. It made ones footsteps quick and stealthy and moving through darkness added an extra bonus. Since she was skilled enough to become the club president in her third year, achieving a B-rank in this skill was easily within reach. [Activate Copy-Skill.] [Registering the targets skill Thiefs Step (B) in the slot.] Copy-Skill[2/2] 1. Hummingbird (E) 2. Thiefs Step (B) Now that the cube was finished, I wouldnt need [Magical Engineering] for a while. As I moved using [Thiefs Step], the members of the club focused their attention on me. To them, my first footsteps must have been relatively loud, but they quickly became a perfect Thiefs Step, which was quite astonishing. However, as I continued running straight ahead, they too seemed to decide not to be distracted and withdrew their gazes. As we neared the old school building, I started to notice students wearing disciplinary committee armbands patrolling around. They kept a certain distance from each other as they patrolled. Covering the vast interior and exterior of the old school building with just the disciplinary committee members meant there were bound to be gaps. According to the information I received from the thieves club, the area we were heading towards was relatively vulnerable. This was partly because a higher proportion of the patrolling students were first-years. [Activate Amplification] [The targets Shadow Butterfly Dream rank increased. (C->A)] [Duration 00:01:59] [Cooldown 00:49:59] Now that the skill became an A-rank, it seemed worth a try. Dang Gyu-youngs eyes widened again. How did you do that? No time to explain. Lets hurry. She seemed to agree with my statement about the lack of time and kept quiet for the moment, but her expression was resolute as if she was silently vowing to ask me questions later. Dang Gyu-young clasped her hands together. Above her palms, shadows formed into butterflies and they gathered one by one. In a flash, dozens of black butterflies had swarmed and Dang Gyu-young released them into the air. [Shadow Butterfly Dream] ! The third-year disciplinary committee member reacted instantly. As he frantically swung his hell axe, a third of the flying butterflies were split in half and scattered. But one butterfly managed to touch him and exploded into shadows. The shadows engulfing him seemed to dissipate with a single grunt of effort. It was a kind of internal energy barrier used by warriors. However, as two and three butterflies continued to attach and entangle him, the number of butterflies overwhelmed his ability to dispel them. Eventually, he was buried in a giant cocoon of shadows. Dang Gyu-young looked to be exhausted as she turned to me and said. You, we need to talk later. Of course. I supported the staggering Dang Gyu-young briefly, but soon she regained her strength and took the lead. The door to the temporary storage was wide open but the thieves club members meticulously inspected even the smallest devices nearby before entering. Triggering even a single alarm spell could spell disaster here. Only after ensuring complete safety did they begin to sweep the prohibited items into their inventories. Lets grab what we need and get out of here quickly. Yes, noonim. Dang Gyu-young and I exchanged glances. As I opened the [Cube of Life], I began to selectively pick and place only the valuable items inside. I should also start my own bit of shopping. I started rummaging through the mountain of prohibited items. To know exactly what was there, I had to look closely, but the types of prohibited items were almost predetermined. The main criterion for the ban list at Dragon Slayer Academy was side effects. The question was how much of a side effect followed in exchange for immense power. For example, a [Magic Tome] could rapidly enhance strength in a short period of time, but the more one learned from it, the more ones mind became corrupted by dark energy, increasing the likelihood of becoming evil. The [Dark Ice Crystal] I acquired on the train also drastically increased mana in an instant, but if one couldnt withstand its coldness, they would be frozen to the bone immediately upon use. Items causing physical or mental harm are mostly designated as prohibited items. The more severe and permanent the damage, the higher they tend to be on the list. Most of the items here carry some penalty, big or small. Among these, my target was prohibited items with an elemental penalty similar to the Dark Ice Crystal. This is because most elemental penalties can be completely nullified with my S-rank [Elemental Resistance]. First one. [Heart of Thunder]*2 Two rough and uneven beads that seemed to have been forcibly compressed from lightning. Since it was not feasible to use them immediately, I stored them in the Cube of Life. I kept looking through the mountain of items, but unfortunately no more items with elemental penalty were found. Given the limited time, it seemed wiser to shift my focus elsewhere. Skill books. That was also a primary reason for my visit here. Being a place teeming with prohibited items, it was likely to have a skill book or two with elemental penalties. However, finding them wouldnt be an easy task. Starting from the very top, the first skill book was a dud. [Skill Book Asura Blood Demon Art] The more one mastered it, the more the blood demon energy would seep into their marrow, eventually driving them insane. This was 100% a reservation for a future villain. Who knows which audacious person brought it in? It must have been incredibly difficult to obtain. [Skill Book Necrograsp] A close combat skill of necromancers that would make everything they touched rot and decay. Its major drawback was that every time it was used, the spellcasters hand would also slowly decay. Elemental penalty, elemental penalty While I was repeating elemental penalty in my head I flipped through skill book after skill book. Finally, I stumbled upon something worthwhile. No. It wasnt just worthwhile; it was almost a jackpot. [Skill Book Inferno Fist] Chapter 31: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (3) Chapter 31: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (3) (TN: It seems I made quite the mistake in mixing disciplinary committee with student council. I never came across the term disciplinary committee before, so I assumed the author meant student council. I forgot that in anime there is actually mention of the disciplinary committee with student council. Very very sorry; now it has been corrected in every chapter.) ****** If you were to think of a fire fist, the first thing that might come to mind was the [Fire Punch] used by fire mages. It was a magic attack that surrounded the fist with flames, but its destructive power was not particularly impressive. This was especially true considering the generally poor physical abilities of mages. Using this skill didnt require much beyond mana. It was a case of a low-risk, low-return attack. On the other hand, [Inferno Fist] was an extremely high-risk, high-return spell. Instead of merely surrounding the fist with flames, it infused the flames into it. In the process, everything that constituted the fistthe flesh, muscles, blood vessels, bones, and even the magic circuitwas burned. And since it causes massive burns to your fist every time you use it, you can only use it once in a while when accompanied by a powerful recovery item. Ignoring this and casting it four or five times in succession would turn your fist into black charcoal and then crumble away. The payoff for this risk was overwhelming destructive power which would make [Fire Punch] seem like a mere matchstick flame in comparison. If one could neutralize the risks of this formidable skill and harness its benefitsVisit for the best novel reading experience That would be a jackpot. I decided to learn it right away since there was no need to carry it around with me. Handling a prohibited skill book always required caution, but I was an exception. Elemental penalties couldnt harm me after all. [Using Skill Book Inferno Fist.] [Acquired Inferno Fist (C).] As expected, it was a C-rank from the start. It must have been a skill book confiscated from the third years. Dang Gyu-young asked her club members. Did you get everything? Yes, noonim. The temporary storage had become noticeably emptier than before. This was because many prohibited items had been moved to the inventory of the thieves club member. However, these items couldnt yet be considered fully stolen. Its not over until they safely escape. Lets go. We used the same route they had infiltrated as their escape route. And we returned to Practice Room A passing through the corridor. Before we quickly descended the circular staircase outside the window of Practice Room A. Geum Jo-hans clone was still patrolling the same spot with a dazed expression. Now, we just needed to get out of this place. Although I couldnt see their facial expressions as they were covered by masks, everyone seemed more alert. But then, Kukukuku Just as everyone started to pick up speed, a wooden door suddenly sprung up in front of us. The door opened and a male student walked out. Where are you hurrying off to? ! He wore a second-year tie pin and a disciplinary committee armband. In one hand, he held a large emerald crystal ball. He was a wood mage who was skilled in both wood and earth magic. The twins seemed to be familiar with him as they took turns speaking. Kwak Seung-jae Its you again You always pop up wherever we go. I keep dreaming about that wooden door, you know? This old school building isnt your private room; you cant just come and go as you please. As the wood mage manipulated a small transmitter, the girl with the tablet immediately jammed its signal. Next, he raised his free hand above his shoulder. A bright light shot up, only to be swallowed by an encroaching shadow. ! The mages eyes sparkled as he spotted Dang Gyu-young, who had sent the shadow. Perhaps deciding it was pointless to hide her face any longer, Dang Gyu-young threw off her mask and waved her hand. Good to see you, Seung-jae? Good to see you too. The wood mage whose name was Kwak Seung-jae immediately bowed. Cant you just let us go? I will let you go, but, He gestured toward the wooden door he had just opened. Before that, would you mind accompanying me to the disciplinary committee room for a moment? To spit out everything weve eaten? It was never the property of the thieves club in the first place, was it? Dang Gyu-youngs smile deepened. Then I guess well have to break through. If you think you can. Are you that confident? How could I confidently claim to win against a senior like you? Thats right. It would take a third year to match me. The axe guy is out of the picture, and the others are likely occupied with external requests. And Slit-eyes is not in sight, is he? It seems thats how things have turned out. I wondered why everything was resolving so easily. Just then, it occurred to me that there werent many third-year disciplinary committee members left in Dragon Slayer Academy at the moment. The axe guy must be referring to the guy with the Hell Axe that was blocking the entrance to the temporary storage. And Slit-eyes would be the disciplinary committee president, Oh Se-hoon. Kwak Seung-jae responded in a calm tone. The president is momentarily occupied with other matters. He should be back shortly. Can you hold us off until then? Although the shadows swirled menacingly, Kwak Seung-jae was not intimidated in the slightest. The unshaken belief in his eyes caused Dang Gyu-youngs expression to grow more serious. This time, given the circumstances, we had to seek external help. Kwak Seung-jae stepped aside, and through the open wooden door, another person walked out. He was a handsome man with light brown hair slicked back. He was a third-year student and he wore a single emblem on his chest instead of the disciplinary committee armband. It was the emblem symbolizing the student council president. In his hand, a pair of dark gloves shimmered with topaz. Dang Gyu-young frowned. Song Cheon-gi. So you start this semester with theft as well. And what wind brings you here to help the disciplinary committee? Youve always been such a lazy a**. . Are you mute? . Hes clever. He had identified all the members of the thieves club, so he could guess their identities even behind the masks. On the other hand, this person was a complete stranger, so he wondered if he should listen to his voice, but the person quickly realized this and remained silent. But it didnt matter. He could just subdue and check directly. It seems you have no intention of surrendering. . The masked person, instead of responding, flicked their fingers. To Kwak Seung-jae, it came across as this: Stop wasting time and lets fight already. It was somewhat unexpected. All the members of the thieves club were solely focused on creating an opportunity to flee, but this person was openly inviting a fight. Sometimes things like this are also good. The two stared at each other for a moment. Then, the battle commenced. Boom! As the orb glowed green, the earth surged up in an attempt to strike the masked person. The masked person smoothly maneuvered their feet, weaving through the disjointed earth. The level of their [Thiefs Step] was so exceptional that it appeared as though they were sliding across the ground. The masked person quickly closed in, attempting to kick Kwak Seung-jae in the face, but, Thud A wall of earth rose up, blocking the kick. In the next moment, a heavy clump of earth fell from behind the masked person. As if they had eyes on the back of their head, they stepped back just in time. The retreating masked persons hand flashed brightly and a bolt of lightning shot towards Kwak Seung-jae. A hummingbird? [Earth Gatling] The earth-made gatling gun fired a barrage of densely packed dirt bullets. It was a clever strategy that simultaneously targeted the hummingbird and the opponent. However, the masked person again moved smoothly to evade it, and the hummingbird dodged the bullets nimbly before it landed on Kwak Seung-jaes shoulder. Fzzzt! !! Kwak Seung-jae was a bit startled. How excellent was the control for the hummingbird to exhibit such movement? Instead of being paralyzed, one of the defensive spells he had set up earlier broke. In his mind, Kwak Seung-jae sent silent praise to the masked person. Impressive. But there wont be a second time. This decisive move would be the end of their battle. Suddenly, a thin wall of earth surrounded the area. This was to prevent the masked person from evading the next attack. [Earth Gatling] [Earth Gatling] [Earth Gatling] Multiple earth-gatling guns emerged from various points at the same time. They unleashed hundreds of bullets towards the masked person. [Crossfire] Tatatatatata! The area within the earthen walls was engulfed in a thick cloud of dust. . When the dust finally settled, Kwak Seung-jae fully expected to find the masked person lying defeated on the ground. But the masked person just stood there. Without a single scratch. This person is beyond my capabilities. Kwak Seung-jae had a considerable amount of pride in his [Earth Gatling] spell, as it was one of his main attacks. The fact that he had deployed several of them simultaneously without inflicting any damage meant that this opponent was, in his estimation, someone he couldnt defeat. He wondered where such a formidable opponent had come from. Although it seemed highly unlikely that he could win, the course of the battle so far suggested he wouldnt lose either. His plan, then, was to keep the person engaged while waiting for reinforcements. Boom The distant rumble of battle reached his ears. This signified that someone else from the disciplinary committee was engaged in combat. The outcome of a fight between the disciplinary committee and the thieves club was predictable. Soon, they would overpower their opponents and come to assist him. The masked person momentarily diverted their gaze towards the distant commotion. It seemed they too realized that their time was running short. Silently, the masked person then turned to face Kwak Seung-jae directly. There was a sudden shift in the atmosphere. As he assumed his stance, the fist he clenched began to glow increasingly red. Is he about to use a fire-type spell? However, the color of the heated fist looked to be very ominous. It was a deep, blood-like red, almost black, with flames flickering fiercely around it. Chills ran down Kwak Seung-jaes spine. Could it be! If his guess was correct, he couldnt afford to take this lightly. Kwak Seung-jae quickly withdrew all his spells and shifted to a defensive stance. [Threefold Stone Wall] [Strong Wall] Boom! Three layers of stone walls rose up right in front of him and they thickened and hardened even more. Feeling that even this was not enough, Kwak Seung-jae was about to cast an additional spell to strengthen the barrier. Just then, the blood-red fist made contact with the first stone wall. Crash! The wall got shattered, sending a tremendous wave of heat and shock toward Kwak Seung-jae. All the defensive spells he had prepared, along with every piece of protective gear, accessories, and even his uniform, were instantly destroyed. Kwak Seung-jae thought to himself as he tumbled and lay sprawled on the ground like a rag doll. His suspicions had been correct. The name of that skill was Inferno Fist. Chapter 32: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (4) Chapter 32: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (4) Crackle, crackle! Damn it Ah! With each spark, the masked man twisted in pain. His entire body was tightly bound by wires carrying electric current. With even the slightest movement causing an electric shock, his only option was to be meekly dragged along. Really unfair Ah! Damn. Whats with the first-year students this year? Song Cheon-hye did not respond to the masked mans question but silently infused mana into the wire. The wire would continue to paralyze its target until its energy was depleted. Having completely subdued her opponent, all she had to do now was drag this thief her senior, to the disciplinary room according to the manual. But then, Boom, boom, boom! Hiic. A tremendous noise startled Song Cheon-hye. She hiccupped involuntarily, but fortunately for her, the thief club senior was too busy wrestling with the wire to notice her reaction. Song Cheon-hye calmed her startled heart and estimated the distance between the source of the noise and her current location. Even though it was quite a distance away, the fact that the sound was so clearly audible suggested it was no ordinary occurrence. I need to go check it out. Song Cheon-hye injected more mana into the wire. She was somewhat concerned about leaving the guy behind, but checking out the source of the noise was more pressing at the moment. She could always return soon to retrieve him. Song Cheon-hye launched herself off the ground before casting a spell. Electricity surged through her legs, transforming her into a streak of lightning as she sped off. The moment she arrived at the source of the loud noise, Ugh! Song Cheon-hye felt her breath catch in her throat from the intense heat. Surveying the area, she saw a thick triple-layered stone wall with a huge hole in it while the remaining debris melted away like butter. And little distance away, she spotted Kwak Seung-jae lying unconscious. Senior! Song Cheon-hye rushed to Kwak Seung-jae and then quickly checked his condition. Since he was stuck by a blow that left such trembling aftereffects, it wouldnt have been surprising if he had died instantly. Even if he hadnt died, there was a high chance that parts of his body were severely burned or his internal organs turned to mush. But, ? Strangely, Kwak Seung-jae seemed to be unharmed. He had only minor burns, some scrapes from rolling on the ground, and a slightly twisted mana circuit. Just a few days of rest would be enough for his recovery.Updated from Such minor injuries didnt match the level of destruction in this place at all. Song Cheon-hye! A second-year student from the disciplinary committee landed nearby. His reaction was similar. He grimaced at the wave of heat hitting his face upon arrival, hastily checked Kwak Seung-jaes condition, and was puzzled to find him relatively unharmed. He asked Song Cheon-hye, What on earth happened here? Im not sure. I just arrived myself. Lets head back for now. Though Kwak Seung-jae was unconscious, he wasnt seriously injured. Considering the possibility of the assailant returning, it seemed wiser to discuss further in a safer location. The second-year student lifted Kwak Seung-jae and carried him on his back. *** I rotated my wrists, each in turn. The hand that had cast [Inferno Fist] was not only free from burns but it also lacked even the slightest burn mark. This was clear evidence that I had completely nullified the elemental penalty. However, there remained a slight tingling sensation as if my fist was burning from the inside. I continued to relax my fists and walked towards the dormitory. That was quite the effort this time. It was all due to the need to control my strength. If I had struck with maximum firepower, Kwak Seung-jae probably wouldnt have even left a corpse behind. Even a moderate output would have blown off a limb. It was indeed a struggle to adjust my strength precisely enough to render him just incapable of fighting, not more, not less. Whats this about? Gyu-young, lets not waste time. You know what this is. No? This is the first time Im seeing it. Pretending ignorance will just make things more tiring for both of us. Yeah, like I care~ Her brazen attitude wasnt new. The thieves club. Once they had taken something, they rarely ever gave it back. Especially today, since they had taken a particularly big bite, they were determined not to let go. Whenever Gyu-young brazenly confronted him in such shameless way, Oh Se-hoon had a set response. Gyu-young, I cant let this slide this time. I dont know how you did it, but many items have gone missing. You all have to take full responsibility for the shortfall. What happens if we take full responsibility? He started to tally up all the school rules they had broken today And added to that the missing items 3% demerit points, a cut in the clubs budget, two weeks of cleaning the underground sewers and clearing out the monsters inside, one week of building maintenance work and the seniors will have to take on two external requests. Thats a hell of a lot. So, youre about to make an offer, right? She knew that showing the carrot after the stick was the next step for this guy. Oh Se-hoon continued speaking with a bitter smile. If you come clean and return all the items, Ill reduce it to 1% demerit points and only three days of sewer cleaning. And nothing else. It was an unconventional offer. Such a significant reduction was a bit beyond the authority of the disciplinary committee president, but Oh Se-hoon had the capability to make it happen. However, he already anticipated the kind of response he would receive. Though he always made offers, he could count on one hand the amount of times they were accepted. As expected, Dang Gyu-young chose the first option without much hesitation. Ill just take the punishment for three weeks, whatever. I knew you would say that. Sure enough, Dang Gyu-young had no real hesitation in choosing to face the consequences. The prohibited items entrusted to Kim Ho were all of high value. Considering the immense profit they could make by selling them, this level of punishment was bearable. Dang Gyu-young got up from her seat and asked. Is that it? Yes, the punishment starts tomorrow. Let the others know in advance. Alright. Im off. Go and rest. As Dang Gyu-young left the room of truth, five members of the thieves club who had been crouching in a corner crowded around her. Noonim, is it over? How many weeks of punishment? What about the demerit points? Theres no external request, right? Wait, its only the five of them? There were supposed to be seven participants in this operation including Dang Gyu-young. One member was missing. When she checked the members of the club she discovered that the absent one was Kim Ho. She had assumed at first that everyone was caught, but it seemed that junior had managed to escape the pursuit and flee. But how? It was possible to shake off other disciplinary members with some luck, but evading Kwak Seung-jaes attention was extremely difficult. And then she noticed that Kwak Seung-jae himself was nowhere to be seen. Dang Gyu-young stopped a passing disciplinary member to ask him. Hey, where did Seung-jae go? To the infirmary. The infirmary? The expression of the disciplinary member changed subtly. It was almost as if they were asking why Dang Gyu-young didnt know. He got taken down by someone from your side, didnt you know? ! But who is that? He actually didnt resort to some clever trickery; he confronted Kwak Seung-jae and defeated him head-on before he calmly made his escape. This was impressive in its own right. A freshman, not even a week into school, had taken down a second-year disciplinary committee member? Dang Gyu-young chuckled. Haha Boy, youre quite capable. Chapter 33: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (5) Chapter 33: Where Prohibited Items Are Gathered (5) Hey, is your hand okay? The first thing Dang Gyu-young did was grab my hand when we met. She inspected it carefully while flipping it back and forth and then as if questioning Is this the hand? she went to check my other hand. It was somewhat unexpected that she didnt immediately ask to see the items. It looks fine. You used Inferno Fist, right? I didnt use it without precautions. Well, of course, youd have handled it well. Dang Gyu-young pursed her lips as if to say that she worried for nothing and then let go of my hand. But you must be quite something, right? How did you beat Kwak Seung-jae, even with the Inferno Fist? It was just good luck. No, its not just about being lucky. Hes one of the top in the second year Youre sure you didnt repeat a year? Ive graduated over 200 times; didnt I tell you that? Ah, are you going to keep saying that?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Dang Gyu-young playfully slapped my forearm. Its true. You just lack faith. Ah, enough of that! Are the items safe? Yes. Should I take them out now? Mhm. Items from the temporary storage were spilled onto the table, leaving Dang Gyu-youngs mouth agape in astonishment. She embraced the items while rubbing her face against them with an expression of sheer bliss. Oh my~, these cute little things! How can their colors be so beautiful? So pretty and charming~! They were all high-risk prohibited items so they just looked menacing to me. Its said that when people are blinded by wealth, everything starts looking like money. But seeing how excited she was, I thought there was no need to dampen her spirits, so I discreetly picked out the two [Heart of Thunder] stones that were my share. This concludes our deal. Sure, it was a very good deal. I should be going now. Wait a minute. Dang Gyu-young pushed the prohibited items to one side of the table and sat on it. She looked at me straight in the eyes and opened her mouth. Kim Ho, wont you join our club? Is this a recruitment offer? Yes. Ive been watching, and I dont think theres anyone more suited for our club than you. Thats the first time Ive heard that. What kind of talent are you looking for? Arrogant, cunning, and greedy when I look at you, its like seeing a thief incarnate. Are you insulting me now? Dang Gyu-young mulled over her previous statement and, seemingly deciding it wasnt quite right, subtly changed her words. bold, wise, and ambitious But why am I even considering your opinion? Hey, just join us! Ill take good care of you! Ill have to refuse. Why! Let me ask you one thing. Is it because of this? When I pointed to the [Cube of Life] and asked her that, Dang Gyu-youngs gaze subtly shifted somewhere else. She started drawing small circles on the table with her index finger. To be honest, I cant say that it has no effect at all Im going to sell it. What!? That was the most surprised I had ever seen her. She ran up to me, grabbed my shoulder, and shook it vigorously. When? Where? To whom? How? Why?? Lets start by you letting go of my shoulder. As for why, it just doesnt suit me. From my perspective, life-type items or skills were low on my list of priorities. The [Cube of Life] was used for this special occasion, but now that it had served its purpose, it was time to let it go. It could be used in the next ban wave, but that was still a long way off. Right now, trading it to a more suitable owner for something more useful to me seemed like the better choice. Then give it to me. Ill make it worth your while. Im sorry to say this, but that might be too much for you to handle. Just tell me. What are you thinking of in exchange? What Park Nari discovered there was a male student holding the box that was depicted in the sketch, and Bum who was purring contentedly inside the box. She thought that it seemed rude, so she soon managed to take Bum back with her but the mysterious box didnt leave her mind. Mok Jong-hwa was surprised for two reasons. First of all, That damn cat actually liked something? Bum was a very volatile cat or rather, tiger. Since it was Park Naris pet, he also made a lot of effort to befriend it. He tried everything, from attending lectures by renowned beast tamers to procuring treats favored by feline spirits, but every attempt ended in failure. It was a relief that the damn thing didnt scratch him with its terrible temperament. The fact that such a crazy beast willingly crawled into the box was astonishing. What on earth was so special about this box? The second surprise was the realization that people could feel the boxs energy waves from a distance. According to Park Nari, she was in the middle of the classroom, and the male student was in the corridor. If at that distance, not only Bum but also Park Nari could sense the life force emanating from it At least, its not an ordinary item. I think so too. Whos the owner? Its Kim Ho. First year, class three. Any affiliation? As far as we know, hes still unaffiliated. Unaffiliated, for now That meant there might be less fallout if they took a more aggressive approach. If he established a psychological advantage early, he could possibly negotiate with the freshman for the item at a lower price. With his plan in place, Mok Jong-hwa called over two first-year students. Kwak Ji-cheol. Jeong Soo-ji. Come here for a moment. Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Soo-ji were engaged in a heated back-and-forth debate about modifying a magical spell, but when the president of the club called for them, they immediately erased their work and approached him. Yes, hyung. You called? Do you know anything about Kim Ho from class three? Jeong Soo-ji didnt know what to say, but Kwak Su-cheol immediately responded. That guy? Hes a known coward. He forfeited as soon as he was matched with Song Cheon-hye in the placement test. What? He forfeited in the placement test? Yes, he just raised his hand when he heard Song Cheon-hyes name. Though he had previously defeated Hong Yeon-hwa in a duel battle, that fact had long been forgotten by most. Rumors usually magnify only the negative aspects. Could you beat him if you faced him? A guy like that wouldnt stand a chance even if he had a truckload of backup. For Kwak Ji-cheol, his knowledge of Kim Ho was solely based on rumors. However, in his mind, Kim Ho was already pegged as a coward who would tuck his tail and run at the first sign of trouble. Hearing Kwak Ji-cheols confident assertion, Mok Jong-hwa nodded his head. Bring him here. I want to see him. If he resists break him. Yes, hes so timid already; a little pressure will probably make him crumble. Hed be shaking at just the mention of Emerald club. Take Soo-ji with you, just in case. I can handle it alone Dont argue. Understood. Ha Soo-yeon observed the ongoing conversation and she maintained a composed expression, but she felt troubled inwardly. I didnt intend for things to go this far Unlike the solemn and serious image of a wood mage, this years president of the Emerald club tended to handle matters in a more forceful manner. This time too, if a few words didnt do the trick, she expected him to resort to showing off his power. It was obvious that the innocent freshman would be the one to suffer. But did she want to stop him? That wasnt quite the case either. She too was interested in the mysterious item. It was likely a high-rank item, and if the Emerald club could be persuaded to lower its price, that would be beneficial for her. Even if things went awry, it wouldnt affect her Mother Nature Club. It was like getting results without lifting a finger. Anyway, Ill see it soon enough. Ha Soo-yeon was filled with anticipation about what item might be inside that box. Chapter 34: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (1) Chapter 34: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (1) On Monday. I had breakfast with Seo Ye-in and was on my way to class when I felt a stinging sensation on the back of my head. Glancing back, I noticed that some people were following me. One male student and one female student. They werent discreetly following me but rather blatantly made it obvious that I was their target. There was no way I became popular overnight, so they must be coming after me because of the [Cube of Life]. They must have caught on to the bait I threw to Park Nari. Even so, their blatant attitude was surprising. Someone in the Emerald Magic Tower or the Mother Nature Club must be very impatient People shouldnt handle things in such a way. Even if I continued to go to classes, they couldnt do anything from their end. However, this only meant that whatever was going to occur would simply be delayed until after classes. I always found it better to resolve things immediately. It was also less bothersome that way. Seo Ye-in, you go ahead. ..? Something suddenly came up. Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly and then glanced behind me. She spotted a man and a woman and looked back at me. Are they the reason? She seemed to be asking this question. Its nothing serious. Ill just deal with it quickly and come back. . Mhm. Seo Ye-in headed back to the classroom first and I made my way to a deserted alley. By then, one of the two presences I had sensed had vanished; they have probably gone ahead.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only The other one kept a certain distance and continued to follow me. Just as I was about to emerge from the other end of the alley, a male student blocked my path. The female student appeared behind me, cutting off my retreat path. I was surrounded from both the front and back. To think you would come to such a place on your own; youve saved us the trouble. The male student struck a confident pose as he introduced himself. On the other hand, the female student briefly stated her name. I am Kwak Ji-cheol of the Emerald Magic Tower. Jeong Soo-ji. Ah, yes. So, what brings you to such a rundown place? Kwak Ji-cheol replied to my question in an arrogant tone. Our club president wants to see you. Follow us to the club room. What if I dont want to? ? Kwak Ji-cheol blinked his eyes in surprise as if he didnt expect such a response from me. What? Do I have to go just because your club president says so? Dont you understand? We are from the Emerald Magic Tower. And I am not from the Emerald Magic Tower. Dont order me around. Or I will beat you up. ! Kwak Ji-cheols mouth slowly opened as if he had heard some outrageous insult. Soon, his expression turned into one of pure anger. Jeong Soo-ji who was standing behind me sighed deeply and tried to persuade me. Just follow us this once. Nothing bad will happen to you. Forget it, Jeong Soo-ji. Kwak Ji-cheol seemed to have already decided to use force. The large emerald embedded in his staff began to emit a greenish glow. You should have listened when I was speaking nicely. Theres always someone who only learns the hard way. Exactly. But can I ask you something? What is it? Your name Kwak just reminded me of something. Do you perhaps have a brother in the disciplinary committee? Kwak Seung-jae. Hes my respected and proud older brother. I had a hunch because they both share the Kwak surname and even look alike. So I asked him, and indeed, the two were siblings. But you know what? Your respected brother went straight down to the ground with a single inferno fist, dude. Unaware of the hidden intentions behind my question, Kwak Ji-cheol became even more agitated at the mere mention of his older brother. This is your last chance. If you follow along quietly now, you wont suffer any harm. This is your last chance too. .? If you turn around and leave right now, Ill let you off with just one punch. Youre still talking nonsense until the very end! Kwaahh! The ground in front of Kwak Ji-cheol surged and about a dozen earthen hands reached out towards me. The next moment, a magic bullet hit Jeong Soo-jis forehead as well. As her consciousness faded away, Jeong Soo-ji thought to herself. Why me too? And then she lay down comfortably next to Kwak Ji-cheol. Both of them ended up being late for class. *** How come you went to class before me and arrived even later? . Are you sleeping? . How can someone fall asleep so quickly? *** The time when Teacher Seo Cheong-yong started to make a name for himself as a dungeon strategy expert was relatively recent. He appeared out of nowhere and consecutively conquered dungeons deemed impossible, gaining fame. He was then invited to be a strategy lecture teacher at Dragon Slayer Academy. His amiable appearance and easygoing personality made the students feel comfortable with him. His strategy lectures were conducted in a much more relaxed atmosphere compared to other subjects. Lets think about why dungeons were created. A map of an unknown dungeon appeared on the blackboard. An adventurer party entered through the dungeons entrance. As they navigated through the intricate dungeon to reach the center, a boss monster was found clutching a treasure chest. Why doesnt the boss room appear right away? Why must dungeons be as complex as a maze? Anyone want to answer? A girl in the front row raised her hand. She opened her mouth after being pointed out by Seo Cheong-yong. Because it makes intruders struggle. Thats correct. The dungeon map was dotted with monsters and traps. With obstacles added to the already maze-like environment, strategizing became even more challenging. The complexity of the dungeon is designed to exhaust you before you reach the core. Your resources, like equipment or items such as potions, magical power and physical energy, or even your party members, might be exhausted. And if all resources run out before reaching the destination The adventurer party on the blackboard was overwhelmed by monsters and collapsed. Your strategy fails. Youd have to retreat, or in the worst case, face the annihilation of your party. .! The key to conquering a dungeon is how efficiently you use the resources you have and how much you save. So! The resource youll focus on conserving this week is, MAP: [Goblin Swamp] RULE: [Time Attack][5 Minute Limit] [Single/Double Dungeon][Strong Enemy] Time. The time left after clearing the dungeon sharply reflects how efficient your actions were. The map on the blackboard was erased, and in its place appeared a crudely carved goblin statue made of logs. This represented a Goblin Totem. To clear the dungeon, you need to reach the destination within five minutes and destroy the totem. Of course, the journey there wont be smooth sailing. Be careful; taking a wrong turn into a swamp or getting delayed by monsters will extend your clearing time. A question, please. A student raised their hand. Seo Cheong-yong nodded his head with a smile, prompting the student to speak. What does the [Strong Enemy] rule mean? There was a hint about that in Teacher Jo Ok-soons lesson. I hope youve done your homework. I have yes Their hand sheepishly lowered. They must have dozed off during class. With a slight smile, Seo Cheong-yong continued his explanation. Now, this is important. The ground-level dungeons can be attempted multiple times in practice mode. Because they were all artificial dungeons, entering, exiting and retrying were completely unrestricted. However, you only get one chance to score. So, its best to find the most efficient route, practice it several times until youre familiar with it, and then enter the real dungeon. Thats all for todays lesson! Enjoy your lunch, everyone! As soon as Seo Cheong-yong left the classroom, Shin Byeong-chul hurried over to Go Hyeon-woo. Hey, hey, hey! Go Hyeon-woo! Lets do a double-person dungeon together! This strategy battle was divided into single and double dungeons and each one of them was scored separately. To score high in a double-person dungeon, choosing the right partner was important. Thats why Shin Byeong-chul quickly attached himself to Go Hyeon-woo who ranked first in the strategy battle session back in the placement test. Hmm Go Hyeon-woo sneaked a glance in my direction while humming. It looked like he was seeking permission. As soon as I gestured that it was okay, he nodded in agreement. If they were heading to the [Goblin Swamp], the combination of these two should work quite well. Alright. Lets team up with Shin-hyung this time. Shall we go right after lunch? That sounds like a good plan. Even if they werent scoring immediately, the more practice mode they did, the better. And my partner was It was Seo Ye-in, who was subtly tugging at my sleeve. Come with me. Lets do that. Chapter 35: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (2) Chapter 35: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (2) My objectives in this strategy battle were two. One was a quest that arrived during class. [Side Quest: 2nd Week Strategy Battle] Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon. Deadline: ~midnight on Sunday. Reward: Varies based on the remaining time (?/5 minutes). The more time I saved while clearing the dungeon, the better the rewards would be. In addition, though it was not mentioned in the quest details, if I performed well in both the single and double dungeons the rewards would be greatly enhanced. My objective was, of course, to achieve the highest reward. I will finish both within one minute. If successful, I could acquire a powerful class trait. The number of skills and traits I had now was far less when compared to other students. I was managing with [Copy], but if I were to keep relying solely on the skills of others I would eventually hit a limit. To ascend beyond a certain level, I needed my own set of skills/traits. A set that is synergistically interlinked with each other. The trait I would gain this time was to be the first piece of that set. My second goal was the growth of Seo Ye-in. Having repeatedly tackled the [Goblin Swamp], there was nothing new for me. However, this dungeon would be a first for Seo Ye-in. Sure, if I just revealed the shortcuts and tricks in the double-person dungeon, that would help us clear it quickly but that wouldnt allow Seo Ye-in to gain enough experience. A true expert doesnt just forge ahead alone but waits and guides a newbie so that they can learn at their own pace. I planned to support her steadily and then achieve a high score together. After finishing a simple lunch, Seo Ye-in and I headed to the ground floor of the dungeon building which was already bustling with first-year students. In the duel battles, you lose points immediately upon defeat, but in the strategy battles, as long as you performed well there was no need to be concerned about what others thought. This would mean its advantageous to engage in practice mode whenever theres spare time. Looking for someone to join a double dungeon! Hey would you mind teaming up with me for just one game? But then, wouldnt we have only mages? Anyone interested in taking down the [Strong Enemy] with me! Students who hadnt prearranged partners were desperately seeking teammates. Shouts here and there intermingled, creating a scene as busy as a marketplace. On one side, teams that had already gone through practice mode and returned were visible. No, why would you rush into that How many times must I say it! If we dont get it, we have to go a long way around the other side, right? Then lets go around! Can we even beat it if we fight? Watching their bickering, it seemed like there were conflicts of opinion happening. Such incidents are common when two people collaborate. Shall we go in too? Okay. We alternately scanned our student IDs on the terminal and a teleportation portal nearby opened its mouth. I entered first, followed by Seo Ye-in. As the portal closed behind us, the previously noisy environment quieted down instantly and silence ensued. The Goblin Swamp. Twisted trees blocked the sky, allowing little light to penetrate, and large and small swamps stretched as far as the eye could see. [] An arrow engraved at our feet was emitting a faint light. This was the minimum guide for beginners. If you followed this direction roughly, it would lead you to the totem which was this strategy battles objective. Then, a notification message appeared.Visit for the best novel reading experience [Timed attacks will start soon.] [Remaining Time: 5:00] Ignore the remaining time. Since its our first attempt, lets not rush and go slowly. Okay. Seo Ye-in did as I told him and dismissed the notification message. When you are pressed for time in an unfamiliar place, your field of view becomes smaller. Timed attacks were something to consider only after understanding the overall picture. So, while others were rushing, we walked. Not leisurely like a stroll, but at a slightly brisk pace. Since swimming through swamp puddles wasnt an option, we walked around them, changing direction to avoid the next swamp. Naturally, our path became winding like an S-shape. .. Seo Ye-in moved in silence yet her eyes diligently scanned the surrounding environment. She was doing well so far. Gurrr. Keke Sensing our presence, goblins began to appear one by one. Emerging from the swamp, their heads surfaced first as they clumsily crawled out. Their bodies were sticky and slimy and they wielded sharpened bone knives in their hands. There was a total of five. What should we do? Should we engage in battle or avoid it? The decision was entirely up to Seo Ye-in. Seo Ye-in grasped the pistols holstered at her side with both hands. Lets fight. Lets do it. Ill take the front line. I too drew out the [Earth Staff] and slung it over my shoulder. This time, my role was to protect so that the ranged attack dealer could safely unleash firepower. Bang! The rifle emitted a blue light and the bullet lodged in the goblin totem. The statues upper and lower halves separated and the statue was shattered into pieces. At that moment, all the swarming goblins evaporated. Dungeon clear. Well done. Now, check the time. Okay. During the first attempt, I deliberately avoided being conscious of the remaining time, but now it was necessary to check the outcome. [Remaining Time: 0:17 seconds] + [Goblins Killed: 22] [Remaining Time 0:39 seconds = 39 points] + [Clear Bonus: 500 points] [Total Score: 539 points] We had nearly used up the entire five-minute limit. For each goblin slain they added an extra second and each remaining second was converted into one point. In total, this amounted to 39 points. The good news was that simply clearing the dungeon awarded us a whopping 500 points. The scoring was more generous as this was the first week of the strategy battles. Of course, since this was practice mode, these points were not saved. Lets get out of here. As soon as we stepped through the teleportation portal to the outside, a wave of loud noise immediately assaulted our eardrums. Seo Ye-in silently covered her ears with her hands. Is that beheader goblin really made to be defeated? Its too strong. They probably didnt make it to be defeated, more like they made it so wed learn to dodge properly. Ah, its so annoying when the paths get tangled. Lets keep practicing until we get used to it. Victims began to emerge, having suffered at the hands of the beheader goblin. If you were to compare it in a duel battle context, its abilities would be over 900 points. Not only was its basic value significantly higher than that of a regular goblin, but it also possessed an enhanced physique through mana and a trait that boosted all its abilities in swampy terrain. So if one were to confront it naively, they were bound to be thoroughly defeated. It was not without reason that it was tagged as a [Strong Enemy]. Should we rest before going in again, or Should we go right away? Its okay to go right away. Up until now, there were no signs of sleepiness in Seo Ye-in. It was probably because she had slept soundly during class. We entered the dungeon for the second time. The same goblin swamp, identical in every aspect from one to ten, greeted us once again. [Timed attacks will start soon.] [Remaining Time 5:00] Okay, from now on, were going to start speeding things up a bit. All right. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Remaining Time: 4:59] Seo Ye-in and I dashed out at the same time. We sprinted along the winding path while dodging the swamp puddles. Since it was our second time, there was much less hesitation. Keureureuk. Kreuk. Tutututu! A barrage of magic bullets rained down on the goblins just as they sensed our presence and began crawling out of the swamp. Having experienced it once, there was no need to wait for the creatures to settle into their positions a second time before attacking them. The sound of the magic pistols firing drew goblins from all around. And then, Boom! Grrrrr The beheader goblin landed in a unique position that was different from the last time. While everything else repeated in the same manner no matter how many times we tried, only this creatures appearance time and location were randomized. Should we avoid it this time too? .. Seo Ye-in glanced back and forth between me and the beheader for about three seconds, then, as if something came to her mind she asked me. Do we get points for taking that one down too? I couldnt help but smile slightly. It was a very welcome question. Shes quick-witted. Most would be so focused on the strength of the opponent that theyd be slow to realize this, but Seo Ye-in wondered about it on her second attempt. Killing a regular swamp goblin adds one second per goblin. Then, how many seconds would be added for defeating the beheader goblin who was marked as a [Strong Enemy]? 120 seconds. ..! What do you want to do? We would receive a bonus of a full two minutes. Seo Ye-in switched her pistols for a rifle. Lets try taking it down. Chapter 36: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (3) Chapter 36: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (3) A standoff in which Seo Ye-in who wore an invisible ghillie suit and I faced off against the beheader goblin. Grrrr As the beheader let out a low threatening growl, the ordinary goblins didnt dare intervene and merely watched from a distance. Just as the creature was about to leap forward and swing its rusted cleaver, Thump A magic bullet, fired from somewhere, struck it squarely between the eyes. Its face contorted and its head snapped back violently. However, the beheader goblin jerked its head back to its original position. What a tough guy. Its eyeballs rolled around wildly before focusing on the direction from which the bullet had come. Ajhussi, dont get distracted. Look this way. I had to keep its attention on me to allow Seo Ye-in a safe shot at its weak spot. I charged at the beheader as I swung the Earth Staff (melee) and cast a hummingbird simultaneously. Both the staff and the hummingbird targeted the creature from opposite sides. Grrrr! The beheaders body blurred in place and split into two as if using a duplication technique. Its cleaver also split into two, attempting to cut through both the staff and the hummingbird at the same time. Since it was a boss monster, it evidently knew how to use skills. This is actually better. I had planned to hit only one of them anyway so its diversion of power was a welcome development for me. I quickly retrieved the staff, stepped back, and maneuvered the hummingbird. Fzzt The beheader swung its cleaver at me as if it was unaffected by this level of paralysis. I leaned back and narrowly avoided the rusty blade as it whooshed by. I then lunged back in, hitting its side with the staff, but it seemed to take little damage. This creature was wrapped up in physical abilities and traits; my attack which was fueled only by mana, naturally did little damage. Thump Seo Ye-ins magic bullet hit for the second time. Again, it struck the creatures face. Even as its head snapped back, the beheaders bulging eyes were locked in the direction from which the magic bullet had come. Didnt I tell you not to get distracted? Grrraaah! As I stretched out my staff and tapped the area where the magic bullet had just hit, the beheader got enraged and rushed towards me. Such was its fury that streams of sword energy were visibly emanating from its cleaver. But I used the [Thiefs Step] and kept a close distance, weaving through its attacks with precise timing. Thump Another magic bullet struck the head of the beheader goblin. The creature seemed momentarily torn between focusing on me or going after Seo Ye-in. While it was clearly angered by me, the real threat was coming from Seo Ye-ins direction. The goblin seemed to have decided to catch the latter first, so it bent its legs and crouched in place. Not so fast. [Activate Amplification.] [Th rank of Hummingbird increased (E->C)] Fzztzztzzt! When it was hit squarely by the C-rank hummingbird, the beheaders movements came to a complete halt. Thump And then a fourth magic bullet embedded itself in its face. The beheader, unable to maintain its balance, began to stagger. The creature then gathered up as much mana as it could, infused it into the cleaver, and hurled it with all its might toward the place where Seo Ye-in was hiding. The thrown weapon ruthlessly tore through the area. Kaka-gaga-gak! Swamps and damp soil were wildly overturned. The air wavered, revealing Seo Ye-ins form. Even amidst the chaos, Seo Ye-in stood motionless in her place and aimed her rifle. Thump! The fifth sniper shot hit its mark. The goblin beheader bent one leg and then eventually knelt on both knees. Guru And finally, it collapsed with a thud. Its body turned to ash and was scattered. Gotcha. Lets go. Mhm. We started running again. The rifle was immediately reassembled into two pistols and they started shooting out blue fire. Tutututu! Keruruk? Keruk! Kekkek?? Due to the defeat of the boss monster, the goblins were in disarray. After all, its said that a swordsman treats their sword as an extension of their body, and a sword is an extension of the arm. The relationship between a gunslinger and a magic gun isnt much different. Watch again. I formed the flick again and placed the magic bullet within. This time, while aiming at the wooden stump I concentrated the mana on my index finger and fired it like a magic bullet. Snap! The speed of its flight and the sound it made were distinctively different. The wooden stump swayed from the impact. This skill is called [Ejection]. Lets try to master it. I gathered mana in my hand, focusing it on the area from where it would be launched, namely the index finger. Then, in sync with the flicking of the finger, I released the mana. The principle was similar to how martial artists launch a finger-force energy. . Seo Ye-in awkwardly formed the shape of a flick. She placed a magic bullet between her thumb and index finger, concentrated her mana, and flicked it. Ping! The magic bullet flew off in a large arc but landed in the wrong place. It seemed less an issue of poor aiming and more that the action of flicking was unfamiliar to her. I had to immediately modify the training content. At this rate, we would be stuck at the basic stage of flicking, which wasnt even necessary to practice. Lets try without the magic bullet. Just managing to send mana flying will already be counted as a success. Seo Ye-in diligently flicked her finger in the air. Gathering mana at her index finger had been achieved without much effort, but sending it flying posed a bit of a challenge. Even after flicking her finger, the mana would sometimes remain on her index finger, or she would release it a beat too soon. Timing the release was just as important as the act of sending it off. After all, it was a skill used while firing a magic gun. Thwack Finally, after several attempts, a faint blob of mana sprung from Seo Ye-ins fingertip and it managed to brush against a wooden stump. Though more mana remained on her index finger than what was sent flying, even taking that into account, her progress was quite fast. I nodded my head. Youre doing well. Keep it up. All right. *** By the time evening arrived, the training had progressed even further. Now, she could easily send mana flying with a flick of her finger. From this point on, I had her train using her own magic gun. Completing this would grant her the [Ejection] skill, and then she could move on to using D-rank magic bullets. But what should we do for dinner? ..? Seo Ye-in found herself in a somewhat awkward position. She was in the midst of intense training and wanted to continue focusing, but skipping a meal altogether wasnt an option as she was hungry. She was caught in a state where she could neither do this nor that. Eventually, I decided to run an errand for her. Ill just go to the student cafeteria and grab some food. Thank you. Seo Ye-in handed me her card, which meant that I should use it for the payment. It was a heavy thick black card with a black sheen on it. *** I picked various types of bread at the student cafeteria. Chocolate, sausage, cream puff, muffin, croquette This seemed like enough for a snack. After grabbing a few drinks as well, I was about to leave when, Hello! I made eye contact with Han So-mi who was sitting at a table eating her meal. Seeing her wave cheerfully at me with a bright smile on her face, it seemed she no longer harbored any hard feelings about the incident on the train. I too held no ill will towards Han So-mi. After all, she was just doing her duty as a member of the student disciplinary committee, and technically, it was I who had broken the school rules. Moreover, since we were both in the same class, I thought it would be nice to at least exchange greetings, so I waved back. .? When Han So-mi waved her hand, Song Cheon-hye who was sitting across from her, turned her head as if to see whom she was greeting. She had a happy smile on her face as she took a bite of her cake, but as soon as she saw me, she immediately changed her expression. Was there really a need to change her expression that drastically? Anyway, while I was at it, I casually waved to Song Cheon-hye as well before continuing on my way, when suddenly, Hey! Wait! Song Cheon-hye approached me. What? That is Could you show me your hand, please? Chapter 37: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (4) Chapter 37: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (4) Why did she suddenly ask to see my hand? It was likely she had heard something from Kwak Seung-jae. There is a student at this school who has mastered Inferno Fist. And the student is most likely related to the missing prohibited items. From the perspective of the disciplinary committee, they would want to identify the culprit as soon as possible. The clues were the Thiefs Step, Hummingbird, the Invisible Ghillie Suit, and the burn marks that must have remained on the hand of anyone who used the Inferno Fist. However, the Thiefs Step was not a reliable clue. It was a universal skill commonly used by many long-range attack dealers apart from rogue-class people, so it was virtually impossible to pinpoint someone based on that alone. The Hummingbird and Invisible Ghillie Suit were relatively easier to narrow down though. Many might have learned Hummingbird but the number of people who could control it well enough to break through Kwak Seung-jaes guard was probably no more than ten within the school. Similarly, the Invisible Ghillie Suit was an expensive item that was not commonly owned by many. Looking at these two things from Song Cheon-hyes perspective. I was quite skilled at using Hummingbird, and Seo Ye-in who was a close friend of mine possessed an Invisible Ghillie. So she was thinking that I could have borrowed the Invisible Ghillie Suit from her. It must have seemed like a fitting piece of the puzzle. It was inevitable that she would be suspicious of me. So, she appeared to be checking my hands for burn marks, suspecting me to be a prime suspect But would her plan work as she intended? I asked her while feigning innocence. My hand? Why my hand? Cant you just show it to me? As she stubbornly moved closer with her gaze fixed downward, I clasped my hands behind my back. The suspicion in Song Cheon-hyes eyes only deepened. She quickly moved to my back but I spun around in place to face her. Song Cheon-hye tried to move behind me again and I rotated once more. After a couple of such turns, I casually slipped my hands into my pockets. Ah! Why are you so fixated on someone elses hand? I need a reason to decide whether to show it or not. That is She struggled to find an excuse and was unable to respond easily. She could honestly say, Im looking for a suspect, but that would be akin to outright saying, I think youre the culprit. What if, like during the entrance ceremony and the ban wave, she ended up drawing a blank after accusing me? It would surely be a blow to her pride. But I have to show my hand eventually. If the disciplinary committee continues to focus on me like this, it could slightly hinder my freedom of movement. So I actually needed to show her my unharmed hand right now. So, I gave her an excuse. Why? Do you want to read my palm or something?Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Song Cheon-hyes face lit up. Thats right. Its just palm reading! I gullibly went along with it Thinking about it, offering to read palms right away seemed strange enough to be on the same level as showing my palm, didnt it? But I decided to pretend not to notice as raising objections would only take us back to square one. It seemed that Song Cheon-hyes realization and kicking off the covers would happen much later. .. Two soft hands clasped mine. Song Cheon-hye earnestly began to knead and examine my hand. She also subtly infused mana as part of her inspection to check to see if any magic or items were overlaid as a disguise. Unsurprisingly, the result was a clean and healthy bare hand. Ill look at the other hand too. Yes, please do. Palm reading requires looking at both hands, after all. But there was no way the other hand would be scarred. From the beginning, I hadnt received any damage at all. The doubts quickly faded away from Song Cheon-hyes face. She released my hand and posed a question. What did you do last weekend? Do I really need to tell you that? No, you dont. I misspoke. When I showed signs of displeasure, Song Cheon-hye blushed and immediately admitted her mistake. She must have realized that questioning me like it was an interrogation in this situation was crossing a line. Eventually, she bowed her head slightly and stepped back. Excuse me. Wait a moment. Yes? As Song Cheon-hye was about to return to her seat, I asked her in a playful tone. Arent you going to tell me the results of the palm reading? Do I have any luck in love? Youre going to have a tough time ahead. A lot. Thud Grrr Although it descended upon hearing the commotion, the beheader goblin could not discern our location and looked around in confusion. On the other hand, Seo Ye-in had been preparing from the moment she fired the magic rifle into the void. The long barrel was now aimed at the creature. Almost as soon as it discovered us, Twang! A magic bullet was fired with enormous force. And then a blue streak was drawn between the rifle and the beheaders head, Bang!! The creatures head and even its waist bent backward as it fell. It was so powerful that even after falling it rolled several times. Grrr The beheader goblin was knocked into a dazed state with just one hit, unable to regain its senses. If there was a health bar above its head, it would have been close to 0%. This was completely different from before when it had taken four or five hits to finally fall. The finishing blow was mercilessly delivered to the creature as it floundered and crawled on the ground while trying to prop itself up. Bang!! She can easily get a score of 900 points. A high-grade magic rifle, combined with a perfectly shaped D-rank [Magic Bullet] and an E-rank [Ejection], unleashed formidable destructive power. While many aspects still needed improvement, in terms of single-shot firepower, it could rival even the most promising students. With the right use of surprise tactics, it seemed possible for her score to ascend rapidly up to the 900-point range. Well done. Lets go. Tututututu! The power of her twin pistols had also increased significantly. Previously, it took her several precise shots to take down a single goblin, but now one or two shots were enough to bring them down. As Seo Ye-in sprayed bullets in all directions, the goblins dropped one by one like flies. Soon, the totem came into view. Seo Ye-in maintained her running speed, then aimed her pistols and fired rapidly. Tututut! The totem shattered into pieces and dispersed. Dungeon cleared. [Remaining Time: 1:20 seconds] + [Goblins Killed: 28] + [Strong Enemy Killed: 120] [Remaining Time: 3:48 seconds = 228 points] + [Clear Bonus: 500 points] [Total Score: 728 points] * 0.8 multiplier = 582 pt We saved a lot of time by swiftly killing the beheader goblin. The number of goblins she caught along the way also contributed to a significantly better record than our previous attempt. I also easily accomplished my strategy battle quest as well. Perfect. High five. As I raised my open palm, Seo Ye-in lightly touched it with her own. A silent high-five. Clap. Huh? You smiled. ? Seo Ye-in tilted her head in confusion. It seemed she hadnt realized it but a faint smile had briefly graced her lips. Seo Ye-in silently touched her lips with her fingers. *** Next was the single dungeon. Compared to the double dungeon, there were slight differences in the layout and monster placement. Naturally, each had to be tackled individually. There shouldnt be any major difficulties in the single dungeon. Youre more than capable of getting a high score on your own. Mhm. But just in case, try practicing a few times before entering. Alright. Thank you. Seo Ye-in stepped into the teleportation portal to enter practice mode. I too scanned my student ID on the device. However, unlike her, I was heading straight into the real challenge, not the practice mode. It was all already in my head. [Timed attacks will begin soon.] [Remaining Time: 5:00] The newbie support was a success. Now, it was time for the veteran (stagnant water) to shine. Chapter 38: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (5) Chapter 38: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (5) Now I had to take on the role that Seo Ye-in played in the double dungeon all by myself. Everything from going through the goblins, keeping the beheader at bay, and destroying the totems. And any shortcomings I will have in the process, Ill have to make up for it with items. The student store was there precisely for such purposes. First, I checked how many points I had accumulated. (2,249pt) Last week, I had engaged in a duel battle with Yang Ji-hong and the points significantly increased as others viewed the stored replays of our match. Due to my reputation hitting rock bottom, I had anticipated that almost no one would bother to watch the battle. However, perhaps because it was a replay recorded on the first day, there seemed to be some demand for it. Still, it was just me spamming hummingbird so it probably lacked any real benefit for the others. Anyway, I scrolled through the item list and selected the necessary ones. (2,249pt) -60pt [You have acquired Firecrackers x3.] (2,189pt) -50pt [You have acquired Portable Buoy (Unlimited Refill).] I bought three firecrackers, which are launched by pulling a string, and a small buoy that floats when thrown into water. Preparations complete. I grabbed the firecracker string and aimed it forward. Soon, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Remaining Time 4:59] Whoosh Bang!! As I fired the firecracker, I simultaneously dashed forward. With its mouth gaping dark and menacing, I charged straight at the swamp pit before me. Just before stepping into the swamp pit, I grabbed and threw the portable buoy. After lightly stepping on the floating buoy, I jumped on it before throwing the next buoy with one hand and then stepping on it to throw another. This sequence of throwing and stepping connected so naturally that it barely felt different from running on solid ground. The secret to saving time is to go straight. Winding around to avoid the swamp pit would only slow me down significantly. And how can we simplify this cumbersome path then? The solution was to cross the swamp directly, using the portable buoys as stepping stones. Kerrruk! Keeeeek! The firecrackers were much louder than the sound of Seo Ye-ins magic gun firing. So it was inevitable that they would summon every goblin in the surrounding area. I set off another firecracker to announce my presence to everyone. Bang! Dozens of goblins were alerted to my presence and started to swarm towards me. I used the [Thiefs Step] and easily dodged the bone knife swung by the goblin close to me. As I brushed past, I gave its forehead a sharp flick. The goblin got furious and tried to follow me, but it failed to imitate my action of stepping on the buoys and floundered in the swamp. Sssss! Ah. Hearing a chilling slicing sound behind me, I threw a buoy not forward but sideways and jumped. A rusty cleaver that was charged with mana whizzed past me. Grrrr! I could hear a low growl from the beheader goblin. I ran forward, ignoring the creature as if it were of no importance to me. This seemed to infuriate it even more, and it began to pursue me with increased fury. But no matter how angry it got, it couldnt match my speed as I made use of my Thefs Step skill and managed to widen the gap between us. As I raced over the swamp puddles, I reached the goblin totem in half the time it would take a regular first-year. Last one. Bang! I set off a firecracker and grabbed the totem with one hand. I didnt immediately destroy the totem but instead tossed it up and caught it while waiting. This was like a threat, as if I would break it if the goblins didnt come quickly. Kekkek! Gruk!! The effect was excellent. Dozens of goblins, including the leading beheader, swarmed towards me. Their killing intent was focused solely on me. I thought to myself while calmly facing their lethal hostility, Hunting is indeed best when its a drive hunt. I clenched my empty hand that wasnt holding the totem. Deep inside my fist, a dark red flame began to burn. Graaaah! As the distance closed between us, the beheader goblin forcefully leaped off the ground and charged at me. I walked towards it leisurely as if I were just taking a stroll. I narrowly dodged the cleaver it swung, barely missing it by the thickness of a paper, and delved deep inside its guard. My blazing fist struck the goblins face. Boom Boom Boom!! Everything in front of me was obliterated. The beheader, the goblins, and even the swamp puddles were all wiped clean. Unlike when I faced Kwak Seung-jae where I controlled my strength, nothing was left alive in the face of the full power of the Inferno Fist. The Emerald club president who is still fuming with anger even now has personally proven this. Not only is it difficult to defeat such a person, but even if you do, the damage will be great. Moreover, her goal was to acquire a good item for Park Na-ri, not to engage in unnecessary battles with a first-year. How should I appease him? It seemed best to prepare a gift. A decent item that could correct the initial misunderstanding even if it meant taking a loss. Her curiosity about the mysterious item was great as was her fondness for Park Na-ri. Anyway, we have to meet him, dont we? Thwack! Finally, Mok Jong-hwa who struck Kwak Ji-cheol one last time recalled his golem. He took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. His interest in the box remained, but now Mok Jong-hwa had an additional objective. Haah Right, we need to meet with him. Emeralds prestige has hit rock bottom. I cant settle this with just the item. Kwak Ji-cheol staggered to his feet. I will make amends Cough! Ill rectify this. And what have you done right to open your mouth? In fear of another hit from the golem, Kwak Ji-cheol hastily continued. I was caught off guard by a trick that time, I admit. But if I had been serious, theres no way I would have lost. Just give me one more chance What do you think, Jung Soo-ji? Mok Jong-hwa called out to Jung Soo-ji, who was standing in a corner with both of her hands raised upward as punishment. Jung Soo-ji set aside her personal feelings and only stated what she had observed. The battle wasnt long, so I couldnt grasp much. But his movements were good. His movements were good Caught by a trick. Good movements. It was hard to make a proper judgment just by hearing. What was needed at a time like this was, His replay. Following Mok Jong-hwas words, Kwak Ji-cheol immediately purchased all of Kim Hos replays. This included two duel battles and the strategy battle for the double dungeon he had just cleared today. Although it was painful to spend 300 points on this, he had no choice at the moment. Everyone gathered around the replay crystal ball and started with the duel battles. The confrontation between Kim Ho and Yang Ji-hong. Fzzt! Paralyze with a hummingbird, beat his opponent with a staff, and done. Kwak Ji-cheol felt tension at the back of his head. All those precious points spent for just this? The strategy battle was even more spectacular. His partner, Seo Ye-ins performance was dazzling. Bang! A single sniper shot rendered the beheader goblin incapacitated. Mok Jong-hwa and Ha Soo-yeon couldnt help but exclaim in admiration Shes strong. There was such a skilled student hidden among us. Kwak Ji-cheol had recently been on the receiving end of those magic bullets. Seeing the beheader goblin topple backward, he couldnt help feeling a chill, as it reminded him of his own experience. From start to finish, it was Seo Ye-in who dominated everything. Meanwhile, all Kim Ho did was occasionally launch a hummingbird or kick the goblins that came closer. There was no other way to describe it than to say Kim Ho was being carried by her. Of course, the two presidents who were also third years had a much broader perspective when watching the replay. His movements are indeed good. His control over the hummingbird is top-notch. But beyond that, I cant find anything particularly outstanding. Could it be that he is hiding his skills? Ha Soo-yeon cautiously suggested but Mok Jong-hwa shook his head. Theres no need to hide them so thoroughly. The hypothesis that he has no other skills beyond the hummingbird seems more likely. The problem was that even with just that, he was a strong opponent. Mok Jong-hwa assessed that if they continued with Kwak Ji-cheol leading the charge in a revenge match, the chances of losing were quite high. After some thought, Mok Jong-hwa gave an instruction to Jeong Soo-ji. Jeong Soo-ji. Yes. Go to the Topaz side and relay this. Tell them I want to borrow an anti-paralysis accessory. .! His plan was to completely block the hummingbird by ensuring they wouldnt be paralyzed. Next, they needed to compensate for Kwak Ji-cheols lack of close combat. Ill lend out my golem. You think you can win? Its a sure victory. With this, its impossible for me to lose even if I want to. Kwak Ji-cheols face lit up with satisfaction as he nodded in agreement. He was already confident that there was no way he could lose, especially if he approached the battle seriously. Adding to this confidence, the promise of borrowing an anti-paralysis accessory and Mok Jong-hwas golem made him feel invincible. Challenge Kim Ho to a duel. Understood. Since youve already been defeated once, a win here would only bring you back to square one. You need to defeat him overwhelmingly. Of course. I wont disappoint you. Wow thats so underhanded. Ha Soo-yeon who was watching the situation unfold clicked her tongue in disapproval. It seemed excessive to her that the Emerald Magic Tower, worried about its reputation, would go so far as to lend a third-year students Golem to a first-year just to secure a win. Even though the Emerald and the Mother Nature clubs were in a cooperative relationship, she couldnt see such underhanded actions in a favorable way. In Ha Soo-yeons mind, Mok Jong-hwas unfavorability score was rapidly increasing. She felt the need to have a separate conversation with Kim Ho. Chapter 39: Duel Battle (1) Chapter 39: Duel Battle (1) After class ended, there were visitors outside the classroom looking for me. Firstly, there was Kwak Ji-cheol. Jeong Soo-ji who used to hang around with him wasnt here today. He glared at me with eyes full of hostility as if he was plotting something. I took a moment to reflect. I regretted not smashing his head against the alley wall. I should have beaten him more and knocked him out. It seemed like there would be another opportunity soon. A little distance away, Park Na-ri was gently stroking her cat while holding it in one arm. Every time someone passed by, she flinched with a nervous expression on her face. Both of them had one guardian each. Beside Kwak Ji-cheol was a male student with an irritable expression who seemed to be irritated by everything. And next to Park Na-ri was a female student with a gentle smile. Both wore third year pins on their ties. They must be from the Emerald Magic Tower and the Mother Nature clubs. Four people approached me. The first to speak was the male senior from the Emerald Magic Tower. Are you Kim Ho? Hello, senior. Im Mok Jong-hwa, president of the Emerald club. And Im Ha Soo-yeon, president of the Mother Nature club. Unlike Mok Jong-hwa, who openly looked down on people, Ha Soo-yeon maintained a polite attitude and respectful language. Of course, whether she was just polite remained to be seen. Mok Jong-hwa continued the conversation. We came in person because theres something we need to discuss.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Appreciate it. Sending a messenger doesnt quite cut it. The faces of Kwak Ji-cheol and Mok Jong-hwa stiffened at the same time. Kwak Ji-cheol at being treated like an unworthy messenger, and Mok Jong-hwa at the implication that a first-year was his equal. Just as Kwak Ji-cheol was about to retort heatedly, Mok Jong-hwa raised his hand to silence him. You must be blind to everything as a freshman. Let me give you some advice as your senior. Always be humble. The world outside the well is wider than you think. Thank you for the advice. But it doesnt seem like youre outside the well either. If you think that, then its your lack of insight. Being able to accurately assess an opponents strength is also a skill. Is that why you sent two weaklings then? .! For a moment, Mok Jong-hwa was at a loss for words. If his insight was as exceptional as he claimed, Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Soo-ji should have overpowered me. Yet, here I was, standing unscathed and boldly talking back. It was as if I had spat in his face. Unable to bear it anymore, Ha Soo-yeon stepped in to mediate. Both of you should probably stop now. We didnt come here to argue, did we? Mok Jong-hwa who was about to retort stopped and looked around. Due to the sudden appearance of two club presidents, the first-year students passing by were all focused on us. They were all peeking around as if something interesting had happened. Mok Jong-hwa must have realized that showing more anger here would do no good. This isnt a good place for a discussion. Lets move. *** We bought drinks from the snack bar and settled on the second-floor terrace. The spot was more secluded than I had expected with fewer students around. Kwak Ji-cheol and Park Na-ri discreetly hung back, leaving the conversation to Mok Jong-hwa, Ha Soo-yeon, and me. Ha Soo-yeon started the conversation. Ive heard that you possess a special item. I guessed thats why you came. In fact, it wasnt a guess; I made them come to me. I took out the [Cube of Life] and placed it on the table. Though the lid remained closed, the box emitted a faint life force pulse, capturing everyones attention with its glow. Park Na-ris cat which was previously nestled in her arms suddenly leaped onto the table and squeezed into the Cube. Bum no! Come out quickly! Its okay. Just leave it. Sorry. I gestured to Park Na-ri, signaling her not to worry about hastily retrieving the cat. After all, the cat was destined to be the cubes owner; there was no need to be harsh. The cat playfully flicked open the lid of the Cube of Life. It sat in the center and uttered a sound. Meow. So, it was true Bum really likes it Ha Soo-yeon let out a sigh, seemingly perplexed. Ah But first, Id like to hear what items you would accept for the three season passes. This implied that if the items were relatively easy for them to obtain, they might be willing to accept a greater loss in the trade. However, things in the world are not always so straightforward. I want a [Blank Skill Book]. .!! Blank Skill Books. Theyre akin to a skill book version of a blank check. Once filled with content, they become skill books, and using them allows one to learn skills. Even if they contain existing skills, the key advantage is that they can be customized to the users preferences. Naturally, they are extremely rare. There might be five or six in Dragon Slayer Academy at the moment or even less. Considering the effort to obtain it, such an item would equate to about 3.5 season passes. Knowing this, the two leaders shook their heads in disapproval. This is getting us nowhere. We cant agree to those terms. We might need to think this over a bit more. Yes, please let me know if you change your mind. I responded calmly. I suspected that their minds might change over the weekend. The prospect of a 1.3 times return would continue to flash before their eyes. But then, Um, excuse me! Park Na-ri suddenly interrupted the conversation. As everyones attention focused on her, her voice quickly shrank to a mere whisper. I have one of those books Na-ri, think about it carefully. The chance to create a skill is rare. Isnt it too precious to use like this? Ha Soo-yeon tried to dissuade her, but Park Na-ri took a deep breath and seemed to firm up her decision. Ive had that blank skill book for a very long time Thats true. But I still cant think of a good skill to fill it with. If this continues, itll just sit in my inventory forever. Blank skill books held boundless potential but they demanded immense creativity from the user. If you handle it poorly, you may not be able to use it to its full potential, and you may end up creating a low-level skill at best. There was no greater waste than this, requiring immense deliberation from the creators perspective. Park Na-ri had been in a dilemma as she was unable to craft any noteworthy skills thus far. She argued that it would be better to trade it for the Cube of Life rather than just keep it unused in her inventory. And then you know how much Bum likes it. Meow. Bum responded with a short meow. It rubbed its chin against the corner of the cube. As someone obsessed with efficiency, I couldnt help but wonder, all this for just that reason? But perhaps thats what being a pet owner is all about? The desire to give anything to your beloved pet a tiger, in this case. It wasnt something I couldnt understand at all. Moreover, Park Na-ris expression seemed quite serious so she must have thought about it quite well. Ha Soo-yeon also seemed to understand this from Park Na-ris eyes. And after looking at her for a moment, she sighed. Haah Alright. If thats really what you want. Thank you, Unnie (big sister). Ha Soo-yeon turned to me and asked me. Are you going to make the trade right now? If were going to do it, theres no need to delay. Alright then. Park Na-ri handed me a blank skill book that had nothing written on it and was all white, while Ha Soo-yeon gave me a card stylishly inscribed with Season Pass in an elegant italic font. With this exchange, the [Cube of Life] became the property of Park Na-ri and the Mother Nature Club. Park Na-ri hugged the cube joyfully, and the cat inside it made a contented purring sound. It began to vigorously scratch as if to mark its new owners possession. No, dont scratch! Stop scratching! The expressions on the faces of the onlookers were all the same, suggesting they probably shared the same thought. Thats one crazy cat Tch. Mok Jong-hwa clicked his tongue. He might have changed his mind later and paid four season passes for the cube, but once the ownership was transferred, it was a done deal. However, it seemed there was still something left for me to say. We came to find you not just for the cube but also for another matter. Yes, please go ahead. Just as I was wondering what else they had come for, Kwak Jicheol spoke next. I challenge you to a duel battle. Chapter 40: Duel Battle (2) Chapter 40: Duel Battle (2) A challenge for a duel battle that seemed to have been greatly influenced by Mok Jong-hwa. The picture was becoming clear. It was likely a challenge to restore the honor of the Emerald Magic Tower. However, they had overlooked one thing. I dont want to. What? They hadnt considered that I had no reason to accept this duel. I leaned back in my chair with an attitude full of annoyance. Do I owe you anything? Should I just go if you say go, come if you say come, and fight if you say fight? A duel is a matter of honor. And yet, for someone who values honor so much, you two ganged up on me? Thats-! The incident where Kwak Ji-cheol and Jung Soo-ji joined forces against me and lost had become an irreversible stain on the reputation of the Emerald Magic Tower. The fact that they lost a two-on-one fight was a problem, as was the fact that the opponent was a known coward. Regardless of how my reputation might change later, the important thing was that I was called a coward right now. To cover up this stain, they needed to defeat me in an official duel and preserve the victory as a replay for everyone to see. Therefore, they were desperate to draw me into the ring in some way. From my perspective, I had nothing to lose. Anyway, I have no intention of accepting. Ive already won, so why waste time on something pointless? . If you really want, consider it a loss for me, and go brag about it. I implied that they could boast about a victory over a coward. I knew well that the Emerald club wouldnt be satisfied with such a resolution. However, Kwak Ji-cheol couldnt think of a solution to overcome this situation. He looked to Mok Jong-hwa for help with pleading eyes. Mok Jong-hwa glared at Kwak Ji-cheol as if he were trash and then addressed me. So? Its truly cowardly to run away after only winning once. Are you afraid of losing? Yes, I am a coward. Im soo afraid. Mok Jong-hwa cast the gamblers provocative skill You scared?, but I didnt even blink. Having a reputation already at rock bottom proved convenient in such times. Realizing this tactic wouldnt work on me, Mok Jong-hwa changed his approach and threw a bait my way. I said I wouldnt waste time needlessly. Would you accept if theres a stake involved? If its worth it. Honestly, I wanted to accept the duel right away and beat Kwak Ji-cheol to a pulp. Yet the reason I kept brushing off their provocations and holding out was, Its more beneficial this way. The Emerald club had to take revenge by any means necessary. Their president would try to initiate a duel even if it meant using bait. And that bait would be too tempting for me to ignore. Of course, it remained to be seen whether I was the one taking the bait or if it was Mok Jong-hwa. Mok Jong-hwa took out a small ticket from his inventory and slammed it onto the table. I bet this. Park Na-ri and Ha Soo-yeon, who had been silently observing the situation, looked surprised. This move indicated the extent of Mok Jong-hwas bold strategy. [Crafting VIP Ticket] The craftsmen at Dragon Slayer Academy rarely accepted crafting requests. Due to the excessive demand compared to supply, they only took on a very limited number of requests, and even then, there was a long waiting list. This VIP ticket allowed the holder to bypass the queue and get an item made with top priority. It was one of the several privileges offered by Dragon Slayer Academy, just like the special cultivation room season pass. Thank you very much I was already in need of better equipment and here was this valuable ticket being offered to me. However, this is only if you win. Are you sure you want to wager something like that? It doesnt matter. If I win, thats the end of it. Will you accept? Alright. Lets consider it agreed upon. As I accepted the duel, Mok Jong-hwa crossed his arms, and Kwak Ji-cheol stepped forward again. Set a date. Two days from now would be good. There was not the slightest hint of regret about the loss she had incurred. It seemed she had noticed something from our conversation during the cube trade and about the duel. If I had really been the coward as the rumors suggested, I couldnt have interacted so casually with Mok Jong-hwa, who was not only my senior but also the head of the club. In that case, she probably thought it a good idea to establish a friendly relationship with me in advance to prepare for an unexpected future. And she must have reckoned that an F-rank [Rank Up] was a small price for that. It was a good choice. After all, there were still plenty of items to trade with the four major powers besides the [Cube of Life]. Are you confident about the duel? One hundred percent. Ha Soo-yeon looked surprised when I answered without a moments hesitation. . I didnt realize you were that confident. But Ill warn you in advance. Mok Jong-hwa and Kwak Ji-cheol have analyzed all of your replays and prepared countermeasures. Isnt that just basic strategy? No. This time, Kwak Ji-cheol will receive support at the club level. I thought as much. Kwak Ji-cheols overly confident demeanor when he challenged me to a duel gave me the impression he had something to rely on. The club would prepare items to exploit my weaknesses. It was highly likely that Kwak Ji-cheols equipment, too, would be replaced by the equipment of second and third-year students. Considering that I wouldnt receive much support since I was unaffiliated, the duel was bound to be unfair. It doesnt seem right to me. If you want, I can lend you an artifact from the Mother Nature club. Thank you for the offer, but Im fine. I showed her the blank skill book. This will be enough. ..! My claim that I would create and master a new skill in just two days was indeed serious. However, Ha Soo-yeon seemed to be doubting me. Are you really planning to win with a newly created skill? I didnt explain at length; I just smiled. Youll be surprised when you see it. *** Training Center. I sat alone in the middle of a large training room. The wooden dummy in front of me would attack me on command, but for now, it remained still and motionless. A blue light emanated from the [Blank Skill Book] in my hand. When you infuse it with mana while thinking of the words or sentences you want, they will automatically be input into the book. While creating a new skill usually involved meticulous thought and careful attention to each character, my skill book was filling up at an unrestrained speed, as if a stenographer were typing away. Its not something Ive done just once or twice. How many times have I used the blank skill book before? The count was so high that I had long since given up on keeping track. Of course, even if I had forgotten how many times I used it, the data accumulated from countless trials and errors remained vividly in my mind. The optimal skill that could be implemented using the blank skill book was being created. What kind of support is the most useful? There is no definitive answer to this question. Usefulness varies depending on the situation. In some cases, healing is more valuable; in others, it might be defense and sometimes buffs or debuffs can be more advantageous. However, What is the most troublesome and annoying support to deal with? What is the No.1 support that makes players naturally curse, That bastard is cheating? There was a definitive answer to this question. Forced Movement Support. [Learned Skillbook Wind Force] [Acquired Wind Force (F)] [Wind Force] Imbues physical force into the wind. I stood upright while facing the wooden dummy. A gust of wind blew through the enclosed space, playfully tousling my hair as it passed by. Suddenly, the wooden dummy creaked and lunged at me with a one-two punch. In sync, I leaned right, then left, and lightly placed my hand on the dummys chest. Bang! The wooden dummy flew across the training room and crashed at the far end. Chapter 41: Duel Battle (3) Chapter 41: Duel Battle (3) [Used Rank Up (F)] [The rank of Monarch increased. (F->E)] Monarch. It was one of my assets left from starting the EX-rank reincarnation quest. It was as powerful as amplification and copy, but as of now, the conditions were not right for it to see the light of day. Still, it was best to upgrade it whenever the opportunity arose. It was a trait almost impossible to upgrade in other ways. [Kim Ho] Skills Wind Force (F+) Inferno Fist (C) Amplification (E) Copy Skill [2/2] 1. Hummingbird (E) 2. Thiefs Step (B) Traits Blessing of the West Wind Core (D) Monarch (E) Copy Trait [1/1] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) Equipment School Uniform (D) Earth Staff (E) Inventory 10 Silver Coins Heart of Thunder x2 [Duel Battle Score: 386 points] [Strategy Battle Score: 2,266 points] (3,123pt) I shifted my gaze from the status window back to the front. The wooden dummy was making a clattering nose as it fervently rushed towards me. It had been doing this for quite some time. Whenever it got a bit closer, the headwind which was enhanced with [Wind Force] pushed it back. And as it attempted to approach again, it was repelled once more, essentially making no progress. Whoosh Extending my hand forward, the wind blowing straight ahead intensified. The wooden dummy was helplessly flung backward and crashed into the wall of the training room. [Wind Force] was a freshly mastered skill and only F-rank currently, but since it was a wind-type magic, it received a bonus from the [Blessing of the West Wind] trait. Hence, it was ranked F+. Somewhere between F and E. To be effective in a duel, it needs to be at least D+. As the rank of the skill increases, so does its power. With Wind Force, the higher the rank, the more wind I could control and the stronger the force I could exert. Simply overpowering Kwak Ji-chul would be feasible with E+, but that alone wasnt satisfying enough for me. I need to completely overwhelm and smash him to the ground. Therefore, I set my goal at D+. The skill I created through the Blank Skill Book was more difficult to rank up compared to regular skills, but with two days left, I was confident I would achieve it comfortably. When I operated the terminal attached to one wall of the training room, the wooden dummy that had been rolling around following the winds direction disappeared, and an iron dummy appeared in its place. This iron dummy was significantly heavier than the wooden one, making it more difficult to push away with Wind Force. I need to increase the challenge to train effectively. I concentrated the wind toward the charging iron dummy. The wind, imbued with physical force, gradually made the iron dummy falter. *** [The rank of Wind Force has increased. (F->E)] By training with Wind Force until dawn, I finally reached the E+ rank. I then took a short break in the dormitory and sent a message to Seo Ye-in. [Kim Ho: Awake?] [Seo Ye-in:] [Seo Ye-in: (Rabbit yawning emoji)] [Kim Ho: Food?] [Seo Ye-in: ] [Kim Ho: Meet at the cafeteria, OK?] Todays breakfast menu featured round mini rice balls. The variety was quite impressive. Every time curiosity struck her, Seo Ye-in would ask me a question. Whats this? Looks like anchovies. And this? Not sure. It looks spicy. Can you handle spicy food? No. Yet, driven by curiosity, she picked up a bright red rice ball. Seo Ye-in and I filled our plates with various flavored rice balls and moved toward a table. Then, coincidentally, we ran right into the pair of Kwak Ji-chul and Jeong Soo-ji. Jeong Soo-ji offered a light nod and seemed eager to leave quickly, whereas Kwak Ji-chul wore a smirk and taunted me. Are you managing well with your skill creation? The duel is tomorrow; I wonder if youll be ready. I had already created it. And even raised its rank. But revealing that now would spoil the fun. I feigned distress and let out a deep sigh. Yeah, it turned out to be tougher than I thought. Why waste your efforts on a mediocre skill? Save the Blank Skill Book, okay? Im just looking out for you. No, I want to keep trying. Suit yourself. Make sure youre prepared too. Remember, if you lose, youll get kicked out of the Emerald club. Just looking out for you as well. The first reason was that it was the week of the strategy battles, and most students were spending their time in the dungeon building. The second reason was that neither Kim Ho nor Kwak Ji-chul had much name value, so there was a lack of interest in their duel. Some might be curious enough to watch the replay later, but coming to the arena seemed too bothersome. Thus, the spectators for this duel were mostly acquaintances of Kim Ho and Kwak Ji-chul. From the Emerald Magic Tower, there were president Mok Jong-hwa and Jung Soo-ji. And Kwak Seung-jae who came from the disciplinary committee club to watch his younger brothers duel. From the Mother Nature Club was president Ha Soo-yeon and Park Na-ri. And for the unaffiliated Kim Ho, it was just a few friends. Or so it should have been. Mok Jong-hwa frowned. What brings you here? What else? I came to watch my junior. Dang Gyu-young replied with a sly smile. She had a rough idea of the situation based on a previous conversation she had with Kim Ho. Something about trading the [Cube of Life] with either the Emerald or the Mother Nature Club. Even so, she still thought that getting four season passes seemed like a daunting task, but somehow they managed to do it. But then, she was surprised when she heard some stuff. Noonim, Kim Ho and Kwak Ji-chul have scheduled a duel battle. What? Why a duel if theyve already made a trade? Shin Byeong-chul was the one who delivered the news, and it left her puzzled. Upon investigation, it turned out that the situation was a complete mess. The whole thing started with Mok Jong-hwa. Trying to gain an upper hand in the trade, he sent Kwak Ji-chul and Jung Su-ji to show off their strength, but they ended up being completely defeated by Kim Ho. And it was a one-on-two fight at that. Isnt that obvious? Kim Ho even defeated Kwak Seung-jae one-on-one, right? Comparing a second-year disciplinary committee member like Kwak Seung-jae with two first-years makes it even clearer. They stood no chance at all. Anyway, if they had just accepted the loss, it would have been less embarrassing, but they went ahead and challenged Kim Ho to a duel for a chance at redemption. Dang Gyu-young was waving her finger in a scolding manner. Ugh, you little brat. Youre like a little green beetle. And yet youre making the kids duel? Its not a matter for a thief to interfere with. Why not? Hes a junior I care about. Dang Gyu-young casually slung her arm over Kim Hos shoulder. Kim Ho expressed his discomfort with a look. Senior, were not that close, are we? Ah, just act a bit friendly for now. She then resumed waving her finger at Mok Jong-hwa. If you play any tricks, watch out. Ill turn everything upside down. . Mok Jong-hwa only furrowed his brows but offered no response. Even Ha Soo-yeon, who was usually very articulate, stepped back and just sighed heavily. Dang Gyu-young who now roughly grasped the situation let out a small mocking laugh. So theyve already started their scheming? She dragged Kim Ho away for a moment. Hey, why did you accept this duel? I accepted it because I believe I can win. You sure you can win? That cunning guy seems to have set up all sorts of tricks. Im aware of them and accepted it anyway. Dont worry. I have a plan. His faint smile revealed overflowing confidence. Dang Gyu-Young, although she hadnt known this brash junior for long, had seen enough to know that he could handle himself. She thought that if she interfered, it might just make things awkward. Alright, fine then. Despite still being somewhat skeptical, Dang Gyu-Young watched as Kim Ho returned to face Kwak Ji-cheol. Mok Jong-hwa took out the VIP ticket and initiated the deal. Before we start, lets confirm the condition one last time. If Kim Ho wins, I, Mok Jong-hwa, will hand over this ticket to him. On the other hand, if he loses, the victorious Emerald club would at least be able to salvage some of their lost face. Mok Jong-Hwa continued speaking. Also, this duel battle will be recorded as a replay and be accessible for anyone to view. Do you agree? I agree. Good. Then lets begin. The terrain and rules appeared on the display above the stage. MAP: [Rocky Terrain] RULE: [Deathmatch] [10-Minute Limit] Kwak Ji-cheols face lit up instantly. The heavens are on my side! Out of the many possible terrains, it was rocky terrain that had been selected. This was an ideal battleground for an earth-element mage like him. Everything was turning in his favor. Feeling triumphant, he taunted Kim Ho. How about that? The terrain should have been to my disadvantage for a fair fight. Looks like this will be over quickly. . Youve become quite quiet all of a sudden, havent you? Starting to realize the situation yet? Kim Ho maintained an expression of nonchalance. It seemed he still hadnt realized his predicament, but Kwak Ji-cheol thought that he would soon feel it and painfully so. The two of them entered the arena through the teleportation magic circle. Everywhere they looked, there were stones; everything they stepped on was stone. The place was filled with rocks of all sizes, from boulders to pebbles. [Kim Ho 100% vs Kwak Ji-chul 100%] [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Wham! A fist-sized rock rolling on the ground exploded against Kwak Ji-Chuls face. Chapter 43: Duel Battle (5) Chapter 43: Duel Battle (5) Aaaaaaaaagh! The rapidly spinning Earth Cluster brutally scraped across Kwak Ji-cheols face. Had there been no protective magic applied, the consequences would have been horrifying. He hurriedly deactivated the Earth Cluster to escape the agony. The scattered debris on the ground seemed to mirror his state of mind. After experiencing similar tactics three or four times in a row, even the most narrow-minded person begins to catch on. Thanks to the physical ordeal he was experiencing, Kwak Ji-cheol was close to accurately deciphering Kim Hos strategy. Its the wind! The wind! He realized it was the wind manipulating him, toying with his movements. This revelation, along with the embarrassing moments it caused, flashed through his mind like a panorama and that helped fuel his rage even more. This guy really knows how to infuriate people. Just as he was about to cast another attack spell, Whizz A faint breeze brushed against Kwak Ji-cheols cheek. His body shivered and he snapped back to attention. This wont do. Focusing solely on attacking without any defense would only leave him vulnerable to Kim Ho, just like before. His first priority was to get out of the winds influence. Kwak Ji-cheols staff emitted a green light. The remnants of the recently dispelled Earth Cluster accumulated and formed a circular wall. Whoosh! However, in the next moment, a sudden gust of wind from behind forcefully pushed against Kwak Ji-cheols back. He ended up headbutting the wall he had just summoned. Guh! Th-this damn. damned guy! Even as he unwillingly embraced the wall, he maneuvered his staff to erect another barrier behind him. Finally, after sealing the top and reinforcing any gaps, a small fortress of stone was complete. Fortunately, the wind could not penetrate into the fortress. I can relax now. From now on, all he had to do was keep an eye on the outside and use the wooden golem and long-range spells to induce a war of attrition. Wow That really leaves you speechless. Dang Gyu-young shook her head in disbelief. Space defense, the turtle tactic. It was a petty strategy but it was often used for victory. The problem was that Kwak Ji-cheol was the one employing this turtle tactic right now. If he had borrowed a third-year students golem, he would be criticized even if he completely dominated the fight, but space defense? Dang Gyu-young pointed to the stage and mocked Mok Jong-hwa. Hey, honestly, even I am more manly than that, right? Shut up. Mok Jong-hwa retorted as if spitting out the words. He too was equally displeased with Kwak Ji-cheols behavior. While winning a duel was important to uphold the prestige of the Emerald club, the content of the duel was equally important. But such an unsightly display like this. Now, even a victory wouldnt be enough to break even. It was a pure loss. Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young started thinking with her chin in her hand. How to break through that. Petty as it was, Kwak Ji-cheols fortress was quite sturdy when evaluated calmly. He looked like had used it often enough that he had a high level of proficiency, and the addition of bonuses from the equipment of second-and third-year students further strengthened it. Thump! Boom! Outside the fortress, the wooden golem upturned the ground as it launched its attacks, while Earth Clusters formed here and there and began shooting gravel. Kim Ho deftly dodged all these attacks. He moved so fast that only a blur of his sneakers was visible. In the end, it looks like our junior-nim here will win. The initial worry she had felt upon first seeing the golem had now significantly faded. [Kim Ho 100% vs Kwak Ji-cheol 68%] [Remaining Time 4:57] Kim Hos health was at 100%, after all. Up until now, not a single effective hit had been allowed. Meanwhile, Kwak Ji-cheol was in a state of considerable accumulated damage. If things continued this way, simply avoiding further hits and using up the remaining time for a decision victory seemed like a viable option. But he doesnt seem like the kind of person who would be satisfied with that. If he was going to unleash the Inferno Fist in front of Kwak Seung-jaes eyes, he would do so rather than drag it out to a lackluster decision victory. It didnt seem to be in his character. There was certainly more he had prepared. .! Miss Seo, do you see something? .! The first to notice the anomaly was Seo Ye-in. In her eyes, most of Kim Hos information still appeared as question marks. Kwak Seung-jae was tending to his unconscious brother, while Mok Jong-hwa covered his face with one hand. The members of the Mother Nature club seemed to be cautiously watching me for some reason. Anyway, it was time to collect the dues. . As I approached, Mok Jong-hwa clenched his eyes shut and swallowed his anger. But a promise is a promise; he reluctantly took out the [Crafting VIP Ticket] from his inventory and handed it over. His trembling hands indicated just how reluctant he was to part with such an item. Well, it was just that important. After tucking the ticket away, I started the conversation. May I make a suggestion? What is it? How about keeping the replay of this duel private? ! The public release of this duels footage would be a massive blow to the image of the Emerald Magic Tower. They had supported a freshmans duel with third-year equipment and a golem, only to get beaten up one-sidedly. Kwak Ji-cheols performance, being pushed around, pulled, and flying through the air, was an added embarrassment. They would surely prefer it to be as if it never happened. So I extended an olive branch. Mok Jong-hwa pondered for a moment before responding. A guy who only accepted the duel with stakes now throws a bone in our favor. Theres no such thing as a free lunch, is there? Youre quite the businessman. I wont starve, thats for sure. Will you accept? For Mok Jong-hwa, it was an offer he couldnt refuse. It was better to silence me now than to deal with the aftermath of a shattered reputation. Tch. State what you want. Nothing at the moment. Just a small favor in the future, if youre able. If its within my capacity. Alright, then. Ill make it private. He had spoken as if doing me a favor, but keeping the replay private was also what I desired. The slower the spread of information about [Wind Force], the more advantageous it would be. I was confident that Mok Jong-hwa would accept this proposal, which is why I had used Wind Force extravagantly in various ways during the duel. Another reason was to create a debt for Mok Jong-hwa to owe me. Although I had already crossed a point of no return with the Emerald club, going any further would likely make the fight messier. Violating school rules would be the least of it, with the battle potentially descending into dangerous and murky territory. While I could defeat anyone who came at me, it wouldnt be ideal if it hindered my growth. I didnt want people like Seo Ye-in or Go Hyeon-woo to suffer unnecessarily because of it. So, this time, I compromised a little and in exchange I tied Mok Jong-hwas hands. As long as he felt even a slight sense of debt toward me, he wouldnt move rashly. Of course, he wasnt a noble man, so his thoughts might change later but by then, I would have grown enough. Enough to easily trample something like the Emerald Magic Tower. Regardless of our true intentions, it was a temporary ceasefire on the surface. Mok Jong-hwa gave me a nod as a greeting and then turned his back. Kwak Ji-cheol, who had come to his senses by then, didnt dare meet my eyes. He just staggered after Mok Jong-hwa while looking down. Kwak Seung-jae sent me a calm glance before joining the Emerald group. As I watched their retreating figures, two fingers gently pinched my cheek and then pulled it. Well, well, the more I look at you, the more you seem like a sly fox, huh? Senior, thats no bay to balk to bour Bunior. I removed Dang Gyu-youngs hand from my cheek. She had always been unusually close, but since she offered to recruit me into the club, we had grown even closer. You planned the whole replay thing, didnt you? And you didnt suffer any loss from it. Youre quick to catch on. Well, I am the club president for a reason. But what are you going to ask of Mok Jong-hwa? Ill have to think about it later. It will probably be something similar to what I asked of you. Oh right, now that you mention it, I remember. Dang Gyu-young had agreed to fulfill a small favor of mine in exchange for accessing the information of the [Cube of Life]. The small favor was, Just pass on a piece of news to the president of the Magic Engineering Club. It would be better if it seemed to come up naturally. Tell them that a freshman completed a 10x10x10 cube. How far has it progressed? Ive already spread the word. And Ive received a request because of it. A request? They want to meet with you. Can you arrange it? What do you say? Thats great. Lets meet. Before we move on to the next item, lets try one more thing. Chapter 44: Duel Battle (6) Chapter 44: Duel Battle (6) Would you please reconsider the expulsion? While maintaining a steady pace, Mok Jong-hwa only turned his head to briefly glance at Kwak Seung-jae who said those words. Then he continued to walk forward and opened his mouth Why should I do that? Didnt you see the duel battle? I did. It was a pathetic trash duel battle. There was a subtle anger in Mok Jong-hwas tone. Kwak Ji-cheol who had been walking powerlessly with his head down shrank his shoulders. Kwak Seung-jae did not spare his incompetent younger brother a glance but he continued to defend him verbally. I cant say Ji-cheol did well, but this seems beyond his control. A perfect outcome against your golem. How many freshmen could do that? A third-year golem and [Earth Cluster] for long-range attacks. Dodging all of that perfectly and maintaining 100% health until the end was a feat difficult not only for first-year students but also for second-year students. Even if Kwak Seung-jae had been in Kim Hos position, he would have received some effective hits. This meant that Kim Ho was indeed a skilled contender. Judging by this duel alone, he was at the level of a promising student if not higher. It was a fight Ji-cheol was bound to lose. Isnt your decision to kick him out a bit too harsh? Even so, the fact that he tarnished Emeralds reputation remains unchanged. But was that tarnishing solely my brothers doing? It was certainly Kwak Ji-cheols fault for overstepping his bounds and getting beaten. However, tracing back the cause, it was also clear that Mok Jong-hwas aggressive approach to the situation was to blame. Deep down, Mok Jong-hwa recognized this truth. Yet he was also irritated at his shortcomings being exposed and stood silently in place while glaring at Kwak Seung-jae. Does the student disciplinary committee involve itself in the affairs of the Emerald Magic Tower? No. Its merely personal advice I wish to offer. Is that advice to overlook your brothers mistake? They say Kwak Seung-jae handles everything with a sharp mind without being biased by personal feelings, but it seems thats a thing of the past. That remains the same, whether in the past or now. I only hope for a fair judgment from you. Kwak Seung-jaes face showed no change and remained impassive. Facing that unchanging expression, Mok Jong-hwa felt that he would gain nothing by being angry and gradually softened his anger. Mok Jong-hwa was no fool. Surviving until the third year at Dragon Slayer Academy and rising to the position of club president wasnt something he achieved by mere luck. Despite his occasionally explosive temperament, he was capable of making at least the minimum reasonable judgments. The Kwak family was a venerable Earth element mage family, forming one of the pillars of the Emerald Magic Tower. From birth, they were part of the Emerald Magic Tower. And even before enrolling, their names were already associated with the club. Expelling him for causing a significant scandal at the Emerald Magic Tower was one thing, but doing so for something of this magnitude would bring more trouble than its worth. So, what are you suggesting I do? Give him a chance. The extent and nature of the chance were left to Mok Jong-hwas discretion. He could push harder and completely overturn the expulsion, but that would infringe upon the rights of the club. His advice had to end at making a suggestion. Moreover, the fact that Kwak Ji-cheol had indeed embarrassed the Emerald Magic Tower was undeniable, and Mok Jong-hwa believed that he should rightfully face the consequences of his actions. Mok Jong-hwa who had been silent for a while opened his mouth. For two months. I will decide based on the rankings for the next two months. Any objections? Thats enough. Hmph. Mok Jong-hwa gave the Kwak Seung-jae and Kwak Ji-cheol brothers a brief look before leaving them and walking away. Half the reason was to give the two a chance to talk, and the other half because he found both of them distasteful. . Kwak Ji-cheol still looked dejected and he was unable to raise his head. He might act like a fearless ruffian in front of others, but he always lost his nerve in front of his older brother. Having shown such disgraceful behavior in front of his brother and owing his escape from expulsion to his brothers help, he had no face to show. Kwak Seung-jae spoke in a calm tone. However, those who knew him well would have felt that he was more affectionate than usual. This is all I can do for you. The rest is up to you. Im sorry, hyung. Rather than apologizing, I want to hear that you will do your best. Ill do my best. Good, now go. Mhmm. She nodded her head slowly and, before leaving, asked me a question. Did the shoes help? Yes, thanks to them, I didnt get hit even once. Even when I had sneaked into the temporary storage room, merely using the [Thiefs Step] wasnt enough to completely avoid Kwak Seung-jaes barrage of mud bullets. It was only because of my [Elemental Resistance] that it didnt show. Had I relied solely on [Thiefs Step] this time, I would have likely been hit by at least a few pebbles. Avoiding all of them perfectly was largely thanks to the sneakers Seo Ye-in had given me. ? As we talked about the shoes, Go Hyeon-woos gaze naturally fell downward, and he noticed that Seo Ye-in and I were wearing the same sneakers. His eyebrows raised slightly and the corners of his mouth followed. You two When did you start wearing the same shoes? What are you thinking? Nothing much, just that it looks nice. Then, Seo Ye-in gave a proper explanation which was pretty unusual for her. However, she seemed to be reaching her limit as her speech was drowsy. Kim Ho gave me a special lecture on magic bullets I gifted them as a thank you So that happened. Mhm Im going to go and sleep now Go inside, Miss Seo. Rest well. Seo Ye-in waved her hand slowly in farewell and then headed towards the dormitory. Go Hyeon-woo and I also had our own matters to settle. We each picked up a drink from the store and stood in the same spot as we had two weeks before, each holding a cup of iced coffee. The difference this time was that Go Hyeon-woo, unlike before, didnt down his drink in one shot. Instead, he slowed his pace, waiting for me to start the conversation. I took out a card from my inventory and handed it to him. Here, take it. Go Hyeon-woos eyes became more intense as he accepted it. This is what Kim-hyung mentioned The Special Cultivation Room Season Pass. He must have personally experienced the effects of the Special Cultivation Room over the past two weeks. It was impossible not to feel the internal energy accumulating rapidly each day. However, the points he must have spent frequenting the Special Cultivation Room during these two weeks would have been significant. Even as the top scorer in the strategy battle, and despite earning a substantial amount of points through replays, by now, he was likely running low. Using the Season Pass would allow him free and unlimited access to the Special Cultivation Room for the entire semester without further point expenditure. For a warrior, it was an invaluable treasure. Go Hyeon-woo looked at the Season Pass with wavering eyes for a long time before suddenly turning to me with a formal and respectful demeanor. Since Kim-hyung has kept his promise, I too will honor mine. If you need my sword, I will join you anytime, anywhere. Im counting on it. Ill make sure to put you to good use until Ive gotten my moneys worth. Haha, Im looking forward to it. We looked at each other and shared a light laugh. Then I asked him. Whats your [Core] rank now? I broke through a barrier last week. Its D-rank now. Thats fast progress. Back on the train, Go Hyeon-woos core was E-rank. His level had been quite low among the first years. Now, in terms of mana amount, he had barely moved out of the lower ranks. His progress was fairly quick but that alone wasnt enough. Can you reach C-rank by next week? Hmm After thinking for a moment, Go Hyeon-woo replied. If I put in more effort, I might just manage it. But why aim for C? [Core] hits a stagnation phase at C. Unless one is a mana monster like Song Cheon-hye, most promising students would find themselves lingering around the upper C-rank range. In other words, once he achieved C-rank, he wouldnt fall far behind in a mana fight. From then on, Go Hyeon-woos abilities could be more accurately assessed. Identifying which areas were strong and where improvement was needed. Next week is also a week of duel battles. If things go as planned, it would be the perfect time to evaluate his skills according to the rules that were likely to come up. Chapter 45: Magic Engineering Workshop Chapter 45: Magic Engineering Workshop As soon as I expressed my intention to meet with the president of the magic engineering club, Dang Gyu-young promptly connected me with the guy. I received a message from him, but he was too busy to meet anywhere else and asked me to come to the workshop. I suppose thats understandable for the magic engineering club. When the Emerald club had asked me to come, I had refused and sent Kwak Ji-cheol back with a punch, but that was because they had arrogantly demanded I come even though they could have come themselves. If they had approached me politely, I might have reluctantly agreed to follow. In contrast, the magic engineering club was genuinely swamped with no time to spare. Being in the production field, they were always overwhelmed with commissions, and especially now that it was the beginning of the semester, they were experiencing a huge influx of orders. Considering that, it seemed right for me to make the effort to visit them. I leisurely finished my iced tea and strolled over. I lost myself in thought along the way. Ive laid the foundation. With the [Blessing of the West Wind], I had a bonus to wind magic. And with [Wind Force], I added physical power to my wind magic. From here on, I plan to continue adding more wind magic and traits. So, the time had come. I need to get a weapon. I couldnt keep making do with the [Earth Staff], which was only a little better than a club. Just as wearing shoes provided a bonus to movement skills, wielding a weapon granted bonuses appropriate for ones class.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only And, in most cases, the bonuses from weapons were stronger than those from other equipment. The question then was, where to find such a weapon? Ill have to make it. And not just any weapon, but one of a conclusive rank. I planned to use every hidden piece I knew to craft a weapon worthy of an EX-rank reincarnation quest. Of course, given the high rank, it wasnt possible to create a top-tier weapon right off the bat. Thats why my plan was, Prefabricated. Like fitting together a puzzle, I would complete it in stages. Heading to the magic engineering workshop now was part of that lengthy project. The first workshop was several times busier than on the first day of the semester. Members ran around as if their feet were on fire and blue lights flashed without a moments pause. As I stood by the door and waited in silence I was soon greeted by a senior. A freshman? What brings you here? Id like to meet with the president. If you mention Kim Ho, hell know. Really? Wait here for a moment. The senior went inside, and shortly after, another person emerged. This guy was clearly the president of the magic engineering club. He looked like a company employee worn out by fatigue and he also exuded an air of urgency as if he was always chased by something. I was about to introduce myself but he cut me off mid-sentence. Hello, I Im Bong Jae-seok. Youre Kim Ho, right? The one who completed the 10x10x10 cube? Lets talk inside. Follow me. He rattled off his words like a machine gun and didnt even pause for a response. He was certainly an impatient guy. As if time itself were chasing me with a sword, I was hurriedly led away. The place we arrived at was Workshop No. 4. Just like my last visit, it was enveloped in silence. Bong Jae-seok shattered that silence by flinging the door wide open. A third-year senior who was working alone inside jumped in surprise and turned around. I recognized him to be the senior from before. Bong Jae-seok gestured toward the door. Out. Without a word, the senior vacated the space. Despite being in the same year, the authority of the club president was unmistakably strong. Bong Jae-seok watched the departing senior with a look of displeasure and began to speak. The price for trading the clubs assets without permission has been paid by that guy. I would like access to the facilities of Workshop No. 1. The equipment in Workshop No. 1 was reserved for the elite members of the magic engineering club. Allowing an outsider like me to use those facilities was one of the greatest authorities the club president had. I had expected lengthy consideration and negotiation, but Bong Jae-seok responded without even five seconds of hesitation. We need it during the day. You can have it from midnight to dawn. How about that? That works for me. Deal. Now give me the rest of the blueprint. He was indeed a straightforward man. He unfolded the blueprint I handed over, matched it with the fragment he already had, and confirmed it fit perfectly. Bong Jae-seok was overcome with joy. Aaah! He carefully folded the blueprint while treating it as if it were a precious heirloom of his family. Then, he reached out to me. Let me see your student ID. Sure. I presented my student ID and Bong Jae-seok jotted down a few critical details. Ill register you for free access. Dont cause any trouble. I said after midnight, but if its crowded, make way, and if its not, you can use it before midnight too. You can manage that, right? Yes, senior-nim. Good. Im off then. Bong Jae-seok abruptly stood up and strode out only to hurry back as if he had remembered something hed forgotten. But youre unaffiliated, right? How about joining our club? He pointed to the blueprint in his arms and added. Honestly, this could be submitted as a thesis. The fact that you actually created a 10x10x10 cube is impressive. Youre more than qualified; in fact, overly so. I appreciate your words, but I must refuse. So, Dang Gyu-young got to you first, huh? Are you considering joining that thieves club, or are you worried about holding grudges? Ill take care of it all. I have quite a bit of influence, after all. Its not that. I just dont plan to join anything. . Alright, then. If you change your mind, let me know anytime. Seeing my firm decision, Bong Jae-seok didnt press any further. As he turned to leave without any hesitation, he suddenly said, Oh, and one more thing. Returning as if something had just come to mind, he gestured with his chin towards a corner of Workshop No. 4 filled with various items. If youre going to make something out of that junk, feel free to take it. Just provide the blueprints like you did this time. Then I wont say a word. Thank you. Now, Im really, really, really going. Take care. Yes, senior-nim. Please go ahead. I gained a lot thanks to Bong Jae-seoks very friendly approach. Now that Ive been granted access to Workshop No. 1, Im going to take matters into my own hands if theres a need for magical engineering when making equipment in the future. The [Crafting VIP Ticket] I received could be used in other domains like blacksmithing, tailoring, and fine crafting. Moreover, the permission to take items from Workshop No. 4s collection of various junk turned out to be an unexpected boon. While I might not stumble upon another jackpot like the [Cube of Life], there was still plenty worth salvaging. I planned to visit whenever I had some free time. *** Throughout the remaining week of the strategy battle session, I dedicated myself to practicing [Wind Force]. Despite my relentless efforts of sending iron dummies flying in every direction, I barely managed to cling to the edge of D-rank, falling just short of reaching C-rank. I had hoped for a clean rank-up but it was time to return to classes. As usual, Professor Lee Soo-dok appeared shortly after the class bell rang. Every student in class 3 sat in their seats and held their breath. Everyone learned that the class proceeds smoothly as long as no one ruffles his feathers over trivial matters. However, today, Lee Soo-dok entered the classroom unusually carrying a stack of A4-sized papers. Catch. And he suddenly tossed the stack into the air. Flutter! The A4 papers scattered chaotically, yet each sheet miraculously settled in front of an individual student. [Mentoring Application Form] Chapter 46: 3rd Week Duel Battles (1) Chapter 46: 3rd Week Duel Battles (1) Every freshman who entered the Dragon Slayer Academy had likely been hailed as a prodigy or a genius at least once in their lives. Yet after just two weeks of enrollment. They had ample time to realize that theres always a higher mountain. The placement tests duel battles divided them into classes by 300-point scores, and even within these score ranges, there were winners and losers. Even in strategy battles where each thought they had given their best, a glance at the rankings revealed layers of superior competitors above them. Then came the [strong enemy] in the second weeks strategy battles. Only a few, like myself and Seo Ye-in, managed to face and defeat the beheader goblin head-on, while the majority were too busy fleeing. For many, being chased by creatures they once scoffed at, like goblins, was an entirely new and humiliating experience. It was terrifying, yes, but also deeply frustrating. This was also precisely what the Dragon Slayer Academy had intended. Get stronger if youre upset. Provoked by this, students started frequenting the training center more, acquired new equipment and skills, or sought advice from club seniors to foster their own growth. However, moving forward without clear guidance inevitably had its limitations. Can the teachers solve this issue entirely? While its true that each teacher possessed skills comparable to an A-rank professional, their expertise was confined to specific classes. A warrior couldnt teach magic nor could an archer coach in hand-to-hand combat. Another major problem was the lack of time for a teacher to manage dozens of students alone. Hence, the Dragon Slayer Academy implemented a mentoring system. This involved inviting top third-year students or graduates to provide a kind of customized lectures. Although it was unlikely to be one-on-one, it certainly wouldnt reach a ratio of one to several dozen. Lee Soo-dok continued to explain while pointing at the [Mentoring Application Form]. Opinions on mentoring will vary. Its a personal choice whether to apply or not. Only those interested should fill out and submit the application. There are many cases where the sect or family you belong to does not allow you to receive instruction from outsiders, and there are also quite a few who prefer to train on their own. Therefore, mentoring wasnt a forced thing and the participation rate in the first round of mentoring wasnt particularly high. Yet the students would gradually come to realize the widening gap between those who received mentoring and those who didnt. Its a loss not to participate. Certain skills and traits could be acquired or honed more easily through mentoring. As someone who still lacks a lot of skills, it would be beneficial to get at least one. There are quests to complete, too. Moreover, even if there was nothing new to learn, mentoring-related quests were too valuable to miss. Their rewards were as substantial as those from the regular duel and strategy battles. It was advantageous to follow the trend in many ways. The deadline for applications is the end of this week. If youre still undecisive, it wont be too late to participate in this weeks duel battles before making your decision. The rules this time are quite appropriate. Lee Soo-dok smoothly transitioned to introducing this weeks duel battles. MAP: [Random] RULE: [Deathmatch] [2vs2] [10-minute limit] Amidst the familiar settings, one new rule stood out. 2 versus 2. Cooperation is as important as it was last week. However, this week, the objective is different. In the previous strategy battle, the objective was to destroy the totem so there were those who had engaged in combat with the goblin beheader and those who had not. However, this time, the goal was to defeat the opponents, so the students had to cooperate well for that. Their opponents were two students of comparable skill levels to their own. As you engage in 2-on-2 battles, you might uncover weaknesses that dont show up in 1-on-1 fights. Identifying and addressing these weaknesses is also a beneficial aspect of mentoring. Take this week to think it over carefully. Following Lee Soo-doks advice, most students seemed inclined to at least dip their toes into this weeks duel battles before making a decision. And some people, including me, were already filling out the application form without hesitation. The question that appeared on the A4 sheet in front of me was a mere single sentence. As I wrote down my answer beneath it, the text would magically disappear, making way for the next question to emerge. The nature of the questions was also adapted based on my previous responses. Q: Please write down your classs main category. (Examples: Warrior, Ranger, Rogue, Caster, etc.) A: Caster. Q: What is your tendency as a Caster? (Examples: Offensive, Defensive, Supportive, Versatile, Yet to be determined) A: Versatile. I was also close to reaching C-rank myself. But then, Seo Ye-in, who had been resting her cheek on the desk, suddenly asked me. Cant you do it with me too? However, since Go Hyeon-woo was the first to bring up the subject, I looked at him seeking his opinion through my eyes. Go Hyeon-woo, in turn, shifted his gaze to me and asked, We need to participate in at least four duel battles this week, right? Yes, thats correct. Four times. The number of mandatory matches had increased by one compared to the first week of duel battles. This is a semi-coercive gesture on the part of Dragon Slayer Academy to help students who are considering applying for mentoring. Since its a duo game, perhaps one out of the four might not go as planned? That could ignite a newfound desire for improvement, especially with a great system like mentoring in place. In any case, we were obliged to participate in a total of four matches. Go Hyeon-woo suggested, How about if Miss Seo and I each team up with Kim-hyung for two matches? Okay. What do you think, Kim-hyung? The two people who reached an agreement looked at me at the same time. After all, it would all come to naught if I were to object. From my perspective, it was an offer without any downside. However, I decided to add one condition. I dont mind teaming up for two matches each, but for the rest, try playing with different opponents. Participating in a couple of matches with unfamiliar students would also serve to build some experience in that area. Seo Ye-in and Go Hyeon-woo nodded in agreement. All right. Its fortunate that weve reached a smooth agreement. Lets all meet tomorrow then. Go Hyeon-woo left to submit the application to the teachers office. He seemed likely to spend the rest of the day in the special cultivation room, focusing solely on [Core] practice until tomorrow. I asked Seo Ye-in. Shall we head out as well? Mhmm. *** On the first day of the first week, the arena was almost deserted, but today it was bustling with students. The main reason was the introduction of the 2-on-2 battles which added many variables. While individual skills were one thing, the combined strength of two students couldnt be accurately gauged until they actually faced off in battle. With the prospect of facing four matches anyway, the strategy was to charge head-on, win or lose, and then adjust the plan accordingly from then on. As Seo Ye-in and I took turns scanning our student IDs the terminal began its search for suitable opponents. [Seo Ye-in 691 points] [Kim Ho 386 points] For matches involving more than two students, the system would match participants based on the average score of the team. Given that the average score between Seo Ye-in and myself was around 539 points, our opponents were likely to be two individuals with a similar combined score. After a while, the name and score were displayed in the notification window. I laughed because it was a name I remembered. Im seeing her here again. I was amused by the strange ways of fate. We then made our way to the arena using the teleportation circle. Our surroundings changed and we were greeted by a fierce wind. The grassland around us was alive with wind blowing incessantly in all directions. ! Far across from us, a girl with red hair and a boy covered in armor were casting their gaze in our direction; the girls eyes were burning with an intense fervor. [Kim Ho 386 points, Seo Ye-in 691 points] vs [Baek Jun-seok 388 points, Hong Yeon-hwa 690 points] A promising member of the , one of the four major powers. A fire mage affiliated with the Ruby Magic Tower. and the very same girl who suffered a humiliating loss to me in the duel battle back in the placement test. Chapter 47: 3rd Week Duel Battles (2) Chapter 47: 3rd Week Duel Battles (2) Hong Yeon-hwas first thought when she laid eyes on Seo Ye-in who stood across from her was, She is really pretty like a doll. Although they were in different classes, she had often heard the boys in her class mention the gray-haired girl from class 3. Seeing her in person, even from a female perspective, her beauty was indeed breathtaking. Then there was Kim Ho. Hong Yeon-hwa was momentarily distracted by Seo Ye-ins appearance and found her ranking had slipped, but in terms of leaving an impression, Kim Ho surpassed that. He was the man who first defeated Hong Yeon-hwa who had nothing to fear in the world and made her feel despair. As Hong Yeon-hwa drifted into these recollections, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and a throbbing in the back of her head. After being so thoroughly defeated by him to the point of surrender, she couldnt fathom why he had forfeited the remaining two matches. Why? Why would you win against me and then forfeit to Song Cheon-hye? I wouldnt lose to Song Cheon-hye in a duel battle, would I? The apparent hierarchy of Hong Yeon-hwa < Kim Ho < Song Cheon-hye seemed utterly unfair to her. She wished to grab Kim Ho by the collar, shake him, and demand why he had forfeited. though that was just in her head. The cold eyes of that man looking down at her flashed before her eyes. Despite her usually fiery temper, Hong Yeon-hwa found herself inexplicably able to control her anger in Kim Hos presence. Even now, she hid her feelings well but the mere sight of him gave her a slight chill. Unfortunately for her, she was scheduled to fight against Kim Ho which left her with only two options. To fight or to forfeit. Can I win? She honestly doubted it She had certainly grown stronger than she was two weeks ago. But if asked whether she had become strong enough to breach his ironclad defense, she wouldnt know how to answer. Still, I must try. The word forfeit did not exist in her vocabulary. She viewed him as a wall that she must eventually overcome, so she was determined to give her best even in the face of likely defeat. After all, there was not a complete absence of possibility. It might be uncertain in a one-on-one battle, but now it was a two-on-two situation. If the two of them coordinated their attack well, there might be a chance. [Kim Ho 100%, Seo Ye-in 100%] vs [Baek Jun-seok 100%, Hong Yeon-hwa 100%] Baek Jun-seoks body was being enveloped in splendid heavy armor. And he clenched a large, thick greatsword in his hands. Hong Yeon-hwa gave instructions to Baek Jun-seok. Charge as soon as we start. We take down Seo Ye-in first. The pinpoint destructive power of a rifle gun posed a huge threat to anyone. Once the battle started, they needed to prioritize taking down Seo Ye-in above all else. Understood. Baek Jun-seok nodded his head without any objections. His compliance wasnt just due to their personal relationship; the score difference between them and the prestige of a promising student made him particularly receptive to Hong Yeon-hwas words. Just before the match began, Hong Yeon-hwa calmed her mind. End it in one go. No matter who her opponent was, her strategy was almost always the same. Attack, attack, and attack again. She aimed to overwhelm them with a relentless offensive and decide the match. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Flash! The ruby glowed with a red light, and two separate spells began to form on either side of Hong Yeon-hwa. The first was quickly completed. The staff was covered in flames and took the shape of a bow. As soon as the bowstring was pulled, the second spell was also completed. The fire arrow blazed even more brightly and fiercely. [Flame Arrow] [Outburst] Fwoosh! The fire arrow soared through the air, outpacing Baek Jun-seok, and headed straight for Seo Ye-in. . Kim Ho briefly observed the fire arrow before swiftly grabbing Seo Ye-ins arm and tossing her gently to the side. It was a movement so effortless that it seemed as if no force had been applied at all. Yet Seo Ye-ins body floated up and landed gently some distance away as if a transparent giant had carefully set her down beside him. Or as if Seo Ye-ins body was made of feathers. Kim Ho darted to the opposite side and the fire arrow struck the ground where he had been standing. Boom! A huge fire explosion erupted, transforming the grassland into a sea of flames in an instant. This was the result of combining the long-range spell of [Flame Arrow] with the explosive spell of [Outburst]. The fiercely blowing wind spread the fire even faster. Humph! Whoosh! Baek Jun-seok arrived shortly after and swung his greatsword. Since his original target, Seo Ye-in, had been flung far away and had disappeared from sight, he turned his attention to Kim Ho as the next best option. His large, thick blade relentlessly pursued Kim Ho who narrowly avoided each attack and retreated. Did you hurt your head? Are you sure about this defense plan? Stop talking nonsense. And get your shield out, too. Alright. Baek Jun-seok nodded his head with a cool voice. She seemed just like her usual self to him. He swapped his greatsword for a one-handed sword and a large triangular shield. His skills with the sword and shield were no less formidable than with the greatsword. Hong Yeon-hwa didnt change the strategy out of fear. On the contrary, her mind was working furiously. Reviewing the last match, she noted that Kim Ho had been consistently chased by Baek Jun-seok. During the placement test, he had only defended and ended the fight by launching a hummingbird. He hadnt shown any significant offensive magic. What if his strength lies only in defense? What if his offense wasnt noteworthy at all? What if he couldnt break through Baek Jun-seok, the heavy warrior? If thats the case, could she not find a breakthrough by having Baek Jun-seok protect her while she took on the role of an artillery? Silently, Baek Jun-seok finished changing his equipment, and across from them, Kim Ho muttered something briefly to Seo Ye-in after noticing the change. Seo Ye-in nodded ever so slightly. It seemed the other side had also adjusted their strategy. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Hong Yeon-hwas staff Instantly glowed red, [Combustion] Boom! Seo Ye-ins upper body was engulfed in a small explosion. The spell was cast and launched in the blink of an eye. [Kim Ho 100% Seo Ye-in 98%] It hit. The damage was minimal, likely due to Seo Ye-ins high-quality armor, causing only a slight graze. But it was a hit nonetheless. Pufff! A small smoke bomb exploded and Seo Ye-in vanished from sight. It was clear she must have turned invisible again. Hong Yeon-hwa made a brief comment. Shield. Understood. Baek Jun-seoks triangular shield began to glow with a deep blue mana, and a shield made of mana appeared next to Hong Yeon-hwa. It circled around her and protected her. That takes care of the immediate threat. Even if a sniper attack came, the shield would protect her a few times over. Meanwhile, Kim Ho maintained a steady distance, walking as if he were on a leisurely stroll. Suddenly, with a slight raise of his hand, a hummingbird made of electricity took flight. Baek Jun-seok tried to slash the hummingbird with his one-handed sword and crush it with his shield, but the bird with its graceful flight, dodged every attempt and landed squarely on Baek Jun-seoks chest. Fzzzt! Almost at the same time, a heavy impact was felt on the mana shield protecting Hong Yeon-hwa. Bang! Seo Ye-in had timed her snipe perfectly to coincide with the distraction caused by the hummingbird. However, the mana shield remained intact and Baek Jun-seok quickly recovered from the paralysis. Moreover, the successful defense allowed them to pinpoint the direction of the sniper shot. There! As Hong Yeon-hwa released the spells she had prepared in advance, flames of fire magic poured out, setting the meadow ablaze. The air shimmered for a moment, revealing Seo Ye-ins form. Seizing the opportunity, Hong Yeon-hwa concentrated her attack skills on her. Seo Ye-ins health began to drop rapidly. [Kim Ho 100%, Seo Ye-in 84%] [Kim Ho 100%, Seo Ye-in 79%] [Kim Ho 100%, Seo Ye-in 76%] Meanwhile, Kim Ho was just watching everything unfold from a distance. Hong Yeon-hwa smiled triumphantly. Just as I thought! Her prediction had been accurate. The opponents strength lay only in defense. If things continued this way, victory seemed within reach. By defending with a mana shield and counterattacking, she planned to incapacitate Seo Ye-in for combat and then focus the attack on Kim Ho, who would be left alone. But then Silently, as if to contradict her expectations, Kim Ho who was standing leisurely began to approach. The pace of his walk gradually quickened into a run. Whoosh Just then, a wind blew in the same direction as Kim Ho, as if he were riding or even conjuring it. Hong Yeon-hwa felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine. While Baek Jun-seok smirked dismissively. Hes lost his mind. Youve won the last fight quickly so youre approaching for hand-to-hand combat with the belief that we are easy opponents? He confidently positioned his shield in front and gripped his one-handed sword. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa internally screamed, Dont come any closer!! Chapter 48: 3rd Week Duel Battles (3) Chapter 48: 3rd Week Duel Battles (3) Baek Jun-seoks strategy was simple. Whatever move his opponent made, he planned to block with his shield and counter with his one-handed sword. Since he determined from the previous match that he had the upper hand in close combat, he believed this straightforward tactic would suffice. Try and hit me if you can. Baek Jun-seok was confident in his defense.Follow current novels at novelhall.com) Although his overall combat abilities might have been somewhat inferior to those of the other students, when it came to holding his ground with a shield, he was second to none. He was certain that Kim Hos attacks wouldnt even leave a scratch. He assumed Kim Ho was aware of this fact and would therefore try to outmaneuver him in some way. However, contrary to his expectations, Kim Ho charged directly with him. Approaching rapidly without any sign of an attacking skill, it appeared to Baek Jun-seok as if Kim Ho was practically begging to be taken down. Just as he was about to lift his one-handed sword for a strike, Kim Ho lightly placed his hand on the shield as if touching it. Bang! An enormous force was applied, and Baek Jun-seoks arm was thrown back along with his shield, leaving his upper body completely exposed. Wha Before he could even express his shock, Kim Ho stepped even closer and seized Baek Jun-seoks wrist with one hand while placing the other on his waist. In the next instant, Baek Jun-seoks body was lifted off the ground and he started spinning in the air. Before getting slammed back down. Boom!! The heavy weight of his armor added to the force of the throw, resulting in a tremendous impact that rendered Baek Jun-seok utterly incapacitated. The mana shield protecting Hong Yeon-hwa also dissipated silently in that instant. ! Suddenly left alone, Hong Yeon-hwa was too stunned to even consider casting her next spell as she was overwhelmed by the shocking turn of events before her eyes. Her pupils darted in disbelief. Wasnt he specializing in defense ? She had made her strategy under the assumption that Kim Ho was merely a supporter skilled in defensive magic, but he defied that notion entirely by charging head-on and taking down Baek Jun-seok. What skill or ability had he used to effortlessly lift and throw a person clad in full plate armor as if they were a mere stuffed doll? Hong Yeon-hwas understanding of Kim Ho expanded with this scene. He was the owner of an incredibly potent defensive magic that rendered him safe even under a barrage of fire spells and he didnt suffer even 1% damage. Moreover, he was a martial arts master with the terrifying capability to send Baek Jun-seok flying with mere gestures. And, and then. Could it be that he is hiding something else? Previously, Hong Yeon-hwa had thought she might eventually catch up to him, but now the gap between their abilities felt insurmountably wide. . Ho! As Kim Ho took a step forward, Hong Yeon-hwa hastily retreated two steps. She wanted to put even more distance between them, but a prickling sensation at her back stopped her after just two steps. It was likely from Seo Ye-in aiming her gun. . Kim Ho did not advance further; instead, he fixed her with a gaze as cold as before. Though he said nothing, his icy stare seemed to convey a chilling message as clear as if spoken aloud: You know what you should do, dont you? If you try anything unnecessary Ill make you end up like him Hong Yeon-hwas complexion turned deathly pale. If she were to show even the slightest hint of attempting any action other than surrender, she would immediately be flung aside like Baek Jun-seok or have a magic bullet lodged in the back of her head. She started trembling like an aspen tree and she struggled to open her mouth before she finally managed to respond. I-I admit defeat [Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in Win] vs [Baek Jun-seok and Hong Yeon-hwa Lose] Even after the match had concluded, Hong Yeon-hwa stood there blankly for a long time *** The aura emanating from him was even sharper than the day before. It was proof that he had achieved C-rank in his [Core]. Youve worked hard. Shall we head straight to the duel battles after this? Thats exactly what I was hoping for. Im ready. Go Hyeon-woo responded with confidence. After class, I immediately made my way to the arena. The arena was bustling with even more students than the day before. There were so many people scanning their student IDs at the terminals that it was almost necessary to line up. [Kim Ho 457 points] [Go Hyeon-woo 687 points] While we waited for the matchmaking to process, Go Hyeon-woo brought up Seo Ye-in. I wonder who Miss Seo will be playing her remaining two matches with. Did she have any friends besides us? Not that I know of. Ive always seen her with Kim-hyung. Over the past two weeks, Seo Ye-in had spent most of her time with me. Her only other activities seemed to be holing up alone in her dorm room or practicing at the training center. I guess she probably didnt have another partner to team up with besides us. It didnt fit her personality to suddenly start looking for a team member. Truth be told, Im in a similar situation with a limited social circle. Im worried about how to find team members. Go Hyeon-woos situation wasnt much different from hers. He was popular because of his good looks and his social skills werent bad either, so it seemed he had become acquainted with many people in passing. However, because he had spent the entire beginning of the semester secluded in the special cultivation room, he hadnt formed any close bonds that would let him be able to form teams quickly. I responded dismissively to the concern. Just go for a random queue if you dont have a partner. What is a random queue? Its exactly what it sounds like. You get paired up randomly. I see, such an option exists. Go Hyeon-woo mused before asking another question. However, wouldnt it be disadvantageous to work with a teammate assigned at random? Having a pre-arranged partner allows one to enter 2-on-2 battles with a strategic advantage from the start, plan tactics in advance, and gain experience from playing multiple matches with the same teammate. On the other hand, with a random queue, one might end up with an unfavorable combination, like two mages or two archers, right from the start. This puts one at a disadvantage in terms of team composition. Moreover, the lack of time to devise a strategy means that battles are almost approached on the fly. As soon as a match ended, the two of you would break up, so your experience with that partner would be reset. The academy was well aware of these issues. Thats why the average score for the random queue is set higher. In other words, instead of pre-arranged coordination, they compensate by pairing you with a more skilled partner. Exactly. Its not entirely unfair. I see. Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head in understanding. Just then, our match was set, and we simultaneously turned our heads. Ah. Uhmm! We both let out a murmur as we checked the list of opponents. [Kim Ho 457 points Go Hyeon-woo 687 points] vs [Ilgong 572 points Seo Ye-in 741 points] Suddenly, a thought I had the previous day flashed through my mind. She needs to lose to someone to get her competitive spirit fired up. Wouldnt someone like Song Cheon-hye or that Beheader Goblin pop up from somewhere? Turns out, I was the one who popped up? Chapter 49: 3rd Week Duel Battles (4) Chapter 49: 3rd Week Duel Battles (4) A desert bathed in hot sunlight. The heat radiated from the sun-soaked sands to those standing upon them. The occasional gust of wind which was as rare as a raindrop in a drought brought no relief and only added to the sweltering heat. [Kim Ho 100%, Go Hyeon-woo 100%] vs. [Ilgong 100%, Seo Ye-in 100%] Seo Ye-in waved her hand gently from the opposite side, acknowledging us with a familiar gesture. Go Hyeon-woo and I awkwardly waved back in response. Going for the win? Of course. Losing here wasnt just about failing the quest; it would also mean kissing any chance of Seo Ye-in doing mentoring goodbye. I decided to set aside any feelings of guilt and focus on giving her a hard time. Ilgong was a monk with closely shaved hair and he exuded a strong Buddhist aura even in his school uniform. The fact that he only had prayer beads in his hand with nothing else meant he practiced the art of unarmed combat, making him a perfect match for Go Hyeon-woo. Youll take on that monk Ilgong. Ill handle Seo Ye-in. That sounds like a plan. Understood. Close combatants clashed with their own, while ranged fighters engaged from a distance. It was a straightforward strategy with nothing special about it. From the opposing side, Ilgong seemed to issue brief commands but it was unclear if Seo Ye-in would actually follow his instructions. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Seo Ye-ins twin pistols spewed blue flames, while Ilgong gathered golden energy in his hands and unleashed it repeatedly. Tutututu! Blam-blam-blam! Go Hyeon-woo and I split to either side to dodge the onslaught of ranged attacks. The spot we had just vacated was overturned and sand was sent flying everywhere. We couldnt just stand there and take it. A thunderous hummingbird flew from my hand. Tutututu! As the hummingbird rapidly closed in, Seo Ye-in aimed her pistols at it. The hummingbird nimbly dodged the barrage of magic bullets and drew ever closer. Sensing the danger, Ilgong also fired his energy to help Seo Ye-in. And they managed to intercept it just before it hit her. Not bad at all. Intercepting a single spell with two people might not seem remarkable, but considering how few opponents had managed to do it properly before, it was commendable. Ilgongs energy seemed fierce enough to suggest he possessed skills in the 600-point range. Hmm! Go Hyeon-woo drew his iron sword and sent out a wave of sword energy, which Ilgong countered with his own energy. They exchanged blows from a distance and they gradually started closing in on each other. However, Ilgong was so focused on Go Hyeon-woo that he could no longer assist Seo Ye-in. My second hummingbird hit its mark on Seo Ye-in. Fzzt! Her next move was predictable: A smoke bomb and the invisible ghillie suit. Pufffff! As expected, thick smoke billowed up. When I used [Wind Force] to clear the smoke, I noticed the sand indented in the middle where there was supposed to be nothing. The nearby sand was blown around by the wind and Seo Ye-ins invisible form was now faintly visible. When I focused the wind force on that spot, Seo Ye-in tumbled sideways and rolled across the sand. I clenched my jaw to suppress a laugh. Ahem Clang! Clang! Crack! Go Hyeon-woo and Ilgong were engaged in close-quarters combat. The clash of steel against bare hands resonated with a metallic sound. This was made possible thanks to the golden color that enveloped Ilgongs hands. It looked like he was blending techniques of hand and palm strikes. Go Hyeon-woo wasnt just swinging his iron sword; he interspersed his attacks with punches, kicks, and knee strikes. Overall, the momentum favored Go Hyeon-woo as he pressed the advantage. I shifted my attention back to Seo Ye-in. A quick dusting of the sand revealed that she was still lying face down on the ground. She was likely biding her time to target either me or Goh Hyeon-woo. With a one-hit knockoutUpdated from y only defensive trait was the S-rank [Elemental Resistance]. This could nearly nullify elemental attacks but I was still vulnerable to physical or non-elemental magical attacks. This meant a successful snipe from Seo Ye-in could spell instant defeat for me. And likely Go Hyeon-woo wouldnt last much longer against her either. Therefore, preventing her snipe was paramount. Whoosh! A strong gust of wind swept over the spot where Seo Ye-in was lying. As if in response, a blue light flashed from the location where the rifle would have been located. He swung down at the incoming golden palm. The iron sword began to crumble from the tip and it was disintegrating Flash! In the next moment, Go Hyeon-woos hand was empty. Even though the iron sword had vanished completely, he momentarily appeared to grasp an invisible blade in the air. Then, he relaxed his grip and withdrew his empty hand. Ilgong also looked fine on the outside, so it seemed like nothing had happened between the two. Hmm But then Ilgong staggered and he half-kneeled on one leg before straightening up again. He seemed to struggle to maintain his stance. Go Hyeon-woo asked, Do you wish to continue? Ilgongs gaze lingered on Seo Ye-in, who was still rolling on the ground as if asking for her opinion, then shifted to me. Deciding that a conclusion had been reached, he formally acknowledged us. I admit defeat. I have learned much from this encounter. It was a good match. [Kim Ho, Go Hyeon-woo Win] vs [Ilgong Seo Ye-in Lose] Should I settle this now? The skill Great Hand Seal wasnt particularly versatile, but since I planned to switch my current skill slot out anyway, it seemed better to borrow and use it for a while. So I quickly copied the skill before Ilgong left. [Activate Copy-Skill.] [Registering targets skill Great Hand Seal (D) in the slot.] Copy-Skill[2/2] 1. Great Hand Seal (D) 2. Thiefs Step (B) Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was still sprawled out on the sandy floor. When I approached her and looked down, she was staring back up at me while lying down, as if the arena had become her own living room. We were in the middle of the desert yet she didnt seem to be hot at all. I extended my hand, and she grabbed it to pull herself up. . Seo Ye-in looked at me with an expressionless face for a while, then suddenly turned and left the arena. Upon reflection, it seemed she was indeed quite upset. It looks like Miss Seo is angry. That would be the case. She had been tormented by [Wind Force] throughout the match, so that was for sure. When her gradient of anger started to rise like that, it was best to give her some time alone. Conversations could be attempted later. Lets go. Go Hyeon-woo and I also stepped outside. We immediately set up for the next match. [Kim Ho: 489 points] [Go Hyeon-woo: 717 points] While we were waiting, I observed Go Hyeon-woos condition. You look fine. Using clear stream usually consumes a lot of internal energy. Haha, Im not the same as I used to be. When he had used [clear stream] in the match against Jo-byeok, he had almost depleted all his internal energy and had to spend the entire lunchtime recuperating his mana. But now, he seemed unaffected even after using the same technique against Ilgong. This was because the rank of his [Core] rose by two levels and his maximum internal energy increased significantly. Go Hyeon-woo grinned. Its all thanks to Kim-hyung. Without the special cultivation room, I wouldnt have been able to overcome this barrier so quickly. How about you? Do you think your skills have lived up to your expectations? Almost. Lets watch one more match. Just then, the next match was set and the opponents information appeared on the notification screen. [Kim Ho: 491 points, Go Hyeon-woo: 718 points] vs [Wang Pil: 460 points, Jang Sam: 689 points] ..Quite ordinary names. Indeed. When we entered the arena through the teleportation circle, I scrutinized the two opponents we were now facing. Their appearances were as ordinary as their names. Wang Pil could blend seamlessly into an inn as a waiter and Jang Sam would fit perfectly as a doorman. Their faces were the kind youd forget within three seconds of walking past them. I took a closer look at them, then nodded my head in approval. Looks like weve got good matchups today. Encountering Hong Yeon-hwa twice yesterday was neither beneficial nor fun and I felt slightly sorry about it. But today, it seemed Go Hyeon-woo would gain valuable experience from these opponents. Go Hyeon-woo tilted his head as if he didnt understand my reaction. Whats so special about these guys? Just look, both have overflowing personalities. ? The kind of personality that comes from being excessively ordinary. Chapter 50: 3rd Week Duel Battles (5) Chapter 50: 3rd Week Duel Battles (5) When the match was about to start, Wang Pil and Jang Sam each drew an iron sword. By sizing them up at a glance and comparing them with Go Hyeon-woo, A two-on-one battle would be good. This was of course assuming they werent showing their true abilities. If it came down to a serious fight, even one-on-one would be difficult. For Go Hyeon-woo, they were formidable opponents unlikely to be easily bested, but isnt it said that a warrior grows through battles with such strong adversaries? My task this time was to make Wang Pil and Jang Sam, who were carefully concealing their true abilities, reveal their true skills. To do that, I first needed to prove to Go Hyeon-woo that it was worth the effort. I repeated the same words I had said when I was about to engage in a two-on-two with Seo Ye-in. Try to handle it on your own first. If it seems too dangerous, Ill step in to help. All right. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Go Hyeon-woo advanced with his sword hanging low at a pace that was neither slow nor fast. Wang Pil and Jang Sam seemed to understand my intention for them to take on Go Hyeon-woo two against one as they completely ignored me and targeted him instead. As they closed in, they split to either side; Wang Pil aimed for a downward strike while Jang Sam went for a horizontal slash. Go Hyeon-woo didnt retreat; instead, he stepped forward and drew his sword in one swift motion. Clash! The swords of Wang Pil and Jang Sam were simultaneously deflected. After deflecting their swords, Go Hyeon-woo stepped back for a moment and then lunged forward again. Go Hyeon-woos movements were as natural as flowing water and he was swinging his sword without hesitation even while fighting two people at the same time. He parried, blocked, and sometimes even counterattacked against the iron swords coming at him from left, right, front, and back. The three iron swords collided dozens of times in rapid succession. Clang, clang, clang! The swordsmanship displayed by Wang Pil and Jang Sam was very familiar to me. Their technique consisted solely of basic slashes and thrusts. They were the fundamental moves that every swordsman learns at some point. The Three Movements Sword Technique (TN: It is a clich low-tier martial arts technique that often appears in martial arts novels. The three movements are hacking, slashing, and thrusting.) From their ordinary appearance to their names, their swords, and even the Three Movements Sword Technique, It was clear they had gone to great lengths to appear as ordinary as possible. It felt like they tried so hard to look ordinary that it had the opposite effect. Couldnt they have chosen a more common sword technique instead? However, rather than simply being used to hide their true strength, the Three Movements Sword Technique was used surprisingly well. Wang Pil scored 460 points, while Jang Sam scored 689 points. This meant that despite adhering to the Three Movements Sword Technique with an iron sword, they managed to secure several victories within their respective score ranges. Jang Sam, in particular, scored higher than Ilgong whom I had faced in the previous match. Should they reveal their true abilities They would be considered promising students. I always have good luck in my matchups. [Kim Ho 100% Go Hyeon-woo 99%] vs [Wang Pil 97% Jang Sam 94%] Clang! Clang! Go Hyeon-woo seemed to quickly adapt to the two-against-one situation and was actively continuing his offensive. He effortlessly deflected Wang Pils attacks and poured all his remaining energy into pressuring Jang Sam. Each time Jang Sams defense was breached, his health was slightly reduced. As I observed this, I sensed that the time was right. This should be enough. It would be laughable to tell them to show their true skills when we still couldnt even best their Three Movements Sword Technique. Thats why Go Hyeon-woo was the first to face a two-versus-one situation, and they proved they had the right to not show their full abilities. The next move was mine. I intervened in the midst of their fierce exchange. Hold on, everyone stop for a moment. ? ? At my command, Go Hyeon-woo willingly withdrew his iron sword and stepped back. Wang Pil and Jang Sam also halted in their tracks and cast wary glances my way. Cant we have a proper match? We are in the midst of one. Jang Sam answered with a puzzled expression on his face. Even if they denied it, the evidence was crystal clear. I spoke with assertive certainty. Thats not true. It seems like theres much more youre hiding.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) I dont see on what basis youre making such claims. The evidence, if asked for, was plentiful. I pointed at the stationary Wang Pils hand. Isnt he originally left-handed? .! A giant palm engulfed Wang Pil, Boom!! He shot out like a comet as he left a trail behind him. Wang Pils speed as he flew away seemed even faster than Jang Sams charge at Go Hyeon-woo. Maintaining the same speed, Wang Pil disappeared into the unseen distance. [Kim Ho 100% Go Hyeon-woo 74%] vs [Wang Pil % Jang Sam 93%] ! ! Go Hyeon-woo and Jang Sam looked at me with dumbfounded expressions. They might have recognized the [Great Hand Seal] skill but witnessing someone being catapulted like a cannonball was surely a first for them. As they struggled to find the right words, I politely extended my hand. Please, continue with what you were doing. So thats why you suggested a private match. Didnt see this coming? The suggestion for a private match was indeed meant to coax out their true skills, but it also allowed me to revel in my abilities without the worry of people seeing my replay. Normally, I tend to use [Amplification] and [Wind Force] sparingly or as discreetly as possible but in a private setting, I was free from those constraints. I could even resort to [Inferno Fist] in a truly critical situation. Of course, since the original intent was to observe the one-on-one between Go Hyeon-woo and Jang Sam, I planned not to intervene any further. I assured Jang Sam who was wary of my involvement with a clear tone. Dont worry. Ill just be watching from now on. The two were seriously engaged in a one-on-one fight, and it was clear that if Go Hyeon-woo was defeated, then the decision to engage or not would arise. Jang Sam still wore a skeptical expression on his face and he asked, Is it really your goal for us to compete with our true skills? . It is. . Jang Sam glanced at Go Hyeon-woo and he seemed to gather his thoughts for a moment. Then as if he had made up his mind, he put away the black awl and drew his iron sword once more. Very well. Ill do as you wish. It seemed he might return to the Three Movements Sword Technique, but the stance he assumed was quite different. The killing intent emanating from him was intensely thick. It appeared he was about to demonstrate his assassination skills with the iron sword and likely reveal his true unique martial arts. Hooo. Go Hyeon-woo also took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly as he prepared himself. He replaced his broken iron sword and readjusted his stance. The wind that blew from somewhere wrapped around him. And then they confirmed with each other that they were both ready. Jang Sams figure started to blur from the legs up. In a single breath, he seemed to condense the space around him and drew his iron sword forward as if to pierce through the air. A swift and tremendous sword thrust aimed directly at Go Hyeon-woos heart. Ssshhhkkk! Compared to that, Go Hyeon-woos reaction was a half-beat slower. He barely managed to deflect the incoming iron sword, Claaang! Because he couldnt fully protect himself, a long wound stretched across his arm. [Go Hyeon-woo 74%] [Go Hyeon-woo 65%] Go Hyeon-woo and Jang Sam readjusted their stances with an air of nonchalance. This time, Jang Sam moved first and attacked with the same thrusting motion. Before swinging his iron sword, Go Hyeon-woo manipulated the wind enveloping him to pressurize the area in front of him. Jang Sams speed seemed to decrease slightly but he disregarded it and pierced through the wind. The iron swords clashed together. Claaang! [Go Hyeon-woo 52%] This time, he allowed a sword strike to his side. His complexion turned pale and he looked as though he might collapse with the slightest touch. A trickle of blood ran down from the corner of his mouth. Yet Go Hyeon-woo nonchalantly swallowed the rising blood and wiped his mouth. He naturally replaced his half-broken iron sword with a new one and took his stance again. Jang Sam silently fixed his gaze on Go Hyeon-woo. Even though both parties had finished their preparations, neither could easily make the first move and they took a moment longer to observe one another. This was likely because Jang Sam noticed the change in Go Hyeon-woos momentum. Jang Sam asked, Is this the end? It is. I would like to know the name of the technique in advance. One of them might fall in this final exchange. Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head before replying, Rapid Current. Chapter 51: 3rd Week Duel Battles (6) Chapter 51: 3rd Week Duel Battles (6) Go Hyeon-woo let his sword hang so low that it almost touched the ground. The wind that had been swirling around him also fell into a calm. He took in the sight of Jang Sam rapidly closing the distance and, once again, lifted his foot off the ground a half-beat too late. Suddenly, a fierce wind blew towards Jang Sam. As if riding upon that wind, Go Hyeon-woo merged with its flow and charged forward. He swiftly closed in on Jang Sam and swung his sword in a swift motion. In a flash, two swords and their wielders crossed paths. Whoosh! Jang Sam and Go Hyeon-woo stood back to back, each with an empty hand stretched forward. Belatedly, a short piece of a sword blade buried itself into the ground beside Go Hyeon-woo. And then small fragments fell to the ground with soft thuds near Jang Sam. Both men remained still in their places, enveloped in silence. I grasped the outcome of the battle and nodded my head. Well done. In their first clash, Go Hyeon-woo had reacted a half-beat too slowly. His delay was not due to a lack of ability; it was a deliberate choice. He wanted to more accurately assess the distance between them, the other partys speed, and the internal energy within his iron sword. The second clash also had an experimental aspect to it. I speculate that the technique called Rapid Current was originally intended for a different purpose. but it seems he slightly modified it for use as his final gambit. Through these trials and errors, albeit gradually sustaining damage, Go Hyeon-woo finally completed his preparations. He then staked everything on his last sword attack. Using a momentary gust of wind to maximize his speed, he increased his speed and focused the blade of the wind at the tip of his sword, creating a strike comparable to Jang Sams swift sword. The result of exchanging their best moves was, A draw with both unable to fight. Both were rendered unable to continue the fight at the same time. Even now that they are standing still, they appear to be unharmed on the outside, but their physical condition must be close to the breaking point. This is especially true for Go Hyeon-woo. Considering the internal injuries he accumulated earlier, he is likely in a more critical condition. Even attempting Qi circulation exercises brought no comfort, yet they forced their bodies to move despite this. It seemed they were trying to say something to each other. Predictably, it would be something about how great the match was or how impressive a technique had been. Martial artists often stake their lives on such trivial matters. While I acknowledge theres a certain romance to their way of life, leaving them to speak would likely result in them coughing up blood instead of words. So, I decided it was time to intervene. Stop. Dont speak. When I used [Wind Force] gently, both of them collapsed to the ground as if they were falling. Start with Qi circulation. Perhaps it was the abrupt end to the moment, but both complied and began sitting in meditation to circulate their internal energy. The scoreboard displayed the match result amidst this. [Kim Ho and Go Hyeon-woo Win] vs [Wang Pil and Jang Sam Lose] Wang Pil was sent flying across the arena and with Go Hyeon-woo and Jang Sam entering Qi circulation, I was the only one left standing. So this was a natural result Their match was a draw, but the game was a win. In truth, he lost the match. Objectively speaking, Jang Sam should have been declared the victor. The moment he first revealed his skill and successfully landed a thrust with his awl was essentially when the match was decided. If it had been a one-on-one situation, I wouldnt have been able to assist Go Hyeon-woo with [Wind Force], and he likely wouldnt have even noticed that the other party was concealing his true abilities until then. The subsequent exchanges, three in total, were largely Jang Sam accommodating Go Hyeon-woos style. There were brief moments between the clashes where they would readjust their stances, and from Jang Sams perspective, there was no need to wait; he could have pressed the attack and finished the fight. Yet he chose to wait, perhaps out of curiosity to see what Go Hyeon-woos final move would be. Considering all these factors and still resorting to a draw indicates that their skills were not equal. It was a reaffirmation that Go Hyeon-woos abilities are still just shy of being considered a promising student. For now. Theres no need to rush. Go Hyeon-woo has only just begun his growth and reaching his current [Core] rank is merely the first step in a long journey. Although he has made significant progress over the past two weeks, in the grand scheme of things, its just one among many skills and traits. Nonetheless, Go Hyeon-woos rise to nearly reach the level of the promising students through the growth of his core alone was beyond my expectations. With that, Jang Sam made his exit. As expected, it took Go Hyeon-woo quite some time to finish his Qi circulation. He had overexerted himself so his condition was still not great but he had recovered enough to move around. Just like Jang Sam, the first thing he did when he opened his eyes was check the scoreboard. We won. That guy He left earlier. Said it was a good match. I agree. What did you think, Kim-hyung? You fought well. Two testing rounds and then a decisive move at the end, it was good. These were not empty words but his honest impressions. To be honest, I had predicted there was a considerable chance of losing, and the fact that he managed to drag the fight to a mutual defeat strategy was an encouraging achievement. Given the situation Go Hyeon-woo was in, I believe he couldnt have played it any better. Go Hyeon-woos face lit up. He was seemingly pleased to have earned my recognition. As expected. I thought Kim-hyung would recognize it. However, as he took a careful look around the arena, his expression grew complicated. He walked over to one side and pulled out a broken sword tip that was embedded in the ground. The fragments of the iron sword emitted a final crackle before breaking down into smaller pieces. As he watched the number of particles scattering around, Go Hyeon-woo murmured to himself. . This is troubling. Because of the weapon? Yes. Its something that cant be ignored forever. The greatest weakness of Go Hyeon-woo at the moment was his sword. It was an iron sword that would easily break at the slightest chance. The martial arts he had mastered generated sword energy that could stir winds across an area and manipulate the surrounding environment. In a way, it was almost as if he was stepping into the realm of magic. Due to the immense power wielded, the consumption of internal energy was huge and ordinary weapons couldnt fully contain this energy. If typical martial arts were like picking up a stone with chopsticks, Go Hyeon-woos martial arts were akin to lifting a rock with them. So the chopsticks would of course snap each time. F-rank weapons were provided indefinitely by the Dragon Slayer Academy, so it didnt matter if they were used like disposable items. Its likely that the number of iron swords Go Hyeon-woo carried in his inventory reached the double digits. The problem lay in the inevitable openings that arose during the process of replacing a broken iron sword with a new one. It was dangerous when you faced Ilgong. It was. Ilgongs skills were about half to one move lower than Go Hyeon-woos, and even though he was overwhelming Ilgong, his iron sword broke and he was forced to go on the defensive for a while. As was proven in his match against Jang Sam, this opening proved to be even more fatal against opponents whose skills were similar or stronger than his own. It would be wise to address this now. Since Im going to be traveling with Go Hyeon-woo to search for Hidden Pieces in the future, it was crucial to mitigate this weakness as much as possible. In life-and-death situations, if your weapon breaks, you simply die. Its not just a day or two that youve been dealing with this problem, so you must have some thoughts on it. What would you like to do? The solution seems simple, doesnt it? Use a better sword. The higher the rank of the weapon, the better the metal used and the less impurities it contains. As a result, the durability also increases proportionally, making it clear that E and D-rank swords would undoubtedly last longer than those of rank F. But Theyre expensive. As the rank of the sword increases, so does its price. While acquiring one or two might be feasible, using them as expendables like the iron swords would lead to a steady drain of gold coins from ones purse. There would be no need to worry if he just used the long sword that was said to be his sects sacred artifact, but it didnt seem like he was qualified to use it yet. In the end, the conclusion was that he had to use swords of a moderately higher rank but it seemed his sect wouldnt be able to solve that problem for him. I could grasp that from the gloomy expression on Go Hyeon-woos face. Im ashamed to say this, but my financial situation isnt too great. Whats there to be embarrassed about? My entire fortune is 10 silver coins. I had blown my initial 5 silver coins at the slot machine, earned another 5 silver coins from the entrance ceremony quest, and won 5 silver coins from the bet with Shin Byeong-cheol. That left me with just 10 silver coins. Hearing this, Go Hyeon-woos face softened into a slight smile. Perhaps he found some comfort in my words. Besides, theres no rule that says weapons must only be bought with money. After all, weapons are just items and there are countless ways to acquire items at the Dragon Slayer Academy. And what might be the most accessible method among them? I pulled out the student store catalog. How many points do you have? Chapter 52: Dismantling Junk Items (1) Chapter 52: Dismantling Junk Items (1) The top use of student points was to purchase battle replays of other students, Followed by acquiring auxiliary tools for use in strategy battles, And finally, gaining access to restricted training areas like the special cultivation room. Typically, allocating points to just these three areas left little to spare and hardly allowed for exploration of other options. However, if one had enough points, The range of items available for purchase in the student store greatly expanded. Weapons of course were included in this expanded range. Go Hyeon-woo checked the back of his student ID and answered. Ive managed to save up about 5,000 points. Thats more than enough. He had been pouring all his points into the special cultivation room until I secured a season pass for him and yet he had already amassed that much. Starting off as the stop-scorer in the strategy battle had given him some fame, and while his overall skills were not at the level of a promising student, he was close to that level. There were likely a great number of people who made it a point to consistently watch his replays. Anyway, how best to use these 5,000 points was the question. While I said this with the intention of buying a weapon, there was something more important still. Lets start by buying three [Heat Catalyst Reagents]. They were priced at 1,000 points each so the total was 3,000 points. As the owner of the points, Go Hyeon-woo naturally questioned their purpose. What are these for? Theyre crafting materials. More precisely, they were materials for magical engineering. Two of the reagents were for an item that would soon be necessary for Go Hyeon-woo, And the third one is my fee. I declared this confidently. I needed to make a living after all. Upon hearing this, Go Hyeon-woo did not hesitate for even a moment before spending 3,000 points. He handed me the items and turned to ask me. Is this sufficient for your labor? It seems far too little for the effort youre putting in, Kim-hyung. Looking at it objectively, a thousand points were almost nothing compared to the value of the item I was to craft for him. I shook my head at Go Hyeon-woo who seemed eager to offer more. Later. Im in no hurry. The immediate issues to address were Go Hyeon-woos after all. His budget had significantly shrunk from 5,000 to 2,000 points and he would be tight on points. From my perspective, rather than indulging in petty greed now, it would be more beneficial to demand a larger share of future dungeon rewards. I quickly sifted through the catalog and selected one E-rank and one D-rank one-handed swords for him. With the remaining points, these would be your best buys. Understood. [Guards Longsword (E)] [Escorts Longsword (D)] If durability was the priority, nothing could beat this Guard Series. The similarity to the F-rank iron swords in terms of feel was also a plus.Updated from Perhaps because of this, Go Hyeon-woo seemed to adapt just by swinging the longsword in the air a few times. Not bad. Try one from E-rank upward. See how long they last. There are two more duels left for me today. Besides the two matches we had together today, he needed to fight in two more random queue matches to fulfill this weeks quota. I immediately dissuaded him after sensing he was ready to queue up right then and there. No, lets call it a day. Youve pushed yourself enough. I can still fight. Sure, you can fight. But what if your opponent turns out to be Jang Sam again? .! The likelihood of facing not just Jang Sam but other promising students was far from slim. Even in his peak condition, victory was uncertain, and in his current state, defeat was almost guaranteed. Realizing this, Go Hyeon-woo gave a small cough. Ahem Perhaps I got a little carried away at the thought of trying out a new sword. You can duel tomorrow. It wont be too late. Focus on recovering for today. I understand. That would be wise. After receiving treatment in the infirmary, I scheduled time in the special cultivation room to refine my core. I sent Go Hyeon-woo away. And then I read the notification message that had arrived earlier. [Side Quest: 3rd Week Duel Battles] Objective: Complete 4 duel matches. (4/4) Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. Reward: Varies based on the number of wins. (4/4 wins) [Accessory Selection (C)] Acquire a C-rank accessory of your choice. Thanks to a clean streak of four consecutive wins, I was awarded a C-rank accessory selection as a reward. I have done this more than once or twice so my movements were fluid and without hesitation. To an outsiders eye, it might have seemed as if I was haphazardly waving tools around and items were magically falling apart on their own. On one side, I piled up usable materials, while on the other, I stacked what was clearly non-recyclable trash. The more I repeated the process, the more the clutter diminished and two different piles grew taller. .. In the midst of this, I felt a gaze from behind me. Without needing to look, I knew it was that third-year senior sneaking glances my way. Even before our somewhat awkward relationship, he was a fellow magic engineer. He must have heard the rumors about me completing that 10x10x10 cube. The fact that I managed my tasks swiftly and under the radar meant the rumors hadnt spread widely, but for a magic engineer, creating the [Cube of Life] was nothing short of legendary. And as I was the object of this legend, it was only natural that my diligent tinkering with the junk items would spark curiosity about what grand thing I might be creating next. Perhaps because he saw himself as a senior, he seemed to restrain himself for a while but eventually curiosity got the better of him and he edged closer. His approach was incredibly cautious. Perhaps because he was influenced by some warning from Bong Jae-seok. What are you making? Im disassembling. Just gathering some materials. That annoying task? Even annoying tasks must be done. Contrary to what I said, the work was not annoying at all. The more the outcome outweighed the effort put into a task, the more motivated I became. With items springing forth with each touch, such effort was trivial. May I take a look? Yes, thats fine. He asked for permission before examining the materials. At least he wasnt completely devoid of manners. In truth, I could have directly stored everything in my inventory but piling them up was partly intended to show off. He looked at the materials and exclaimed in admiration. These came out so clean from disassembly? Theyre like brand new? Given that the materials had been subjected to magical engineering twice, during both creation and disassembly, one would expect at least some minor damage on them. Yet, these materials showed almost no flaws. They were in such good condition that they could be used in crafting other items without any penalty to performance. The expertise of a veteran who had nurtured numerous S-rank magical engineers was evident in the disassembly I performed with my own hands which was nothing short of perfection. The senior repeatedly cast envious glances my way. Although he coveted the materials before him, the thought of disassembling junk items himself was daunting. He knew that with his level of magical engineering skill, not only would it take a significant amount of time, but there was also a high risk of damaging the materials during the process. For him, there was no choice but to watch with a watering mouth. It seems the mood is ripe now. I had intentionally displayed the intact materials to invoke his envy. It was time to move on to the next step. As I casually operated the magical engineering tools I broached the subject. Senior-nim, would you like to trade for some of these materials? These? Yes. Ill give you a good deal. That would be great for me. The senior was delighted by my offer. With an abundance of quality materials in sight, there was no reason for him to decline when I offered to trade them for a low price. What do you need? A [Cooler], [Central Shaft], [High-Tensile Wire], and As I listed the items I needed, the senior provided what he could and picked a few materials from the table. Combining what I had acquired, Ive solved one part. This was the first among the set of items I intended to create in the magical engineering workshop. I had gathered all the materials needed to make the item for Go Hyeon-woo. I got some materials with the points from Go Hyeon-woo, covered some parts with the junk I had disassembled, and finally filled a few gaps through the trade with the senior. Now, I just needed to take the materials to Workshop No 1 when a spot was available and start the crafting process. Hey, but this Isnt Bong Jae-seok going to say something about it? The moment of delight at having easily secured the materials was short-lived as the senior began to show signs of unease. It seemed he was worried about repeating the past incident where he had gotten into trouble with Bong Jae-seok. I got permission for everything. There shouldnt be any problems. Still I cant help but feel uneasy. Its not like were doing anything wrong. If youre really worried, why dont we just get permission for this as well? Should we do that? Should I send a message then? The senior sent a message to Bong Jae-seok on the spot. Where he gave a brief summary of the events that had just happened. And not long after, Bang! Bong Jae-seok burst through the door of Workshop No. 4. Chapter 53: Dismantling Junk Items (2) Chapter 53: Dismantling Junk Items (2) Bong Jae-seok had evidently rushed over as he took a moment to catch his breath upon arrival. After regaining his composure, he immediately proceeded to examine the materials on the workbench without further ado. His reaction was almost identical to that of the senior beside him. These are practically brand new; you disassembled these? Yes, senior-nim. Bong Jae-seok looked at me with a mix of admiration and regret. Its such a waste to let talent like yours go unaffiliated. You really should join our club Are you sure you wont consider it? Im sorry. . Tch, I get it. Just let me know if you change your mind. Now, take a look at this. Bong Jae-seok then pulled out a few failed projects from his inventory. While typical failures were carelessly tossed into a corner of Workshop No. 4, those made with valuable materials were stored in the inventory. They were kept to be disassembled when time permitted. However, as the president of the magic engineering club, he had no such time. For Bong Jae-seok, the luxury of free time was a rare commodity which probably led to his habit of putting off dismantling projects while always thinking hed get around to it eventually. It was during such times that he received a message. A message from someone praising the neatness of my craftsmanship. As I silently examined the failed projects he had presented, Bong Jae-seok asked me. What do you think, can you take them apart? Well, it seems possible, but The difficulty wasnt the main issue. Even if it was a step or two more complex than what I was currently handling, it would still be within my capabilities. This might take quite some time. The real problem lay in the size of the failed projects. Since they were nearly half-completed, it would take a considerable amount of time to dismantle them completely. The materials were also of high quality, around B-rank, so they required extra care in handling. In summary, it was going to be an immensely lengthy and painstaking task. Bong Jae-seok had understandably hesitated to tackle the disassembly himself and relegated the failed projects to a neglected corner of his inventory. I know it would take time. Would you do it for a reward? In other words, the longer it takes and the more effort it takes, the greater the reward. Taking on such a labor-intensive task in exchange for a significant return of B-rank materials. Didnt that sound like a good deal even if it meant incurring some expense? With this in mind, I specified what I wanted. I would like to receive a [Magic Engine]. A device that converts injected mana into a different form of energy. It was a key material frequently used in making magical engineering equipment and especially weapons. Since it was difficult to obtain, I expected Bong Jae-seok to hesitate but he readily agreed to my request. Ill have it ready. How long do you think it will take? Is it urgent? No, Ive been putting it off anyway. Then Ill have it done within this week. The necessary materials had been gathered so making Go Hyeon-woos item was the priority for the day. It was essential for the upcoming duel battles. The disassembly request from Bong Jae-seok, along with other tasks, could wait until tomorrow without any issues. Bong Jae-seok nodded his head in satisfaction, perhaps thinking that it would be quick even if it could only be resolved within a week. Great. Then, good luck. Are you going to use workshop number 1 today? I might pop in when its empty. It should be free around eleven. Come by then. Thank you. *** The Ruby Magic Towers club president Hong Ye-hwa furrowed her brows. This was because a very unusual scene was unfolding before her eyes. .. Baek Jun-seok quickly turned to face the wall. As he continued to listen to their conversation, he sensed that the sparks of their conflict might soon fly his way. Hong Yeon-hwa, pull yourself together and lets head to the next match He was the one who had suggested they quickly arrange the next duel. As expected, Hong Yeon-hwa glared in his direction. Baek Jun-seok stared desperately at the wall. Turning away now would mean getting caught in a certain fiery blast. Unlike the Hong sisters, he had no resistance to fire magic. With Baek Jun-seoks timely evasion, Hong Yeon-hwa lost her target for venting her frustration. And left with no other option, she turned to protest to her sister. What do you know, unni! You havent even fought that person! Hong Ye-hwas eyebrows furrowed. It was because a flash of fear had passed through Hong Yeon-hwas eyes in an instant. She wondered how severely Kim Ho must have beaten her to instill such fear. Her curiosity about what kind of person Kim Ho was grew a little more. However, satisfying her curiosity could wait; her immediate priority was to help her sister who had collapsed to the ground back to her feet. Hong Yeon-hwa was the future of the Ruby Magic Tower. She couldnt be left to wallow in a sense of defeat any longer. Even if she lost, she needed to be encouraged to keep moving forward. Hong Ye-hwa quickly extinguished all the flames. Her tone also became calm and steady. So, are you saying youll lose to him every time you meet from now on? Hong Yeon-hwa was taken aback. From experience, she knew this was a moment when she needed to respond with great care. A careless response could lead to more than just a fiery explosion or a smack on the back. So, Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously replied with a somewhat deflated tone. No, its not like I plan to lose to him every time we meet Well have to fight again when Ive become stronger Alright, then apply for mentoring. How did the conversation turn to this? You said youll fight again once youre stronger, right? Then you should do it. At this moment, Hong Yeon-hwa had been resisting the idea of mentoring and if one were to delve into her reasons they might find them somewhat childish. She didnt want to learn from just anyone. She dreamt of someday ascending to the position of the Ruby Magic Towers Master. After years of relentless effort and finally securing the position of Magic Tower Master, the thought of some random person claiming to have been her mentor in the past was enough to make her stomach churn. Although the position of Magic Tower Master was still far off in the future, in Hong Yeon-hwas imagination, it was a foregone conclusion. Therefore, this was a matter of pride. If she were to accept mentoring, it had to be from someone within the Magic Tower Association, or at the very least, someone from a major power. However, given that she couldnt choose her mentor, the prospect was already unappealing to Hong Yeon-hwa. She tried to protest timidly once more. Do I really have to do this? Cant I just work harder on something else? Hong Ye-hwa responded with a sly smile. Then Ill give you a choice. Apply for mentoring, or challenge Kim Ho to a duel. Her implication was clear: if Hong Yeon-hwa truly believed she didnt need mentoring, she should prove it by defeating Kim Ho right now. It was essentially an impossible task, like trying to bell the cat. Hong Yeon-hwas expression soured. Fine, Ill do the mentoring. Ill just do it Good decision. Hong Yeon-hwa filled out the application in front of her sister. She listed her specialties: Caster, and all-rounder. What Hong Yeon-hwa failed to consider in her focus on who she would be mentored by, was with whom she might be sharing the mentoring sessions. It was an oversight she hadnt accounted for. Chapter 54: Dismantling Junk Items (3) Chapter 54: Dismantling Junk Items (3) I spent the time until dawn in Workshop No. 1 and slept for a while in the dormitory. When I woke up I sent a message to Seo Ye-in as usual. [Kim Ho: Are you awake?] [Seo Ye-in: .] [Seo Ye-in: (Glaring cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: Meal?] [Seo Ye-in: (A cat covered with a blanket emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (A cat rolling over emoji)] [Kim Ho: Hey] [Kim Ho: Not coming?] [Kim Ho: Am I eating alone?] No reply came. I expected that her anger would subside after a day or two but the lack of response suggested otherwise. A notable downside of the [Wind Force] skill was its potential to incite greater anger in the opponent than originally intended. In my defense, it wasnt my intention to face Seo Ye-in in a direct confrontation and at the time [Wind Force] was the only means I had for any form of restraint. However, I couldnt completely free myself of the guilt for having metaphorically rolled her in the hot sands of the arena. It seems texting wont cut it. It looked like only a face-to-face conversation might resolve the issue. I waited briefly in front of the cafeteria, just in case, but Seo Ye-in never showed up. It seemed she really wasnt coming. And so, I ended up having breakfast alone this morning. I quickly finished my garlic bread and coffee and then headed to the classroom. I went to class quite early today so there were only a few people in the classroom. Surprisingly, among the few present I spotted a head of gray hair. There lay Seo Ye-in, sprawled across her desk. Perhaps because she sensed my presence, she peeked out with just her eyes while remaining face down. And when our eyes met, her face swiftly retreated back between her arms. I calmly took a seat next to her. Then I went to ask Seo Ye-in. You didnt have breakfast, did you? Though she remained silent, the circumstances led me to conclude with high certainty. She didnt eat. Its likely my message had woken her up. But perhaps she wasnt in the mood to join me for breakfast and it was too awkward a time to go back to sleep. Thus, the scenario that she came straight to class seemed most plausible. You should eat something, at least. I placed a paper bag on Seo Ye-ins desk. The warm bag let out the savory scent of garlic bread that was still retaining its heat. I already knew this would happen so I got another bag. Seo Ye-in didnt show any reaction for a moment. It would be more accurate to say she pretended not to react. Eventually, while still lying down, she stealthily reached for the paper bag, pulled out a garlic bread, and began nibbling on it. She must have been secretly hungry. When she was nibbling on the garlic bread and our eyes met she subtly turned her head away. She was still not entirely appeased. Her expression remained impassive from start to finish, so it was impossible for me to tell whether her anger had subsided or not. Still, if there was a time to talk, it was now. I decided to be straightforward without beating around the bush. I went too far yesterday. But I just wanted to show you your weakness. Seo Ye-ins eyes slowly shifted toward me. Even when her gaze was elsewhere, she made sure to keep her ears open. As you know, your combat style becomes significantly vulnerable when youre within the range of area-of-effect skills or when your position is revealed. Given that sniping is all about targeting a specific point, even the slightest disturbance can throw off the aim. This time, the [Wind Force] skill exploited that weakness effectively as it generated wide-ranging winds that made it easy to locate the concealed Seo Ye-in. And by applying physical force here and there and forcefully turning the muzzle, the magic bullets would be fired in the wrong place. This was something I, and likely others, had gradually begun to notice in our encounters. So what was the solution? Seo Ye-ins ears perked up while awaiting an answer. It was crucial to acquire this key material sooner rather than later. I immediately set to work. When I cast [Magical Engineering], everything on the workbench was bathed in a blue light. Maintaining that focus, I began to slowly chip away at a large lump of scrap metal. *** Time seemed to slip away as I lost myself in the task. Eventually, I stopped my hands and laid down my tools. The overwhelming blue light that filled my vision quickly faded away. Ive finished quite a lot. The disassembled materials were now piled high on the workbench. I turned my gaze toward the window and noticed the sky was just beginning to turn red. Had it been about two or three hours since I started? During that time, I swiftly completed Bong Jae-seoks request. Are you finished? Yes. It was the third-year senior who asked the question. A look of astonishment was unmistakably present on his face. Perhaps he had once again glimpsed my work. Wow I thought you were some kind of machine. How do you manage to finish all that without taking a single break from your seat? It was a compliment I had heard often. During my peak times of producing S-rank heroes, there was a strong hypothesis that I wasnt human. Some even mistook me for a special NPC and came to me expecting to receive quests. In any case, Bong Jae-seoks request was now concluded and it seemed appropriate to deliver it all at once when I headed to Workshop No. 1 at midnight. It was time to move on to the next task. When I got up from my seat, the senior asked me. Are you heading out? Not at all. We both shifted our gaze to the mountain of junk items at the same time. Theres still a long way to go. I had finished making Go Hyeon-woos [Durable Clip] item and now it was my turn. I planned to address the parts of my weapon that included magical engineering among its various components. The process of gathering materials was nearly similar to the previous day. For the part that required points, I had received one [Heat Catalyst Reagent] as a service fee from Go Hyeon-woo. Apart from this, some materials were obtained by dismantling failed projects while others would be supplied by this senior just like yesterday. Since were at it, could you do me a favor? The way he phrased it as since were at it suggested that his request was likely related to item dismantling. As I looked at him silently, he pointed towards the pile of items and continued his explanation. Actually, there are a few things I need from there, so I was wondering if you could focus on dismantling those. Of course, only if its okay with you. Yesterday, I had chosen the necessary materials from the ones that came out of the dismantling and traded them. But today, the idea was to specifically select the failed projects that contained the materials he needed from the start, dismantle them, and then trade with him. I nodded agreeably. Thats fine with me. Thanks. Ill make sure to provide you with everything you need as much as I can. From my perspective, there was no reason to refuse since I would be satisfied as long as I obtained the materials one way or another. It was also more efficient that way. We spent a moment crouching before a pile of assorted items as if we were shopping. After selecting what we each needed, we brought them to the workbench and I quickly dismantled them. These failed projects were significantly easier than the commissions from Bong Jae-seok so they were transformed into materials in no time. The materials were immediately traded. Im really grateful. Youve saved me a lot of time. The senior expressed his gratitude to me over and over again. It was only natural that he would be this grateful considering that the effort it would have taken him to gather materials while running back and forth was taken care of with a few barter trades yesterday and today and at a very low price. I for my part had gathered all the materials I needed. I planned to take them to Workshop No. 1 at midnight to start crafting. And when I suddenly checked the time. Theres still plenty left. Even after completing the procurement of materials for the second item on Bong Jae-seoks request, there would still be plenty of time left until midnight. I contemplated whether to head to the training center for some practice or to secure some extra materials even though they werent immediately needed. However, I soon realized there was no need for such deliberation. Work had found its way to me on its own. Is that him? It does look like him, doesnt it? Two pairs of eyes were peering in my direction from outside Workshop No. 4. Chapter 55: Dismantling Junk Items (4) Chapter 55: Dismantling Junk Items (4) Two female students were peeking from outside Workshop No. 4. It wasnt hard to guess that they had come looking for me as their gaze remained fixed on me even while they talked. Moreover, they tried to keep their voices low as if to conceal their conversation but I could hear every word from a distance. Are you sure its him? Hes not even a member of our club. But I heard he works here, so its a hundred percent him. Then you go talk to him. Come with me. Dont you have any loyalty? It seemed they had come after hearing rumors about me. Of course, it would have been easy for them to ascertain that I was the subject of those rumors. Except for the senior at Workshop No. 4, who was quietly minding his own business in one corner, I was the only one left by process of elimination. Finally, the female students stepped into the workshop. I chose not to react and pretended not to notice them while focusing instead on the task at hand. The female students also approached me with cautious steps, careful not to disturb me, and watched with interest as I neatly dismantled one of the failed projects. After completing the dismantling, I paused before moving on to the next item, set down my tools, and lifted my gaze to meet the female students. They were faces I had seen in passing once or twice while going to and from Workshop No. 1. Additionally, a third-year pin was attached to their ties. They were third-year seniors from the magic engineering club and they were first-rate craftsmen. Good day to you. Hello. We heard you took a request from Bong Jae-seok; is that right? Just like I had guessed, these two seniors were interested in the dismantling of the failed projects. It was a tedious task and anyone willing to take on such an annoying job was sure to attract attention. Especially if that someone was rumored to have considerable skill. I nodded my head in acknowledgment. I did take on a few failed projects. See, I told you so! One of the seniors looked triumphant. Without responding to the previous remark, the other senior asked me directly. Would you mind working on ours as well? Since they had just witnessed my handiwork firsthand there was no room for doubt about my skills. The only matter left was negotiating the price. As long as the pay is right, theres nothing I cant do. What did you get from Bong Jae-seok? I received a high-quality material from him. Should we give you the same? What do you need? Yes, a [Weather Chip] or [Levistone Extract] would be good enough. Just like the [Magic Engine] I was to receive as payment from Bong Jae-seok, these were key components for my weapon. While I could use dismantled items for the side parts, the core parts that determine the weapons performance required high-grade materials. After all, what I was aiming for was an EX-rank weapon. Oh, I have one of those! One of the seniors immediately pulled out a [Weather Chip] from her inventory and handed it over as an advance payment.Follow current novels at novelhall.com) The other senior seemed to have the same item as she flinched momentarily but it was already too late. Can I give you another item instead? Her face seemed to be saying that. However, her pride as a senior didnt allow her to make such request. Levistone Extract. I dont have it right now but I can get it for you by tomorrow. That sounds good. Lets do that. I immediately received their failed projects. Since they were also members of the magic engineering club, they were straightforward and did not beat around the bush. Classes involved in production were always racing against time and were often willing to pay generously to save their own time. I bowed deeply as I was filled with gratitude. Ill have it ready by midnight. That quick? You can take your time. I have enough time. Alright. Thanks! See you later! The two seniors hurried to Workshop No. 1 after finishing their business. They had a plethora of production requests waiting for them so they couldnt afford to waste any more time. I picked up my tools once again. Soon, the workbench was filled with a blue glow. *** Sniff, sniff. Dang Gyu-young pressed her sleeve to her nose and took a whiff. She then grimaced deeply. Moreover, the newbies likely to join as mentees would mostly belong to other clubs; they were essentially someone elses children. Treating them with the same disregard she had for the thieves could likely lead to conflicts with other clubs. It was almost as if she had to treat them with baby gloves. Though her heart was quickly tipping towards refusing the offer, Dang Gyu-young held her tongue for a moment. Its best to hear everything out before making a decision. So, what if I agree? The president said your current punishment would be completely waived. Just for me? Or for these guys too? For everyone involved in the current punishment. ..! ..! Not only Dang Gyu-young but also all the members involved in the temporary storage break-in would be liberated. The members of the thieves club shot intense glares all at once. To an onlooker, it might seem as if lasers were shooting out of their eyes. Please, president! Nunim, just close your eyes and say yes. Accepting it is the way for both the president and us to survive! It was as if they would start a rebellion if she refused. Look at these bastards? How dare they exert silent pressure on someone as revered as the president? When Dang Gyu-young returned their sharp glares, their eyes scattered in all directions. She made a promise to herself. She decided she needed to set aside time to straighten out the clubs discipline. Returning to the main point. Dang Gyu-young briefly summarized the proposal from the disciplinary committee. So, in a nutshell, its mentoring instead of punishment right? To put it bluntly, yes. Hmm To accept or not? Dang Gyu-young weighed her options with punishment on one hand and mentoring on the other. Neither option seemed clearly more beneficial. Instead of enduring the stench of sewers, dealing with a handful of babies brought its own set of troubles. As Dang Gyu-youngs contemplation seemed to prolong, Kwak Seung-jae opened his mouth with a polite tone. May I offer a suggestion? What is it? Go ahead. I believe it would be best for you to accept. Why? Isnt time the most important factor for the thieves club right now? You need to manage the errand center and prepare for the upcoming black market. Dang Gyu-young swiftly turned her head to address those behind her. Hey, is our security really up to par? The disciplinary committee knows our entire schedule! Its an open secret, isnt it? It was as evident as the fact that the thieves club would target the temporary storage after their next ban wave. The operations of the errand center and the black market were well-known. Moreover, just like Kwak Seung-jae pointed out, time was indeed very important for them. Accepting the disciplinary committees offer would completely relieve the members of any punishment, allowing for much greater freedom of movement, and Dang Gyu-young herself would gain a bit more leeway. And if you perform well in mentoring, you may be rewarded accordingly. Dragon Slayer Academy is thorough in such matters. Isnt that an overly optimistic view? Thats why I dont hold much hope for it either. . Dang Gyu-young frowned. He was an annoyingly honest guy. Still, Kwak Seung-jaes words did help in making a decision. She clicked her tongue softly and responded. Tch, tell them Ill do it. Youve made a wise decision. But are there many people interested in learning rogue-type skills? As far as I know, there arent many. Besides Kwak Seung-jae shook his head and added. Dont you have another special field of expertise? Shadow Caster Dang Gyu-young. Not only was she a master versed in all the secret techniques of thievery, But she was also a strong battle mage who could hold her own against the presidents of the Magic Tower Association. Chapter 56: Replay Analysis (1) Chapter 56: Replay Analysis (1) I delivered the requested items right on schedule at midnight. To my surprise, Bong Jae-seok and the seniors seemed quite astonished that I had actually finished everything by midnight. Their expressions quickly turned into ones that seemed almost predatory as they began to whisper among themselves. Hey, is that guy not going to join our club? He says hes not interested. Isnt it because you havent been persuasive enough? Just leave him be. Dont stir up unnecessary trouble. Still, if onlyslurp. They kept licking their lips as they looked at me. Feeling like they might kidnap me if I lingered around them any longer, I pretended to be busy and started working on crafting an item with the materials I had prepared. After spending the entire night on the task, Ive got the framework down. On the workbench lay a small heart-shaped part. When I infused it with mana as a test, the various small objects scattered around the workbench began to move slightly and made a rattling noise. Although it was still a half-finished prototype and not fully functional yet, it seemed that with a few more days of diligent work it could be completed. *** The duel battle class led by Instructor Lee Soo-Dok was always conducted in a somber atmosphere. Today, the air felt even heavier. This was because Lee Soo-Dok mentioned that word. A word that felt like a quagmire from which no student at Dragon Slayer Academy could escape. Homework. The students sent desperate glances with the hope that Lee Soo-Dok would say he was joking. He was a human too, so wouldnt he sometimes play a naughty prank on his students? Regrettably, Lee Soo-Dok was a man far removed from jokes or pranks. He continued his explanation in the same steady tone he maintained throughout the class. It is as important to review past battles as it is to continue training and practice. I believe this weeks duel battles had many aspects worth reviewing. Until now, they had only focused on honing their individual skills and were not accustomed to team-based activities like two-on-two battles. Therefore, this weeks duel battle matches must have been a new experience for them in many respects. There were many unintended mistakes while trying to synchronize with their teammates. And there were times when they embarrassingly lost to opponents they thought were well within their capabilities due to a lack of coordination. Conversely, there were instances where they managed to defeat opponents who would normally be difficult by collaborating with their teammates. In either case, there was ample value in reflecting on these experiences. Take some time to review the replays. Consider what the strengths and weaknesses of both allies and enemies were, what strategies were employed, and if there could have been more effective tactics. Choose one out of the four matches, write a report, and submit it by next Friday. Given that it was still Thursday and many students likely hadnt completed their quota of four matches for the week, the deadline seemed generous. However, the apparent leniency could be deceiving as there was no telling what assignments the next week might bring. It was best to finish it and get it out of the way as soon as possible. Kim-hyung. Perhaps he had similar thoughts as me as Go Hyeon-woo approached me right after the class ended. Seo Ye-in also looked at me with an expressionless face. Though she didnt say anything, she was silently conveying a desire to collaborate with me on the assignment. This works out well. I had already promised Go Hyeon-woo that we would review the replay of his duel battle together. Though Seo Ye-in wasnt directly involved in this matter, I expect that discussing and analyzing it together would be quite helpful in writing the report. I slowly got up from my seat. Lets go then, to a quiet place. *** We bought drinks from the cafeteria and settled on the second-floor terrace. This was the very spot where negotiations with the Emerald Magic Tower and the Mother Nature Club had taken place before. While the lower floor buzzed with students, the upper floor remained notably quiet. The three of us huddled around a large round table. I sat in the middle, with Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in on either side. During the intense back-and-forth, Go Hyeon-woo suddenly launched a fierce attack creating an opening. He had decided to use a special technique. As he gathered momentum and used [Clear Stream], his sword movements slowed and a gentle breeze began to swirl around him. When he focused this breeze on the archer opponent, the latters health dropped in an instant and he couldnt hold out for long before he became unable to fight. If the arenas safety mechanisms werent in place it would have been a horrific sight of the archer being severely battered. As expected. Just like I observed in other battles, the wind summoned by [Clear Stream] acted as an extension of his swords strike. That is why I evaluated him as having stepped into the realm of magic. ..! The warrior couldnt hide his shock when his teammate was swiftly defeated. Then, a strike imbued with clear stream descended upon him. Whooosh! Youve won. The opponent wasnt difficult. Their teamwork was well-coordinated, but it followed a predictable pattern. Indeed, the opposing teams teamwork was good. However, they were overly cautious not to hinder each others movements which ironically limited their actions. This predictability was what Go Hyeon-woo had noticed. Of course, the flaw was more pronounced because they hadnt fully mastered their coordination, but it would become more difficult to exploit as they improved. The first match was a calm and controlled victory for Go Hyeon-woo from start to finish. There was something that needed to be checked before moving on. Lets take a look at the weapon. I turned back the replay to just before the match ended and zoomed in on Go Hyeon-woos weapon for a closer examination. The E-rank weapon purchased with points, the [Guards Longsword]. Judging by the cracks on the blade, its durability was almost at an all-time low but it had narrowly avoided breaking. The [Durable Clip] I created just the day before seemed to have provided some support. Is this the first time a sword of yours held up after using clear stream? Thats right. Go Hyeon-woos complexion brightened up as he responded. He couldnt help but feel excited because something that had always bothered him was about to be resolved. Yet it was too soon to draw any conclusions. The decision would have to wait until after the final match. Good. Lets move on to the next one. Go Hyeon-woo played the next replay. As I reviewed the participants, my eyes lit up with recognition. The moment Ive been anticipating has arrived. [Go Hyeon-woo 785 points, Bukgong Han-seol 932 points] vs [Jeong Soo-ji 693 points, Park Na-ri 998 points] Until now, Go Hyeon-woos win rate had been impressively high. In the placement test, he won every game except for one loss to Jo Byeok. In the first weeks duel battles, he secured three wins out of three. This time, in the third weeks duel battles, the replay we just watched marked his third victory out of four games. As a result, his score had surged dramatically, approaching the 800-point range, and it seemed only a matter of time before he would start encountering scores in the 900s. Sure enough, one appeared on each side. Bukgong Han-seol was a warrior like Go Hyeon-woo. The surname Bukgong and the fact that he carried no weapon suggested that he was a master of unarmed combat. On the other hand, the opponents were the quite familiar duo of Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji. Park Na-ri was a druid, and Jeong Soo-ji was a shaman. They were both of ranged classes. It was a battle between two close-range and two long-range combatants. However, it wasnt accurate to consider the other side as purely long-range because Grrr, Next to Park Na-ri was the tiger called Bum baring its fierce teeth at the opponents.This chapter is updated by Chapter 57: Replay Analysis (2) Chapter 57: Replay Analysis (2) Normally, Tiger Bum was kept small through a shrinking spell so that it would fit in the palm of a hand, but it towered over humans in its true form. The phrase as large as a house could not have been more fitting. When Park Na-ri gently stroked its back, Bum growled softly and moved forward to take its position. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Bum crouched low then sprang forward like a coiled spring. In the blink of an eye, it charged towards Go Hyeon-woo before swinging its paws with a speed that belied its huge size. Not only was its movement fast but the full weight of its body was behind each blow, making it heavy and powerful. Its claws even glowed with mana. As expected of a spirit beast. That single tiger seemed capable of utterly demolishing any opponent with a score in the 600s. One might wonder if a blow from its paw could spin someones jaw clean to the back of their head. And when Go Hyeon-woo managed to block such a brutally powerful swipe, Crack, The E-rank [Guards Longsword] broke after just one exchange. The durability of the blade was on edge, so it wasnt necessarily due to Bums attack alone. It was inevitable as it had been significantly worn down in the previous match. Go Hyeon-woo swiftly drew the D-rank [Escorts Longsword] Swish, swish, swish! That momentary gap was filled by his partner, Bukgong Han-seol. As she unleashed a barrage of forceful energy, Tiger Bum hesitated for a moment. At least this time its a sane one.This chapter is updated by The lady seems quite in sync with the team battle. Unlike the previous matchs mage, this one had at least a basic understanding of teamwork. And just like I had already guessed, Bukgong Han-seol was an expert in martial arts. The cold aura enveloping her hands as if frosted over was a clear sign she had mastered the techniques of the Cold Ice martial arts. Go Hyeon-woo and Bukgong Han-seol launched into a full-fledged joint attack. Sword energy and palms poured down on Tiger Bum but, [Park Na-ri 94%] [Park Na-ri 95%] [Park Na-ri 97%] They didnt manage to inflict that much damage. The tigers hide was like armor, repelling the sword energy, and even the minor wounds it sustained healed at an incredible rate. To find the cause, they turned their gaze toward the main base where Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji were positioned A fresh green energy was radiating from Park Na-ri. Shes a support type. A support druid who uses a variety of auxiliary skills, including protection, healing, and enchantment. If the skill level is low, it results in a jack of all trades but master of none. However, at a high level, its almost like having a swiss army knife. And Park Na-ri was a promising talent among the four major powers. Jeong Soo-ji didnt have much of a presence in the battle compared to the other three, but she kept the two warriors in check by occasionally sending out earthen bullets or wrapping tree vines around their feet. Even when she was fighting me with Kwak Ji-cheol her slight interference was annoying. In other words, it means shes good at crowd control. So this was a compliment. To summarize Park Na-ris strategy in a single line, it involved placing Tiger Bum at the forefront and providing it with full support. If the battle was to extend for a long time, Park Na-ris side would end up winning since they have good sustainability. Go Hyeon-woo had to find a way to break this formation or else face an inevitable defeat. I spoke to Seo Ye-in who was silently watching the replay. This part is important. Watch carefully. Mhmm. How they navigated this obstacle would be a testament to the judgment of Go Hyeon-woo and Bukgong Han-seol. The pair seemed to opt for the most straightforward and brute-force approach first. A head-on confrontation. The plan was to inflict damage that exceeded Park Na-ris protective magic and healing capabilities to bring the battle to a swift conclusion. They rallied their momentum and unleashed their respective ultimate techniques in a burst. [Clear Stream] [Ice Snow Soul Palm] Blades of wind and a wave of cold surged forward. Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom! However [Park Na-ri 79%] The circumstances being what they were, it couldnt be helped. The chaos of the tiger darting back and forth and attacking, along with the pressure of the 10-minute time limit steadily decreasing, would have likely hindered clear thinking. In such circumstances, coming up with new strategies continuously and aligning opinions with team members was an exceedingly difficult task. You just have to do better next time. I think this much should suffice for the report. Do you have any more questions? Perhaps having his curiosity somewhat satisfied, Go Hyeon-woo did not speak. When I glanced toward Seo Ye-in, she too shook her head. Given both of their sharp intellects, they have likely grasped the gist of it by now. Now lets talk about something that cant be included in the report. Honestly, even if you had used the method I just mentioned, the outcome wouldnt have been much different. Why is that? The difference in specs, especially in equipment, was just too great. Writing in the report that we lost due to a difference in specs might just earn a smack on the back of the head from Lee Soo-dok. Although it should be omitted from the report, the reality was that the difference in specs played a huge role. Park Na-ri was a promising student who received full support from the Guild Union and the Mother Nature Club. The range of skills and traits she has mastered was very wide and her own capabilities were also good. She was decked out in various items from head to toe. Including the [Cube of Life] I had recently traded with her. In contrast, all Go Hyeon-woo possessed was a single sword. And even that was far from a famed blade; its only merit was that it didnt break quickly. After pondering my words for a moment, Go Hyeon-woo let out a heavy sigh. It makes sense that I lost. Not only was my opponent not less skilled than me, but she was also thoroughly prepared I must reflect on this. You dont need to match Park Na-ris specs. Thats impossible anyway. Shes practically being showered with the resources of an entire club. Having just a few key countermeasures can make a huge difference in facing such opponents. Is there such a thing? Go Hyeon-woo had a curious expression on his face. And perhaps considering that she might soon face an opponent like Park Na-ri, Seo Ye-in listened intently to my words. I slowly looked from one to the other before speaking. A magic sword. To be precise, I suggested switching to a magic sword imbued with a healing reduction curse. For example, if one were to scratch an opponent with a [Hungry Sawtooth Sword], for a certain duration, the healing that the opponent receives would be absorbed by the sawtooth sword. Those afflicted by the [Gut Prick] would find that healing spells cause them additional damage instead. The terrible pain was just a bonus. Beyond the reduction of healing, the range of situations that can be dealt with increases as the type of sword you have increases. For example, there were weapons that could inflict paralysis or poisoning or even some weapons that specialized in shattering the barriers of mages. If you were to look at the inventory of top-ranking swordsmen, you might think you were attending an exhibition of legendary blades. Though they did not use swords, marksmen were similar in that they used a variety of [Special Bullets] After hearing the entire explanation, Go Hyeon-woo let out a soft exclamation of admiration. Indeed I confess my knowledge of items is still quite shallow. I find myself learning yet another thing from Kim-hyung. It truly brings home how far I have yet to go. Youre right about the long road ahead. But were only in our third week of the first semester, so lets not get too impatient. Ill keep that in mind. With the topic of items on the table, perhaps its time to move on to the main point. There was something else Go Hyeon-woo needed to prioritize over amassing a collection of legendary swords. It was the management of their durability. It was also the fundamental reason why we watched the replay together. Goh Hyeon-woo had most frequently employed the technique [Clear Stream], and based on that, an E-rank longsword could barely withstand one use, while a D-rank would not break until after four uses. A rough calculation could be made from this. With a few more durability-type artifacts and a B-rank or higher weapon, the worry of breaking should almost vanish. B-rank, huh That wont be easy to come by. Its a bit of a distant goal for now. Using a C-rank as a stepping stone should pose no immediate issues. However, C-rank was by no means common. Some of the decent ones were even used by second-year students. Goh Hyeon-woo pulled out the catalog to check the longsword section. He was gradually getting used to navigating the student store. But to buy a C-rank weapon with points Its not going to be easy. Its expensive. Save your points. Itd be a waste to spend them on disposable weapons. The [Guardian Series] had been bought partially as an experiment and also because their lower rank meant a lesser burden on points. However, the prices were quite high from C-rank onwards. It seemed unnecessary to invest points in disposable weapons that were bound to be destroyed eventually. There had to be another way to acquire them without spending money or points. Go Hyeon-woos gaze followed mine and shifted in a specific direction. A hill that was neither too high nor too low occupied one side of our view. The Dungeon building. Well get them through drops. Chapter 58: Replay Analysis (3) Chapter 58: Replay Analysis (3) The artificial dungeons on the ground floor of the Dungeon building had been crafted solely for the education and examination of students. There were hardly any dangers present, and even if there were, multiple layers of safety measures protected the students. A notable example was the ejection mechanism that would instantly expel a student from the dungeon if a fatal injury was expected to happen. On the other hand, the dungeons extended deep into the underground of the Dungeon building. These numerous dungeons, spanning the island on which the Dragon Slayer Academy was built, were the reason the island was called the Dungeon Island. Everything that occurred within these dungeons was real. Should things go awry during an expedition, you could get hurt, and in some cases, you could even die. However, the rewards offered were commensurate with the level of danger. It meant that items could be acquired. They were given as dungeon clear rewards, dropped by boss monsters, or cleverly hidden throughout the dungeon. Go Hyeon-woos eyes sparkled with excitement when he heard this. So, youre saying Weapons can also be dropped. Including C-rank and B-rank weapons. Go Hyeon-woos expression mirrored the one he had when he first heard about the Special Cultivation Room. However, he didnt immediately leap to his feet. It was likely because he realized something midway. He looked at me and posed a question. But isnt it impossible right now? Because its still the week of the duel battles. The Dungeon building wouldnt open until next week when the strategy battles begin. This meant we had no choice but to wait for several days. And there was another big obstacle in our path. Even next week, we wont be able to go down to the underground. Why is that? Were not qualified. It was unthinkable to send first-year students who had just enrolled into life-threatening real combat situations. If by any chance they were to sustain serious injuries with lasting aftereffects or lose their lives, it would mean the loss of a potential future hero. Only those who had accumulated sufficient experience on the ground floor and had proven themselves both internally and externally were granted the privilege to descend. Thus, the minimum requirement to go underground, that is, the entry condition for an F-rank dungeon, was: A cumulative strategy battle score of 5,000 points. This total is calculated solely from pure dungeon clear scores, irrespective of points. Hmm Go Hyeon-woo took out his student ID, checked the back, and let out a sigh. It was bound to be woefully insufficient. The same went for me. My total strategy battle score was precisely 2,266 points. In the [Fixed Zone], I scored 683 points which placed me in the upper-middle tier. In the [Goblin Swamp] with Seo Ye-in we scored 728 points which placed us in the upper tier. My solo strategy battle score was 855 points which made me the top of our year. Though I hadnt saved the replay. The combined ranking was between the top 5% and 10% and maintaining this pace, I would need to engage in several more strategy battles before I could even set foot in an F-rank dungeon. But my aim wasnt just any F-rank dungeon; I was targeting higher-ranked dungeons. E-rank, D-rank, and above must be unlocked sequentially by accumulating more points or passing exams, so it was virtually impossible to unlock them during the first semester of the first year. Go Hyeon-woo asked me. So, as it stands, theres no way? Officially, no. Officially? Go Hyeon-woo echoed my words. And he soon understood the implied meaning behind my words before cracking a sly smile. Theres no rule stating we must stick strictly to the paths laid out by the Dragon Slayer Academy. We could sneak in. This is precisely why the Dragon Slayer Academys errand service exists. The thieves club is involved in various rule-breaking activities, including the trade of prohibited items. One of their services includes sneaking students into dungeons theyre not qualified for. I sent a message to Shin Byeong-cheol. [Kim Ho: Errand] [Shin Byeong-cheol: Where are you, customer-nim?] [Kim Ho: Second floor terrace of the cafeteria]Visit for the best novel reading experience There was also a very important reason why Shin Byeong-cheol brought up the idea of a free service first, And honestly Ive only been down there once myself when following Noonim. Lets gain some experience this time. .. He too was a first-year student with little experience. He had ventured underground only once while following Dang Gyu-young, and now as an inexperienced guide, he was set to have us as his first clients. Go Hyeon-woo asked me with his eyes if this was really okay. It would be better to hire someone from the second year or above to be completely sure. Yet, I wasnt overly concerned. Although Shin Byeong-cheols skills might not be top-notch, I trusted that he had the basic skills required by a member of the thieves club. And if things got tough, I was ready to step in. Its fine by us, as long as you dont do a half-hearted job just because its your first time. Of course, Ill do my very best to serve you. Is that all, then? No, theres one more thing. Another dungeon? Which one? Number 104. Number 104? Shin Byeong-cheol furrowed his brows in thought, then checked his notebook with a look of apprehension, which only deepened. Number 104 The [Black Death]. Thats a B-rank dungeon. You sure you havent got it wrong? Im sure. Its the Black Death. Thats a dungeon in the depths Look, honestly, I dont think I can help you with that. Shin Byeong-cheol scratched the back of his head. Dungeons ranked between B and S were situated in the deepest part of the dungeon building which was known as the depths. Access was impossible for ordinary students, and merely loitering nearby and getting caught would result in the harshest of disciplinary actions. With Shin Byeong-cheols abilities, it was not only difficult to escort someone there, but it was also not something a first-year like him should recklessly handle. Hence, it was only natural for him to give such a response. I know. Maybe I should bring it up with your club president. That shouldnt be a problem. Ill ask and let you know. Anything else? Thats all. Okay. Then Im off. Take care~ After the business was finished, Shin Byeong-cheol stood up with an air of urgency. He then dashed off just like he had arrived. I sipped my iced tea while silently watching his retreating figure, Afterward, I summarized the conversation with Go Hyeon-woo. In broad terms, our plan is this: Enter the D-rank dungeon, [Feathered Serpent Altar], on Monday evening. Thats where youll get your weapon. In short, he could obtain a fairly useful longsword. That long sword will be sufficient for Go Hyeon-woo to use for the time being. At the same time, I intended to secure some benefits for myself. Choosing the Feathered Serpent Altar from among the various dungeons that dropped longswords was inspired by this reason. After that, well go through a few days of preparation. Negotiate with the thieves club, and purchase some items. As Shin Byeong-cheol had mentioned, the depths of the dungeons were not something he could handle. It would likely involve negotiating with a third-year member of the thieves club and probably even Dang Gyu-young. The chances of the negotiations failing were virtually non-existent. I would make sure of that. The more thorough the preparation, the better. A minor mistake could cost us our lives. I am prepared. What do you need me to do? Your role is important. It wasnt just about bringing Go Hyeon-woo along for his skill with the sword. Inside the dungeon, he must completely become another version of himself. To achieve that, Youll need to know as much about the dungeon as I do. I handed over a bundle of documents. Go Hyeon-woos eyes sparkled with interest as he flipped through them page by page. ! The strategy guides for the [Feathered Serpent Altar] and the [Black Death]. From the layout of the dungeons to the enemies that appear, their locations, and how we would navigate to achieve our goal. Everything was contained within these two guides. Memorize them. Not a single letter less. Chapter 59: 4th Week Strategy Battles (1) Chapter 59: 4th Week Strategy Battles (1) Go Hyeon-woo became busy with report writing and the additional assignment I gave to him. He was in for a tough time with his head buried in work over the weekend. Meanwhile, I spent more time in the magic engineering workshop. My tasks werent much different from the previous days. I prepared the groundwork in Workshop 4, and occasionally, I dismantled failed creations brought in by the seniors of the magic engineering club. Whenever a spot opened up in Workshop 1, I quickly moved in to craft items. This time, however, the materials I used were of a much higher quality. [Magic Engine] [Levistone Extract] [Weather Chip] I used all these along with high-quality materials given as rewards by other seniors in my crafting. And so, after several days that felt like running on a treadmill Came the morning of the weekend. When dawn just ended and the first light began to break through the windows. I put down the tools in my hand. Its finished. A thin and elongated core-shaped part. After struggling with this for a few days, I finally finished it. When I infused mana into the part, a faint air current formed that caused various small items scattered across the workbench to levitate. As soon as I ceased the flow of mana they all gently fell back down. ! Just then, some seniors who were taking a short break caught sight of this phenomenon and their eyes widened in amazement. Perhaps thinking not to overwhelm me, they didnt all come over at once; instead, only Bong Jae-seok and one female senior I had seen before approached me. Curiosity was written all over their faces. So this is what youve been so eagerly gathering materials for Youve made something fascinating again. May I take a closer look? Yes, senior-nim. When I agreed, the two seniors leaned in close to the part and started examining it thoroughly. They took turns exclaiming in surprise. What an interesting design I was wondering why you needed levistone extracts, but theres a use for everything Wow, look at this. Its amazing, really amazing. The principle of this part was divided into three main stages. When mana was supplied through the [Magic Engine], the [Weather Chip] would induce climate changes within a certain range, and the [Levistone Extracts] would determine the type of climate. Bong Jae-seok asked as he handed me the part. It looks like its meant for a weapon, perhaps a staff or a scepter? Something like that. Have you acquired the main body? It was merely a part at the moment and it required installation into something to serve as an item. I pulled out a meter-long iron rod from my inventory. I plan to make do with this for now. It was a slightly modified F-rank iron rod provided for free by the Dragon Slayer Academy. Upon fitting the part into the rod, they seamlessly integrated. [Levitating Iron Rod (E)] Levitate Zone (F) constantly activated. Levitate Zone. A floating area. It was wind magic that created an updraft, causing everything within its range to float. Whether it was objects or monsters, since each had different weights and magical resistances, there was variation in how much they floated. However, even the slightest levitation made them more susceptible to physical forces. In other words, within the range, everything became more vulnerable to [Wind Force]. However, the rank of this [Levitating Iron Rod] was merely E. The constantly activated [Levitate Zone] was only F-rank. Its power was minimal and its range was limited. If I were to compare it to something, maybe its range would be as big as a small room. This is because I used an iron rod. Magical engineering items are greatly influenced not only by their part but also by the material of the metal that forms their main body.Visit for the best novel reading experience Using an iron rod as a temporary measure meant that E-rank was the best I could hope for. Naturally, if I were to use a better metal to create a superior main body, it would increase both the rank and performance. So where do I find such better metal? I need to go down. To the underground of the Dungeon building. I placed the iron rod back in my inventory. Bong Jae-seok must have sensed that it was time for me to leave as he looked at me and said with a slightly regretful tone. You wont be coming around for a while now. The reason he was so certain of that was because I used up all the materials I had gathered here just in time to complete the [Levitating Iron Rod]. If I had been planning on making more, I would have saved some materials. I didnt deny him because it was true. Thats right. What if that seemingly trivial thing is actually a core element of the dungeon? For example, what if its a device that triggers traps throughout the area? Or perhaps a device that summons additional monsters? Or an entrance leading to hidden chambers? Theres no telling what good might come from simply passing by without a second thought. Now, onto the theme for this weeks strategy battles MAP: [Random] RULE: [Clearance] [2-Person Dungeon] [Random Matching] which is Clearance. Clearance. How thoroughly can you clean out the dungeon? For example, if there are 100 monsters present how many of them can you find and defeat? Of course, its highly unlikely that all 100 monsters will swarm in as soon as you enter the dungeon; theyll likely be hiding throughout. To earn high scores, youll need to carefully examine every nook and cranny of the dungeon. Teacher Seo Cheong-yong raised a finger. Heres something important. Theres no time limit this time. Anyone can achieve top marks as long as they take their time and look carefully! Hows that? The students faces lit up. They had been beaten in one-on-one battles, timed attacks, by the Strong Enemy, and even in two-on-two battles, and now, they were confronted with such a relaxed strategy battle. Seo Cheong-yong grinned and folded his second finger. Two important things. The terrain is random. It could be a jungle, ruins, a cave Each person faces a different dungeon in these strategy battles. A student in the front row quickly raised his hand. Teacher, does that mean the practice mode and the real battle mode have different terrains? They do. Then is there any point in practicing in the practice mode? Do you really think theres no point at all? Ah. The student who asked the question seemed to realize something and lowered his hand. Even if they entered different dungeons every time, they continued to accumulate experience. And with each experience, their powers of observation grew sharper. Such improved observation skills would eventually prove helpful not only in real battles but also in future strategy battles during the semester. Dont just focus on the scores; try practicing the practice mode several times for the sake of experience. And for the fellows thinking of cheating, lets save our points this time. Several students looked sheepish as they avoided Seo Cheong-yongs gaze. After all, in randomly generated dungeons, tricks like watching someone elses replay and copying their moves wouldnt work. Seo Cheong-yong checked the time and wrapped up the class. Before you go, you have some homework for this week. When Seo Cheong-yong uttered the cursed words, the students faces quickly turned into expressions of betrayal. Even you whom we trusted would assign us homework Seo Cheong-yong smiled sheepishly and spoke with an apologetic tone. You just need to draw a map while watching your replays. Dont forget to mark the monster locations. The deadline is next Monday. Thats it for todays class! See you next time! Today, I decided to move separately from Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. After all, my teammate would be assigned randomly for this dungeon. Building experience was important for this dungeon so starting with practice mode would be the way to go for them. On the other hand, I was overflowing with experience so practice mode would just be a waste of time. I decided to dive into real action from the get-go. I headed straight to the upper floor of the dungeon building. I scanned my student ID at the terminal and took some time to think while waiting for my teammate to appear. I hope I get a useful partner I then checked this weeks quest, [Side Quest: 4th Week Strategy Battle] Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon Deadline: ~Sunday midnight Reward: Variable based on clearance (??/100%) As long as Im here, 100% completion is a given no matter who gets chosen as my team member. Honestly, I could handle everything alone if needed from start to finish. So, what does useful partner mean in this context? It refers to someone with skills worthy of copying. Since my tasks at the magic engineering workshop were completed for now, I wont be using the [Magical Engineering] skill for a while. I was planning to replace it with a combat-oriented skill. How long had I been waiting? Suddenly, a teleportation portal opened nearby. As I stepped inside, the air instantly refreshed. Judging by the uneven terrain, this seemed to be a mountainous region. And my partner was You again, huh? Red hair and fiery ruby-like eyes. But as soon as she saw me, the color drained from her face. It was Hong Yeon-hwa. Chapter 60: 4th Week Strategy Battles (2) Chapter 60: 4th Week Strategy Battles (2) Even in the duel battles, we had faced each other in two consecutive games. And now, I found myself partnered with Hong Yeon-hwa. It was interesting how fate kept throwing us together. Well, its not bad. I preferred her over a mediocre student for this strategy battle. After all, she was considered a promising student and her combat skills were well proven. I could simply delegate the necessary fighting to her. Moreover, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about her. The Ruby Magic Tower Master had been a favorite pick of mine in the past, And the more I saw Hong Yeon-hwa, the more she reminded me of that Ruby Magic Tower Master. It was like looking at a version of her from a few years back. If only the facial expressions were similar, theyd be indistinguishable. The only difference was the way she looked at me. The Ruby Magic Tower Master always seemed like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment with her fiery temperament on full display. In contrast, Hong Yeon-hwa in front of me was completely frightened and intimidated. Of course, I couldnt deny some responsibility for her state. Having bested her in battle not once but three times, it was understandable shed be intimidated. Yet, it seemed excessive for her to be so immediately overwhelmed with fear upon seeing me. Perhaps there was some huge misunderstanding at play. I could have chosen to sweetly engage with her from this point forward and gradually resolve misunderstandings, But did I really need to? Was resolving this truly necessary? My aim was to complete the quest quickly and efficiently. Maintaining a somewhat fearful atmosphere might actually aid in achieving my objectives. So, I decided to act in accordance with the image she seemed to hold of me. If she saw me as a tyrant, then a tyrant I would be. With a menacing glare, I watched as Hong Yeon-hwas face turned even paler. *** Hong Yeon-hwa felt like crying. It was entirely her fault that things had come to this. Hong Yeon-hwa arrived at the dungeon building as usual and tried to find a match. But just before scanning her student ID, she saw him. Kim Ho was there, waiting for his turn nearby. Luckily, he was looking the other way with his back turned to her. Yet, even the sight of his back sent shivers down Hong Yeon-hwas spine. Now she had a new goal. One that surpassed even the importance of her performance in this strategy battle. I must avoid him as a partner at all costs. While team members were assigned randomly, scanning her ID now risked the slim chance of being paired with that monstrous man And if they ended up alone in a confined space The mere thought was suffocating. Hong Yeon-hwa decided to take her sister Hong Ye-hwas advice. She would wait a bit longer before applying for todays strategy battle. When Kim Ho enters the dungeon with someone else that will be when she would find her own team member. So, she stealthily watched Kim Ho and waited endlessly. Just waiting for a teleportation portal to open near him. Waiting And waiting And waiting some more She continued to wait. As the wait dragged on, Hong Yeon-hwas pride was increasingly crumpled. And her sense of self-loathing grew in inverse proportion. Am I, who is destined to be the next Ruby Tower Master, really reduced to hiding around like a mouse and wary of others gaze? When she glanced at Kim Ho again, she saw that he was deep in thought with an expressionless face. There was still no sign of a match being made. I cant wait any longer! Her pride which was suppressed by fear until now sparked a fierce backlash. She wouldnt just keep looking over her shoulder! Not that she had suddenly gained the confidence to partner up with Kim Ho but she had slightly changed her strategy. She decided to quickly enter on her own. Hong Yeon-hwa then added a bit more cunning to her plan. Lets go into real combat mode instead of practice mode. Since the other party was a normal human, he would surely be matching for the practice mode. By skipping practice mode and jumping straight into real combat, she could eliminate even the slightest possibility of ending up as his partner. She felt somewhat uneasy about starting with real combat from the get-go, but she figured she could somehow get through it. While Hong Yeon-hwa was marveling at her own ingenuity and scanned her student ID A teleportation portal opened before her. And another opened before Kim Ho. Hong Yeon-hwas pupils darted around uncontrollably. Why is this? It couldnt be, could it? It must just be a coincidence that they opened at the same time, right? My partner must be somewhere else, right? While Hong Yeon-hwa fervently denied reality, Kim Ho stepped into the dungeon without hesitation. It was her turn to enter next. But her feet wouldnt move so easily. What was just an ordinary teleportation portal now seemed like a gateway leading straight into the abyss. Hong Yeon-hwa who had been hesitating finally took a deep breath. Haah Alright, I need to go in. Standing around wasnt going to solve anything. She forced herself to walk into the dungeon with heavy feet. Of course, a sliver of hope remained in her heart. The hope that someone else would be inside. . But that was just wishful thinking. As soon as she entered her eyes met Kim Hos who had been waiting inside. Whoosh! [Remaining Monsters: 66] Keruk! But not all monsters reacted the same way. Occasionally, some would turn and attempt to flee when discovered. In the [Clearance] rule, these escapees were particularly troublesome because if they managed to hide elsewhere, it meant you would have to go back to places you had already cleared. Keruk? However, escape was never successful. A gust of wind would blow, and the creatures would find themselves unable to proceed as if blocked by an invisible wall. Soon after, they were engulfed by the flames summoned by Hong Yeon-hwa. Whoosh! And then Hong Yeon-hwa, who had no idea about the hidden aspects at first, began to notice something after a few repetitions. A unique sense of unease marked the spots where monsters lay in ambush. The more she looked, the more pronounced the sense of unease became. Her observation skills were rapidly improving without her realizing it. While Hong Yeon-hwa was watching Kim Hos back, she tilted her head in puzzlement. Isnt this strange? Could it be this easy? Given her impatient nature, she was hardly suited for meticulous and time-consuming tasks like clearing out areas. Thus, when she first entered the dungeon, she braced herself for a tough time. However, in reality, monsters sprung up wherever Kim Ho went and all she had to do was to follow him closely before everything was taken care of. Throughout the entire strategy battle, Kim Ho did not hesitate for even a second before moving on to the next spot, and then the next without hesitating even for a second. He seemed as if he had done this dozens, if not hundreds, of times before. But logically, it was impossible for him to have done this hundreds of times so it was clear that he either had incredibly sharp intuition or a detection skill to match. Hong Yeon-hwa updated the information she had on Kim Ho in her mind. Tremendous magical defense, unparalleled martial arts, and an exceptionally high level of detection ability. And then while she was thinking of this, Kim Ho stopped in his tracks once again. When Hong Yeon-hwa stopped to survey the area ahead, she noticed a terrain resembling a deep pit lying before them. The topography of this great forest was known for its irregular terrain, but this particular formation appeared unnaturally out of place. It was suspicious to any onlooker. With a casual flick of his hand, Bang Kim Ho caused the soil on one side of the pit to crumble away which revealed the entrance to a burrow. Hong Yeon-hwas eyebrows shot up in surprise. He can actually see that? She indeed thought it would be worth going down and taking a closer look, but she never thought he would find it so quickly. Setting aside her astonishment, Hong Yeon-hwa too examined the burrow. It seemed tailored to the size of goblins which meant that a human would have to crouch uncomfortably to enter. It was then that Kim Ho spoke up. Check it out. Me? You dont want to? Kim Hos expression gradually hardened. Hong Yeon-hwa sensed an instinctive danger and quickly responded. I-I can go in, right? If I just go in While muttering under her breath she crawled into the burrow. In reality, Kim Hos suggestion to check it out was meant to hint at using fire magic inside but Hong Yeon-hwa had no way of knowing this. Shortly after she entered, Boom! Bang! [Remaining Monsters: 35] A series of explosions echoed from within before the number of monsters was greatly reduced. Soon after, Hong Yeon-hwa emerged from the burrow with thick smoke. She was covered in dirt and looked utterly disgruntled and her dirty appearance and sour expression said it all. Why do I have to do something like this? However, when she made eye contact with Kim Ho, she quickly managed her facial expression. . Now that I think about it, I think I should do something like this. After all, she had been riding on the coattails of this mans efforts until now. She quickly rationalized the situation. Seemingly oblivious to Hong Yeon-hwas inner turmoil, Kim Ho silently proceeded to the next location. And Hong Yeon-hwa hastily followed him with her footsteps echoing softly behind. *** [Remaining Monsters: 2] The battle that raged like a storm was now coming to an end. The last two monsters seemed like they wouldnt require much effort to find. Because they were right before their eyes. Trolls. They were medium-sized monsters slightly larger than an adult male. With their high regenerative abilities and fair resistance to magic, they posed a challenging match for any mage. And there stood two such trolls. Their presence was far from ordinary and they were exuding the aura of boss monsters. One wielded a large club, while the other brandished a pair of axes. Hong Yeon-hwa cast a cautious glance at Kim Ho as if silently asking about their next move. After holding her gaze for a few seconds Kim Ho curtly replied. Fight them. alone? . Hong Yeon-hwa sighed inwardly. Yes, I was a fool to harbor even a sliver of expectation. The idea that he would kindly join in was utterly unlikely. Hong Yeon-hwa took a step forward. Soon, the air around her began to simmer with heat. The trolls wavered within the rising haze. I can handle this alone. Chapter 61: 4th Week Strategy Battles (3) Chapter 61: 4th Week Strategy Battles (3) She stepped forward confidently but the two boss-level trolls were not such easy opponents. A basic plan needed to be devised before engaging them. In the current scenario, resembling a 2 versus 2 battle, which was effectively 2 against 1, a strategy of whittling them down from a distance seemed the safest. But this approach could potentially take all day when considering their resistance and regenerative abilities. The challenge was to accumulate damage rapidly to bring them down, and for that, a different tactic was necessary. Close combat. It was a thought most mages wouldnt dare entertain. Yet she aspired to be an all-rounder type caster. Although she was inexperienced she had learned some close combat skills. The ruby embedded in her wand flashed a bright red. [Overheat] Gentle flames began to flicker and blaze around Hong Yeon-hwas body. And after raising her staff to point directly at one of the trolls, she signaled the start of the battle. Kraaaa! The two trolls charged at her at the same time. Hong Yeon-hwa walked straight towards them while quickly weaving a spell with her free hand. Buzz! She deftly tilted her body to dodge an incoming club and immediately stepped back to avoid the wild swings of two axes, moving out of their reach. Her movements were so agile that it was hard to believe she was a mage. This was the effect of a fire-type physical enhancement skill [Overheat].The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Even as she dodged, she kept a certain distance between them. Far enough so that a melee attack might just miss, but close enough for her spells to hit their target directly. Soon, a fireball the size of a human head formed in Hong Yeon-hwas hand, [Flame Orb] Boom! The trolls upper body was engulfed in flames. But the monster seemed to be unbothered by the heat and it swung its club again. She dodged and created some distance. Then she noticed faint burn marks on the still smoldering upper body of the troll. At the same time, identical burn marks appeared on the body of the other troll wielding the axes. Hong Yeon-hwa frowned in frustration. Life link? Really, such a typical dungeon trick [Life Link]. A spell that shares life force between its users. When one entity takes damage, the linked pair shares the harm. So they each bear half. So, a 100 points damage would split into 50 each. And with magic resistance already reducing the damage to 90 or 80, this division further reduced its impact. Moreover, the trolls high regenerative ability quickly healed the shared damage. Did they really have to be so stingy with the points? Implementing such a petty strategy on the last two creatures was exasperating. Whoever designed this artificial dungeon was truly small-minded, miserly, and despicable Whoosh! Her train of thought was abruptly cut off by another incoming club. Leaping back, Hong Yeon-hwa cast her second Flame Orb. I can still do it. The reason the damage wasnt very good wasnt only because of the [Life Link] cast on the trolls, but also because the fireball had been made too small. Reducing the casting time by making it smaller seemed like a good idea, but it also reduced its power. This time, she thought that she would make it bigger. Boooom! A much larger explosion engulfed the upper body of the club-wielding troll. To check the extent of the damage, one only needed to look at the axe-wielding troll instead of the club-wielding one engulfed in flames. The damage was shared after all. Seeing the burn marks spreading rapidly, it seemed this time she had inflicted significant damage. Kaaaa! Despite this, the creatures didnt seem to feel pain or perhaps they transformed their pain into rage and continued their assault even as their bodies were aflame. A burning club was swung at her. At the moment she dodged something white and swift cut through the air toward her with a whooshing sound. Swish! ! Dodging took precedence over checking what it was. As Hong Yeon-hwa swiftly tilted her body to the side, a few strands of her hair were sliced off and fluttered away. It was only after seeing the axe-wielding troll holding just one axe that she realized what had whizzed past her was a hand axe. Kaaaa! The axe-wielding troll did not stop there but leaped forward before bringing down its remaining axe in a powerful strike. And as if to coordinate with its friend, the club-wielding troll lowered its stance and swept the ground. It was a chained attack targeting both the upper and lower body at the same time. It was unexpectedly well-synchronized for monsters. Hong Yeon-hwa focused intensely. She kicked off the ground lightly and floated into the air just as the club passed beneath her feet. And the moment she landed, she kicked off again to escape the range of the axe attack. In that brief moment, she hurled the Flame Orb she had prepared. Boom! The damage kept accumulating. If the enemy stepped out of its range, the spell became useless. Therefore, the first question that needed to be addressed when using this magic was How to keep the enemies within range? Yet, for some reason, Hong Yeon-hwa felt that this question was unnecessary. Without further ado, she positioned herself and began chanting the spell. Complex characters were etched into the ground and started gradually forming a round magic circle. The trolls seemed to have sensed that something was unusual and tried to escape the range of the magic circle, but Thump! Kim Ho circled around them, blocked them, and pushed them back in. His movements seemed light and he was merely tapping them, yet they were helplessly pushed back with each touch. Kaaaahh! The axe-wielding troll hurled one of its hand axes. But when Kim Ho flicked it with something resembling an iron bar, a bizarre clash resounded, and the axe was embedded into the ground. His foot firmly pressed down on it as it trembled, seemingly trying to return to its owner. Whoosh! Then a second hand axe flew towards him. Kim Ho effortlessly reached out, caught it, and threw it back. The hand axe that was returning with terrifying speed lodged itself into the shoulder of its owner. ??????? Hong Yeon-hwas eyes widened in shock when she saw that scene. The spell she was casting almost got canceled, but she desperately concentrated her mind and managed to prevent that from happening. Well, lets just not think about it Hong Yeon-hwa decided to erase what she had just seen from her mind. Right now, it was important to fulfill her role. She would focus on completing the Fire Pillar first. As the man in front of her toyed with the two trolls and kept them within the circle, the magic circle started glowing with a bright red color. Kim Ho kicked the last struggling troll back into the circle and lightly leaped backward. In the next moment, a pillar of fire erupted fiercely and engulfed the creatures. Whoooooosh. After the two of them watched the flames for a while, the results appeared. [Remaining Monsters: 0] [Clearance: 100% = 800 Points] +[Clear Bonus: 200 Points] [Total Score: 1,000 Points] * 0.8 Multiplier = 800 pts It was the highest score possible in this weeks strategy battle. Now, they could go their separate ways, but Um, excuse me. Hong Yeon-hwa still had something she needed to address. Facing Kim Ho, she hesitated for quite some time before finally speaking up. Could you, um perhaps keep the replay. private? This strategy battle had shown her in a more flustered state than usual which was quite out of character for her. She had been particularly unnerved by Kim Hos presence. A prime example was when she crawled into a burrow. Kim Ho had suggested she check it out but when she thought about it, she realized how she didnt really need to crawl in. She could have simply unleashed a torrent of fire magic inside. But that was just one of many embarrassing moments that would haunt her at night It was a replay that had no benefit whatsoever for the people that might buy it. But the issue was that Kim Ho would see no compelling reason to give up the points he might gain from the replay being bought. Feeling the need to balance things out, Hong Yeon-hwa pulled out a ruby from her inventory. In exchange for this I dont need it. Kim Ho shook his head. Was he implying that such a tiny ruby was nowhere near enough? Quickly, Hong Yeon-hwa fetched another ruby from her inventory. This one was several times larger than the first. Kim Ho silently took it and looked it over without saying a word. As the silence stretched, Hong Yeon-hwa kept glancing at him, wondering if this too was insufficient. Is this still not enough? Damn it, I have nothing left. The ruby she had just handed over was the most valuable item she possessed at the moment. As she watched him with bated breath, Kim Ho slowly nodded his head. Alright. Youve worked hard. With that, he walked out of the dungeon. Hong Yeon-hwa blinked her eyes in disbelief and started doubting her own ears. Did she mishear his last words? Did he just say youve worked hard? Did he just praise me? ****** TN: One toxic relationship lol. Chapter 62: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (1) Chapter 62: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (1) Whats this for? A large ruby was emanating a red glow in my hand. The essence imbued with the unique magic of the Ruby Magic Tower. Any transaction involving it would undoubtedly involve gold, and using it in crafting or upgrading items guarantees a high quality. It seemed excessive for merely making a replay private. After all, keeping replays confidential could be considered a matter of team ethics and was often resolved with something small like snacks or coffee. So when Hong Yeon-hwa offered the ruby, I shook my head. I didnt need it. But then, an even larger ruby appeared. Refusing again might lead to something even more extravagant, so I accepted it, though not without reservations. This wasnt something to be overly thrilled about; swallowing it whole could likely lead to stomachaches. Ill take it to the Ruby side later. I decided it would be best to discuss this with the club president. After all, I had plans to visit the Ruby Magic Tower eventually. I figured bringing the ruby might at least warrant some hospitality. Upon checking the time, I realized not much had elapsed since we entered the dungeon. It ended quickly. The purpose of this clearance strategy battle was to look closely and develop observation skills, even if it took some time. Yet Hong Yeon-hwa and I blitzed through the dungeon as if we were on a timed attack. Hong Yeon-hwa did a great job. It was the result of me meticulously planning efficient routes to minimize time but it was Hong Yeon-hwas ability to follow these routes that made it even smoother. Even if I could quickly locate the monsters, taking too long to defeat them or missing them would have delayed us. On the other hand, Hong Yeon-hwa displayed an impressive ability to burn down several monsters in an instant no matter how many appeared. She also fought well against the boss monsters. She held her own quite well against the twin trolls. In fact, these twin trolls were among the various bosses randomly selected and if you were particularly unlucky youd face them. They were even stronger than the notorious [Strong Enemy] Beheader Goblin. After she managed to deplete about 30% of their health single-handedly, I realized she truly lived up to her reputation as a promising student. And when it seemed she was reaching her limit toward the end, I stepped in but I had seen enough to make my decision by then. Enough to decide which skill to copy. Copy-Skill[2/2] 1. Overheat(D) 2. Thiefs Step(B) Overheat. This is a skill that absorbs a completed fire skill and grants physical abilities equivalent to the power of the absorbed skill for its duration. It means that absorbing [Flame Orb] which creates a large fireball would increase my stats more than absorbing [Combustion] which creates a small fire explosion. I only have one fire-type skill. But its an exceptionally powerful one. Inferno Fist. It was so powerful that I anticipated a huge boost in physical abilities when absorbed. Since Inferno Fist was a prohibited skill, it required cautious use, but now I could use it as an overheat sacrifice without caring much about others watching my replays. With the enhanced physical abilities, combined with the B-rank Thiefs Step and the shoes I received from Seo Ye-in I could probably play tag with the third-years. It seemed safe to divert my attention away from mobility for a while. [Sub Quest: 4th Week Strategy Battle](Completed) Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon Clearance: 100/100% Reward: [Copy-Trait] Slot +1 Copy-Trat [1/2] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) 2. (None) The 100% clearance reward was an additional [Copy-Trait] slot. Now, I could copy a new trait without having to overwrite [Elemental Resistance]. Unlike skills, traits did not have noticeable precursors when activated, making it more difficult to ascertain whether they were activated or not. And gauging their rank was even more difficult. And with all the original game characters replaced due to the aftermath of the EX-rank reincarnation quest, it would take some time to discover the traits of other students and teachers. So, I decided to postpone the task of copying the trait and focus on targets I was certain about. The boss monsters residing in the underground dungeon. *** Kim-hyung. In the evening, On my way to the dungeon building at the appointed time, I ran into Go Hyeon-woo. We walked side by side and exchanged a few words. Have you memorized all the strategies? Of course. I havent missed a single detail just as you instructed. The more closely you follow them, the better, and its okay to make a few mistakes. Just dont get too lost. But as the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it will come. In less than five minutes, Shin Byeong-cheol flinched and signaled to us. He urgently mouthed the words: Lets just pass by naturally. Just naturally. Soon, we could sense someone approaching from below and saw a group of second-year students coming up. We naturally lined up in a single file and stuck to one side while the others did the same on the opposite side. As we passed by each other, a couple of them glanced our way. They tilted their heads with an expression that seemed to say, Were these kids in our grade? However, they didnt seem to feel the need to scrutinize us further and quickly looked away. They were probably tired and bothered by everything after just finishing a dungeon raid. Fortunately for us, this worked in our favor. After the second-year students had disappeared up the path, Go Hyeon-woo and I silently turned our gazes towards Shin Byeong-cheol. Wasnt he the one who promised that we wouldnt run into even a single rat? Shin Byeong-cheol immediately started making excuses. We just had bad luck this time. You trust me, right? Instead of offering words of encouragement, Go Hyeon-woo seemed to decide it was best to quickly change the subject. How far have we come? We must be in the 700s by now. And what does the 700s mean? F-rank. We have to go much deeper for D-rank. Go Hyeon-woo was genuinely impressed. Wow. I had heard that the dungeon building was vast, but I had no idea it was to this extent. If it takes this long just to reach D-grade, I wonder how much further we have to go to reach the deeper levels Its not called the depths for nothing. Lets worry about that when we get there; for now, lets keep moving. In fact, the reason it felt so bottomless was largely because we secretly went down to the underground levels. To accommodate students who found walking tedious or didnt want to waste time, various means of moving between floors, such as elevators and teleportation circles, were scattered throughout the underground levels. However, one typically needed to scan their student ID to use these facilities and the usage of such things was recorded due to the installed crystal balls. We couldnt afford to leave a trail just for a bit of convenience, so we had no choice but to walk past them while ignoring their existence. While a more skilled guide might have been able to deceive the crystal balls, unfortunately, Shin Byeong-chul was also a new student just like us. We were left with no choice but to trudge along diligently. *** On our way to the destination, we encountered two more groups of second-year students. We had chosen what we thought was a quiet time in the evening and took the least crowded routes yet here we were. Ha This is a bit embarrassing. Shin Byeong-cheol scratched the back of his head. You can brush it off as bad luck once, but when it happens three times, its hard not to feel a bit shameless. Yet I didnt complain. After all, it was only his first time coming down here too. This was all about gaining experience for him. Its all good as long as we dont get caught. Just lead us better next time. Oh my, without doubt customer-nim. Please come this way. After escaping the dreary staircase, we ventured deeper into the dungeon corridors that resembled an ant colony. D-rank dungeons were scattered here and there with their mouths open and waiting for challengers. Each teleportation portal had a different appearance and the scenery glimpsed from inside was also different. [No.396] [Correspondence Bureau] [No.394] [7th Laboratory] If they shared one thing in common, it was the atmosphere; each one exuded a vibe several times more sinister than that of any artificial dungeon. We passed by several such portals until we stopped in front of one. [No.388] [Feathered Serpent Altar] Wait a moment. Before entering, Shin Byeong-cheol took several items out of his inventory and began to hurriedly install them around the area. This was to briefly disrupt the surveillance of the crystal balls in the area and ensure that no traces were left behind for potential tracking later. This was also part of the services provided by the thieves club. Shin Byeong-cheol swiftly completed the setup and dusted off his hands. All set. How long will it take? Well be over soon. Alright. Ill wait outside. After saying that, he took a few steps back. I exchanged glances with Go Hyeon-woo and nodded my head. Then we stepped into the portal one by one. Soon our surroundings changed abruptly. Chapter 63: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (2) Chapter 63: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (2) The sky was overcast as if rain might start at any moment. Dense foliage thickly populated the tropical rainforest. A visible path boldly cut through the rainforest. In the distance, a huge stone structure that looked like a pyramid stood out. This was the heart of the dungeon, the Altar of the Feathered Serpent. What came next was clear to anyone who looked. Following the path ahead would surely lead to the destination, the altar. However, whether the path would be smooth was doubtful. Sssssh! Several thin objects flew directly toward Go Hyeon-woo and me. With a quick sidestep, the objects flew past us and deeply embedded themselves into the ground and trees behind us. They were sharply carved wooden spears. Then, barbarians began to emerge from the underbrush, one after another. They didnt have much clothing on their bodies but their bodies were smeared with copious amounts of red and white paint. They do look somewhat strong like that. Their fierce expressions made them appear even more so. It seems that first impressions really do count. Sacrifices! Capture them alive! Sssssh! Despite their calls to capture us alive, they showed no hesitation in using their weapons. Some of the barbarians launched another volley of javelins while others charged forward, brandishing their wooden spears. I waved my hand lightly. [Wind Force] A gust of wind imbued with physical force tore through their formation and scattered them like leaves. The barbarians fell like dominoes, tumbling one after another. Those who remained standing lunged with their spears, but Swish! Go Hyeon-woo swiftly cut them all down in a flash. After a brief skirmish, we could see another group of barbarians rushing towards us along the path. A situation where there was no time to even have a conversation. Go Hyeon-woo glanced at me and nodded his head. I wish you good luck. And you as well. With that, he charged forward and started to slaughter the oncoming barbarians. With every flash of his iron sword, blood was splattered. As per our pre-determined strategy for navigating the dungeon, From this point on, we would act independently. Go Hyeon-woo continued along the path toward the altar while I veered off the path and entered the rainforest with no clear direction. I was swinging an F-rank jungle machete in an X pattern as I cut through the underbrush to advance deeper. The core rule of the Feathered Serpent Altar was the [Raid]. In summary, the rule was as follows: A party of up to four members would enter and fight their way through the onslaught of barbarians to reach the altar. At the altar, a ritual would be underway with even more barbarians awaiting. After getting involved in a bloody battle with them, eventually, the boss monster, the Feathered Serpent Priest, would appear. This moment marked the true beginning of the raid. The challenge was to disrupt the ritual while fending off the relentless attacks of the priest and his barbarian followers. Defeating the boss meant clearing the dungeon. Thats the standard approach, anyway. And it goes without saying that sticking to the beaten path and following the standard approach meant that hidden pieces would remain just a dream. So what can you find if you delve into areas that others overlooked? Just like now. Swish With a forceful swing, I cleared the obstructive branches on the jungle path and they fell to the ground. And a relatively open space revealed itself. Faint signs of human passage remained here and there. Following these traces would lead to A village with crudely built huts huddled together. Where there were barbarians, there was bound to be their stronghold. The [Feathered Serpent Altar] tended to overtly guide ones path and objectives, making it easy to overlook such subtle blind spots but recognizing them was important for obtaining hidden pieces. The number of barbarians in the village was small, as most of them were concentrated near the altar. The ones tending to the fire noticed me and abruptly stood up. I first greeted them with a friendly wave. Haha, hello there. Have you had your meal? A sacrifice? I threw four or five more of them in quick succession but it was just as meaningless. Of course, my aim wasnt to penetrate the barrier. It was to clear out those blocking my exit. I squeezed through a slight gap that had formed in the crowd and made my way outside. As I did, I didnt forget to throw a taunting remark. Try and catch me. Boom! Golden light surged and demolished the spot I had just vacated. While I waited outside nonchalantly as if nothing had happened, the priest emerged from his hut. He held a staff in his hand that gleamed with a golden light. Additionally, all the barbarians in the tribe surrounded us in a circle. I thought to myself as I dodged the flying golden energy and spears. Ive at least cleared the minimum conditions. The minimum prerequisite to obtain the hidden piece of the [Feathered Serpent Altar]. That is to keep the priest confined within the tribe. The moment the priest reaches the altar, the dormant hidden piece would automatically bind itself to him. It was necessary to keep them separated until Go Hyeon-woo could fully claim ownership. Thats why I had gone through the trouble of searching the forest and coming to the tribe. So far, everything was going according to plan. Bang! As I kicked the ground and stepped back, another clump of golden light fell down. Several barbarians chasing me took the hit instead and were crushed. These were not elemental attacks; getting hit by just one could be fatal. But I wasnt overly worried. It doesnt matter if I dont get hit. Dodging was something I was confident in. [Inferno Fist] My fist became engulfed in dark red flames. I wanted to unleash it fully, but if I misjudged my strength and killed the priest, the dungeon would close before Go Hyeon-woo could acquire the hidden piece. So, I had to restrain myself for the time being. The reason I cast Inferno Fist was for a different reason though. [Overheat] The immense power harbored in my fist spread throughout my body and started supplying me with energy. I dodged the incoming golden energy and surged forward. Pop! Pop! With each step, my surroundings blurred and the priests figure drew closer. Just as the priests eyes widened and he began to chant a defensive spell. My hand shot forward. It effortlessly shattered the invisible barrier protecting him and made contact with the priests chest. Boom! The priests body was sent flying back into his hut. There was a loud crashing sound of items being smashed from inside. Thats pretty effective. I shook my slightly numb hand. By using Overheat to strengthen my body and adding Wind Force to my attack, I managed to easily shatter a barrier of around D-rank strength. Still, given that he was a boss-level entity, there probably wasnt much damage to the priests actual body. I called out towards the inside. You might want to pay a bit more attention to your defense. It seems a bit too lax I immediately tilted my head to the side and a sharp golden rod whizzed past my head. I could feel a massive amount of energy swelling from inside the hut. there. You seem quite upset. I will not make your end a quick one. Boom! Boom! Boom! Now, clumps of golden light were falling in twos and threes. This too was part of the plan. The Feathered Serpent Priests top priority was to conduct the ritual. Drawing his aggro in a clumsy way would often lead to the priest abandoning the fight midway. So how can we prevent such an unfortunate event? Simply provoke him enough until you enrage him. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Of course, this approach came with the downside of making dodging significantly more difficult. While diligently moving my feet, I briefly glanced toward the distant back. A fierce battle must be unfolding at the towering Feathered Serpent Altar by now. Good luck, Go Hyeon-woo. The rest is up to you. Chapter 64: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (3) Chapter 64: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (3) Squelsh! With the sound of blood splattering the body of a barbarian crumbled down. This one was the last of them. Go Hyeon-woo thrust his slightly cracked iron sword into the ground. It seemed likely to break soon so it was better to throw it now rather than have it snap in the midst of battle. He pulled out a new iron sword from his inventory and started moving along the path once more. As Go Hyeon-woo walked briskly he took in the sight of a large rock on his right. All that could be seen beyond it was deep darkness but he knew. Its an ambush. It was all written in the strategy guide. There was no reason to wait for the enemies to make the first move. When Go Hyeon-woo launched himself towards the rock, the barbarians hiding there were taken aback and revealed themselves. Weve been spotted! Kill him! Spears flew towards him. Go Hyeon-woo responded with the same composure as before. With a smooth swipe of his iron sword, the spears rushing towards him lost their momentum and fell to the ground, followed by the heads of the barbarians. Swish! There was not a hint of hesitation in Go Hyeon-woos swordplay. Mercy was a luxury for those who offered humans as living sacrifices. Even amidst the blood-drenched scene, Go Hyeon-woos expression remained impassive. He immediately leaped to the next location. Theres no time to waste. By now, Kim Ho would be risking his life in a one-on-one battle with the boss monster. He had volunteered for the most challenging role to ensure that he could secure the hidden piece. What then was the best course of action available to him? To achieve his goals as swiftly and accurately as possible. Having familiarized himself with the [Feathered Serpent Altar] strategy guide and entered the dungeon, he realized that things were not as complicated as he had initially thought. It seemed that even a few mistakes wouldnt hinder his ability to accomplish his objectives. Perhaps because it was their first underground dungeon Kim Ho kept it simple and easy on purpose. However, Go Hyeon-woo had no intention of being satisfied with a mediocre performance. To execute it flawlessly, without a single error. And by doing so, he would prove something. That he could be trusted and relied upon, even in the more dangerous depths of deeper dungeons. As Go Hyeon-woos train of thought came to an abrupt halt, the path ended, and he emerged into a considerably large space. The Feather Serpent Altar was clearly visible from afar, but it was even more magnificent when seen up close. It felt as though one side of his vision was completely filled by it. Preparations for the ritual were in full swing in front of the altar. Prisoners who would soon be offered as living sacrifices were tied up in rows and waiting for their turn like livestock. Their eyes were devoid of life and they seemed to have resigned themselves to the inevitable death that awaited them. Several barbarians milled around them while continuously sprinkling something from baskets onto the ground. What should one call it? Seasoning? Meanwhile, the barbarians armed themselves and were prepared for confrontation. It was only natural, given that news of Go Hyeon-woo must have reached them by now. Hostile glares poured in from all directions. With these stares upon him, Go Hyeon-woo strode confidently through the crowd. What are you all doing? Capture him immediately! It doesnt matter if hes killed! At someones shout, every spear and sword in the area were aimed at Go Hyeon-woo. From that moment on, Go Hyeon-woo quickened his pace. He cut down anything that blocked his path and ran straight in one direction. He brushed past a man thrusting a spear. The next moment, a long gash appeared across the mans chest. Another attacker came at him, wielding a sword with a shield in front of him. Go Hyeon-woo tilted his body slightly and with a swift motion of his iron sword, split the shield and its bearer in two. Ahh! Keuek! Screams and death throes echoed as he moved swiftly on, leaving them behind. He already knew where to go. At Go Hyeon-woos intended location stood a large figure. He was noticeably taller and bulkier than an average person. The face paint was clear and unique, setting him apart from the typical barbarians. That must be Fatty. Among those waiting at the altar were two altar servers. They held a position just below the priest and were essentially acting as mid-level bosses. In Kim Hos strategy guide, they were nicknamed the Fatty and the Skinny. Fatty uses his brute strength to swing a thick log, while Skinny darts around with great agility and shoots poisoned darts. The battle becomes more difficult once the two start attacking together. Would be interesting to have a fight with them. After the loss of two altar servers, the barbarians momentum seemed to wane. Moreover, the altar itself appeared to be a sacred site that should not be tread upon lightly, and they hesitated to advance. Occasionally, he would cut down one or two people with a single sword strike who rushed at him without realizing that their lives were at stake. The entrance to the inner part of the altar was sealed by a thick stone door but it immediately responded when Go Hyeon-woo approached. The serpent emblem in his hand trembled and the door opened as if welcoming him. The interior was clean and tidy without a speck of dust, and a long sword was neatly placed in the middle of it. Though it was made of gold, it lacked luster, and countless hieroglyphs were engraved on the blade. It was more an artifact of art than a sword. [Feathered Serpent Magic Sword (D)] Originally, this magic sword was bound to the Feathered Serpent priest. During the final showdown, as the priest slowly moved towards the altar, failing to stop him would result in him arming himself with the magic sword. From that point on, one would have to fight against a magic swordsman who was good at both close-range and long-range combat. However, since Kim Ho had confined the priest to the tribe, and Go Hyeon-woo reached the altar first, the magic sword became his possession. But it wasnt over yet. Theres one more step remaining. As Go Hyeon-woo took hold of the magic sword and stepped away from the altar, an invisible foreign energy poured in. The magic sword greedily devoured it all. [Feathered Serpent Magic Sword (D+)] Souls of the Feathered Serpent Tribe 100/100 (Complete) Souls of the Feathered Serpent Altar Servers 2/2 (Complete) Soul of the Feathered Serpent Priest 0/1 (In Progress) The swords rank had risen from D to D+. The worn parts of the blade had been notably restored and the hieroglyphs became even clearer. It had been strengthened by absorbing the souls of the barbarians and the altar servers. Just one more, and the enhancement would be perfectly complete. Im heading back to the tribe. Go Hyeon-woo began to retrace his steps. With Kim Ho having left marks along the way, finding the tribe should be easy. *** Boom! Crash! I twisted my body this way and that to avoid the golden lights that were flying at me for who knows how many times. I paused momentarily to survey the scene. The tribe lay in ruins as if swept by a natural disaster. Barbarians were strewn about here and there. Most were the work of the priest. My only crime was running away. I must admit. I did occasionally use Wind Force to send some nuisances flying so Ill concede to being about 10% at fault. No! The priest who had been fervently casting magic suddenly shifted his gaze towards the altar. It was then that he realized his connection to the ritual sword had been severed. The transfer of ownership of the ritual sword meant someone had successfully infiltrated, which in turn implied that the two mid-bosses had been defeated. I guess its over. I was very satisfied. Judging by the time it had taken so far, it almost perfectly matched my expectations. It appears Go Hyeon-woo followed the strategy book quite accurately. If Go Hyeon-woo was unable to suppress his competitive spirit and took on both Fatty and Skinny at the same time, it would have cost him a lot of time. Moreover, had he not followed my instructions to take out the barbarians first when dealing with Skinny, not only would it have taken longer, but he would also have had to finish off the 100 barbarians for the ritual sword afterward. By prioritizing and adhering to my strategy, he was able to finish within the expected timeframe. You pass. With this much success, I felt confident enough to entrust the next hidden piece to them. Stop him! I will head to the altar. The priest pointed at me and commanded the few remaining barbarians. Then, he attempted to leave the scene in a rush but I called out, Where are you going all by yourself, Ahjussi? [Activate Amplification] [The rank of Wind Force has been increased. (C+->A+)] [Duration 00:01:57] [Cooldown 00:49:57] Whoosh! I created a gust directly in his path. The tremendous wind force made the priest try to resist with all his might but soon he was stumbling backwards and ended up embarrassingly landing on his backside. He then shouted with his face flushed red in anger. You!! Is it common to leave in the middle of a fight? Its quite disappointing. Dont get in my way!! Theres nothing left for you there. Its all over anyway. There was no need for him to go; Go Hyeon-woo was already on his way here. The final goal for strengthening the magic sword was to absorb the priests soul. There would be no obstacles in his way, as I had left markers for him. It wouldnt take long for him to reach this place. Lets wrap this up, shall we? My fist was engulfed in a dark red flame. Chapter 65: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (4) Chapter 65: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (4) The priest must be defeated, but in truth, a D-rank dungeon boss was still too formidable an opponent for Go Hyeon-woo to confront directly. It was clear that this was a task for me. Before unleashing my inferno fist, I should make a copy first. [Activate Copy-Trait.] [Registering the targets trait Priest (D) in the slot.] Copy-Trait [2/2] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) 2. Priest (D) It was the main trait of the Feathered Serpent Priest. This trait was a combination of several complex abilities, of which Increased Mana Sensitivity alone was very useful for mages. Bastard!! When the priest extended his staff, a cluster of golden light fell once again. I had been dodging successfully until now and had no intention of getting hit. I lightly stepped to the side and avoided the attack while closing in.Updated from With one hand clenched into a burning fist, I extended my other hand forward. [Wind Force] Whooosh! A wind imbued with physical force blew from all directions at the same time, pressuring the priest and leaving him immobilized. What is this?! When the priest squirmed futilely in place, I steadily closed the distance between us. At the same time, the fist I was gripping blazed even more fiercely. Realizing his imminent doom, the priest spat out a line befitting a third-rate villain. Do not think this is the end. I will surely! Sure, well meet again. The Inferno Fist struck the priests face. And a storm of flames engulfed everything in front before swallowing him whole. Kaboom! Kim-hyung!! Go Hyeon-woo arrived shortly after. He looked quite startled, probably thinking something serious had happened to me after witnessing the explosion of flames. He was immediately relieved when he saw that I was fine. Ah, youre here. It seems everythings finished. Just before you arrived. The timing was perfect. Go Hyeon-woo glanced down at his sword. Since the sword had just absorbed the priests soul, it was obvious what the enhancements were without even looking at it. [Feathered Serpent Magic Sword (C)] High-Level Durability Protection Automatic Durability Recovery Elemental Resistance (F) For a C-rank sword, the abilities werent particularly that great. However, in terms of durability alone, it could be considered as C-rank or higher. Additionally, the inclusion of even the F-rank [Elemental Resistance] would provide some help when dealing with magic. It was, in every sense, an item tailor-made for Go Hyeon-woo. His face lit up as he reviewed the swords abilities. Such abilities! All thanks to Kim-hyungs arrangements. Ill make good use of it. We did this together. But this, Im keeping for myself. Four wooden boxes were now placed where the priest had once stood and each one of them was exuding a mysterious aura. [Feathered Serpent Altar Random Box (D)] *4 Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head in agreement. Is this what you mean? For me, this sword alone is more than enough. Right. Lets get out of here. The dungeon began to crumble slowly. Having defeated the priest, who was both the core and the boss monster of the dungeon, its collapse was inevitable. There was no benefit in staying any longer so we needed to hurry out. When we came out, Shin Byeong-cheol greeted us. Oh, it really didnt take you that long? Told you it would be quick. Even though it was a D-rank dungeon, we completed it perfectly in a short amount of time. It was thanks to the seamless cooperation between Go Hyeon-woo and me. When I came out and looked back, the dungeon entrance which had been the size of a large door had shrunk to the size of a fist and lost its color, turning black and white. A dungeon whose core had been destroyed would close its entrance like that, making entry impossible until enough time had passed for the core to regenerate. By then, the Feathered Serpent Tribe we had defeated would be fully resurrected and they would roam the inside of the dungeon once again. This would inevitably lead to someone else entering the dungeon to conquer it; the core would be destroyed, and the cycle of regeneration would repeat endlessly. Nevertheless, this marked the successful completion of our first underground dungeon level. But it was too soon to let our guard down. After all, we still have the return journey to make. We entered the underground dungeon without following any official procedures and secretly destroyed its core. Even though Shin Byeong-cheol did his best to erase our tracks, the fact that the dungeon had been destroyed could not be hidden. Soon, someone would come down to investigate the situation. It was very likely to be one of the faculty members managing the dungeon building. A crack appeared on Song Cheon-hyes face. *** Song Cheon-hye remained in a daze for a while. It was a trivial bet, yet the fact that she lost seemed to have shocked her. Perhaps it was the shock of having a lower overall strategy score than mine. Either way, we took this opportunity to quickly say our goodbyes and hastened our steps. Han So-mi would take care of the rest, I hope. I decided to keep the right to a wish as a debt in my heart for the time being. After all, the bet wasnt made with the intention of making any grand requests, so I planned to ask about the latest developments in the disciplinary committee later on. The next day. After lunch, during a brief moment of free time, Seo Ye-in, Go Hyeon-woo, and I gathered in a secluded spot. Shin Byeong-chul was too busy with his errands at the center. With both of their gazes fixed on me, I pulled out four wooden boxes from my inventory. [Feathered Serpent Altar Random Box (D)] *4 . Go Hyeon-woo looked down at the boxes with evident interest, and Seo Ye-in was also unusually curious as she poked at the boxes with her finger. Go Hyeon-woo asked, What comes out when you open these? Im not sure. There are so many different items. Thats right, a myriad of items could spring forth and with no disclosed odds, even I wasnt fully aware of what each box contained. But there were a few items that were known to appear quite frequently, and among these, my goal was to find items prefixed with Priests~. As long as an item carried this prefix, it would be a D-rank item, and I would be satisfied regardless of its type. Ill now begin the unboxing ceremony. Clap, clap Seo Ye-in gave silent applause. It might have seemed lackluster, but that was the most animated reaction she could muster. I picked up a random box and showed it around as if doing a magic show, and then I lifted the lid with a solemn expression on my face. Flash! The emanating glow wasnt particularly bright. Still, the contents remained a mystery until they were examined. [Rank Up (E)] Not bad. Considering the rank of the random box, this was a decent find. The Rank Up was a very important item to me. I gratefully accepted it. Next. I proceeded to open the second box. This time, I simply lifted the lid while leaving the box in place. Flash! Ah. Ah. Go Hyeon-woo and I both exclaimed in admiration. It was because a glow far more intense than the first burst forth. [Priests Black Bracelet (D)] Its here. I silently cheered to myself. It was a Priest item, and moreover, one that fell into the category of accessories I favored. Considering the Rank Up that had appeared before, this was definitely more than breaking even. With that in mind, I made an offer to the two of them with a more generous heart, Would you like to try opening one each? Would that really be alright? Go Hyeon-woo had conceded all the random boxes to me and was content with just the magic sword, but it seemed he was still curious about what the boxes contained. Go Hyeon-woo carefully picked up the third box. After taking a deep breath, he lifted the lid. Click. [Feathered Serpent Tribes Wooden Cup (F)] Ahem Go Hyeon-woo seemed to be embarrassed and started to clear his throat repeatedly. From the moment of opening the box, not a single beam of light was visible and just as expected. Occasionally, daily life-related items that have nothing to do with combat appear in random boxes, and this was a case like this. I nodded indifferently. Bad luck. Im ashamed in front of Kim-hyung. Dont worry about it too much. These things happen all the time. In the world of random draws, its normal to accept whatever outcome one gets without blaming others. Even if Go Hyeon-woo was unlucky, I was the one who decided to leave it to him. He decided to use the wooden cup as a teacup. Now, only one random box remained. Go Hyeon-woo and my gaze shifted to Seo Ye-in. It was natural to feel pressured by the atmosphere, but Seo Ye-in casually brought the last random box in front of her and opened it with the utmost ease. Flash! ******** TN: Some people are just lucky Chapter 66: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (5) Chapter 66: No.388 Feathered Serpent Altar (5) Flash! Our vision was momentarily engulfed in white as if a flashbang had gone off. Even after the light faded away, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in remained dazed for a while. Such occurrences were exceedingly rare so I too found myself slightly taken aback. I gathered my wits and checked to see what kind of item had appeared. It was a large cushion with a simple design. Unfortunately, it was another daily life item just like the wooden cup Go Hyeon-woo had just drawn. However, the rank of this daily life item was no ordinary matter. [Feather Cushion (B)] A cushion, of all things is ranked B? While its possible for C and B-rank items to emerge from a D-rank random box, the chances are so slim that theyre practically negligible. Yet Seo Ye-in actually did overcome those miraculous odds to draw this cushion. The B rank was typically reserved for items worn by third-year students and is precious items such as the [Invisible Ghillie Suit] that Seo Ye-in used or the [Cloudstepper] I received as a gift previously. That such rare equipment shared its rank with the cushion meant its value was similarly significant. As if to prove that fact, there were a lot of effects available. [Feather Cushion (B)] A cushion filled with feathers from an unknown mystical creature. Accelerates fatigue recovery Recovers from mental status ailments Slight increase in resistance to mental status ailments with long-term use . . The acceleration of fatigue recovery meant, in simple terms, that one hour of sleep could alleviate two hours worth of fatigue. The benefits of recovery from and increased resistance to mental ailments were also very good. Moreover, it offered numerous beneficial effects to aid a good nights sleep, such as alleviating insomnia and easing neck disc problems. Judging solely by its performance, it was comparable to equipment dropped in deep dungeons, but Its a shame its something you only use when sleeping. The effects of daily life items were geared towards facilitating a comfortable and affluent lifestyle. Being someone who prioritizes combat and growth and is obsessed with extreme efficiency, I found about half of these features somewhat unnecessary. Given that I spent most of my free time at the training center, there was little use for a cushion in my routine. Of course, even considering only the combat and growth-related features, it would be somewhat beneficial. However, it seemed more practical to sell it and secure other items instead. A B-rank daily life item would likely attract many buyers. I wonder if I should hand it over to the errand center, or perhaps put it up for auction. While I was pondering over various options, my gaze fell on Seo Ye-in. She was intently staring at the cushion. As always, her expression was unreadable but her gray eyes sparkled with interest. It was clear that she really wanted it. Do you want it? When I asked, she immediately nodded her head in confirmation. Normally, her reactions tend to be a half-beat delayed but this immediate response was a first. Was this the power of the cushion? Setting aside emotional aspects like were friends, after all, I tapped into my mental calculator to weigh my options. The most pressing question at the moment was: Would it be better to sell it? Or should I give it to her? Perhaps giving it to her might be the better choice. I had no way of knowing exactly how much Seo Ye-in slept each day, but it was clear she needed a lot of rest. Using the cushions fatigue recovery acceleration feature could significantly reduce her resting time. If her rest became more efficient, she would naturally have more waking hours, which, in the grand scheme of things, could lead to increased training time. Of course, there was also a definite possibility that the outcome might not meet my expectations. Still, its worth a shot. Considering the potential time saved if successful, it seemed like a fair trade to part with a B-rank daily life item. Having thought this through, I subtly pushed the cushion towards Seo Ye-in. Alright, its yours. Really?This chapter is updated by When I readily offered it, she seemed incredulous as if she couldnt believe I was giving it to her or perhaps she wasnt accustomed to receiving things from others. I took the cushion and firmly placed it into Seo Ye-ins arms. The members of the thieves club hastily rose from their seats. The girl with the tablet also attempted to leave but Dang Gyu-young called out to her. Da-bin stays. Byeong-cheol as well. The club room fell into sudden silence. The shadowy hand kindly pulled out a chair for me. Leaning comfortably in the chair, Dang Gyu-young cleared her throat softly and spoke. Ahem, ahem, pay no mind to what was just said. Yes, senior-nim. Do give it some thought though. Ill consider it. When I responded vaguely, Dang Gyu-young pursed her lips. Actually, Ive wanted to join the thieves club for a long time! Perhaps she wanted this kind of answer. Of course, that was far from the truth. Lets go straight to the main issue at hand. Ive heard things have gotten complicated. Yes, theres been a bit of a problem. An external issue. Before delving into the specifics of dungeon strategies or fees, it was necessary to discuss whether she could take on my request. And without addressing the external issue Dang Gyu-young mentioned, the request couldnt proceed. If it was an external problem related to the underground levels, it was almost certainly about, Bidding, I assume. Thats right. Is it an open bid, or a preferential bid? Preferential bidding. Bidding. Once the core of an underground dungeon is destroyed, it becomes inaccessible until it regenerates over time. A good example of this was when Go Hyeon-woo and I tackled the [Feathered Serpent Altar], after which the portal turned gray and was blocked. Given this, the number of people who can challenge a specific dungeon within a certain period is limited, and theres always competition for dungeons that drop valuable rewards. To manage this competition in an orderly manner, Dragon Slayer Academy introduced a bidding system. This system collects data on the combat strength of bidding parties, their previous success rates in dungeon raids, and the expected duration of the raid, then assigns turns starting with the most suitable party. This is the usual bidding process. Each club holds a certain number of [Preferential Bidding Rights]. Just as using a [Crafting VIP Ticket] allows one to skip the queue and place a crafting request at the top of the list, using a preferential bidding right allows a party to ignore all conditions and gain the right to challenge the dungeon first. And now, these preferential bidding rights are at stake for the [Black Death] dungeon. The involvement of preferential bidding rights indicates that a particular club is exerting its influence over that dungeon. And so what if I ignore this and just go in? A conflict will arise. A conflict was inevitable in this case. For this reason, the client preferred to steer clear of such dungeons, and the thieves club had summoned me to gauge my intentions. What will you do? Shall we look elsewhere? However, the issue at hand was the pressing need for me to conquer the Black Death. Specifically, it was about a particular reward that could be obtained only within the Black Death. Waiting for another opportunity was problematic since dungeons filled with immense energy like deep dungeons, take a very long time to regenerate once their core is destroyed. And the challenge of finding another dungeon offering similar rewards was far greater due to the higher difficulty levels. So, I expressed my willingness to even risk conflict with the opposing club. No, I would prefer to proceed. Dang Gyu-young slightly furrowed her brow. So, despite there already being a bid, you want me to break through? Yes, is that not possible? While she generally preferred to avoid such situations, it wasnt impossible if the compensation was sufficient. And I had already demonstrated that I had the means to pay her adequately. Yet, Dang Gyu-young still seemed reluctant. This implied one thing. The force that had placed the bid was powerful enough to make even the thieves club hesitant. I asked again, Which club is it? A big one. I couldnt help but nod my head at Dang Gyu-youngs reply. The swordsmanship club. . A big one indeed Chapter 67: The Depths (1) Chapter 67: The Depths (1) The swordsmanship club. It was a pillar among the four major powers within the Martial Alliance. The sole requirement for joining was the use of a sword as ones main weapon. There was a saying that the sword was the king of all weapons, and the number of students who used swords was overwhelmingly greater than that of other weapons. Moreover, as long as one wielded a sword, the club did not discriminate against members from other factions outside the Martial Alliance. This gathering of swordsmen had formed one of the top two huge forces within the Dragon Slayer Academy. Only the White Magic Club could somewhat rival it with a significant gap between them and the other clubs. Should a full-scale conflict arise, even mid-tier clubs like the thieves club could be swiftly overwhelmed, so even someone like Dang Gyu-young had no choice but to be wary here. Of course, someone at the level of a club president would have a few means to smooth over any issues that might arise. It was likely that most of Dang Gyu-youngs concerns were directed towards me. You probably know this, but getting on the bad side of the swordsmanship club is on a whole different level than with the Emerald. Are you still going to go through with it? Yes, I am. Dang Gyu-young was taken aback by my immediate and unwavering response. It seemed she had expected me to back down at this point. Really? Youre serious? Really. I did find the timing somewhat coincidental. I hadnt anticipated that my goals would align with those of the swordsmanship club at this very moment. But that was all there was to it. Eventually, I was bound to either collaborate with or confront the Martial Alliance in some way. The only difference now was that this intersection of paths was happening sooner than expected. Ill take care of everything. Please proceed. . Dang Gyu-young looked at me with complicated eyes before shaking her head in resignation as if to say she couldnt stop me either way. Haah, alright. I suppose our junior-nim here who has graduated over 200 times must have some tricks up his sleeve. So well proceed with this plan. When do you plan to head out? Its a dungeon that takes up quite a bit of time, so Friday seems like a good choice. Yeah, Friday does seem best from my perspective too. Whos going with you? The handsome guy and the girl with the gray hair you brought last time? She was probably referring to Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-eun, with whom she only lightly got to know during my duel with the Emerald Magic Tower. Just the handsome friend will accompany me this time. Werent you with him on Monday too, for the D-rank one? With Byung-cheol as the guide. For the depths, two more will join you. It will be me and her. Dang Gyu-young pointed to herself and then to the girl with a tablet. Shin Byung-cheol was taken aback and asked Youre going yourself? If were going to do this, might as well do it right. But Ill be charging extra for labor. What do you think? Following that, Dang Gyu-young sought my opinion. I would be grateful if someone with the skills of a club president would be covering for us, even if it meant paying a higher price. I also like to be sure. Good. Dang Gyu-young would use shadows to erase the presence of those accompanying us, while Shin Byung-cheol would take care of the physical devices. Naturally, disabling magical engineering devices like crystal balls was the responsibility of the girl with the tablet. Meanwhile, the tablet girl was quietly listening to the conversation on one side with a tired expression on her face. But her fingers never stopped tapping on the tablet. Dang Gyu-young glanced back and forth between me and the tablet girl before she tilted her head in confusion. ? Why does it look awkward between you two? Her face seemed to say. Then, something seemed to click in her head and her eyebrows shot up in realization. Its not awkward; were just meeting for the first time. We had seen each other during the raid on the temporary storage, but I had been wearing a mask at that time. It was only because she was still carrying the tablet around that I recognized her; otherwise, I would have had no clue. Dang Gyu-young noticed that point too late and introduced her to me. Ah, this is Chae Da-bin. The tie pin indicated she was a second-year. Chae Da-bin gestured towards me and asked, Its a request, so I dont mind going down with him, but hes a first-year? Can he beat a B-rank dungeon? Thats Well, explaining it outright is a bit complicated. Hey, is it alright if I tell her that? Id rather live with the regret. Im someone who prefers to live a long and humble life. Im sorry, but it might be better to look for another senior to Ghost Dance. ! ! The faces of the three members of the thieves club hardened at once. [Ghost Dance] was a hidden piece that no one in classes valuing stealth could simply ignore. Even the two assassins Jang Sam and Wang Pil had been tempted and the thieves before me were no exception. Dang Gyu-young asked, That actually exists? I thought it was just an urban legend. It does exist. I knew how to find it. It would take some time but I was confident I would find it within the semester. Sharing that hidden piece with the three individuals before me was the reward I offered. Of course, giving you the Ghost Dance just for helping me reach this dungeon in the depths would be a loss for me, so Ill ask for a few more favors. Thats only fair. What about you Da-bin? Chae Da-bin furrowed her brow in thought and did not respond. The sudden offer of such a significant hidden piece as a reward must have seemed unbelievable to her. Dang Gyu-young sought confirmation once again. Can we really trust this person? Hes not one to make things up, thats for sure. Then I cant miss this opportunity. Ill take on this request. Me too. Since Byung-cheol is out, we just need to find a replacement. Who was good at dealing with mechanisms again? Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin were already discussing the matter while excluding Shin Byung-cheol from their considerations. Suddenly, Shin Byung-cheol did a complete 180 and inserted himself into the conversation. Hey, hold up, time out. Who said anything about being left out? You cant discuss mechanisms without mentioning Shin Byung-cheol, can you? Werent you the one saying you wouldnt go because it was too risky? After giving it some thought, I figured if we follow the strategy closely, it should be fine, right? Shin Byung-cheol sought my agreement. I echoed the words Shin Byung-cheol had just used. Didnt you say you wanted to live a long and humble life? Me? When? A true man lives a short and impactful life, right? Shin Byung-cheol was blatantly denying his earlier words. His skin seemed so thick that it appeared as if not even a tribal spear could pierce through it. For me, there was no downside. I had confirmed that Shin Byung-cheols ability to dismantle traps was on par with those in the second and third years. If he was willing to join us, he was more than welcome. However, there was a baseline of effort that had to be met. I flashed a grin and pulled out another stack of documents. Memorize this by Friday. It was the [Black Death] strategy guide, not the summarized version Dang Gyu-young had, but the original version I had made Go Hyeon-woo memorize. Shin Byung-cheols expression turned to one of suffocation as he gauged the thickness of the documents. Guh, this is quite a lot. Isnt it a bit too much to memorize all this in just two days? Given that we were actually entering the dungeon, there was much more to be aware of, hence the volume of material. So there was no room for compromise on this matter. Skimming through the dungeon guide or granting more time were both out of the question. Youll have to give something up, then. Either take fewer errands or cut down on sleep. .. Theres always the option not to participate if you dont like it. Upon hearing this, Shin Byung-cheol adopted an exceedingly polite demeanor and took the strategy guide. Theres no way I dont like it. Give it here. Ill input every single detail into my brain. Ill test you later. If you get it wrong, youre not coming. Dont worry. I said Ill memorize it all, didnt I? As if eager to start immediately, Shin Byung-cheol took the documents and headed to a corner of the room. I could hear him muttering to himself, Never thought Id see the day Id be studying again Chapter 68: The Depths (2) Chapter 68: The Depths (2) The iron doll stretched out its fist. Go Hyeon-woo charged forward while swinging the magic sword in his hand. For a moment, a golden trail was drawn in the air. Clang! The sword collided with the fist before the iron doll was forced to take a half step back. Following that momentum, Go Hyeon-woo quickly advanced and struck the iron dolls head with a fierce blow. Clang! The iron dolls form staggered and fell to the side. Then, another doll came at him while swinging a long iron rod. Go Hyeon-woo concentrated his inner energy on the sword and thrust it forcefully at the dolls neck area. Thud! The iron doll was sent flying backward before it tumbled to the ground. Go Hyeon-woo lightly slashed through the air with his magic sword a few times. Ive grown quite familiar with it. It was a little awkward for him at first because its length and weight were very different from the iron sword. However, after several days of sparring with the iron dolls, he had gotten the hang of it. He was now confident that he could use it effectively in real combat situations. He checked the time and realized it was already morning. He spent another night at the training center which became his usual routine. With some time still to spare before his classes, he planned to practice his mana in the special cultivation room before heading to school. But first, he thought it might be wise to grab a quick bite to eat. His breakfast options were likely to be the usual: either a calorie bar or a Byukgokdan. (TN: Byukgokdan is like a nutritional pill that lets you practice without worrying about food.) However As Go Hyeon-woo rummaged through his inventory, he narrowed his eyes. . A careless mistake. Both the Byukgokdan pills and the calorie bars had run out. He was occupied with various matters lately so he had forgotten to replenish his supplies. Even though training was important, he shouldnt just skip his meals. After all, neglecting the bodys balance could also lead to a decline in skills. Its been a while since Ive had breakfast. A proper breakfast, not a calorie bar or anything like that. Ever since he descended the mountain and enrolled at Dragon Slayer Academy, the pleasures of food have always occupied a corner of Go Hyeon-woos mind. However, his main focus had been on honing his skills and fulfilling the aspirations of his sect which often meant making sacrifices and giving up such pleasures. But now, with his inventory completely empty, it seemed reasonable to enjoy a proper meal at the student cafeteria while stocking up on calorie bars. Go Hyeon-woo left the training center with a slightly excited heart. When he stepped outside, he spotted the figure of Kim Ho walking ahead who appeared to have also spent the night training. Go Hyeon-woo approached him with a greeting. Good morning, Kim-hyung. Youre out early. Dont you usually leave later? Im planning to have breakfast. Thats unusual for you, but lets go together anyway. As they walked together, Go Hyeon-woo suddenly posed a question that had come to mind. Miss Seo wont be joining us? Given that Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in were almost inseparable on a daily basis, it seemed natural to assume they would share breakfast this morning as well. To this, Shes already eaten? Kim Ho tilted his head and answered as if he himself was surprised. He seemed as surprised as Go Hyeon-woo by this news and showed him the messages they had exchanged earlier. [Kim Ho: Meal?] [Seo Ye-in: (Shaking head rabbit emoji)] [Kim Ho: You ate?] [Seo Ye-in: (Nodding rabbit emoji)] Miss Seo up and about this early? Thats unusual. Go Hyeon-woo also tilted his head. For Seo Ye-in to rise early was as rare an occurrence as Go Hyeon-woo going to the student cafeteria for breakfast. However, Kim Ho soon shrugged it off as if it were no big deal. Shell probably be in class. Lets just focus on our meal for now. The breakfast menu featured a giant triangle gimbap that was several times larger than the usual ones. It was stuffed with a generous amount of meat. For Go Hyeon-woo, this was truly a blessing in disguise. How lucky Since both of them valued efficiency, they ate their giant triangle gimbap while walking to the classroom. By the time they arrived, their hands were cleanly empty. When they arrived at Class 3, Seo Ye-in was already there waiting for them. She was holding a familiar paper bag in her hands. [The rank of Core increased. (D->C)] I managed to increase the rank of my core by one level by Friday. This ensured that I had amassed a sufficient amount of mana for the deeper dungeons. All possible preparations have been completed. All that remained was to obtain the reward I desired from the [Black Room]. Ill finally get a weapon worthy of the name. I retrieved the [Levitating Iron Rod] I had crafted earlier in Workshop No. 1. Due to the inferior quality of the metal compared to the parts, it had only achieved an E rank. As a result, it has seen little to no significant action until now. When I gently infused mana into it, a weak rising air current lifted my bangs and disappeared. It was as if it was protesting for me to get the weapon a proper body quickly. Just wait a little longer. I promise to use the finest metal available. *** Friday night. I met with the members of the thieves club and Go Hyeon-woo near the Dungeon building. Dang Gyu-young glanced over at us and said Is everyone here? Lets go. And she calmly took the lead. Go Hyeon-woos expression subtly changed as he tilted his head in confusion. His eyes seemed to question me. Arent we forgetting something? On Monday, I changed my tie pin and put on an anonymous badge, but since I didnt have anything on me today, perhaps I gave off the air of being underprepared. Especially since we were heading towards the far more dangerous depths of the Dungeon building. Instead of offering a lengthy explanation, I merely pointed at the thieves leading the way. ust watch. If theres one thing certain about them, its how thoroughly they fulfill their requests. Building trust is essential for securing future requests. Moreover, with the head of the thieves club personally overseeing this task, there was no chance of a careless execution. As the clients, our best course of action was to follow without unnecessary worry. But if I were to give a short answer to Go Hyeon-woos question, it would be: Half-hearted tricks wont work in the depths. Would something as trivial as a badge fool the experts residing in the depths? Additionally, most of these tricks are meant to prepare for situations where you run into someone on the way down. So what if you were confident that you would never run into anyone on the way down? Then there would be no need for any of those things. As if to affirm this confidence, Dang Gyu-young demonstrated her skills as soon as we entered the underground. The shadows at our feet quivered, and soon, several small black butterflies took flight. [Shadow Butterfly Flight] The butterflies flapped their tiny wings vigorously before disappearing down the circular staircase or beyond the corridors. Dang Gyu-young led us, following the path taken by the shadow butterflies while occasionally stopping or changing direction. As we progressed, she continued to conjure more to scout ahead. Scout. First, she sent out shadow butterflies and, if one of them caught something, she would lead the group to safely distance themselves. Since they were scouts created with extreme concentration in magic, they could discern situations from much farther away than typical exploratory magic. Moreover, the butterflies moved so stealthily that the chances of being detected by patrolling guards were extremely low. It was unlikely that anyone less skilled than Dang Gyu-young could capture them. Chae Da-bin also fully used her skills. From the moment she stepped into the circular staircase, her hands never once stopped tapping on the tablet and perhaps because of that, none of the crystal balls or security devices installed in the places we passed through were working. Thanks to the guidance of the two seniors, there was no need for a lengthy journey. When Dang Gyu-young stopped the group in front of an elevator, Shin Byeong-chul quickly stepped forward to fiddle with a few devices and Chae Da-bin operated her tablet. Then, without even swiping a student ID, the elevator began to operate on its own. After riding the elevator down for a while, we followed Dang Gyu-youngs lead to the next elevator. After repeating the process a few times, we had covered an immense distance in a short period of time which was something unimaginable when we were merely following Shin Byeong-chul on foot. Were almost there. The final elevator brought us near the entrance to the depths where the C-rank dungeons were clustered together. Due to the high risk of detection, it was decided to walk into the depths from the C-rank area, rather than taking a direct elevator. As we got closer to the border between the underground and deeper levels of the dungeon building, everyone started to get a little nervous. Even Dang Gyu-young who had been relaxed throughout the journey now wore a serious expression on her face. She started recalling all the shadow butterflies she had dispersed. No matter how stealthy the shadow butterflies were, there still remained a slight chance of detection. And because even that small chance could trigger an alert throughout the depths it was best not to deploy them from this point forward. We walked down the stairs with more cautious steps than before. Finally, we entered the entrance of the depths. Chapter 69: No.104 Black Death (1) Chapter 69: No.104 Black Death (1) (TN: Black Room dungeon is changed to Black Death dungeon. Sorry for this mistake.) Even at the entrance, the boundary of the depths was imposingly fortified. Watch posts staffed by faculty members were erected at regular intervals, and the number of crystal balls embedded in the ceiling exceeded that of the underground levels by more than twice. Moreover, two third-year disciplinary committee members could already be seen. They seemed to be roaming a designated area in a regular pattern as if on patrol. Could we possibly breach this place? It might just work with those two. With Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin, the chances of success were high. Infiltrating the temporary storage had been challenging even with just one member of the third-year students guarding the place, but the situation was different now. Unlike the senior with the hell axe who had been fervently guarding the storage room door, these students were unaware of our plans to infiltrate tonight, let alone that our target was dungeon number 104. Guarding the sprawling expanse of dungeons inevitably leads to gaps in their surveillance. For someone as skilled as Dang Gyu-young, exploiting such gaps wouldnt be difficult. However, It would be difficult with an extra burden. The burden, of course, included myself and the other first-year students. I lacked any skills or traits to conceal my presence aside from the [Thiefs Step] and there was no need to even mention Go Hyeon-woo. Shin Byeong-cheol might have learned a few things but his overall level was low. With such a burden of three freshmen, it would be too much even for the president of the thieves club. So, we need to offload this burden. Dang Gyu-young would likely have a way to do so. Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin silently compared the prepared map with the scene before them and started talking with each other through lip reading. They examined the patrol routes of the two student disciplinary committee members and started improvising a strategy to evade them on the spot. As soon as their brief exchange ended, Chae Da-bins fingers began furiously tapping on the tablet. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap, So fast that her fingers were a blur. With the number of crystal balls doubled, it seemed her workload had increased twofold as well. Dang Gyu-young too gathered mana to prepare a considerably large spell. The shadows at our feet grew increasingly darker. Shin Byeong-cheol approached Dang Gyu-young and gestured for us with his mouth. Group up, this way. In the meantime, Chae Da-bin had seemingly neutralized all the crystal balls in the area and her hands abruptly stopped. Then, with a short word as a signal, Its ready. Dang Gyu-young released the prepared spell. [Shadow Pouch] Shadows burst forth from beneath our feet and they formed a large shadowy pouch. The pouch, like a living creature, opened its maw and swiftly engulfed us. Our vision was enveloped in pitch-black darkness. Only Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol were faintly visible beside me. Soon, I felt a swaying sensation, as if being rocked side to side. It appeared Dang Gyu-young was transporting us within the shadow pouch. Go Hyeon-woo looked to be interested and he attempted to feel around the walls but I stopped him. Stay still. Ahem Causing any disturbance could potentially affect Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin, who were moving us from the outside. Staying as quiet as possible seemed like the best strategy. After a moment, it felt as though the shadow pouch spat us out, and our vision returned to normal. The first thing that came into view was: [No.104] [Black Death] The dungeon portal we were aiming for. I gestured with my eye to Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol and pointed to the entrance. We go in immediately. There was no time to hesitate. We had to enter right away since we didnt know when the patrol members might come here. Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin mouthed a word each to us. Come back alive. Good luck. And to Shin Byeong-cheol, they added a few more words. Bring back a gift. Watching his retreating figure, Shin Byeong-cheol quietly observed him before asking me, Are we here for him? Yes. Shin Byeong-cheol had also memorized the strategy guide by force, so he was fully aware of what was to happen next and what needed to be done. The reason we had sought out this inn was precisely because the waiter was the next target of the Black Death. It wasnt because there was anything particularly special about him that made him a target. The Black Death simply took young men one by one periodically, much like carnivores picking out their meals. It just so happened that it was now the waiters turn. The three of us leisurely waited while eating dumplings. And by the time the plate was almost clean, The old wooden door opened, signaling the arrival of new customers. However, these customers did not enter; instead, they stood firm by the door while peering inside. Two men dressed in dark-colored martial arts uniforms. The black snake tattoos on the back of their hands revealed their affiliation. Low-ranking warriors of the Black Death clan. One of the warriors sent a sharp gaze in our direction as if to inspect us, but we did not react immediately and continued to finish the remaining dumplings. At that moment, the waiter poked his head out from the kitchen, spotted them, and stiffened up completely. A warrior from the Black Death clan cracked a sinister smile and broke the silence. Doing good business? Surprisingly, there are customers today. The waiter replied in a flustered tone. I-Ive already paid this months dues. No, today we are here for a different reason. At the mention of a different reason, fear visibly mounted on the waiters face as if he had guessed what it might be. Meanwhile, the smile on the low-ranking warriors face grew more and more. Come with us. That, thats You cant! A middle-aged man who seemed to be the chef burst out of the kitchen and shouted. He hugged the waiter as if to shield him. However, as the Black Death clan warrior intensified his menacing glare, the man couldnt muster the courage to meet his gaze. It was exceedingly difficult for an ordinary person to withstand the oppressive aura emitted by a martial artist. Yet despite this, the middle-aged man was desperate. This was because none of the young men who had been taken away by the Black Death clan in such a manner had ever returned. He was trembling and barely managed to speak, My son, not my son, please Thud! Before he could finish his plea, the low-ranking warrior kicked him, sending him tumbling to the ground. The warrior glanced at the middle-aged man groaning on the floor, then directed a sharp intensity our way. It was a warning not to interfere. He then spoke to the waiter. Follow us. Hesitate, and I will cut him down. Seeing his hand caressing the sword at his waist, the waiter had no choice but to comply. Any further resistance might result in facing the middle-aged mans corpse, so he had no option but to quietly be taken by the Black Death clan. Ah. When the Black Death clan warriors and the waiter vanished from sight, The middle-aged man struck with despair, slumped down with his gaze fixed on the ground. His son had become someone who might never return. I slowly approached him. As I stood there silently looking down, the middle-aged man became aware of me and lifted his eyes. I asked with a slight smile, Shall I go and bring him back? A flicker of hope appeared on the middle-aged mans face. Though it was clear he had little expectation against the warriors of the Black Death clan, he seemed desperate to cling to any straw of hope. If you could do that What then? I would give anything. Anything at all. I grinned. Just remember, no changing your mind later. Chapter 70: No.104 Black Death (2) Chapter 70: No.104 Black Death (2) I left the inn and followed the tracks of the two warriors from the Black Death clan. Soon, I spotted the back of their black uniforms and the nape of the waiters neck. They quickly became aware of our presence. This was likely because we made no effort to conceal our pursuit. Instead of calling for reinforcements, they began to lure us somewhere. This meant that they believed they could handle us on their own. We willingly followed them and soon found ourselves in a confrontation in a deserted area. One of the Black Death warriors recognized us and said, So its the folks from the inn. Have you come to play the hero? Yes, I couldnt stay still in the face of such injustice. I couldnt stay still in the face of the hidden piece too. When I sent a glance to the side, Go Hyeon-woo added. Indeed. How can we just stand by and watch an innocent young man being taken away? Your courage is commendable but foolish. Your sense of justice will hasten your death. Swoosh. Warrior A immediately drew his sword from his waist. Warrior B, however, seemed to have a slightly different idea. After sizing us up, he spoke to A. These ones have strong builds. They might be useful. Shall we take them too? Yes, but try to subdue them without causing too much damage. A limb or two can be spared, right? Of course. Their attitude meant that overpowering us would be as easy as flipping their hands. I too signaled to Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul. Try not to damage the clothes. Understood. We needed to salvage their uniforms. Without any warning, I cast [Wind Force] on Warrior A, signaling the start of the battle. What the Caught off guard by the wind pulling him towards me, he momentarily panicked but quickly regained his composure and used the wind to launch himself at me, aiming to sever my arm. I tilted my head slightly and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck before slamming him down to the ground with force. Bang! Perhaps because he was a very resilient guy, he was not immediately incapacitated and swung his sword while lying on the ground. Just before the blade could slice my ankle, I leaped a spans height into the air, dodging the blade, then cast Wind Force again before lifting him up and slamming him back down. Thud! Seeing that he was still conscious, I grabbed his head and drove my knee into his temple with a crunch. Crack! Turning my attention to the others, I saw Go Hyeon-woo and the lower-ranked Warrior B exchanging blows rapidly. Their fists and palms intertwined swiftly in mid-air. Shin Byeong-chul hovered nearby, trying to trip him up or strike from behind, but often ended up taking hits himself. The fight seemed somewhat messy.Updated from It was unclear whether this was because Go Hyeon-woo wasnt using his main weapon, the sword, or because Shin Byeong-chul naturally fought in a scrappy manner. The ridiculous skit-like scene finally concluded when Shin Byeong-chul secured him in a headlock from behind, allowing Go Hyeon-woo to deliver a solid punch to his solar plexus. We stripped the subdued warriors of their uniforms, tied them up tightly, and carelessly tossed them aside. By the time they woke up or their absence was noticed, we would have long since departed from the dungeon. Shin Byeong-chul seemed to ache all over from the brief battle, and he was frequently massaging his shoulders and limbs. Are these guys really just lower-ranked warriors? Not some kind of small leaders? Yes, these are the weakest ones here. Though they were indeed lower-ranked, they belonged to the deeper B-rank dungeon. They would be considered elite or mid-boss level in any ordinary low-level dungeon. Me and Go Hyeon-woo were one thing, but Shin Byeong-chul would not stand a chance in a one-on-one fight with them. Therefore, avoiding combat was essential. Nonetheless, the first step had been accomplished. I spoke to the inn waiter who was standing beside us awkwardly, Lets go back. *** Son! Father! The father and son pair embraced each other as if they hadnt seen each other for decades, sharing a moment of family reunion. It might have been a touching scene to some, but I had seen it too many times to feel much emotion. Reflecting on it, I dont think I felt much the first time I saw it either. However, an unexpected battle of pride, not between men but rather like that of half-grown boys, broke out, leading us to devour the duck soup as if in a battle. The result was a draw, with everyone reluctantly finishing their servings. In such cases, the inn selling the duck soup would be the only winner. However, since the owner refused to accept payment, this was not the case. After finishing the duck soup, we set aside our playful attitudes and seriously reviewed our strategy. The approach to tackling the Black Death dungeon was broadly similar to that of the Feathered Serpent Altar. While I engaged the key forces, Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul were tasked with securing the target items. A crucial difference from the Feathered Serpent Altar was the overwhelming strength of the Black Death Clan, making them impossible to defeat. Thus, we needed a different method to conquer the dungeon. Bring them out. Responding to my request, Go Hyeon-woo placed two items on the table. They were expensive purchases from the student store. One was a tiny communication device to be worn in the ear, allowing us to stay in touch during the operation. The other was a piece of parchment engraved with a complex magic circle. [Emergency Escape Scroll (B)]. It was a one-time-use item designed to create an exit, allowing for escape without having to clear the dungeon. It boasted an incredibly powerful effect but came with significant limitations; so if used carelessly, it can lead to problems. Because this part was important, I emphasized it again by pointing to the scroll. No matter what happens, you must make it to a safe area before using it. What happens if its used in the wrong place? If youre extremely lucky, an escape portal might open But if not, theres no guarantee where the portal might lead. There was a non-negligible chance of ending up in an unidentified dungeon. To ensure a safe exit, the scroll should only be used after completing all tasks and within a safe zone, like the abandoned house we first entered. Shin Byeong-chul nodded his head in understanding. Okay, so we just need to stick to the plan. Ive also memorized it. After reviewing several other key elements of the strategy, We left the inn and went our separate ways. Then, Kim-hyung, I wish you good luck. You guys too. Keep in touch along the way. While Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul moved towards the secret passage, the starting point of this attack, I found myself with some free time. So, I took a stroll through the marketplace and picked up a few gifts. I remembered Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin telling me to bring some snacks when I came back, so I mostly focused on that. By the time my inventory was brimming with snacks, Go Hyeon-woos voice came through the communication device I had plugged into my ear. [Weve arrived.] Alright, lets get started. After giving a short answer, I went straight to the Black Death clan. There were two gatekeepers leaning crookedly at the main gate, and one of them spotted me and asked a question. Who goes there? I didnt respond and kept advancing. The gatekeepers seemed to sense something unusual in the confident and direct approach of my stride towards them. The expression of the one who had questioned me turned fierce, and he immediately drew his sword to point it at me. I asked who you are! I continued to approach without giving an answer. Then, the gatekeeper charged at me while swinging his sword. What he hadnt noticed was that my fist was glowing red-hot and was emitting faint wisps of smoke. Dodging the sword aimed at my neck, I lunged forward and thrust my fist out, Boooooooooom!! A storm of flames erupted, sweeping everything in front of me, including the two gatekeepers. Where the main gate once stood, there was now a gaping hole, leaving the space eerily empty, and the flames that had jumped to the buildings were growing larger. I paused and watched the scene for a while. It burns well. They say the most entertaining spectacles in the world are watching a fight and a fire, and it seems that saying holds true. I was the one who started the fight and also the one who lit the fire, but those were minor details. Soon, the interior became as noisy as a disturbed beehive. Whats happening? Whats going on? Its at the main gate! Fire! Put out the fire quickly! They must have been wondering how such a bolt from the blue struck on a peaceful day. I decided to help the Black Death members understand the situation. Taking a deep breath, I raised my voice to its fullest and shouted. Its an enemy attack! Come here! Chapter 71: No.104 Black Death (3) Chapter 71: No.104 Black Death (3) A group of individuals clad in black surged out and crossed the flames to gather in front of the main gate (what remained of it). With the crowd being large, it was easy to spot several skilled individuals among them. Master level, Grand Master level, and Elder level A warrior who seemed to be of elder level repeated the question that had just been asked. And who are you? The enemy attack. . Madman. I wont argue with that. I readily agreed with that since my current actions bordered on crazy. Realizing I was not someone to reason with the Elder issued an order. Attack. The figures in black spread out like a fan around me and launched a coordinated attack. Several blades were aiming at me from all directions. After skillfully maneuvering through the gaps, I channeled [Wind Force] into my hand and struck a figure in black on the right. Bang!Updated from The figure of the black-clad man tangled with those of his comrades behind him, and they all tumbled to the ground together. Seizing that brief opening, I slipped through the encirclement and delivered a second [Inferno Fist] to the one who had pursued me the closest. Booooooom! In an instant, about a dozen figures in black were reduced to ashes. In contrast, those ranked as masters or higher showed their skill by swiftly evading the range of the fiery storm. It was clear that such attacks were less effective in a B-rank dungeon. Although the encirclement quickly reformed, having witnessed and experienced what had just happened, they hesitated to advance rashly. The Elder guy who had first addressed me attempted to initiate a conversation. Even though he called me a madman earlier, his tone was now surprisingly polite. Could you possibly be a descendant of the Flame Emperor? Flame Emperor? What was that supposed to mean? Did the Inferno Fist which was a fire-type attack make him think of such nickname? If they were to misunderstand me in such a way, I would actually prefer it. It meant that attracting their attention had become easier. I deliberately adopted an even more arrogant expression on my face. I have no answer to give to mere scum of the heavenly demon cult. .. Upon hearing those words, the figures clad in black exchanged glances among themselves, seemingly coming to an understanding. The atmosphere tensed up considerably, and it seemed I was firmly labeled as a descendant of the Flame Emperor. Normally at this point, any typical martial artist of demonic sects would scatter to save their own skin, but not one of the figures in black fled; they all stood their ground. The Elder quickly instructed someone who appeared swift, Hurry and bring back the leader. Everyone began to burn their fighting spirit as if they were determined to fight to the death. Shiiik! This time the Elder took the lead and came in thrusting his sword at me. I narrowly dodged the blade and lunged forward, but the Elder exchanged several blows with me even with the hand not holding the sword. However, after a few exchanges, he was ultimately struck in the chest by a forceful wind and sent reeling backward in disarray. Of course, my opponent was not the Elder alone. As I immediately kicked the ground to evade, the spot where I had just been was savagely torn apart by the swords of the figures in black. Seizing one of the pursuers close behind me, I hurled him away and launched a blast of compressed air along with him. The figure shot away like a cannonball, but the others did not catch him; they simply stepped aside. Eventually, the figure disappeared into the distance. Come on, isnt he your friend? Such heartless bastards. Nonetheless, this created a brief moment of respite, and seizing this opportunity, I clenched my fist and thrust it forward with all my might. Just when someone cried out in urgency, Dodge it! The masked people scurried out of the way in front of me. Yet, nothing happened. I didnt use the Inferno Fist, after all. I couldnt help but smirk with my fist still extended. Scared, arent you? Still, Im faster. Despite my taunts, I hadnt been using my full strength either, so the same scenario unfolded. As I retreated, the Black Death Clan leader pursued me relentlessly while slashing through the air. After this bizarre chase went on for some time, he suddenly asked, How long do you plan to keep running? Until I hear from Go Hyeon-woo. Once I received the signal, I wouldnt just retreat and dodge around; I planned to turn my back and sprint away at full speed. But until then, I was intent on biding my time. However, being too overt might raise suspicions of an ulterior motive. It seemed the leader of the Black Death Clan was beginning to sense something was off, so it was time for me to land a significant blow. If you truly wish to see my real strength, then I shall show you. At the sight of my fist turning a dark, blood-red color, the Black Death Clan leader momentarily slowed his offensive to prepare for what was to come. But instead of unleashing the flames that enveloped my fist, they were absorbed back into my body. [Overheat] The flames spread throughout my body and provided me with immense power. The Black Death Clan leaders expression hardened as he observed the flames. . So, you are indeed a disciple of the Flame Emperor. Thats not it at all. Youre still going to deny it Before the Black Death Clan leader could finish his sentence, I made a surprise move. In an instant, I compressed space and reappeared behind him. He turned swiftly to claw at me but his reaction was a beat too slow. When I moved again to the opposite side and extended my hand, a compressed air burst exploded right in front of the Black Death Clan leader. Boom! It wasnt meant to cause damage, but merely to make him squint momentarily. That was enough. I had successfully created a blind spot in his field of vision, however brief it was. I seized this fleeting opportunity to move directly in front of the Black Death Clan leader. [Inferno Fist] [Wind Force] A burning fist followed by a gust of wind infused with physical force struck squarely into the abdomen of the Black Death Clan leader. Kaboom! His figure was instantly sent flying into the distance before crashing into the Black Death clan. A storm of flames ensued and the buildings near the impact site crumbled into ruins. .. Despite the dramatic turn of events, the reaction from the members of the Black Death Clan was overly dry. Their leader had just been sent flying, yet they all stood firm and maintained a fan formation without a hint of emotion. Not a single one cried out in concern for their leader. This implied one thing clearly. They harbored an unshakeable belief that their leader could not possibly be defeated by such means. I also didnt have much expectations. This wont be enough. The [Inferno Fist] skill, while boasting immense destructive power relative to its rank due to its severe penalties, still fell short of taking down the final boss of a B-rank dungeon. This raised a question. If a fairly large tribes priest is a D-rank boss, how does a single leader of a Black Death Clan warrant a B-rank? And how could he remain unscathed after taking a direct hit from the Inferno Fist? The answer was surprisingly simple. This is not a Black Death Clan. Boooom! From the spot where the Black Death Clan leader had crashed, a surge of dark energy erupted explosively. Debris from the collapsed building scattered in all directions as a figure shrouded in black energy walked directly toward me. Dreadful demonic energy was streaming out from every part of the Black Death Clan leaders body. After the great demon war, the once mighty Heavenly Demon Cult had been shattered and divided. And the true identity of the Black Death Clan leader was that of a high-ranking official who once oversaw the Black Death Sect of the Heavenly Demon Cult. The Black Death Clan Leader, or rather, the Black Death Sect leader glared at me and spat out his words venomously. If I dont tear you to pieces today, I swear Ill grind my bones to dust. My response remained the same. Save such threats for after youve caught me. Chapter 72: No.104 Black Death (4) Chapter 72: No.104 Black Death (4) Meanwhile, Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul were making their way along a narrow and dark corridor. This secret passage had been constructed when the Black Death clan was first established but it gradually faded from memory as time passed. Eventually, it became a place unknown to anyone, especially after the entire leadership including the previous Black Death clan leader had been replaced. How Kim Ho came to know of it remained a mystery, but it proved to be an excellent route for infiltration. Boom! A distant explosion echoed through the corridor, shaking loose dust and dirt from above. Kim Ho must have started his part. Quite the commotion. This was proof that Kim Ho was causing a disturbance at the main gate. And that was to create an opportunity for a smoother infiltration. They needed to hurry to take advantage of this moment. The two quickened their pace even more. Once they had crossed through the secret passage, the scene within the Black Death clan was utter chaos. It would have been more surprising if there wasnt chaos, considering an intruder had detonated something akin to a powerful bomb at the main gate. Whats happening? Whats going on? Its at the main gate! Fire! Put out the fire quickly! The Black Death clan warriors were busy running around the place and paid no attention to Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul because they had changed into the black uniforms they had stolen earlier. And Shin Byeong-chul had roughly drawn a snake tattoo on the back of their hands. Though the snake looked somewhat crude, Go Hyeon-woo decided to be satisfied with it. Its at least better than Miss Seos He thought that if Seo Ye-in had drawn it, it might have looked more like a worm than a snake. Their target, the Black Death clans secret treasure room, was located deep underground. As they walked in the opposite direction of the warriors rushing towards the main gate, they occasionally encountered others who gave them suspicious looks as if wondering, Where are these guys going? Some even stopped briefly to take a closer look at Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul. Their faces clearly showed they found the two to be unfamiliar. Each time they were scrutinized, Shin Byeong-chul would point aggressively toward the main gate and bellow out, Hey! Didnt you hear? Its the main gate, the main gate! Then, leaving the puzzled Black Death clan warriors behind, they quickly moved away. However, such simple tricks ceased to work once they truly entered the underground. Two men in black stood guard near the entrance.Visit for the best novel reading experience These two remained unflinchingly at their posts despite the chaos above. Judging by their stance, these guards seemed to be at least half a full level more skilled than those they had encountered near the inn. They were likely among the elite warriors of the Black Death clan. As Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-chul approached, one of the guards examined Go Hyeon-woo for a moment before drawing his sword. An intruder. .. When Go Hyeon-woo silently inquired with a glance how he had been so easily identified, the elite warrior responded, Many have lost their heads upon entering here without knowing the proper passages. Besides He continued reluctantly, I dont recall ever seeing someone who looks as much like a pampered scholar as you do. When translated into mens language, the term pampered scholar meant that he was unnecessarily handsome. Shin Byeong-chul who also heard that grimaced and his face crumpled like a piece of tissue paper. Fu*k. Life is so unfair. Caught for being too handsome? I wish that would happen to me too. Sadly, Shin Byeong-chul who was clad in the black warrior uniform blended in seamlessly with the others. He was embodying the perfect image of a low-ranked warrior C of the Black Death clan and his face was completely devoid of any sense of incongruity. While Shin Byeong-chul internally cursed the world, Go Hyeon-woo cracked a slight smile and then slowly stepped forward. I should merely be grateful for the compliment on my appearance. However, I do hope for your understanding. Understanding of what? Flash! In an instant, a golden flash sparkled from Go Hyeon-woos hand. The elite warrior was no ordinary fighter and managed to raise his sword in defense immediately, but it was to no avail as he was split in two along with his sword. Suddenly, Go Hyeon-woo was holding a golden magic sword in his hand. Go Hyeon-woo looked down at his crumbling opponent and added, That I must strike you down. Then he turned his gaze toward Shin Byeong-chul. Hey, hey! Help! Hurry! The latter was desperately retreating after getting overwhelmed by his opponent. Given that he was no match even for the lowest-ranked warriors, he wouldnt be able to face an elite one. Left with no choice, Go Hyeon-woo joined in and swung his sword. When the second elite warrior fell, Go Hyeon-woo playfully remarked, Shin-hyung, it seems you need to train even harder. Well, thats not entirely wrong, but honestly, its more about you guys being exceptionally strong. Isnt it odd for a freshman to be rampaging through a B-rank dungeon? Go Hyeon-woo turned to look back at Shin Byeong-cheol with a faint smile. Skill is good, but wouldnt it be better to complement it with force? Lets do that. Shin Byeong-cheol who was now humbled readily agreed. As they took turns taking the lead, they soon found themselves in the treasure room of the Black Death clan. More precisely, at one of the walls of the treasure room. The entrance was guarded by warriors even more skilled than any they had encountered so far, so they had no choice but to quietly make their way through as if burrowing through a mouse hole. Shin-hyung, please step back for a moment. When Shin Byeong-cheol took a few steps back, Go Hyeon-woo smoothly drew his sword several times. The thick stone wall was cut as smoothly as tofu before revealing a layer of mechanical devices. Naturally, this part was Shin Byeong-cheols to handle. When Shin Byeong-cheol stuck a few chopsticks in and gave a signal, Go Hyeon-woo swung his sword once again. Finally, a large hole was made in the wall which allowed the two of them to enter. Inside the treasure room, indeed, were treasures of great value and rarity. Gold and silver treasures, ceramics, famous swords, secret manuals, elixirs As they looked around, Shin Byeong-cheol couldnt help but drool at the sight. Wow Just selling one of these could fetch an unimaginable price However, if one valued their life, they would have to stop at just drooling. Each item was heavily affixed with black talismans, which were poison charms specially crafted through the martial arts of the Black Death clan leader. The slightest touch would trigger the talismans to release a cloud of poison gas and this small room would instantly fill with deadly fumes. Unless one was fully prepared against poison attacks, it was best not to tamper with anything. But there was only one item not covered with talismans in this room. There it is. Go Hyeon-woo enhanced his vision and looked into every nook and cranny of the interior before he found a small chest hidden in a deep recess. It was entirely coated in black paint and he almost missed it, despite looking right at it. It was so cunningly concealed that one might wonder if even the leader of the Black Death clan of that era had accidentally overlooked it before failing to attach a talisman. [Leaders Black Chest] Shin Byeong-cheol took the chest and gently shook it from side to side but no sound came from within. Just as he was about to shake it more vigorously, Go Hyeon-woo stopped him. Lets deal with this later and hurry. Theres nothing to gain by delaying. Thats true. Considering the number of Black Death clan members they had encountered and dealt with on their way here, the longer they took, the higher the chances of being discovered. So, the two quickly retraced their steps back the way they had come. Since they have already neutralized the traps and mechanisms, they have gained a good amount of time. Once out of the Black Death clan and into a safe area, their mission would be complete. Shin Byeong-cheol was already so relaxed that he started talking nonsense. Man, that was surprisingly easy. Nothing weird popped up at all. Shin-hyung, lets not tempt fate with such talk. Ah, right. I have a big mouth. Shin Byeong-cheol playfully mimed zipping his mouth shut. But as the saying goes, words can come to life Not long after, Go Hyeon-woo who was leading the way dramatically slowed down and soon came to a complete stop. Why, what is it again. Shin Byeong-cheol started to ask but then fell silent. Upon spotting an old man standing at the end of Go Hyeon-woos gaze. The old man was dressed head to toe in white. His skin was devoid of any color, making him appear ghostly pale, and even the pupils of his eyes were stark white. Normally, white conveys a sense of cleanliness and purity, but the excessive whiteness of this old man gave off an eerie vibe instead. Go Hyeon-woo recognized the old man with such a unique appearance; he had heard about his identity from Kim Ho. A heavy feeling settled in a corner of his heart. Go Hyeon-woo silently sighed to himself. Though he said wed hardly ever encounter him, it seems our path has just gotten more complicated The old man gazed down at the wounds on the body of the deceased Black Death clan members before lifting his eyes to meet Go Hyeon-woos. Your handiwork is quite clean. Did you do this? Thats right. Go Hyeon-woo admitted frankly, then respectfully inquired further. By any chance, are you the elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Senior Baek Hyeok-seo? At the mention of his real name, a flicker of interest passed through the old mans eyes, and he slowly nodded his head in acknowledgment. Baek Hyeok-seo. He was the deputy leader of the Black Death clan. In the past, he was a revered senior of the demonic cult known as one of the Twin Black and White Demons. I am indeed the White Snake. The hidden boss, White Snake. Go Hyeon-woo had come face to face with the worst possible opponent one could encounter in the Black Death dungeon. Chapter 73: No.104 Black Death (5) Chapter 73: No.104 Black Death (5) White Snake. A remaining elder of the heavenly demon cult that was torn apart and hidden beneath the surface. Even the clan leader of the Black Death clan, known as the Black Snake, couldnt fully control him which made him an extremely unpredictable factor in the conquest of the Black Death dungeon. While wandering aimlessly within the Black Death dungeon without any clear pattern, you might encounter this hidden boss if you were really unlucky. And now was exactly such an unlucky moment. Go Hyeon-woo attempted to gauge the extent of White Snakes power, but his eyes couldnt see through his limit. True to the nature of a hidden boss in a B-rank dungeon, his skills were significantly superior to Go Hyeon-woos. If it comes to a battle, we will certainly lose. The outcome of their confrontation would be decided within a mere ten exchanges. The disparity in their martial strength was so vast that escape was also out of the question. Yet, it was too soon to give in to despair. Theres still a way out. When Kim Ho created his strategy, he also took this slim probability into account. Naturally, there were plans to deal with situations where the White Snake appeared. The only issue was that these plans were far from simple to execute, and their success now hinged on Go Hyeon-woos actions. Meanwhile, White Snake surveyed Go Hyeon-woo with his piercing white pupils and started assessing him from head to toe. And then as if he was impressed by what he discerned, he remarked in a low voice, To achieve so much at such a young age is truly remarkable. Its all thanks to my masters and friends. Youve been blessed with good masters and friends. But its a shame. White Snake seemed to view Go Hyeon-woo quite favorably, yet as a member of the Black Death clan, he appeared determined to fulfill his duties. The tension that had been contained began to unravel, making the atmosphere in the room grow oppressively heavy. If you had been given another 10, or even 5 years, you would have made a name for yourself as an exceptional swordsman. But having met me today You can only blame your luck. Just as White Snakes sleeve began to flutter. Go Hyeon-woo who was doing his best to conceal his emotions spoke in a calm tone. I have one request for you, senior. Speak. Do you remember the promise you made to Hyun Yang-jin? I have not forgotten. A profound look appeared in White Snakes eyes. The reason he had managed to survive the Great Demonic War in the past. It was all due to Hyun Yang-jin, a Taoist master who had subdued him before showing mercy at the last moment. In doing so, Hyun Yang-jin had extracted a promise from White Snake: should he ever find himself in a position to take the life of a promising young talent, he should show mercy just once. To put Go Hyeon-woos words simply, they amounted to a plea of Repay your debt of life and let us go. Go Hyeon-woo felt uncomfortable at the thought of mentioning a promise between legendary masters of the previous generation which he barely understood. Still, he decided to move on as this was also part of the strategy. White Snake responded, I did indeed make such a promise. However, whether you are worthy of mercy remains to be seen until I have tested you. This implied that unless Go Hyeon-woo proved to be the promising talent mentioned in the promise, White Snake was prepared to kill him. Shin Byung-chul silently protested internally, Didnt you just commend his remarkable achievements? Are you changing your words now, old man? Yet, sensing that speaking up might lead to dire consequences, he remained silent. Go Hyeon-woo then asked, What must I do? White Snake answered plainly, Why complicate matters? If you can withstand three moves of mine, I shall let you go. That settles it. Go Hyeon-woo clenched his fist tightly, As per the strategy guide, they have successfully steered the situation towards enduring three moves. He knew a direct confrontation with White Snake was out of the question, but there seemed to be a glimmer of possibility in surviving just three moves. This was the only way to carve a path to survival in their current predicament. I will take your test, senior. Very well. Prepare yourself. The task was relatively more feasible, yet by no means easy. After all, he was to withstand three moves from an opponent who was leagues above him in skill. White Snake unsheathed his sword. At first glance, it looked similar to a regular long sword. However, everything from the hilt to the blade was white, and the tip was split like a snakes tongue. This was White Snakes unique weapon, the Snake Tongue Sword. With the sword hanging down, White Snake offered, I will let you make the first move. Then I ask for your guidance, senior. Go Hyeon-woo gathered all his energy. In the next moment, he rode upon the fierce wind that arose and shot forward. Attack is the best form of defense. He aimed a powerful thrust at a single point, provoking the opponents defensive technique. This way, he hoped to overcome one of the three techniques. [Clear Stream] The white pupils of White Snake took in Go Hyeon-woos approaching form. In the briefest of moments, he examined everything in front of him. Not only the wind, but you also control the flow of energy. This is no ordinary skill. But, Just as White Snakes eyebrows seemed to be pierced by Go Hyeon-woos magic sword. White Snake assumed a sword stance and then swung his sword lightly. Recognizing the familiar form of the technique immediately, Go Hyeon-woo identified it. Viper Guarding the Hole? Viper Guarding the Hole. This technique mimicked the appearance of a viper coiling in its cave and guarding its domain. It was known as a very basic technique and was second only to foundational forms like the Three Movements Sword Technique. However, the Viper Guarding the Hole as executed by White Snake was anything but simple. The moment the technique was unleashed, his treasure sword split at the sides like a snakes tongue. It turned out that his treasure sword was a flexible blade capable of bending like a whip. Thus, the split blades formed two separate sword paths, each moving independently. The concentrated energy in Go Hyeon-woos magic sword clashed with one Viper Guarding the Hole, only to be neutralized and dissipated by it. Then, a second Viper Guarding the Hole struck Go Hyeon-woo. A tremendous impact was inflicted on his entire body, and Go Hyeon-woos figure smashed into the wall before crashing down. Crash! Grrr He nearly lost consciousness in that instant. It felt as though he had been struck by the massive tail of a serpent. White Snake looked at Go Hyeon-woo and said,New novel chapters are published on Your technique has strength but lacks consideration for the aftermath. Its something that would be used in a do-or-die situation. Even in its sheath. It seemed that this sword had neutralized the White Snakes final and strongest technique. Cough. Go Hyeon-woo spat out another mouthful of blood. His complexion had turned significantly paler than before. It seemed like he had paid a considerable price just for holding that long sword for a moment. Even so, it is a great sword White Snake was impressed. Its common to compare a highly skilled master to a well-forged sword, but this was the opposite. It felt as though some transcendent being, rather than a sword, was blocking the way. What was the true nature of this long sword? And what was the identity of Go Hyeon-woo who owned that long sword? Although many questions remained, the duel had concluded. Asking more would only make him sound petty. After White Snake retrieved his private sword, he spoke, This old man does not speak falsehoods. Make way. By that time, the arena was already filled with people in black robes who had rushed in upon hearing the commotion. But following White Snakes command, they parted like the tide and created a path. Go Hyeon-woo did not immediately step forward but instead bowed deeply to White Snake with utmost respect. I shall come here again. I look forward to it. With that, Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol quickly left the scene. By the time the backs of the two people were no longer visible. One of the elite warriors among the men in black spoke to White Snake. Please give the order. I will bring back their heads. Wordplay could have been played on to no end. Considering the promise made with Hyeon Yang-jin, it was White Snake who had promised to spare them, not the warriors of the Black Death clan. Moreover, White Snake had only promised to spare Go Hyeon-woo, not Shin Byeong-cheol who was with him. Sending subordinates to deal with them wouldnt pose any problem. However, White Snake shook his head. Let them go. Do you intend to make me a petty man, unworthy of respect? Go Hyeon-woo had already proven his worth beyond measure. White Snake had no desire to tarnish the outcome of their recent confrontation. Beyond the distinctions of righteous and evil sects, or even the Heavenly Demon Cult, he was a martial artist above all. Despite White Snakes firm stance, the elite warrior persisted in his plea to send a pursuit team. The barrier has been breached. If we let them go like this, our leader will not stay still. Shhh! The treasure sword split the air before wrapping around the high-ranking warrior and slicing him into three pieces in an instant. Now, a subtle fury laced White Snakes voice. Are a few items more important than the debt I owe? ..! ..! The people in black robes quickly bowed their heads. No one dared to raise any further objections. In the ensuing silence, White Snake gazed in the direction Go Hyeon-woo had vanished while deep in thought Even on the brink of death, he had maintained his manners with a respectful bow. His eyes blazed with a fighting spirit. People like that always kept their word. He will definitely return. *** Even though he was staggering, Go Hyeon-woo moved swiftly through the passageway. Shin Byeong-cheol kept looking back, but it seemed the warriors from the Black Death clan truly did not pursue them any further. At least the old man doesnt play with words. It was too soon to be completely at ease, but the immediate danger seemed to have passed. With this thought in mind, Shin Byeong-cheol pulled out a potion from his inventory. The high-quality glass bottle contained a swirling red liquid. Lets recover a bit before we go on. Drink this. Go Hyeon-woo drank the potion handed to him by Shin Byeong-cheol in one gulp without even checking it properly. He frowned because the taste was extraordinarily bitter, but soon the color slowly returned to his face. Phew Thats much better. Thank you. It should be better. Itd be strange if it wasnt. His tone carried the confidence of an assured recovery. It was only then that Go Hyeon-woo looked down and noticed that even the empty glass bottle was of high quality. This implied that the contents must have been of considerable value as well. This is Its called a high potion. Shin-hyung must have spent a lot on this. To offer such a precious item I spent a lot really. Its a critical loss. But what choice do we have? The situation demanded it. The high potion had been carefully stored in his inventory for a time when their lives might hang in the balance. Shin Byeong-cheol himself never had the opportunity to taste even a drop of it. However, their luck was at its worst when they encountered a hidden boss. Thanks to Go Hyeon-woo risking his life in battle, both were able to leave the place unscathed. Even Shin Byeong-cheol, who was usually sensitive to gains and losses, felt a pang of conscience that prevented him from just standing by idly and pretending nothing had happened. Moreover, realistically speaking, Go Hyeon-woo who was severely injured would slow them down. In the event of a chase, they would stand no chance which led Shin to reluctantly pull out a high potion. Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head in understanding. Shin-hyung shows great generosity in crucial moments. Truly, you are a man of honor. I too am a man who does what needs to be done. Remember that. Haha, is that so? Despite this, the high value of the high potion meant he couldnt help but feel a twinge of regret. So Shin Byeong-cheol decided to shift his thoughts. And he recalled the last conversation between Go Hyeon-woo and White Snake and asked, So, you plan to come here again? Yes. Do you really need to? Next time you come, that fellow wont remember you anyway, right? It was said that the swordsmanship club had already bid on this dungeon. In the near future, they would destroy the dungeon, and after some time when the Black Death dungeon regenerated, White Snake would no longer remember Go Hyeon-woo. Yet, Go Hyeon-woo seemed resolute in his decision. Whether he remembers me or not is not what matters. Whats important is that our battle is not yet over. While it was true that White Snake had shown them mercy because of a past debt, that was merely the superficial reason. If White Snake had only cared about the past debt, there would have been no need for him to test their potential under the guise of wanting to see if they were promising talents. If the skill gap was so wide, the outcome would be evident at a glance, and one exchange of moves would have sufficed. The real reason they exchanged as many as three moves was likely the warriors spirit within him, desiring to face a fully grown Go Hyeon-woo in a proper duel someday. Therefore, even if he doesnt remember this encounter if the circumstances were explained to him, White Snake would likely gladly engage in a match with him. I will definitely return. Chapter 74: No.104 Black Death (6) Chapter 74: No.104 Black Death (6) I quickly darted to the side. Crash! Three black streaks of energy had just slashed through the spot where I had been standing. As I stepped back again, the Black Death Clan leader clenched the empty air in front of him. When he pointed at me with his index finger in that state, it seemed as though his finger stretched out before sending a force hurtling toward me. Realizing that capturing me directly was impossible, he has since resorted to pursuing me while simultaneously launching long-range attacks. These distant attacks were highly toxic due to the nature of the martial arts that the Black Death clan leader practiced. As those poisonous energy attacks kept falling in the wrong places, the area gradually became saturated with venom which transformed the land into a desolate wasteland. Deep craters dotted the landscape with black puddles forming and acrid smoke billowing upwards. For the time being, not a single blade of grass would grow in this vicinity. Even after wreaking such havoc, the Black Death Clan leader hadnt even grazed my clothes which seemed to frustrate him slightly. You possess exceptional agility, I must admit. However, Im puzzled. The Flame Emperor is known for his fierce and vicious martial arts, yet how can his disciple be so frivolous? Ive told you, Im not his disciple. So I was hopping around like a grasshopper after all. Just as I was about to leap again, like a grasshopper, the voice of Shin Byeong-cheol came through the communication device plugged into my ear. Its over. Were moving to the safe zone. Great. See you there. The eyebrows of the Black Death Clan leader furrowed. He had realized that my earlier words were part of a conversation with someone else. And then the implication that I didnt come here alone dawned on him. .Could it be? Youre not very quick, huh? He was only now realizing it was a pincer movement. In truth, my constant annoying presence and provocation played a big part in this. After all, when people get heated, they tend to think less clearly. Well then, I suppose its time for me to be on my way. You dont seriously think Ill let you go, do you? You cant catch me anyway. Take care. I bid him farewell and swiftly turned to run. The Black Death Clan leader pursued me fiercely with full killing intent. Stop right there! Of course, I was just pretending to run away. Although I had the advantage in speed, the Black Death Clan leader was not slow by any means. To truly gain distance, I needed to shake him off decisively. After a short sprint, I suddenly spun around and charged towards the Black Death Clan leader. Shallow tricks! The Black Death Clan leader frantically clawed at the air and a dark energy formed a massive net before enveloping everything in its path. I kicked off the ground and moved diagonally, then kicked the ground again and arrived in front of the Black Death Clan leader. His eyes could not fully catch up with my speed so it would have seemed as if I had jumped through space. Just before the Black Death Clan leader could react, a fist enveloped in flames was thrust forward. [Activate Amplification] [The rank of Inferno Fist increased. (C->A)] [Inferno Fist] [Wind Force] Kaboooooooom! A flamestorm that was several times more powerful than any I had previously conjured, surged forward and engulfed everything in its path. The figure of the Black Death Clan leader was soon obscured and was swallowed up by the raging flames. Ouch. I felt a stinging pain in my fist and looked down to find faint burn marks etched into my skin. When I brought it close to my nose, I could detect a slight acrid smell. After I amplified the already penalty-heavy skill, it was clear that even my S-grade elemental resistance couldnt completely nullify the damage. But I bet hes still not dead. That was the terrifying thing about the Black Death Clan leader. He had performed dark rituals on the young people of the region which made his life force unnaturally strong. The silver lining was, If I dont fight, thats the end of it. There was no pressing need to defeat the Black Death Clan leader now. After I momentarily incapacitated him with an A-grade Inferno Fist, this was my chance to escape. I pushed my [Thiefs Step] to the limit and started sprinting with all my might. At the beginning of the battle, the members of the Black Death Clan had tightly surrounded us. However, their ranks had become somewhat disorganized due to the Black Death Clan leader spreading poison in all directions. Bang! I pushed one of the lower-ranking warriors away with Wind Force, grabbed another, and hurled him into a nearby poison puddle as I continued my escape. Stop right there!!! The Black Death Clan leader bellowed from behind. Shin Byeong-chul smiled humbly and rubbed his hands together. Surviving in the club as a freshman was proving to be challenging. Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin took the lead and had a conversation of their own. Should we start with one on the way up? Which flavor do you want to try first? Lets go with the spicy and sweet one. I heard the volcanic explosion is no joke. While the two seniors were distracted by the jerky, Shin Byeong-chul slipped away to quietly thank me. With a grateful yet somewhat exaggerated expression, he said, Goodness, Hyug-nims sense is just outstanding. Ill be sure to follow and trust you from now on. This settles the high potion debt. Thats a bit Not happy? Then lets tell them the truth. Deal. It was a miraculous exchange rate: a few bundles of jerky for a high potion. I made sure to prevent any future complaints about the use of an expensive high potion by nipping the issue in the bud. When I think about it now, the deal wasnt so bad for Shin Byeong-chul too. If I hadnt acted, Dang Gyu-young might have ended up pulling his hair out. So, sacrificing a potion to save his hair might actually have been a good deal. *** The journey upwards was as smooth as the descent had been. Dang Gyu-young led the way by sending out shadow butterflies as scouts, with Chae Da-bin and Shin Byeong-chul contributing along the way. It would have been nice if the journey continued without issues, but Like the time Go Hyun-woo encountered White Snake, luck was not on our side today. Around the E floor, Dang Gyu-young suddenly flinched and frowned. Damn, weve been caught. It seemed something unusual had snagged the attention of the scouts she had sent out. Chae Da-bin asked, Who is it? A teacher? Looks like Kwak Seung-jae. Perhaps she decided that it was already too late to flee, so she took no further action. Instead, she quickly coordinated her story with the first-year students. Listen, we just came down to have a look at the underground area. We havent touched any of the dungeons. Okay? Yes, senior-nim. Rumble, rumble, rumble After we stood still and waited for a few seconds, a wooden door suddenly emerged from the ground. The door opened and the person who walked out was, as expected, Kwak Seung-jae. He bowed slightly to Dang Gyu-young. Hello, senior-nim. Hello, Seung-jae. I found this on the D floor and came to check it out. Kwak Seung-jae lifted a wooden cage. Inside the cage, a couple of trapped shadow butterflies were fluttering their wings. There were only a small number of people with the right aptitude to use Shadow Magic, and the level of difficulty to master it was high, so very few people were able to master it properly. And those who had honed [Shadow Butterfly Flight] to use them as scouts were likely few within Dragon Slayer Academy and could probably be counted on one hand. Therefore, the shadow butterflies were very likely conjured by Dang Gyu-young. Moreover, sending out scouts was akin to announcing ones involvement in questionable activities. If they were merely descending for a dungeon raid, encountering anyone should not have been a concern. Following this line of thought, Kwak Seung-jae immediately tracked down Dang Gyu-young upon detecting the shadow butterflies. His suspicion was spot-on. His gaze swept over me, Go Hyun-woo, and Shin Byung-chul in turn. Being first-years caught wandering the underground levels left no room for excuses. Kwak Seung-jae offered to everyone, Please accompany me to the student disciplinary committee room for a moment. Lets do that then. The reason Dang Gyu-yeong didnt put up any resistance even though she could easily overpower Kwak Seung-jae was because this was the dungeon building. The slightest disturbance would attract the staff stationed throughout the premises and the patrolling students to converge on this spot. It was likely that someone was already waiting near the exit by now. She calculated that it was better to go along for the ride than to try to make things bigger than they needed to be. Kwak Seung-jae seemed to be aware that we couldnt hastily act and turned his back to us without much wariness. After closing the wooden door and casting a spell for a brief moment, he reopened it. The view beyond the door had transformed into the student disciplinary committee room. Please come in. Chapter 75: Disciplinary Committee Club Room Chapter 75: Disciplinary Committee Club Room The disciplinary committee president Oh Se-hoon was working even at this late hour. A few members of the disciplinary committee were assisting with the paperwork by his side. Among them was Song Cheon-hye who seemed unable to resist the lure of sleep any longer and was nodding off while standing. When we suddenly emerged through the wooden door, she was jolted awake before straightening her posture and looking our way in surprise. The attention of the other disciplinary committee members also shifted to us, but unlike Song Cheon-hye, they didnt seem particularly startled. Perhaps they had grown accustomed to such incidents occurring frequently. As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Oh Se-hoon finished up his work and then slowly lifted his gaze from the documents. Starting with Dang Gyu-young and the rest of the thief club members and moving on to Go Hyeon-woo and myself, he examined each of us in turn, eventually letting out a bitter smile as if he had figured it all out. Even though he seemed to have a grasp of the situation, he proceeded to follow protocol by first addressing Kwak Seung-jae with a question. Whats going on? We found them near the undergrounds E floor and brought them here. Is that so? Were they heading down? They were on their way up. The mention of them being on their way up implied that they had completed whatever business they had in the underground levels. Oh Se-hoon silently exchanged glances with one of the second-year disciplinary committee members. Without receiving any explicit instructions, the member understood the unspoken command at a glance and went out through the wooden door. It seems hes going to check. He was likely going to assess the dungeon that had been targeted and damaged that night. If one of the dungeons was destroyed even though no bids were placed, it almost certainly meant we were responsible. Having sent someone to investigate, Oh Se-hoon then gestured towards the empty chairs with a gentle smile. Lets sit down. Would you like something to drink? Ill have honey water. Ill take some cold water. Dang Gyu-young casually took a seat and leaned back in the chair while Chae Da-bin sat next to her. Kwak Seung-jae somehow procured a cup of coffee at some point and leaned against a corner with the cup in hand. The first-year students seemed hesitant to order anything to drink, but Ive never been one to fuss over such matters. I was particularly thirsty after engaging in a strenuous game of tag with the Black Death clan leader. I leaned back in my chair in a manner similar to Dang Gyu-young and said, Ill have honey water too. The expressions of the disciplinary committee members momentarily shifted, perhaps surprised by my nonchalance even in front of the seniors. The only one whose expression remained unchanged was Oh Se-hoon. Thats because he had already had an encounter with me during the entrance ceremony. (TN: chapter 8) After nodding his head indifferently, he also asked Shin Byeong-cheol and Go Hyeon-woo what they would like to drink. Two honey waters and one cold water; what about you two? Were fine, thanks. It seemed they were determined to keep as low a profile as possible. When Oh Se-hoon was about to get something to drink for himself, Song Cheon-hye quickly stepped in. Ill get it. Oh Se-hoon sat opposite us and slowly shifted his gaze between Dang Gyu-young and me before he asked the latter what came to his mind. Did Kim Ho join the thieves club? Hes playing hard to get. Why do you ask? Im not sure if its just me, but you two seem to have a similar vibe when I look at you together. Right? Dont we look alike? I told you I was right! Dang Gyu-young got excited and tapped my shoulder as if to say, See! Youre destined to join our club! Lets go fill out the application form later! But I cut off the conversation with a cold and firm decision. I plan to remain unaffiliated for the time being. Right, its hard to switch once you join a club, so think it over carefully. Oh Se-hoons smile grew a bit wider. Though I couldnt tell whether he was pleased with my cautiousness or by Dang Gyu-youngs expression of betrayal. Are you sure about that? Yes, senior-nim. Oh Se-hoon also checked with Shin Byung-chul and Go Hyeon-woo, but those two were as sharp as they come. I had given such a definite answer, so there was no way they would contradict me. Oh Se-hoon nodded his head in acknowledgment. Then, Ill mark each of you with one demerit point. Be more careful in the future and you may go. *** After Kim Ho, Go Hyeon-woo and the members of the thieves club had each received a demerit point and left, Tranquility once again settled in the disciplinary committee club. Oh Se-hoon returned to his work with a warm smile, and the other members of the disciplinary committee began to assist him with his tasks. Song Cheon-hye attempted to blend in naturally with them, but Kwak Seung-jae put down his coffee cup and called her out. Song Cheon-hye. Yes, senior-nim. Tell me, what do you think? It was common knowledge that Dang Gyu-young and Kim Ho had spun an obvious lie. However, the key was pinpointing exactly which aspects of their story felt off. It was important to develop the ability to identify these discrepancies. After taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Song Cheon-hye responded. First off, the combination was too flashy. If it was just about exploring the underground level, Shin Byung-cheol or senior Chae Da-bin would have sufficed. There was no need for president Dang Gyu-young to get involved. You saw right through it. I deduce that the three of them teaming up means a high probability of attempting to breach a dungeon, and likely a high-level one. Kwak Seung-jae nodded his head in agreement. With those three, even the depths is possible. As you might recall from the duel we observed, Kim Ho is skilled enough to achieve a perfect game against president Mok Jong-hwas golem, and Go Hyeon-woo is currently maintaining a top ten ranking in the first-year strategy battles. Song Cheon-hye furrowed her brows thoughtfully. But I looked at Go Hyeon-woo just now and it seemed like he had sustained some internal injuries. For someone of his caliber to be injured means It means they tackled a dungeon of considerable difficulty. Somewhere between D and C rank, though theres a slim chance it could even be B rank. So, narrowing the investigation to dungeons between D rank and B rank might reveal traces they left behind. Yet even after Song Cheon-hye had finished her deduction, Kwak Seung-jae continued to look at her expectantly. It seemed he was hoping for more, but that was all Song Cheon-hye could think of at the moment. She cautiously asked, Please enlighten me if Ive missed anything. When you were giving them honey water earlier. ? Did you check Kim Hos hands? !! Song Cheon-hyes expression hardened. From her point of view, she was somewhat displeased with giving Kim Ho and his group something to drink, because she felt they were very shameless in asking for honey water and the like after being dragged in to receive demerit points. As a result, she quickly turned away as soon as she had set down the honey water and failed to take a closer look at Kim Hos hands. Meanwhile, it seemed Kwak Seung-jae had been observing everything from behind. There was a very faint burn mark on his right hand. If thats the case! However, as if understanding what Song Cheon-hye was thinking, Kwak Seung-jae slowly shook his head. No. Its difficult to connect this to previous events. Wasnt it clean when you checked? Thats true. But one thing is certain now. The burn had not been there long. Whether Kim Ho used [Inferno Fist] or some other fire magic. They must have left a trace in the dungeon they entered and exited today. And the moment someone enters that dungeon, That will be the moment to catch them by the tail. Chapter 76: Midnight Walk Chapter 76: Midnight Walk As the night deepened, the thieves club and Kim Hos group disbanded immediately upon leaving the student disciplinary committee room. Go Hyeon-woo headed to the infirmary to treat his internal injuries. While the members of the thieves club said they were tired and went to their dormitories. Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young had something she needed to say to Kim Ho and questions she wanted to ask. So, she subtly called out to her junior who was just beginning to walk away. Would you like to walk for a bit? Sure. It was before dawn so the sky was still a dark blue, almost black. Following the path illuminated by streetlights, the two of them walked in step. Even a path taken daily could feel different when walked in this time and when it was just the two of them. Perhaps because of that, no words were exchanged between Dang Gyu-young and Kim Ho for a while. Then, Dang Gyu-young hesitated for a moment before turning her head away and breaking the silence. Im sorry. For getting caught. The core objective of this mission, infiltrating the deep dungeon, had been a success. However, the missions requirement was to exit the underground floors without being detected until the very end. But they were caught by Kwak Seung-jae at the last moment and received demerit points, so the completion of the task was less than perfect. Especially since the president of the thieves club was directly involved in this. It was all the more disappointing. Kim Ho sighed deeply. Senior-nim, Im a bit disappointed. No matter how delicious the jerky was, you should have stayed focused until the end. No, thats not it! I was focused the whole time! For someone who was focused, you seemed to enjoy the jerky quite a bit. Werent you more focused on that? Hey, thats really not it! Honestly, Kwak Seung-jae just made a really good move Dang Gyu-young got flustered and stepped in front of Kim Ho only to notice a playful smile on his lips. It seemed that now that they had become a bit closer, Kim Ho would occasionally play such pranks. If it had been any of the other brooding members of the club, Dang Gyu-young would have immediately set about enforcing discipline. But coming from this junior, she somehow found it cute. So she ended up just giving him a light shove on the shoulder. Aisshi. Stop teasing me. You dont have to feel too sorry. Im not really bothered by just one demerit point. Even though it was just one demerit point, it wasnt without impact on the grades. They accumulate over time and can become a bigger issue. However, Kim Ho seemed unconcerned about grades and had a truly nonchalant attitude. He then changed the subject and brought up Kwak Seung-jaes tracking skills. Senior Kwak Seung-jae s tracking ability is really something, isnt it? He stuck with us all the way, even back in the temporary storage incident. Exactly. That guy has had a nose for tracking right from the start; a real bloodhound. Kwak Seung-jae had excellent detection and tracking skills, but he also had deep focus and an oddly good intuition which allowed him to have a history of arresting second- and third-year members of the thief club even during his freshman year. While the older thieves club members were more skilled, Kwak Seung-jae still managed to catch them off guard once or twice out of ten attempts. It got even trickier when he became a second year. When Kwak Seung-jae was a first-year, he managed to catch the thieves only once or twice out of ten attempts. But now that he was a second-year, his success rate had increased to two or three times out of ten. And today happens to be one of those two or three times just to clear up any possible misunderstanding. Dang Gyu-young was keen on proving that she was not as incompetent as she appeared to be. She cleared her throat and steered the conversation back on track after it had momentarily veered off course. Anyway, its true that our service was lacking, so Ill offer more help with the cleanup. This should resolve any issues, right? Id appreciate that. Let me take a look at your hand for a moment. There had been something that had been bothering her for a while. Dang Gyu-young carefully examined Kim Hos hand and started turning it over back and forth. Faint burn marks marred the skin. These were the aftereffects of using [Inferno Fist]. For some reason, although Kim Hos hands had been unscathed after using Inferno Fist previously, this time marks remained. He must have had a tough time in the Black Death dungeon. What exactly happened inside would be a story for another time. For now, more pressing issues needed to be addressed. Seung-jae must have seen this, right? I believe so. Kwak Seung-jae had delegated all interactions to Oh Se-hoon and he chose instead to step back and observe everyones every move. During this observation, his gaze landed on Kim Ho far more frequently than on anyone else, so it was highly unlikely that he missed the burn marks. Dang Gyu-Young looked up to him and Kim Ho looked down. The two stayed silent for some time. Perhaps sensing her sincerity, Kim Ho slowly averted his gaze to the distance and began, I told you Ive graduated over 200 times. Dang Gyu-young who was about to say, Are you saying that again? saw Kim Hos serious expression and closed her mouth again. She couldnt decide whether it was a lie or not. During those 200 times, not every experience was pleasant. Especially in the early stages, when the numbers were in single digits, I was much less experienced which led to more unfortunate events. Like what? Like people dying, getting injured, things like that. Kim Ho mentioned these events casually but they weighed heavily on Dang Gyu-Youngs heart. She assumed the claim of 200 graduations was surely a lie, which meant these stories were likely veiled truths of a painful past etched deep within him. Im sorry. Maybe I shouldnt have asked. Its alright. Those days are behind me now. But one thing I made sure of during that time. Whats that? Kim Ho continued to stare into the distance and answered in a calm tone. To never let anything of mine be taken away. To ensure that no one I care about dies. To ensure that no one I care about dies Dang Gyu-Young softly repeated the words to herself. Is that what you want? Yes. That sounds difficult. It is. Students aspiring to be heroes at the Dragon Slayer Academy all live with the uncertainty of the future. They never know when they might be thrown into the midst of battle, where life and death hang in the balance. In such places, its challenging enough to cling to ones own life, let alone take care of ones people. Kim Ho added, Thats why we have to become stronger until it gets easier. To become faster and overwhelmingly stronger. Dang Gyu-Young felt she was beginning to understand. Thats why he was striving to such lengths. Being cautious and protecting yourself might bring immediate comfort, but you might face a more difficult fight later and possibly end up losing someone. On the other hand, even if getting into disputes with other clubs and breaking a few school rules now meant getting entangled in all sorts of trouble, it could ultimately lead to achieving what was desired. Kim Ho had concluded that the latter option would bring fewer regrets. Its a relief; this should be fine. She felt like a heavy burden was lifted from her chest after hearing that. If protecting others was Kim Hos goal, then ensuring he also remained unharmed should also be part of that objective. With this in mind, he would naturally take care not to cross any lines that shouldnt be crossed. Dang Gyu-Youngs lips curled into a gentle smile. I like that. If the side of Kim Ho she had just seen was indeed genuine, she was more than willing to be his accomplice moving forward. Before they knew it, the dormitory was in sight. Despite deliberately taking a longer route, Dang Gyu-Young felt a tinge of regret that it was already time to part ways. She wanted to take another round and talk about trivial matters, but she decided to stop here for today. After all, today wasnt the only day they had. Its getting late. Lets go in and rest. Rest well, senior. Yep, see you in Monday! ? Kim Ho looked puzzled and tilted his head. As if he was recalling whether they had arranged something for Monday together. But then nothing came to mind and he asked. Why Monday? Dang Gyu-Young gave a playful wide smile in return. Why should you be the only one to tease? Its my turn now. I wont tell you. Chapter 77: Leader’s Black Chest Chapter 77: Leader¡¯s Black Chest I found myself tilting my head in confusion for a while even after Dang Gyu-Young was out of sight. What was happening on Monday again? The first thing that came to mind was Mentoring? which made no sense. A mentoring session led by the president of the thieves club? She would actually take on such an annoying task like this? It was as implausible as Kwak Seung-Jae and Song Cheon-Hye joining hands to rob a bank. However, I couldnt think of anything else besides mentoring. After much deliberation, I made up my mind. Let it be. Ill just deal with the surprise on Monday. Since Dang Gyu-Young wasnt harboring any ill will or setting a trap for me, there was unlikely to be any big issue. *** Over the weekend afternoon, I called out Go Hyeon-Woo and Seo Ye-In. [Go Hyeon-Woo: Ill be there soon.] Go Hyeon-Woo had just finished his treatment at the infirmary and agreed to come over immediately. But it took several messages before Seo Ye-In finally replied. [Kim Ho: Knock, knock, knock] [Kim Ho: (Cat knocking on door emoji)] [Kim Ho: (Cat knocking on door emoji)] [Kim Ho: Awake?] [Seo Ye-In: .] [Seo Ye-In: (Dog rolling around emoji)] [Seo Ye-In: (Sleepy dog emoji)] [Seo Ye-In: (Dog rolling around emoji)] Judging by the emojis, she must have just woken up. At this time when the sun was high in the sky. I decided to help Seo Ye-In snap out of her grogginess more quickly. [Kim Ho: (Photo)(Photo)(Photo)(Photo)] The photos I attached were of the spicy and sweet jerky I had bought at the Black Death dungeon marketplace, along with candies, dried fruits, and other various snacks we had purchased together. [Kim Ho: Coming?] [Seo Ye-In: Ill come.] Luring with tasty treats. Successfully executed. Still, it would be a while before she actually arrived. Kim-hyung. In contrast, Go Hyeon-Woo arrived really quickly. I decided to save the main topic for when all three of us were gathered. In the meantime, there was something I needed to discuss with Go Hyeon-Woo alone. Naturally, our conversation centered around the Black Death dungeon. In particular, we discussed the three-exchange showdown between him and White Snake. Go Hyeon-Woo let out a sigh. He was truly a terrifying master. Even after exchanging just three moves, barely surviving was all I could manage. The first move was purely overwhelmed by the gap in martial arts. Despite striking first and even using Rapid Current, which could be considered one of Go Hyeon-Woos special techniques, it was instantly neutralized by White Snake, so there was no room for excuses. The exchange of the second move involved Go Hyeon-Woos ultimate technique, Clear Stream, and, by a stroke of luck, a fleeting moment of enlightenment resulted in him inflicting some minor damage on the opponent. From the listeners perspective, it was an incredulous story. You were enlightened there? Though Dharma statue had been lent to him with the hope of gaining something from the experience, that was meant to be after conquering the dungeon. To think hed recall and use something he glimpsed just before entering the Black Death dungeon. Go Hyeon-Woo himself seemed to find it absurd, as he let out a chuckle. I never expected it myself. When I found myself up against Senior White Snake, I thought it was bad luck, but it turned out to be a fortunate encounter after all. If things worked out, thats good. Keep spending time studying the Dharma statue. I plan to do just that. And the last one? The most crucial was the last, the third exchange of moves. It was what I was most curious about. White Snake must have used something stronger than the first two moves. Indeed. I recognized the Viper Guarding the Hole and Viper Emerges from its Hole at a glance, but the last move was very unfamiliar. Hearing Go Hyeon-Woos description, I immediately had an inkling of what the move might be. It must have been White Dragon Ascending to Heaven. White Dragon Ascending to Heaven Indeed, it was like seeing a giant white serpent. It was among the top techniques used by White Snake. Its not something White Snake would use lightly, but it seems it was employed in the three-move duel. Probably, it was a response to the move Go Hyeon-Woo revealed during their second clash. So, how did you manage to block it? It doesnt seem like you would have used Blue Stream again. Hmm Go Hyeon-Woo paused for a moment, seemingly contemplating whether to share this detail. And this very moment was the reason Seo Ye-in had been summoned. I slid the [Leaders Ingots Box] over to her and asked, Want to open it? Mhmm. Although it had only happened once before, Seo Ye-in had miraculously drawn a B-rank cushion from a D-rank random box. At that moment, I had formed a small hypothesis: what if, by some chance, Seo Ye-in possessed a trait related to luck? It was a possibility worth considering. Could she possibly draw an item exceeding expectations from this ingot box as well? Even when Seo Ye-in was faced with a B-rank random box in front of her, she had an indifferent expression on her face as if she were dealing with an ordinary box. In contrast, Go Hyeon-woo and I were the ones filled with tension and observed intently. After a moment of impassively gazing at the ingot box, she leisurely proceeded to open it. I had already covered my eyes to protect them at this point. If my prediction was correct, another flashbang would go off, and preserving my eyesight is important. And sure enough, Flash! A dazzling array of multicolored light burst forth from the ingot box and swiftly engulfed the entire room. Oooh. I couldnt see anything because it was white all around me, but I could hear Go Hyeon-woos exclamation. Though I didnt express it in words, I was inwardly astonished as well. This is actually happening. Despite being mentally prepared, the reality was still surprising. The hypothesis that Seo Ye-in possessed a luck-related trait seemed to gain more credibility. As I covered my eyes for what felt like a long time, the brilliance gradually faded. Then a sizable metallic mass proudly made its presence known within the ingot box. [Millennium Iron Ingot (A)] This is incredible. Even the initial goal of securing ordinary iron, which was already a superior metal, was surpassed by something even better. Miss Seos luck is astounding. Encountering such a rare event once is hard enough, let alone twice. Yeah, how can someone be this lucky? Go Hyeon-woo and I were full of praise, but Seo Ye-in seemed neither surprised nor particularly pleased. Instead, she asked me, Was it helpful? Yes, it was incredibly helpful. Thats all that matters then. Her attitude suggested that what mattered most to her was whether it had been helpful to me or not. If so, lets use this momentum to quickly handle the rest. I casually handed her the [Black Death Random Box (B)] and asked, Would you like to open this one too? Mhmm. Seo Ye-in, as if she was receiving something as mundane as a pencil or an eraser, took the B-rank random box and suddenly opened it without warning. Flash!! A golden brilliance burst forth, though it seemed somewhat less impressive compared to the earlier flashbang. Correspondingly, the rank of the items dropped was somewhat lower. [Century-old Knotweed (C)] *4 Century-old Knotweed is quite a decent medicinal herb. And there were four roots of it. Considering it came from a B-rank random box, it was a fairly good find. Since there are four roots, lets split them. Take one each. After all, since I already obtained the Millennium Iron Ingot, I had far exceeded my initial goal. Moreover, the effect of consuming the same type of medicinal herb diminishes with repeated use. And growing together would be more beneficial for everyone in the long run. For these and various other reasons, I decided it was better to share than to keep it all to myself. I wont refuse then. Ill accept it with thanks. Go Hyeon-woo who was always in need of medicinal herbs eagerly took one root and tucked it away, while Seo Ye-in also took a root and carefully placed it in her inventory. And even after setting aside my share, there would still be one left to give to someone else. Even if a suitable recipient could not be found, I could still consume it myself, despite the reduced effect. Seo Ye-in gazed at me intently, as if asking if there were any more random boxes to open, and I shook my head slightly from side to side to indicate there were none. Seo Ye-in nodded slightly before she went back to snacking with Go Hyeon-woo. I let Seo Ye-in wander as she pleased and found myself lost in thought. It seems like she has some sort of trait When opening the ingot box, she hit the jackpot, and with the random box, she had moderate success. In such cases, its more reasonable to assume there might be some activation condition or limitation to her ability rather than conclude she has none. For example, there could be a cooldown period for her traits activation, or there might be a cap on the amount of luck she could tap into. Theres no need to rush. We could always test it again when another opportunity arises. ! ! Even after I specifically set it aside, you still found it and ate it. You cant even handle spicy food. ! In the brief moment I looked away, Seo Ye-in had reached for the spicy and sweet jerky. Chapter 78: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (1) Chapter 78: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (1) Having obtained the metal for crafting weapons, there was no reason to delay. So my next destination was the blacksmiths workshop. Clang! Clang! The rhythmic clanging of hammer on metal resonated and it was interspersed with bursts of intense heat. Numerous students were evidently busy at work inside yet oddly enough, no voices could be heard. It seemed everyone was too engrossed in their tasks to spare a moment for conversation. As an outsider, wandering around the workshop could be quite disruptive, so I opted to stand by the door while waiting for someone to emerge. As I inwardly matched the rhythm of the hammering sound, a muscular man with bulging veins came to greet me. His school uniform was partially undone, so the tie pin was not visible, but he was highly likely a senior. His face simply didnt look like that of a second-year which meant he was perhaps a third-year student. In contrast, the blacksmith senior merely needed to glance at the tie pin on my chest. First year? What do you need? I came to request a commission. The third-year senior casually scratched his back; it seemed I wasnt the first to approach him with such a request since he looked to be slightly annoyed. Sorry, but the queue for this semester is already full. If you place an order now, it might not be completed until the start of next semester. Could I possibly speak with the president of the workshop? He acted almost as if he could see right through me and his demeanor suggested he had seen many others with similar requests. He probably thought I intended to hand the president an item and make a personal request. Thats not how it works. Even if you were from some prestigious family, it wouldnt make a difference. Dont waste your time and just leave. Im not from a prestigious family, but I do have this. I pulled out a small ticket from within my coat. Upon seeing it, the previously indifferent seniors eyes widened in shock. [Crafting VIP Ticket] No way, how does a first-year have something like this Where else, if not from stealing it from another club. The VIP ticket was the prize for winning a duel against the Emerald Magic Tower, which became mine after a fierce battle with Kwak Ji-cheol that ended with him being thoroughly defeated. I had carefully stored it in my inventory for several weeks and now its moment to shine has finally arrived. I smiled and asked again. May I see the president of the workshop? Uh Yes, okay. Just a moment. The third-year senior hurried inside, and shortly after, a different muscular man came out to greet me. The head of the blacksmithing club looked even older than the senior who had initially met me. He was clearly a third-year student, yet he didnt look like a student at all. Looking back, the blacksmiths I had encountered in the past also appeared rugged and aged beyond their years. Could it be that wielding a hammer ages a person? While I entertained this impertinent theory, the head of the blacksmithing club approached me and abruptly said, The ticket. Yes. When I showed him the VIP ticket, he quickly verified its authenticity without taking it from me. While the VIP ticket did indeed prioritize me in the queue, the decision to accept the commission rested on the craftsmans choice in the end. It meant he would hear me out before making up his mind. What are you looking to make? It might be quicker if you see for yourself. I handed over the blueprint I had prepared in advance to the president of the club. A rod slightly longer than a human forearm. And it was designed to be assembled. The club president scrutinized the blueprint carefully. This is no ordinary rod. The design is unique; it includes components for attachment, and its quite elaborate. Is this some kind of magical engineering equipment? Youve got it right. I passed him the E-rank [Levitation Rod] I had made earlier as a reference. Naturally, I removed the core components.Updated from The club president turned the rod over in his hand while inspecting it from all angles and then nodded his head in approval. This looks interesting. Normally, I wouldnt bother with magical engineering equipment, but Ill make an exception this time. Blacksmiths generally prefer not to work with magical engineering components. The reason was that it was more manly to process and wield a large heavy lump of iron as a whole rather than crunching on several tiny parts. Yet, the blueprint I presented must have captured the interest of the president of the blacksmithing club. He moved on to his next question. What about the materials? Please use this as the main material. As I pulled out the Millennium Iron Ingot, the blacksmiths expression subtly changed. Up until now, he had seemed indifferent while barely giving me a glance, but now, for the first time, he looked me in the eye. An interesting freshman you are. Asking for something unique to be made, holding a VIP ticket and even possessing Millennium Iron. Cheon-Hye has also applied to be an all-rounder! If things go well, the two of you might even receive mentoring together! At those words, Song Cheon-Hye who had been pretending to be interested in something far off turned aghast. Stop talking nonsense, really! Huh? Whats so strange about it? Thats When Han So-mi tilted her head with an innocent look on her face, Song Cheon-Hye seemed at a loss for words. It appeared she hadnt divulged all the suspicions about me, like the Inferno Fist or the dungeon intrusion. Perhaps nothing was conclusively confirmed yet, or maybe the seniors in the disciplinary committee warned her to keep silent. After closing and opening her mouth a few times, she seemed to decide not to speak after all. Theres Some stuff happened! It was somewhere between evasiveness and a sharp retort. Then she turned around and walked ahead at a fast pace, Uhii. She stumbled and faltered on empty ground. After barely regaining her balance, she shot us a sharp glare before hastening away at twice her previous pace. I turned to Han So-mi and asked, Does she often do that? Yes, all the time. So, it was a regular occurrence. Just like I had sensed before, she was somehow clumsy. As we engaged in a few trivial exchanges, the arena came into view right before us. We decided to split up and find our respective seats. Good luck with the mentoring and the team matches; see you later. Yeah! Bye! I wish good luck to Kim-hyung too. ... After Han So-mi cheerfully said her goodbyes and left, Go Hyeon-woo also flashed a smile and walked in the same direction as Han So-mi. Seo Ye-in lazily waved goodbye and set off on her own way. Around the stands, third-year students or graduate mentors settled into their spots and warmly welcomed the first-year students who approached them hesitantly. It appeared that all participants had already gathered in some areas with groups of four or five people sitting around a mentor and listening intently to their explanations. I too checked the seating chart to find my spot. 163-H should be around there. Since it was an upper seat, I had to raise my gaze quite a bit. The area was mostly empty which meant our mentor hadnt arrived yet. I decided to head there first and wait so I started walking towards the stairs. Just as I was about to step onto the first stair, Song Cheon-Hye who was a bit ahead of me sensed someone behind her and turned around. Our eyes met, and her expression instantly soured. Why are you following me? Im not following you. Then go ahead. Fine. I walked past the immobile Song Cheon-Hye and trudged up to seat 163-H. And I sat down in a very comfortable position. After I settled into my seat, Song Cheon-Hye finally began to move again. And when she stopped, it was right in front of me. With a face full of disbelief, she alternated between checking her student ID and the seat number. Could it be Youre in 163-H too? How did this happen? How should I know that? All I could do was shrug my shoulders in response. Did I know things would turn out this way? Haaah After letting out a deep sigh, Song Cheon-Hye stood a short distance away with her arms crossed and eyes closed. Of course, she only pretended to close her eyes. She would occasionally sneak glances at me with half-open eyes. Let her look; I relaxed and waited for the next arrivals. Surely Song Cheon-Hye wasnt the only one joining the mentoring session. Who else would be coming up? With a sense of anticipation, I looked down to see. Theyre all familiar faces. Chapter 79: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (2) Chapter 79: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (2) When Kwak Ji-cheol made eye contact with me while climbing the stairs, his complexion turned a little pale and he lowered his gaze. The memories of the day he was ruthlessly beaten to the ground must have resurfaced. On the other hand, I no longer harbored any old grudges against Kwak Ji-cheol. I have already vented my frustrations enough. And so when we were close enough, I took the initiative to break the ice. 163-H? Yes. Youve come to the right place. Song Cheon-Hyes attitude towards Kwak Ji-cheol wasnt as disdainful as it was when she looked at me, but it was clear she harbored a mix of complex emotions. One of them seemed to be concern about the pairing of Kwak Ji-cheol and me. After all, weve already dueled before, and now well be mentoring together for a month, so Im sure shes wondering if this is a good idea. And the last member to join was even more surprising With shoulder-length red hair, a staff inlaid with rubies, And the person who had fought alongside me in last weeks strategy battle, It was Hong Yeon-hwa. Hong Yeon-hwas face was full of dissatisfaction as if there was something here that she didnt like so much. With that unhappy expression, she scanned the seating chart, And then her gaze shifted towards me where 163-H was, Only to discover me sitting squarely in the same seat. ..!! Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to freeze and she grew as still as a statue. Her pupils darted wildly as if they were caught in an earthquake. She swiftly turned her back and started rummaging through her belongings, likely double-checking the back of her student ID. But just as it had been for Song Cheon-Hye and Kwak Ji-Cheol, destiny couldnt be changed. She might as well accept it. I dont know whether it would ease her mind though. Hong Yeon-hwa then climbed the stairs with steps as heavy as if her legs were weighed down by sandbags. There I was, comfortably seated by myself, while the three of them awkwardly stood a little apart. To an outsider, the scene must have looked quite comical. So, whos going to be our mentor? The person meant to teach us was nowhere to be seen even though all those meant to learn had already gathered. Fortunately, the wait wasnt long. A stir from below captured the attention of the four of us, who had been looking elsewhere, and our gazes focused on one figure.Updated from Our mentor received those gazes calmly and continued climbing the stairs with relaxed and leisurely steps. A third-year student and the president of the thieves club, Dang Gyu-young. Hello? Im your mentor. Dang Gyu-young briefly introduced herself and sat down before she leaned against the back of the seat in front of me. Then she flashed me a sly smile as if asking, How about that, surprised? So this is what she meant by see you Monday. It wasnt shockingly surprising, but it was unexpected. Those who belong to the thief class are generally a free-spirited bunch who do not like to be tied down to anything, and they often prefer leisure over diligence. On the other hand, participating in mentoring means being bound by a contract with Dragon Slayer Academy and having to diligently follow the schedules of the students being taught, which is quite different from what a thief would like. In addition to that, Dang Gyu-young was the club president which meant she was likely far busier than the average member. Yet contrary to my expectations, she had become a mentor. I wonder if theres some hidden story behind this. I doubted she would have accepted the role without good reason; the academic department must have offered her something quite enticing. Lets ask her about it when the opportunity comes. Dang Gyu-young silently observed each of us in turn, After secretly making eye contact with me, she no longer pretended to know me. Since she was a mentor, she should not give the impression that she favored any of the students. Among us was Song Cheon-hye, the younger sister of the third-year student council president, Song Cheon-gi. This creep. Though it was clear that Dang Gyu-young had seen his reaction, she didnt show it and continued to explain. You dont need to defeat me completely; just removing all three stickers will count as a win. Of course, I wont just stand by idly. To remove the sticker, of course you will have to approach within arms reach, and this means that Dang Gyu-young can keep the approaching opponent in check. The last rule, [Duo], was so obvious it hardly needed to be mentioned. It simply meant that two people should try their best to cooperate and remove the stickers. Thats all. If you have any questions or complaints, speak now. .. With such handicaps in place, there was hardly room for complaints. Even if there were, no one wanted to be the only one grumbling when everyone else remained silent, for fear of wounding their pride. Dang Gyu-young led us to the front of the arena. She stood in the teleportation circle and said, Enter in pairs when youre ready. Decide amongst yourselves who pairs with whom. Then, Dang Gyu-young vanished inside with a swift movement. . . The eyes of the four left behind wildly crisscrossing in the air. After a tense moment of silent stand-off, Song Cheon-hye suggested to Kwak Ji-cheol, Lets pair up. That sounds good. I guess Song Cheon-hye came to the conclusion that Kwak Ji-cheo was the least troubling option among the group. It seemed Kwak Ji-cheol had arrived at the same conclusion. No matter what, he probably didnt want to be with me, and it was better to team up with a fellow member from the Topaz Magic Tower rather than from the rival Ruby Magic Tower. The newly formed team stepped onto the teleportation circle and was whisked away into the arena. Hong Yeon-hwa who was left behind looked on with a mix of frustration and resignation. In front of Song Cheon-hye and Kwak Ji-cheol, she had maintained her usual confident and slightly irritated demeanor, but now left alone with me, her confidence waned and she became visibly anxious. I guess shes still the same. I thought she might be a little more at ease with me after we had managed to navigate through last weeks strategy battle together but I guess that wasnt the case. Anyway, wouldnt something work if we relive that experience and do something similar? While waiting for Song Cheon-hye and Kwak Ji-cheol to come out, I read the notification messages that had just come in. [Event: 1st Mentoring] (In progress) [Remaining Duration: 27 Days] Accelerate your growth with the help of a mentor. Increased probability of acquiring skills/traits. Increased skill/trait growth speed [Side Quest: 5th Week Duel Battles] Objective: Remove Stickers (0/3) Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. Reward: Varies based on the time of completion Setting aside the mentoring event for a moment. Although Dang Kyu-young has not mentioned it yet, this Removing Stickers from a Strong Enemy duel battle allows for multiple attempts. However, the point to note here is that the rewards vary depending on the time of completion. There was a fairly large difference in reward between succeeding today, the first day, and barely succeeding by the end of Sunday. And so I set my sights on cleanly removing all three stickers on my first try. Argh. Just then, Kwak Ji-cheol came tumbling out like a ball and abruptly interrupted my thoughts. He rolled and rolled, losing momentum before sprawling out on the ground with faint sparks of electricity crackling from his body. Soon after him, Song Cheon-hye trudged out while looking really tired. She seemed on the verge of collapsing at any moment, but when she noticed us, she tried her best to appear calm. Then she raised her trembling hand and pointed toward the arena. Its your turn to go in Chapter 80: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (3) Chapter 80: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (3) I stepped onto the teleportation magic circle alongside Hong Yeon-hwa. The round arena had appeared in the placement test and it was a terrain we would see quite often in the future. But this time, the arena was significantly larger when taking into consideration that it was designed for a three-person melee. From a distance, I could see Dang Gyu-young standing with her arms crossed. Judging by the state of Kwak Ji-cheol and Song Cheon-hye, they had engaged in a fierce battle, albeit brief. Yet, there was no sign of such an intense fight on Dang Gyu-youngs appeara Not only the stickers but also her clothes were clean as if nothing had happened. This only went to show the considerable gap in skill between them. Dang Gyu-young opened her mouth as she noticed us. Get ready and come in whenever. Before we began, Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously gauged my reaction. Although no words were exchanged, it was easy to guess what she wanted to say because her expressions were something I had seen before. She hoped we could fight together. But she couldnt force herself to ask for that. Yet the idea of facing the battle alone against a third-year seemed extremely difficult for her. Since she didnt know what to do and hesitated, I took the initiative. Just fight first. . Alone? When I looked at her silently, Hong Yeon-hwas expression shifted vividly in response. Is he really asking me to do this on my own? Her face fell, Ah, I should have known hed do this She resigned herself, But maybe, like last time, hell come to my aid if things get too dangerous? A glimmer of hope flickered within her eyes. Regrettably for Hong Yeon-hwa, I planned to approach this first challenge with caution. She needs to learn something from this too. After all, if I were to resolve everything on my own, Hong Yeon-hwa would gain nothing from the experience. After going through the trouble of signing up for mentoring, it would be nothing but a waste of time. True stagnant waters (veterans), after all, should consider the growth of newcomers as their responsibility. Just like when she faced the twin trolls in the strategy battle, teamwork will be the next thing Hong Yeon-hwa will do after shes been bumped and bruised. In that regard, Hong Yeon-hwa was a newcomer ready to learn. She ignited her fighting spirit as if she decided to do her best regardless of whether I helped her or not. Flash! The ruby embedded in her staff glowed a deep red. Flames of fire magic blazed then got absorbed into and spread throughout Hong Yeon-hwas body before fueling her with energy. [Overheat] Her physical abilities were significantly enhanced, though it seemed she was not yet confident enough to engage in close combat. The staff glowed red once more, and a thin stream of lava trickled down from its tip. Instead of pooling on the floor, the lava stretched out and connected to the staff like a snake coiling on the ground. With a slight flick of her staff, it whipped through the air following her command. [Lava Whip] . Dang Gyu-young remained motionless with her arms still crossed. But two small shadow butterflies that she summoned who knows when flitted around her wrist and shoulder. Following a slight nod from Dang Gyu-young, Come. ! Hong Yeon-hwa immediately closed the distance. As soon as she brought her opponent within striking range, she lashed out with her whip with all her might. It seemed like she was aiming for Dang Gyu-youngs torso but her real target was likely one of the three stickers. Swish! However, at the last moment, Dang Gyu-young swiftly raised her arm and the whip coiled around it. It was as if she had plunged her arm into lava yet Dang Gyu-young didnt even blink. Hong Yeon-hwa attempted to send additional fire magic her way, but shadow hands emerged from beneath Dang Gyu-youngs feet, tearing through the lava whip as if clawing it apart. Hong Yeon-hwa smoothly retracted her whip with an air of not having expected much. And after flicking the halved lava whip on the ground, its length was miraculously restored. Swish! She launched another attack on Dang Gyu-young. As if to say it wouldnt work a second time, Dang Gyu-young easily swatted the incoming whip away with a hand enhanced with magical power. Before Hong Yeon-hwa could strike a third time, a counterattack from the shadow butterflies ensued. Despite their seemingly feeble fluttering and curving trajectories, they moved with astonishing speed. In moments of oversight like now, they could swiftly close in. Ugh! Hong Yeon-hwa hastily retreated and tried to strike the shadow butterflies with her whip. But the butterflies were nimble. They fluttered back and forth and easily avoided the whips reach. Realizing the slender whip was insufficient, Hong Yeon-hwa quickly shifted to her next spell. She went for something with a wider range. She was nearly caught in the shadow clap when I swiftly pulled her away with Wind Force. Given the urgency of the moment, the pull was rough, causing her to roll several times on the ground before coming to a stop. Hong Yeon-hwas temper flared up for a moment and she stood up and yelled in my direction. You! be gentle please But then, when she made eye contact with me, she suddenly lowered her voice dramatically as if her head had cooled down. Her eyes kept darting around as if she was worried I might take issue with her earlier outburst but I simply let it slide. That wasnt important. It seems like this might be the end. It seemed to be virtually impossible for Hong Yeon-hwa to remove one of the stickers in this challenge. Since it was impossible, Try close combat. ? Hong Yeon-hwas expression turned perplexed, as if the suggestion itself was bewildering. After all, she hadnt even managed to get close and now close combat? On the other hand, Dang Gyu-young seemed quite pleased with the idea as if she liked my proposal. Its a good idea. Even if you lose, its worth giving it a try. Now, Hong Yeon-hwa looked somewhat wronged. If one were to interpret her expression, it would roughly translate to: Ive been fighting hard this whole time, so why is he getting praised? However, she soon seemed to resign herself to the situation with a deep sigh before steeling her resolve as her eyes gleamed with determination. This time, Hong Yeon-hwa took a notably long time to cast her spell. She was one of the fastest mages Ive ever seen in terms of casting speed, so if she was taking that much time, it must be a very high-level spell. The physical enhancements provided by [Overheat] were proportional to the power of the flame magic absorbed. Thus, the intent was to absorb as potent a flame as possible to double the physical abilities. Soon, vivid flames engulfed Hong Yeon-hwas entire body. After taking a deep breath, she forcefully kicked off the ground. Dang Gyu-young, with her hands hanging loosely, waited for Hong Yeon-hwa to approach. As she closed in, she feigned a punch but then swiftly reached for Dang Gyu-youngs waist. She hadnt forgotten that the objective of this duel wasnt to overpower the opponent but to remove the stickers. Though there was a prerequisite of blocking or avoiding Dang Gyu-youngs melee attacks. Hong Yeon-hwas attack was strengthened by Overheat and it obviously became incredibly fast. However, its straightforward trajectory made it somewhat predictable. Would a third-year student who went through countless battles not foresee such a move? When Dang Gyu-young caught Hong Yeon-hwas wrist and yanked it, her balance was disrupted. But she quickly regained her posture and reached out again. Just when she thought she was about to touch one of the stickers, Dang Gyu-young spun around and moved right behind Hong Yeon-hwa. With a shove, Hong Yeon-hwa fell awkwardly to the ground. Huh. There was no time to be annoyed. Hong Yeon-hwa let out a cry of surprise and hurriedly rolled to the side. And as if that wasnt enough for her, she rolled several more times. A massive shadowy fist then mercilessly slammed down where she had been moments before. Thud! Thud! Thud! She had barely gotten up when Dang Gyu-young was already bearing down on her up close. And from this point on, it was akin to a one-sided beating. Shes got a long way to go. I clicked my tongue as I watched Dang Gyu-young kick away merrily and Hong Yeon-hwa rolling around like a ball. It seemed about time to call it quits. If she kept getting pummeled without being able to put up any real fight, shed learn nothing and only deepen her trauma. I approached the two, slipped in between them, and extended my hand. Just as Dang Gyu-young was about to swat it away, my hand swiftly flipped and I grasped her wrist firmly. Instead of trying to pull away, Dang Gyu-young moved in closer and swung her fist. I gathered Wind Force in my opposite hand to meet her attack. When the fist met the palm, Bang! With the sound of bursting wind, we were both pushed back a certain distance from each other. In the meantime, Hong Yeon-hwa had managed to steady her staggering body. I said to Hong Yeon-hwa, Lets stop here. At the same time, I pointed to the teleportation magic circle with a light gesture. It was a signal for her to leave. Hong Yeon-hwa tried a timid resistance, I can still go on I slowly shook my head. Deep down, Hong Yeon-hwa must have felt it too. Despite employing every tactic against Dang Gyu-Young, she was no match for her, and she only made it this far thanks to my help during three critical moments. Even if she was fighting alongside someone else, the outcome would have been the same. Even if Hong Yeon-hwas numbers had doubled, the result wouldnt have changed. Though we could have combined our strengths, she must have known that she would only end up being a burden. I understand Eventually, Hong Yeon-hwa trudged out of the arena before leaving just Dang Gyu-Young and me. Dang Gyu-Young looked at me with a slight smile. Shall we see what our junior-nim can do then? Chapter 81: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (4) Chapter 81: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (4) How did you end up mentoring? Pffft, were you surprised? Bet you were. Dang Gyu-young let out a cheerful laugh. They said theyd cut me some slack on the penalties if I mentored. Seemed like the better option when I thought about it. How much did they cut? All of it. I nodded my head in understanding. It makes sense if they waived everything. Given that she had broken into the temporary storage and tampered with a bunch of prohibited items, the penalties must have been substantial. But if all of that is waived, the hassle of mentoring seems well worth it. Still, I hadnt expected a complete waiver. It seemed the disciplinary committee president Oh Se-hoon was more willing to make bold compromises than I thought. Lets continue this conversation later. The others are waiting outside. Since only Hong Yeon-hwa was sent out of the arena, the longer Dang Gyu-young and I stay here, the more suspicious the three waiting outside will become. Its best to wrap this up quickly and head out. However, I decided to make one more request before we began. Id appreciate it if you could turn off the replay. Dang Gyu-young who had been observing me up until this point couldnt possibly have misunderstood the implication of my words. Turning off the replay meant I was willing to showcase skills that couldnt be publicly displayed. Dang Gyu-young seemed intrigued but also appeared to be weighing her options. Honestly, Im curious But, you know, Im a mentor right now? Im supposed to upload all the replays. It might have been different if it were just a duel, but mentoring was also in progress. The academic authorities wanted to track the progress of the students; hence recording and submitting all replays was recommended. While it wasnt mandatory, aligning with this would reflect well on Dang Gyu-youngs mentoring performance, so it was best to comply where possible. So I made another suggestion. How about we make this one unofficial, and then have an official match with the replays on, maybe with someone else joining us? Should we? [Side Quest: 5th Week Duel Battles] Objective: Remove Stickers (0/3) Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. Reward: Varies based on the time of completion The objective of this side quest was to remove stickers. As long as I received the quest rewards, I could take my time with the duel itself. It was a proposition that Dang Gyu-young couldnt lose out on. After all, this meant securing a replay that could be submitted to the academy. After retrieving the replay modifier, she wiggled her finger at me. Come on, then. Her eyes were filled with anticipation as if she was wondering what she was about to see. However, contrary to her expectations, I didnt plan on showing much this time. My intention was to end things swiftly. [Activate Amplification] [The rank of Overheat has been increased. (D->B)] I cast [Inferno Fist], And the flames burning from my fist were absorbed with [Overheat]. The effect of Overheat increases with the strength of the fire skill being absorbed and the rank of Overheat itself. Since I used a B-rank Overheat with Inferno Fist, the outcome was bound to be significant. Whoooosh. A surge of immense power began to boil up inside me and start to run wild. The force was overwhelming for my current physical capacity which meant that control might be a bit difficult. Thats why I need to end it even more quickly. I took my stance and kicked off the ground forcefully. Thump! In the span of a single breath, Dang Gyu-youngs figure came closer. With another forceful kick against the ground I found myself right before her. Dang Gyu-young seemed somewhat prepared, but her eyes widened in surprise as if she hadnt anticipated such a turn of events. Wh-what? Ssssh! In an instant, my figure flew past Dang Gyu-young, accompanied by the sound of something being torn away. And before she knew it, a sticker was stuck to my hand. Dang Gyu-young glanced at the sticker and then looked down to check her waist area. Her side was conspicuously empty. This is why I have to raise my rank. Currently, Dang Gyu-young was wearing a bracelet that restricted all skills and traits to C-rank. On the other hand, the rank of the Thiefs Step I had copied from Dang Gyu-young was B, and with the bonus from the shoes Seo Ye-in gave me, it was even at B+. Even this alone made a huge difference in speed, not to mention the significant boost in physical abilities from Overheat.New novel chapters are published on Even when Overheat was at D-rank, I managed to play tag with the Black Death clan leader without so much as a hair out of place, so it goes without saying that B-rank would be extraordinary. If one hand could muster the strength of ten, it was a challenge worth taking on. I advanced steadily, calmly evading, dodging, and shaking off the shadowy limbs bit by bit. After repeating this a few times and measuring the distance to Dang Gyu-young at the center of the garden, Now might be the time to make a dash. I was close enough that a single leap could bridge the gap between us. I gathered strength in my legs and kicked off the ground forcefully. Thump! As if anticipating my move, Dang Gyu-young wore a triumphant smile. Somehow, she had summoned all three shadow butterflies that had been fluttering around the garden to her front. The butterflies exploded all at once, raining down all manner of sharp projectiles like a downpour. This wont do. Abort. Thump! I kicked the ground again and retreated to my previous position. As I dodged and struck at the relentless shadow limbs without a moments rest, Now really might be the time to leap. Having used up the three butterflies, there would be a slight delay before they could be replenished. Thump! I leaped towards Dang Gyu-young once more. She seemed astonished to see me moving in and out of her domain as if it were my own living room. Even if she used her best moves at C-rank, she couldnt bridge the rank difference. Especially if it is me who has the upper hand in the ranks. But she didnt lose her fighting spirit and threw her fist toward me. I sidestepped and deflected the incoming punch further to the side. At the same time, I reached out for the sticker, but Dang Gyu-young tried to grab my hand, and when I slapped her hand away, she countered, leading to a rapid exchange of blows in mid-air. The longer I stayed in one spot exchanging blows, the more at a disadvantage I found myself. After all, Dang Gyu-young had countless shadow hands to assist her in addition to her own hands and feet. I had to change my position again to avoid the encroaching shadows from behind. Thud! A single footprint was deeply imprinted on the ground. The next moment, I appeared on the opposite side of Dang Gyu-young. After forcefully batting away the shadow hands, I extended my hand forward as if to peel off the sticker. ? A fleeting look of puzzlement crossed Dang Gyu-youngs face, as she realized that even with my hand stretched out, there was still a considerable distance between us. However, in the next instant, Boom! An explosion of compressed air from behind propelled Dang Gyu-youngs figure towards me in a flash. From the moment I first set foot in the Shadow Realm, I had been secretly preparing the Wind Force bit by bit. Dang Gyu-Youngs eyes widened in astonishment. She tried to hastily regain her balance, but before she could, I took another step closer and reached out toward her chest. The moment the edge of the sticker caught on my finger, I gripped it firmly and ripped it off with all my strength. Riiipcrack. ? A question mark popped up above my head. I understood the sound of the sticker being torn, but what was that cracking noise? But that wasnt the only odd thing. At the same time as the cracking sound, something the size of a fingernail shot towards my face. What was this? A secret weapon of the Dang family? I quickly tilted my head to the side to dodge and then retreated a fair distance. And looking at Dang Gyu-Young, Her face was twitching as if she was very, very upset. Her cheeks appeared to be slightly flushed. Was there another reason besides the sticker being completely removed? On closer inspection, I noticed Dang Gyu-Young clutching at her shirt collar with one hand. As if something terrible would happen if she let go. Thats when I realized what had happened. Ah, the button. The sticker attached to her chest had been torn off with such force that it had ripped off a button from her school uniform shirt. The object I had dodged, thinking it was a hidden weapon from the Dang family, was that button Did I overdo it? I took a moment to reflect. Then, Dang Gyu-Youngs voice reached my ears. Hey. In a tone lower and colder than usual. I immediately bowed my head. Im sorry. Chapter 82: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (5) Chapter 82: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (5) Hey, Kim Ho. Yes, senior. You crossed the line this time. I apologize, senior. You did that on purpose, didnt you? Not at all, senior. But why tear it off so forcefully? The intensity of the fight made me exert more force, senior. Dang Gyu-young narrowed her eyes and glared at me. As if doing so would allow her to discern the truth from the lies in my words. But its the truth. The combination of the Thiefs Step and the amplified Overheat made it difficult for me to maintain perfect control. Moreover, trying to peel off the sticker from Dang Gyu-young, who was exerting her full power, inevitably required more strength. Still, other than accidentally tearing off the button, I was honest in my intention and I met Dang Gyu-youngs gaze without averting my gaze. .. Dang Gyu-youngs eyebrows dramatically shifted in shape every few seconds. They would knit into a V when she was angry, then relax into a gentle curve as if she was deep in thought, only to furrow again in renewed irritation. If one were to guess Dang Gyu-youngs current state of mind, it might go something like this: She certainly knew that the recent mishap was an unfortunate accident. But even though she knew, she felt a little hurt. Despite receiving several apologies, she hesitated to continue venting her frustration at me. She didnt want to appear petty as a senior. But her anger hadnt fully dissipated and she didnt want to just let it go. Amidst this cycle of anger and reflection, Dang Gyu-young suddenly cast her gaze downward. Still clutching the torn shirt, She wanted to resolve this quickly and uttered a brief word. The stickers. Yes, senior. When I took the three stickers back and held them out, shadow hands emerged and swiftly snatched them away. Another shadow hand gestured in the opposite direction. Look over there. Yes, senior. I turned my back completely and began to examine the walls of the round arena. There was the sound of rustling behind me followed by a sigh. I half-listened to these noises while checking the quest details. [Side Quest: 5th Week Duel Battles] Objective: Remove Stickers (3/3) Reward: Enhanced Bonus from Mentoring Event (Large) [Event: 1st Mentoring] (In progress) [Remaining Duration: 27 Days] Accelerate your growth with the help of a mentor. Increased probability of acquiring skills/traits. Increased skill/trait growth speed Enhancement bonus (Large) currently applied. The quest reward was an increase in the growth bonus from the mentoring event. I succeeded on my very first attempt and was rewarded with an enhancement bonus (large). Normally, one might expect a bonus of around 20%, but with this large bonus it exceeded 100%. It meant my growth rate had more than doubled. For someone like me who was eager to learn a few powerful skills and traits through this mentoring session, this reward was very good. However, since this was a mentoring event, progress was impossible without the cooperation of Dang Gyu-yeong regardless of the bonus received. I hoped her anger would subside soon. Poke. While I was lost in thought, I suddenly felt something poking my back. It felt like a finger and it began to scratch back and forth across my skin. It seemed as if someone was writing letters on my back. Trying to guess what it was Id? Then, something else was written beside it. Senior? As I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Dang Gyu-yeongs very upset face. She poked my cheek with her index finger. Who said you could turn around? Look in front of you; in front of you. Her index finger seemed to urge me on as it pressed firmly into my cheek. Since I felt guilty, I turned my head back to its original position and willingly offered my back as a canvas for her to scribble on. Go ahead; write to your hearts content until youre no longer upset. . Dang Gyu-young finished writing idiot on my back, and then she continued to scribble down a series of trivial insults, including jerk and country bumpkin. Earning 50 points in a duel battle equated to winning two matches against opponents of a similar score, or the points one might lose in defeat. Even though failing wouldnt be a major setback, it was enough to instill a reasonable level of tension. As for strategy battles honestly, theres a lot to discuss there too, but for now, were focusing solely on close combat. Figure out the rest on your own. *** The schedule for the week could be summarized as follows: Academic and personal training routines continued as usual. Any spare time was devoted to mentoring sessions. Given our groups proven weakness in close combat, we engaged in one-on-one sparring sessions with Dang Gyu-young to gain experience. Each person sparred for about 30 minutes a day. Why are you even receiving mentoring? As soon as we were alone, Dang Gyu-young questioned me. This weeks schedule was built under the assumption that we were all weak in close combat. However, that assumption didnt apply to me. I had already removed all my stickers long ago. In the end, it seemed that Dang Gyu-young was at a loss about what specifically she could teach me since my training needed to be different from the rest. I responded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Is there any other reason? Im here for mentoring because I want to learn as much as I can. Do you think theres something you can learn from me? You seem to be doing just fine on your own. Theres a lot I can learn. This time, especially, I need your help. The notion that her help was needed made Dang Gyu-youngs eyes sparkle. Is that so? What is it? Im looking to master a new trait. What kind of trait? Its a long story, but for now, Ill just say its related to evasion. Evasion, you say Then you do need my help. Naturally, to learn a trait related to dodging, someone would have to attack me. Moreover, there was another reason why Dang Gyu-young had to be my sparring partner: [Event: 1st Mentoring] (In progress) Enhancement bonus (Large) currently applied Although my growth speed has been increased to more than double with the side quest reward, there was one condition. I had to receive help from a mentor. No matter what kind of training I did, the presence of a mentor was required to secure the bonus. For one reason or another, Dang Gyu-young had to be my sparring partner. Even though it was vague, Dang Gyu-young actually welcomed the direction I provided. Alright, lets give it a try. Get ready. Shadows began to flicker. However, just as the battle was about to start, I raised my hand to stop Dang Gyu-young. Senior. What now? Id prefer if you removed your bracelet. ? Dang Gyu-young blinked her eyes and lifted her arm. While showing the C-Rank restriction bracelet she wore for the duel battles. This? Yes, that. You want to do this without any rank restrictions? It would increase the chances of success. What sort of trait requires that? Let me at least hear its name. If the acquisition condition included evading a full-powered attack from a third-year, it couldnt be an ordinary trait. It was just as Dang Gyu-young had guessed. I remember that when I was playing , only two or three people including me, were able to master this trait even among the top ten rankers. It was known to very few due to the cumbersome conditions attached to its acquisition, and even once it became known, many gave up on learning it if the conditions didnt align. However, the power it bestowed upon mastery was formidable, making it one of the most challenging defensive traits to contend with among countless others. The name of this trait was; [Distortion]. Thats another interesting thing you said. What does it do? Ill show you after Ive mastered it. Alright then. Dang Gyu-young slipped her wrist out of the C-rank restriction bracelet. As the shackles were released and her skills regained their original rank, the shadows at her feet became denser and darker. Are you confident you can dodge? Somewhat. Hmm, fine. Give it your best. The shadows then stirred violently, And with the bracelet off, an immense torrent of shadows burst forth that far surpassed anything before. Whoosh! Chapter 83: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (6) Chapter 83: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (6) I was sprinting with all my might. Whooosh! Shadow blades grazed past me and missed my back by mere inches. I continued to run at full speed before I suddenly veered off at a sharp 90-degree angle. Dang Gyu-young jumped out of the shadows and slashed with her dagger but she missed my ankle by a hairs breadth and clicked her tongue in frustration. Tch. She melted back into the shadows and a flurry of blades followed. This time, two shadow butterflies flew towards my path. I immediately focused strength into my legs and pushed off the ground with force. Boom! I barely managed to weave through the exploding butterflies Only for half a dozen more to come flying at me. Boom, boom, boom, boom! I staggered comically before I started zigzagging through the explosions. That was a close call. Once Dang Gyu-young removed her bracelet, her strength increased to a level that was incomparable to when I easily peeled off the stickers.Updated from Take her main skill, [Shadow Butterfly Flight], for instance. While it was previously limited to summoning merely three butterflies, she was now able to conjure them continuously without restriction. She freely unleashed skills that had been constrained by mana limits. A prime example was her use of [Shadow Leap] which was a B-rank skill that allowed her to vanish into shadows and reappear from various locations. This skill was akin to the [Space Leap] which was a main movement technique among mages, but its immense mana consumption meant it was unfeasible with a C-rank [Core]. But if its Dang Gyu-young, her [Core] should be A-rank. So how can I avoid the attacks of Dang Gyu-young that became so strong? First, our speeds werent vastly different. Second, as someone who raised 1,000 S-rank heroes my own control had reached the pinnacle. Lastly, I was thoroughly familiar with Dang Gyu-youngs skills. After all, Ive trained Shadow Mages myself. Though it was a relatively rare class, I had managed to train two up to S-rank. Crash! And making use of such control and experience, I once again dodged the shadow blades with dazzling movements. But how long would I have to keep dodging like this? Dang Gyu-young seemed to harbor similar thoughts and continued to launch shadow daggers while asking. Are you sure you are learning the trait correctly? Yes, just keep going as you are. Even without a status window to see the figures, I had the unique confidence that comes with being a veteran player. A firm belief that I was steadily progressing toward my goal. Before even delving into the method of mastering [Distortion]. Like many games, also had its share of hidden figures. One of these was the concept of streaks. Streaks accumulate one by one with each successive action performed successfully. For example, if you landed attacks consecutively ten times, youd have ten hit streaks. Naturally, what I was accumulating were dodging streaks. Similar to hitting, each successful dodge added one dodging streak. And the minimum prerequisite for acquiring [Distortion] was maintaining over 1,000 dodging streaks. Only after reaching this threshold does each evasion attempt come with a probability to learn the trait. But at exactly 1,000 streaks, that probability was so ridiculously low that it was practically zero. Then, how could one increase this probability? I need to accumulate more streaks. The more streaks I gathered, the higher the probability would continuously climb. It was about repeatedly dodging and knocking on the door of chance over and over again. This was precisely the process of mastering [Distortion]. So what was the faster way to accumulate these streaks? Youre really committed to that lie. You planning to stick with that? For the time being. Dang Gyu-Young seemed convinced that I was hiding something behind the lie of 200 graduations. Its easier to leave it alone than to prove anything, so I decided to maintain this stance. At least for the time being. But the more I think about it, this feels like a loss for me. Why would it be a loss? This is all part of mentoring. Keeping secrets isnt part of it, though. Can I record this and upload the replay? Dang Gyu-Young flashed a mischievous smile. I tried to brush it off but it seems that didnt work. Since [Distortion] was an extremely rare trait even in Dragon Slayer Academy, there will be very few people who know about it in the world of this game. Dang Gyu-young was the president of the thieves club and must also be an information broker, but she herself never heard of this trait. Therefore, it was in my best interest to keep my training in distortion and that I was dodging every attack from a third-year student of about B rank under wraps. It seemed like she wanted something in return for not reporting to the academic department, so I had no choice but to ask. What do you need? Well, nothing at the moment? Dang Gyu-Young flashed a sly grin and extended her pinky finger. Instead, Ill take a favor to be named later. Come on, pinky promise. But I hesitated to link fingers too hastily. Unsecured loans are always the scariest after all. The air was thick with the scent of dark and dubious schemes. This seems suspicious. Youre not going to ask for something weird later, are you? Like joining your club. I wont ask for anything weird! And since when is joining our club weird? Still, Im not keen on it. Ill just practice close combat. Just like the others. After all, when it comes to the dodging streak, more is usually better, but with this much already accumulated, its fine to dodge moderately and just play the odds. This meant that even if Dang Gyu-young didnt give it her all, it wouldnt be a significant loss for me. When I showed signs of completely withdrawing, Dang Gyu-young gently persuaded me. Hey, dont give up so easily. Master this well, and you can contribute to that world peace youre always talking about. Ive reconsidered and I think its okay to take it slow and work hard. Ah, come on, then. If you really think its weird you can back off. Are we good? Alright. It was then that I finally hooked my pinky with hers. I figured it would be safe as long as I took precautions. Dang Gyu-youngs smile was pleasing, but to me, it seemed more suspicious than the sly grins of villains. Why did she want to hold onto a promise from me? What does she plan to ask of me later? *** At the same time, In another round arena, Seo Ye-in was as expressionless as ever and she looked somewhat sleepy as she gazed at someone else. At the end of her gaze stood a woman who was neatly dressed in a suit. Anyone seeing this woman for the first time would immediately think of the word competent. She embodied not just the perfect image of a career woman with every angle polished but she also gave the impression she could flawlessly execute any task assigned to her. She was the very epitome of competence wrapped up in a human form. The woman in the suit locked her gaze onto Seo Ye-in, who met her gaze with her usual indifferent demeanor. The two people faced each other in silence for a long time until the woman in the suit finally opened her mouth. Miss, I have arrived. She then bowed deeply. Her name was Ahn Jeong-mi, The team leader of Strategy Team 2 in the Future Strategy Office of Hye-seong Group. She was one of the butlers who served Seo Ye-ins family for many years. Chapter 84: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (7) Chapter 84: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (7) Time goes back by about two weeks. Ahn Jeong-mi was in the midst of flawlessly handling all her tasks that day as well. The mountain of papers before her quickly dwindled as her hands moved with unmatched speed and machine-like precision. But her hands, which never stopped until all her assigned tasks were completed, were stopped that day by one exception. What did you say? Ahn Jeong-mi rose abruptly from her seat. Her face was trembling with astonishment. Both were rare sights to behold, so that could only mean something truly surprising had occurred. The cause of her shock was an unexpected piece of news from a reliable informant planted within Dragon Slayer Academy. Miss is applying for mentoring? It was the news that Seo Ye-in had applied for mentoring. This piece of information was so ridiculous that it was hard to believe even if it came from that reliable informant. From what Ahn Jeong-mi observed over a long period of time Seo Ye-in was the person who was most distant from the word zeal for learning. She had a disposition that found the act of learning new things or stuffing information into her head to be exceedingly tedious. No, this lack of enthusiasm wasnt confined to learning alone. Seo Ye-in simply lacked motivation in virtually everything. Except, perhaps, for finding a cozy corner to sleep in. It was truly frustrating for those who watched her and they often found it baffling how someone with such brilliant talents and potential could exhibit such laziness. And because Ahn Jeong-mi had taken on most of the responsibility for Seo Ye-ins education, she felt more frustrated than the others. In a desperate move by the Future Strategy Office, they decided to enroll Seo Ye-in at Dragon Slayer Academy. The hope was that by meeting, socializing, competing, and clashing with her peers, she might find some stimulation. But when Ahn Jeong-mi sent her off, her expectations were not high. She thought Seo Ye-in might just spend her days tucked away in a library corner or napping in the dormitory. She would be grateful if she could at least attend class every day. But it was only a month after Seo Ye-in entered Dragon Slayer Academy. The reliable informant began sending updates that were hard to believe. Seo Ye-in was not only attending classes daily but was also actively participating in weekly duel battles and strategy battles. Surprisingly, her grades were quite decent! Could it be that her peers had indeed sparked a positive change in her? Even so, mentoring? But applying for mentoring and actively seeking instruction seemed a bit too far-fetched, didnt it? Therefore, Ahn Jeong-mi found the news of the mentoring particularly hard to believe. However, after several rounds of cross-verification and as the news solidified into truth, she had no choice but to believe it. This might actually be a good thing. Ahn Jeong-mis mind quickly spun into action and she came up with a new plan on the spot. Dragon Slayer Academy just happened to have made an announcement that they were looking for mentors. Coincidentally, Ahn Jeong-mi was a high-ranking Marksman and a Graduate so she perfectly met the criteria. This is an opportunity. A golden opportunity to teach a girl who would not listen to others no matter how hard they tried. And wasnt it Seo Ye-in who had personally requested this mentoring? Unlike before, she was willing to learn from someone else, making it an even better opportunity. Thus, Ahn Jeong-mi put all else aside and reached out to the Dragon Slayer Academy with the desire to become a mentor. The academy saw no reason to turn away someone of her caliber and gladly accepted her proposal. When it came to long-range classes, the number of marksmen was significantly lower compared to archers. Among them, those with exceptional skills were even fewer. And among those, the number of marksmen willing and available to take on a mentoring role was smaller still. Due to this shortage of personnel, Seo Ye-in was inevitably going to be assigned under an archer mentor, but with Ahn Jeong-mi stepping in to take the role, she was assigned under her instead. This too was precisely as planned. The outcome was the one-on-one tutoring sessions Ahn Jeong-mi had always dreamed ofteaching the motivated young miss. Ahn Jeong-mi trembled with overwhelming emotion. This time for sure! This time, I will impart everything I know with all sincerity and effort! Throughout the past week, Seo Ye-in had poured every free moment into practicing [Magic Bullet] and [Ejection], just as Kim Ho had instructed. With her tremendous talent, it was impossible for her skills not to develop when effort was added to the mix. Additionally, whether she knew it or not, the effects of the B-rank cushion had improved her sleep efficiency, which in turn extended the time she remained awake. Those additional hours were wholly devoted to training. The result was that both [Magic Bullet] which was previously at D-rank, and [Ejection] which was previously at E-rank had reached C-rank. Kim Hos thought of it seems impossible, but maybe had turned into a reality against all odds. Thus, the shot fired from Seo Ye-ins rifle was a powerful one that far exceeded Ahn Jeong-mis predictions. The shield she had raised with the expectation that Seo Ye-ins skills had only marginally improved over the last month was utterly incapable of stopping this formidable shot, no matter what she tried. A blue streak was drawn between the rifles muzzle and the mana shield. In the next moment, the Magic Bullet shattered the thin shield and embedded itself in Ahn Jeong-mis forehead. Bang!! Overwhelmed by the tremendous shock, Ahn Jeong-mis head snapped back, and she slowly fell to the ground. It was only upon taking the hit herself that she realized, So youve learned [Ejection] And at a quite high rank at that. As her consciousness faded away, Ahn Jeong-mi let out a low exclamation of admiration. Miss You are truly amazing To have grown so magnificently in just a month Thud. *** Although Ahn Jeong-mi had taken an unexpectedly powerful strike and fallen with a crash, she was a graduate after all and she quickly came to her senses. And with a bulging lump in the middle of her forehead, she asked many questions. How did you learn [Magic Bullet]? And [Ejection]? How she managed to master not one, but two skills in a month, and even raise them to C-rank was beyond her. Unfortunately, Seo Ye-in wasnt very talkative and gave most of her answers in short answers or shaking her head, so she had to go back and forth for almost 20 rounds. Anyone else might have given up in frustration, but Ahn Jeong-mi has dealt with Seo Ye-in for a long time as her familys butler so she was well accustomed to this. By now, she had reached a level where Seo Ye-in could say a few words and shed understand the whole context. Finally, Ahn Jeong-mi understood the whole situation and nodded her head in understanding. Youre saying a man named Kim Ho was the one who taught you? Mhmm. So, Miss, why did you chose mentoring as well? He told me to. ! Ahn Jeong-mi felt her respect for the guy called Kim Ho growing in her heart. What kind of magic did he use to motivate Miss who is as lazy as a sloth? Whats the secret? Wondering if she might learn the secret by asking, Ahn Jeong-mi tentatively posed a question. Seeing Miss working so diligently fills me with pride, but also curiosity. May I ask about the reason? Seo Ye-in paused for a moment while staring blankly into space. She seemed deep in thought and tilted her head slightly to one side. After a long pause, the answer that came from her was, Just because. It just turned out that way. To Seo Ye-in, Kim Ho is someone special. He was one of the rare individuals whose status window that only she could see with her eyes was filled with question marks. Yet, if one were to ask if her time spent with Kim Ho over the month was solely because of this, it didnt seem entirely the case. Then, what other reason could there be? Seo Ye-in herself couldnt provide a clear answer. After Kim Ho, she found herself attending classes every day without realizing it, participating in duel battles, practicing diligently, and even mentoring. It seemed this pattern would continue into the future. And so, she lumped all these inexplicable things together under just because. Naturally, for Ahn Jeong-mi, this was an answer that was impossible to understand or accept. But Seo Ye-in was not the only one who needed to answer. I would like to meet that person named Kim Ho. Chapter 85: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (8) Chapter 85: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (8) It was Tuesday, During the short break after lunchtime. I had a conversation with Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in in a secluded spot. Needless to say, the topic revolved around the mentoring program that had started the day before. So, hows your mentor? Im quite pleased, truly. My senior mentor is outstanding, and I see much to learn from the others as well. Go Hyeon-woo couldnt hide his excitement since the morning. It seemed he had been fortunate enough to be paired with a skilled mentor and capable group members, and it was something that any martial artist would be excited about. Really? Whos in your group? Miss Han is one of the members. Han So-mi? Yes, thats right. It made sense now why she had been heading in the same direction the day before. I wondered if they might be in the same group, and indeed they were. Thats good. Try asking for a sparring match with her. I did, actually. But she declined. Already? Why didnt she want to? She said she doesnt want unnecessary fights. Thinking back, I recall hearing her saying something similar on the train. Doesnt like fights, but wont shy away from a match, was it? If so, its understandable why she wouldnt be keen on sparring. Sparring isnt about winning, after all. Yet, considering she maintains a top rank in duel battles within the disciplinary committee club, she must be the type to step up when it matters. Maybe if you ask nicely, she might agree. Perhaps lure her in with something tasty. Hmm, that might work. But I have no clue what Miss Han likes. I can secretly ask Song Cheon-hye for you. Shes in my group, after all. Really? Then Ill count on you. Since Song Cheon-hye and Han So-mi were both in the disciplinary committee club and were quite close personally, always sticking together, they should have a good grasp of each others interests. Though whether she would willingly share that with me is another matter, I had a plan for that. With Go Hyeon-woos recent news seeming wrapped up, I turned the conversation to Seo Ye-in who had been quietly observing us until now. How about you? Hows the mentoring going? Boring. I thought as much. It must be boring for her. I could already envision her mentor struggling. Did your mentor not say anything? Wanted to see you. Me? Mhmm. What could the marksman mentor possibly want from me? I was able to hear the answer to that question right away. You are here, miss. ? A strange voice drew my attention, and when I turned my head, I saw a woman impeccably dressed in a suit standing there. I could intuitively tell from the first glance. Whatever shes tasked with, shell do at least twice as much as expected. This person was evidently highly capable. She didnt seem to be a faculty member, so it was likely she was a graduate here for mentoring. Moreover, her use of miss when addressing Seo Ye-in meant there was a longstanding relationship between them. The woman in the suit was the first to bow toward us. It seems you two are friends of the miss. My name is Ahn Jeong-mi, and Ive been assigned as a mentor this time. Im Go Hyeon-woo. And Im Kim Ho. We responded with due courtesy. However, the moment she heard my name, Ahn Jeong-mis eyes began to emit an intense glow. It was almost as if lasers were about to shoot out which was slightly overwhelming. . Kim Ho? Ive heard a lot about you. Would you mind sparing me a moment of your time? Go Hyeon-woo quickly picked up on the situation and rose with a smooth smile. It seems appropriate for me to step aside here. Thank you for your consideration. Not at all. See you later, Kim-hyung and Miss Seo. We quickly regained our composure and returned to our conversation. If both are at C-ran, I think she has secured enough firepower for now. Yes, I think so too. As long as she could continue to hit the opponent with magic bullets and inflict damage, she could take down anyone in the first year. The important keyword here is continue. Currently, Seo Ye-ins win rate plummets after two or three missed shots since she lacked the stamina to sustain the battle. Her burst damage might be impressive, but without the mobility or defense to maintain that power, she would be vulnerable to counterattacks. So, if it comes down to a real firefight, she would likely be the first to fall. Take for example the duo of Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Jun-seok in the 2v2 match; they used magic shields to block the snipes and counterattacked by pinpointing Seo Ye-ins position. If I hadnt turned the tables, she would have quickly been worn down and would have been defeated. To prevent similar situations in the future, the first thing she should improve is, Maybe learning a movement skill first would be a good idea. Do you have any skills in mind? Ahn Jeong-mi asked. Learning [Thiefs Step] like other ranged classes could work But why not go for something a bit more luxurious? I suggested a different skill. I think [Feather Walk] would be good. Feather Walk. It was similar to Thiefs Step in that it lightens the casters body and increases movement speed. The difference lay in the weak turbulence generated around the caster while Feather Walk was active which helped deflect and divert some of the incoming attacks. In a sense, it also served a defensive role, albeit to a lesser extent. Naturally, it synergized well with wind-type skills. Pairing it with the skills I planned to learn in the future would yield even greater bonuses. However, there was one notable drawback. Its expensive. Feather Walk skill books were exceedingly rare compared to Thiefs Step. During my time playing , the market rate was over a hundred times more expensive, so wouldnt it be similar here? It was better than Thiefs Step, but even so, the price was ridiculously high. Most would prefer to learn the similar Thiefs Ste and invest the significant difference in resources elsewhere. But she belongs to the Hye-sung Group, right? For a scion of a conglomerate like the Hye-sung Group, whats a bit of money for the rare opportunity to learn a new skill? As expected, Ahn Jeong-mi nodded her head without any hesitation. Ill get the skill book right away. I added one more suggestion. Perhaps it might be wise to consider changing her weapon for the time being as well. While learning the new movement skill, rather than using a sniper rifle that requires one to stay in one place for a long amount of time, why not use a magic gun that offers a little more mobility? This request was hardly a challenge for the Hye-sung Group. After all, they had more than enough firearms at their disposal. Yes, I will do that. With this, Seo Ye-ins training direction was essentially set for the time being. The plan was to monitor her progress and decide whether to continue on this path or make changes as necessary. I spoke to Seo Ye-in in a playful tone. Work hard on your skill, and make sure to listen to what your butler says. Seo Ye-in looked at me blankly for a few seconds before slowly nodding her head in agreement. Mhmm. Ahn Jeong-mis expression turned strange as she watched this. Her eyes were full of admiration and respect towards me, but her eyes when she looked at Seo Ye-in seemed to be filled with a sense of betrayal and emptiness. Thats understandable. Somehow, I found myself understanding Ahn Jeong-mis position. It was akin to someone who had lovingly cared for a cat for years only to see it show no interest in them but immediately roll over and expose its belly to a stranger. But Ahn Jeong-mi was a professional through and through. She quickly composed herself and continued the conversation. The mentoring this time is also of interest to the Future Strategy Office. We will not forget the various ways Kim Ho-nim has contributed to the misss growth and will ensure we express our gratitude appropriately. I wont decline. I have quite a few needs, you see. We will prepare something that will surely satisfy you. The promise of something rewarding was already in the air. As expected, Ahn Jeong-mi was a woman with principles. ******* TN: my guy has thoroughly tamed her. Chapter 86: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (9) Chapter 86: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (9) Lets leave Seo Ye-ins training to Ahn Jeong-mi for the time being. Go Hyeon-woo also seemed to take a liking to his mentor and fellow group members, so it didnt seem like I would need to be heavily involved. If there was anything I could help with, it would be arranging him a sparring match with Han So-mi. And the opportunity for that arose sooner than expected. On the way to the arena to train [Distortion] with Dang Gyu-young. I spotted the figure of Song Cheon-hye in the distance. But she doesnt seem to be in good shape. She looked utterly worn out as if she had been through a tough ordeal. Unlike her usual diligent and flawless demeanor, she walked unsteadily and sluggishly with a pale face. She looked like a mollusk. It looks like shes coming back from a mentoring session. Judging by the signs of fierce combat all over her body. It was clear she had been put through the wringer by Dang Gyu-young. Since I have business with Song Cheon-hye anyway, I approached her first and called out. Song Cheon-hye. !!! Song Cheon-hye must have thought she was completely alone. When she heard my voice, she was visibly startled and started frantically scanning her surroundings before her eyes landed on me. What followed was a remarkable transformation at an incredible speed. She straightened her once slouched posture, swiftly tied up her hair that had been half undone and cascading down her shoulders, and smoothed out her uniform from head to toe, all in less than three seconds. What? What do you want? You must be coming back from mentoring. Tough day, huh? Tough? Im not sure what you mean. I just noticed your face seemed to bear the brunt of it. Not at all. Are you sure youre not seeing things? Song Cheon-hye was adamantly denying any hardship. She didnt show even the slightest sign of strain. I just shook my head. Hmm, I guess so. My mistake. My eyesight isnt what it used to be. While saying that, I mimicked the actions I had just seen from Song Cheon-hye. Stumble, stagger, stagger. When she saw her own disheveled state copied by me, Song Cheon-hye shivered. S-Stop it. I should have recorded this impressive scene with a crystal ball, but its such a shame, dont you think? Using crystal balls outside practical assessments is against school regulations. Even more so, filming another student without their consent! I know, I know. Its just a shame I cant use it as evidence. . My reenactment just now was so perfect that Song Cheon-hye could no longer say anything in retort. Yet she refused to admit everything. I may have been a bit tired today. Is that why you called me over, to make fun of a tired person? No, I just happened to see you on my way and thought Id say hello. And I had something to ask, too. I dont believe Im obliged to answer. If youll excuse me. With that, Song Cheon-hye turned her back coldly, as if to say we should both go our separate ways. But I couldnt just let her walk away. Just when she began to step away, I called out to her. Youre not obliged to answer, but it seems youve forgotten something. Me? That cant be. Song Cheon-hye scoffed dismissively, but then, Wish ticket. ! The moment I uttered that word, she stopped in her tracks and stiffened, then her head jerked back to me. I gave a sly smile and asked again, Remember now? During the 4th weeks [Clearance] strategy battle, we made a casual bet on who achieved a higher clearance rate. The stake was a wish ticket that would make the loser respond to a trivial request or question. However, the outcome of the bet had been almost predetermined. While I cleared the dungeon cleanly without missing a single item and received the highest score of 100%, Song Cheon-hye fell slightly at 97%. And now, I intended to cash in that wish ticket. Song Cheon-hye sighed deeply, Ask away. But Im telling you upfront, I wont divulge any disciplinary committee secrets. I wouldnt ask about that. Its something simple. What is it then? Han So-mi. What does she like? . Huh? Song Cheon-hyes expression was colored with astonishment. My question seemed so unexpected that it took her aback. She hesitated before asking, So-mi. Are you perhaps Interested in her? No thats not it. I once heard that she was a disciple of the Sword Marquis, which piqued my interest given her potential as a future S-rank hero. But Song Cheon-hyes question now is whether I was interested as a member of the opposite gender so of course I had no choice but to deny it. Song Cheon-hye furrowed her brows. Its even stranger then. If youre not interested in her, why would you want to know what So-mi likes? *** Another issue needed addressing. I had received a message from the blacksmithing club. He said that it would take approximately a week to make the equipment, but he contacted me again after only a few days. Given the complexity of working with Millennium Iron and Black Mithril, it was unlikely they had finished so soon. It must be the opposite. The likelihood was high that they had encountered a problem and needed to consult me. I already expected this from the time I made the request. I promptly made my way to the blacksmiths workshop. As I waited at the door, a third-year student with a rugged muscular build whom I had met a few days prior approached me. Today, he was neatly dressed in his uniform, but a closer look at his tie pin revealed he was actually a second-year student. The theory that wielding a hammer ages a person seemed to gain more credibility. Ah, youve arrived. The second year who seemed more like a third year recognized me immediately. He must have been impressed by the fact that I placed a request with a VIP ticket. Good day to you. Follow me. After a brief exchange of greetings, the senior led me to a small club room set aside within the workshop. The room was decorated more like an office or counseling room than a typical club space and seemed to be used as such. It wasnt long before the president of the blacksmithing club entered the room. He trudged over, sat down on the seat across from me, and got straight to the point without even a single greeting. Theres a problem during the processing. With that, he abruptly placed an ingot on the table. The ingot, gleaming with a dark sheen, was an alloy of millennium iron and black mithril that I had provided. Fusing the two items wasnt the issue. The problem arose afterward. A chilling sensation had been touching my skin since the moment the club president brought out the ingot. Even though I was quite a distance from the table. This coldness isnt normal. Yes. Weve attempted to process it several times but to no avail. Both millennium iron and black mithril are metals inherently imbued with coldness. When viewed separately, the processing of each metal might have seemed challenging but not impossible. The president of the blacksmithing club must have thought so too when he accepted the request. However, the fusion of the two metals far exceeded his expectations. The level of coldness became so intense that it rivaled that of some of the best ice-element materials which greatly increased the difficulty of processing. The forges heat was mostly dissipated. If the heat couldnt be properly applied, melting and reshaping were out of the question, let alone fashioning it into a rod. Especially since what I had requested wasnt just any rod, but one intricate enough to fit magical engineering components. After I listened to the explanation, I nodded slowly. I see. The president of the blacksmithing club narrowed his eyes at my calm nodding. You seem almost as if you expected this to happen. I had anticipated it might be challenging to handle. Still, I thought it was possible with you in charge, especially since you mentioned it wouldnt be difficult. I decided to trust in that. In truth, I had placed more weight on the possibility of failure but chose to say otherwise. There was no need to damage his pride when we would likely meet again in the future. The president of the blacksmithing club appeared to gauge my true intentions for a moment before posing another question. You must have prepared another solution in case of my failure, havent you? I do have something in mind, just in case but honestly, Im not entirely confident about it. This was also a bit of a bluff, as I had prepared a solution from the start but I feigned uncertainty. Is that so? Assuming what you have in mind works, tell me what you want. Bong Jae-seok, the president of the magic engineering club also didnt like beating around the bush but this man was even more straightforward. He wanted me to get straight to the point. I pretended to think a bit more and finally spoke up. There will likely be some material left over after the rod is complete. You knew that much? So, what about it? Id be grateful if you could use the leftover material to make one small additional item. Without hesitation, the president readily agreed to my proposal. Fine. If your method works, Ill make an extra item for you. Go ahead. Promises were exchanged as fast beans roasting over a flash of lightning. Even though it might have looked like a hasty decision from his side, there was certainly a calculation involved. If one were to become the head of the blacksmithing club, it wouldnt be an exaggeration to start attaching the title of master to their name. In that case, they would want to avoid anything that could tarnish their reputation. Becoming the laughing stock of the community for abandoning a request due to the difficulty of processing the material was the last thing a craftsman would want. Therefore, in a situation where a breakthrough was needed, if I knew the solution, it would be more beneficial for them to concede what they could and ease their burden by accepting my offer. Im in luck. Since I already knew the method. There were mainly two ways to melt the millennium iron alloy. One was for a powerful fire mage of at least third-year club president level to pour forth their flames at maximum output. The other was for a fire mage possessing a rare unique trait passed down to only a select few to kindle the flame. And naturally, the place where both could be found was, The Ruby Magic Tower. I fiddled with the large ruby given to me by Hong Yeon-hwa. Bringing it with me there should at least earn me the treatment of an esteemed guest. Chapter 87: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (10) Chapter 87: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (10) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Chapter 88: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (11) Chapter 88: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (11) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Chapter 89: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (12) Chapter 89: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (12) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Chapter 90: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (13) Chapter 90: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (13) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! Chapter 91: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (14) Chapter 91: 5th Week Mentoring and Duel Battles (14) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! Chapter 92: Distortion Chapter 92: Distortion This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Chapter 93: Seo Ye-in Wants to Rest Chapter 93: Seo Ye-in Wants to Rest This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Chapter 94: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (1) Chapter 94: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (1) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! New novel chapters are published on Chapter 95: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (2) Chapter 95: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (2) This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Chapter 96: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (3) Chapter 96: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (3) Goblins poured out through the breach in droves. Though their numbers were fewer compared to those at the main gate, they were still too many to ignore. Without even a glance in our direction, they headed straight for the statue of the goddess. I asked Song Cheon-hye in a calm tone. Should I go and block them? Hurry, please hurry. As I slowly moved towards the wall, I cast Wind Force. A wind imbued with physical force struck the goblins who were gleefully rushing towards the statue. Keruk? Keek? The goblins hesitated as if they had hit an invisible wall and froze in their place. As I drew closer, they were forced to retreat step by step. The power of Wind Force had diminished due to the [Close Combat] restriction, but as the distance decreased, its true strength began to manifest. I kept pushing the goblins back and gathering them as one would sweep trash with a broom and dustpan, and then forcefully shoved them back into the breach they had emerged from. Kek! Some, in a desperate attempt, threw their wooden spears at me but they werent even worth dodging. Merely maintaining Wind Force was enough; the thrown spears would lose their momentum mid-air and harmlessly drop to the ground. And then I started picking them up and throwing them back. They flew swiftly and embedded deeply with a thud. While Song Cheon-hye was busy defending her main gate, she kept an eye on this side of the battle and wore a look of disbelief at the sight. How is that possible It seemed she couldnt believe how effortlessly the breach in the wall, albeit smaller compared to the main gate, was sealed. At any rate, this side is taken care of now. The problem was on Song Cheon-hyes side. Every time a goblin or two slipped through, I would catch and toss them back, but as I moved to seal the newly breached hole, a gap was left in my previous role. Kek! Ah! As feared, another goblin managed to dodge the barrage of lightning and slipped past Song Cheon-hye. It dashed towards the statue of the goddess unhindered and began to recklessly smash it with the rock it held. [Statue of the Goddess: 98%] [Statue of the Goddess: 96%] [Statue of the Goddess: 93%] Kuk. A thunderous hummingbird shot from Song Cheon-hyes hand. A streak of light crossed the temple before striking the goblin squarely. Fizzzzzz, Shes ranked up. From E-rank to D-rank. It seemed she had also been diligently practicing her magic. But at this moment, rank wasnt what mattered. After all, the [Close Combat] restriction would render her as ineffective as if she were below F-rank. Kek? Despite taking a direct hit from the D-rank Hummingbird, the goblin merely trembled as if tickled and continued pounding the statue with its rock. Sending the Hummingbird had, in fact, backfired. The distraction had caused Song Cheon-hyes defense at the main gate to weaken even further. Where previously only one or two goblins managed to get through, now four or five ran past her. N-No. Kikikik! Keek! Wooden spears and a barrage of stones flew toward the statue, and the goblins who had approached whether armed with daggers or hand axes, swung wildly without a second thought. As the attacks became more concentrated, t, the health gauge of the statue rapidly depleted. [Statue of the Goddess: 83%] [Statue of the Goddess: 75%] [Statue of the Goddess: 67%] Ugh. Song Cheon-hye seemed to think that this couldnt go any further and kicked the ground. A bolt of lightning carried her swiftly to the statue where her lightning magic engulfed the goblins. Fzzzzzzt!!New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com While most were reduced to charred remains, a few survivors continued to relentlessly hammer away at the statue. Such blind persistence was largely influenced by being under the command of Dang Gyu-young. [Statue of the Goddess: 51%] I think thats a complacent attitude. Regardless of how many chances we have, shouldnt we give our best every single time? It is said that only those who can snatch victory even in unfavorable circumstances can reach the top. I feel like Ive heard something similar before Was it something your grandfather used to say? Looking back, I remembered that when I had withdrawn from the placement test duel battle against her, she had quoted the sayings of her grandfather, the Thunder Lord, while reprimanding me. Song Cheon-hye seemed on the verge of continuing her nagging when she suddenly hesitated. She blinked her eyes several times before asking. . You remembered? Because it wasnt wrong. I thought you wouldve let it go in one ear and out the other. Why would I? Especially when its the Thunder Lord himself. One cannot simply ignore his words. . Hmm, hmm. Isnt that true too? You know something after all. The corners of Song Cheon-hyes mouth slightly rose up. It appeared that the Thunder Lord was not only her grandfather but also her role model, so recognition and acknowledgment from others naturally pleased her. Her stern demeanor quickly softened. Seizing the moment to steer the conversation in a more productive direction seemed like the best course of action. So I quickly took the initiative, Regardless, I admit I was passive in my first attempt. Whats done is done. Lets discuss how we can move forward. Yes, I think that would be best. Would letting a goblin or two slip through, if repeated several times, make up for it? Looking back at the root of our failure, it all started with Song Cheon-hye missing a goblin due to lack of control, which then snowballed into the main gate being completely breached. Moreover, it being our first attempt meant we were not yet accustomed to the task. With more practice, we would surely improve. After some thought, Song Cheon-hye gave an honest response. We can reduce the number. But ensuring not a single one slips through in 10 minutes might still be difficult. Then lets do our best up to a point, and Ill handle any that slip through. That would be more than enough. We also discussed several other possibilities, such as other unexpected situations or what to do if the main gate were to be breached again. Song Cheon-hye nodded her head in satisfaction. Todays conversation is flowing well. I wish it could always be like this. Youre quite cooperative today too, arent you? Last time, it took a wish ticket to get you on board. I dont let personal feelings interfere with practical assessments. And I did help out last time, didnt I? The last time I mentioned to Song Cheon-hye involved using a wish ticket I had won from a bet with her to arrange a friendly spar between Go Hyun-woo and Han So-mi. Hearing later that the two had sparred several times, I felt relieved that things had worked out well. After all, I had handed over quite a few sweets as part of the deal; it would have felt like a loss had it not been successful. True, you were helpful. But remember, I still have another wish ticket. You know that, right? Wh-why? We won one of the stickers, remember? It was 1 to 0 in our favor. But it wasnt you, it was Hong Yeon-hwa who removed it. Yep, but we were a team~ If you are upset, maybe you should find a better partner next time~ Song Cheon-hye trembled with frustration. Lets bet again, start over. I dont want to. Winning all the time takes the fun out of it. There needs to be some excitement, some suspense. Wow, youre really annoying. Amid our light-hearted bickering, The portal opened and Hong Yeon-hwa and Kwak Ji-cheol emerged. It seemed they had failed just as we had, yet they had spent a longer time within the dungeon. This implied they had managed to hold out for a longer period of time. Their elemental affinity is inherently good. Crowd control in a confined space like a temple, fire and earth magic held a clear edge over lightning magic. With Hong Yeon-hwa using fire magic to do sustained damage over a wide area, and Kwak Ji-cheol either building earth walls or summoning golems around the goddess statue, their defense was bound to be much easier than ours. Of course, they too must have failed to overcome the latter part of the challenge. Nonetheless, it was clear that they were progressing further than us, and it seemed they were aware of this fact as well. .. Hong Yeon-hwa casually glanced at Song Cheon-hye as if just passing by. Though it appeared she intended to keep a poker face, one corner of her mouth involuntarily twisted upwards in a smirk. She really couldnt control her facial expressions. The unintended provocation struck a nerve. Song Cheon-hyes forehead seemed to tense up with veins popping out in frustration. Then Song Cheon-hye spoke in a low voice that only I could hear, but in a cold tone that was unlike anything she had said before. . I really hope we win this time. Chapter 97: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (4) Chapter 97: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (4) The statue of the goddess of war was still there, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, and overlooking the ruins of the desecrated temple. After gazing up at the statue for a moment, Song Cheon-hye sent me a glance asking if I was ready to which I responded with a light nod. [3] [2] [1] [Start!]The most uptodate novels are published on n0velbj)n((.))co/m [Statue of the Goddess: 100%] [Remaining Time: 9:59] The advancing forces of goblins marched steadily forward. Song Cheon-hye walked toward the main gate with her gaze fixed on the enemy line. Fzzzzzt, The dark-colored gloves on her hands sparked and sent currents along the ground. A large circle formed around Song Cheon-hye. The magic circle began to emit light and the geometric symbols started glowing within. Regardless of the goblins approach, Song Cheon-hye remained focused solely on drawing the magic circle. Soon, the completed magic circle burst into bright radiance. [Lightning Field] The area, already dyed red by sunset, seemed to brighten even more, though it was hard to tell what else had changed. The true value of the magic was realized when the goblins reached the very front of the temple and began their charge. Fzzzzzzzt! Fzzzzzzzt! Keek? Kiik! The moment the goblins stepped within the range of the magic circle, sparks flew wildly around them. Though not immensely powerful, the magic inflicted constant damage and paralysis while slowing their movements. A zone-control magic. Song Cheon-hye acknowledged that the reason she let one or two slip through on her first attempt was due to her own lack of control. To compensate for her lack of control, she cast the zone-control magic, Lightning Field. There was no need for precision in enveloping a set area with lightning. The only requirement was the huge amount of mana needed to maintain the magic circle. And Song Cheon-hye was a mana powerhouse even I acknowledged and she had no issues with mana consumption. Keeek! Kerruk! The goblins, for their part, were tenacious creatures. Normally, one would expect them to yelp at the sparks and flee, but the [Commander] rule forced them to push forward, despite the pain. Their advance had undoubtedly slowed, and soon they were overwhelmed by even more potent lightning magic. Fzzzt-Fzzzt-Fzzzt! At the center of the magic circle, Song Cheon-hye sequentially unleashed several area-of-effect spells while continuing to defend the main gate. ! ! As I leisurely observed the scene, the raucous sounds from the side and the thudding of bodies crashing against something caught my attention. The wall would soon be breached so I walked towards it. Booom, The moment the wall crumbled and a hole appeared, I focused my Wind Force right through it. Panic-stricken cries emerged from the other side. Wha? Gurk? The goblins stopped in their tracks just as they were about to surge forward. Under Dang Gyu-youngs command, they struggled to push ahead but there are things that force alone cannot accomplish. The F-rank monsters bodies were simply too frail to withstand the wind imbued with physical force. I kept the wind blowing to seal off the wall and turned my attention back to Song Cheon-hye. Fizzzzzz! Shes holding them off quite well. Song Cheon-hye was frying the goblins with lightning magic as they approached. Not a single one had made it through the main gate so far. It was only the second attempt yet major improvements had already been made to address our weaknesses. [Statue of the Goddess: 100%] [Remaining Time: 4:46] The first attempt had failed before even reaching the five-minute mark, but this time, it was easily surpassed. So far, so good. It was about time for the next challenge to emerge. As soon as this thought had crossed my mind, I felt a clear presence somewhere. ? Song Cheon-hye who was anticipating the arrival of the next opponent tensed up. Her expression was a mixture of vigilance and confusion. She was certain she had encountered this familiar presence before, but couldnt quite place where. ! But then, it was as if an exclamation mark popped above her head. She saw it, striding confidently through the throngs of goblins. It was a head or two taller than the average goblin with a muscular build and wielding a large cleaver in one hand. Grrrr. The Beheader Goblin. The Strong Enemy from the timed strategy battle had emerged here. The timing of its appearance is a bit early, though. The reason the [Strong Enemy] rule wasnt applied to this temple defense was because the Beheader Goblin only made brief appearances towards the very end, typically in the last minute. Fizzzz. The Lightning Field that had engulfed the gate began to fade and then vanished entirely. Instead, Song Cheon-hyes entire body started crackling and igniting intense currents of lightning. She had redirected the mana from the magic circle solely to herself. In the next moment, Song Cheon-hyes form shot out like a bolt of lightning. Crack! The Beheader Goblin instinctively raised its cleaver but the lightning struck its face a fraction earlier. Fizzzzzz! Bang! I should probably start heading back to defend. [Statue of the Goddess: 48%] While I had been momentarily distracted, goblins clinging to the statue had slashed its health gauge by half. If left unchecked, the remaining health would rapidly deplete. And that would result in failure and the dungeon resetting. At the very least, I needed to buy time until Song Cheon-hye could defeat the Beheader Goblin. I walked a little faster but still without losing my composure toward the statue of the goddess. [Amplification activated.] [Windforce rank increased. (C+ -> A+)] I continued to approach and cast Wind Force over a wide range. A gust of wind filled with physical force swept through the area, toppling the goblins like leaves caught in a storm and sending them tumbling to the side. When I summoned the winds broadly once more, this time they rolled in the opposite direction and tumbled over and over. Agh! One goblin desperately tried to keep its balance and hurled its wooden spear straight at me with surprising accuracy. The spear aimed directly at me seemed likely to hit its mark. I merely glanced at the creature and focused solely on wielding Wind Force to and fro. Just as the wooden spear was about to embed itself in my chest, it inexplicably twisted and plunged into the ground instead. [Distortion activated.] [Cooldown: 23:59:54] The goblin that had thrown the wooden spear stood there dumbfounded and unable to grasp what had just happened. Soon after, it was swept up by the Wind Force and fell over, Kek! Like the others, it found itself rolling around helplessly. With this situation resolved, I turned my focus back to Song Cheon-hye, Fizz! Boom! She was unleashing a barrage of powerful lightning magic and pressuring the Beheader Goblin. Even when facing both the goblins and the Beheader Goblin, the fight was in Song Cheon-hyes favor, but now with only the Beheader Goblin to deal with, it could hardly be called a fight. Grrrrrrr The resistance of the Beheader Goblin was waning. The mana on its cleaver dimmed and its movements became sluggish. Its staggering demeanor signaled its dwindling stamina. Just as Song Cheon-hye was about to deliver a decisive blow, Arrgh! The Beheader Goblin let out a final cry. Gathering all its remaining mana, it concentrated it into the cleaver and hurled it with all its might. The blue-colored cleaver spun around and flew across the temple, Crack! The cleaver continued on its path before cleaving the statue of the goddess at the waist into two. The severed upper half crashed to the ground with a loud bang! It made a loud noise and shattered into pieces. [Statue of the Goddess: 42%] [Statue of the Goddess: 0%] [Remaining Time: 1:21] [The Statue of the Goddess has been destroyed.] ? For a while, Song Cheon-hye stared in disbelief at the remains of the Statue of the Goddess that were now reduced to just the lower half. Then little by little, as the reality of the situation dawned on her, her mouth began to fall open in shock. ?!?!? She was so shocked that she was unable to speak and her mouth opened and closed repeatedly. After the dungeon had reset completely and the Statue of the Goddess was restored, Dang Gyu-yeong gently landed nearby and said, This time you did better. If you improve a bit, youll succeed on your next try. Lets go out and see Hong Yeon-hwa and Kwak However, when she saw Song Cheon-hyes face, she stopped what she was saying and pursed her lips. . She tried to keep a straight face but couldnt quite hide the twitching at the corners of her mouth. Dang Gyu-yeong desperately tried to suppress her laughter. She clenched her molars and took slow and deep breaths to calm her mind. Soon, Dang Gyu-yeong seemed to have regained her composure completely. But the moment she looked at Song Cheon-hyes face again, Pfft! She failed to hold back her laughter. Dang Gyu-yeong quickly covered her mouth and turned away. Occasional soft snickers escaped her mouth and her shoulders were shaking with each stifled laugh. Huff, pff, guffaw! . Song Cheon-hye didnt know whether to cry, get angry, or laugh along with her. Chapter 98: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (5) Chapter 98: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (5) Did I go too far? Senior-nim, why did you do that? She was almost about to cry. No, its not like I did it on purpose, you know? I didnt expect that guy to throw the cleaver at that moment. Dang Gyu-young scratched her cheek and looked somewhat embarrassed. She didnt intend for the Beheader Goblin to throw the cleaver in the final moment. The commands that can be issued through the [Commander] rule were only simple ones. For example, things like move to a certain place and target something for attack. Instructions like keep a distance and only attack from afar or ignore everything and just focus on the statue of the goddess were about the limit. What happened beyond that was up to the monsters instincts which led to all sorts of unpredictable outcomes. Similarly, Dang Gyu-young didnt have the authority to control every minor movement of the Beheader Goblin. The last command given was probably something along the lines of somehow inflict damage on the statue of the goddess before dying. But the situation was, kind of, funny, pfft, hehehe. Dang Gyu-youngs burst out laughing once again. Little did anyone anticipate that the Beheader Goblin would actually pick up and hurl the cleaver, Nor that the cleaver would land squarely in the waist of the goddess statue, And least of all that it would obliterate about 40% of its health in one blow. Even I who had tirelessly participated in dungeon defense time and again, and Dang Gyu-young who was in command, felt a sense of dismay. So one could only imagine the sheer shock that must have gripped Song Cheon-hye who had been locked in a desperate struggle with the Beheader Goblin till the very end. Her bewildered expression was a far cry from her usual stern, dignified, and serious demeanor, which might have been why Dang Gyu-young couldnt help but burst out laughing. Recalling the moment seemed to tickle her funny bone all over again, as Dang Gyu-young giggled and slapped my shoulder repeatedly for a good while. It took her some time before she finally managed to compose herself and catch her breath. Ah, my stomach hurts. Anyway, I didnt do it on purpose, you know. What are we doing today? Todays strategy session had concluded after two attempts, and like the previous week, Dang Gyu-young had decided to offer one-on-one sparring session for me. Of course, unlike the other three team members, I was excluded from the close combat training. After all, I had already removed all three stickers. But that didnt mean I intended to waste my time. [Event: 1st Mentoring] (In progress) [Remaining Duration: 20 Days] Accelerate your growth with the help of a mentor. Increased probability of acquiring skills/traits. Increased skill/trait growth speed Enhancement bonus (Large) currently applied. The mentoring event continued throughout the month with the bonus received from last weeks side quest reward still in effect. It would be a loss not to engage in training during such a time. I plan to work on my skills for the time being. Skills? Are you planning to upgrade their ranks? Yes. My main skill, Wind Force, had reached a ceiling at C-rank. Advancing to rank B would take significantly longer than previous ranks, making it all the more important to focus on training consistently. But it wasnt just about upgrading ranks. I also plan to learn a new skill in the process. [Skills] Wind Force (C+) Inferno Fist (C) Amplification (D) Copy-Skill [2/2] 1. Thiefs Step (B+) 2. Overheat (D) Having a variety of useful skills is always beneficial. And since [Inferno Fist] was a forbidden skill, it couldnt be used in official settings. The [Overheat] and [Thiefs Step] registered in my copy slot provided exceptional physical abilities and agility, making them too valuable to replace with another skill just yet. I had been staving off the need for new skills by using Wind Force in various ways but the time had come to learn something new. I recalled and categorized wind-type magic from my memory. I focused on spells that could be mastered through training alone without the aid of skill books or relics. Moreover, I sought a skill that would perform beyond my current standards. [Spiral Explosion] would be a good choice. Spiral Explosion was one of my main skills before I entered the world of the game. More precisely, it was the main skill of the wind mage I had under my command. To put it a bit more simply, I kept him around mostly for that skill alone. Its utility was high and from an opponents perspective, it was a frustrating spell to contend with. Of course, even with the mentoring event underway, it was impossible to master such a powerful skill overnight. Ill have to learn it step by step. The plan was to master several lower-tier skills and ultimately come together in Spiral Explosion. Among those, a skill that could be practiced alongside Wind Force was, Twister. . Seo Ye-in picked up a bagel and grabbed some cream cheese. Then, she stood quietly and looked at me blankly. Arent you going to pick up more? . She didnt answer right away and hesitated. I figured as much. It was breakfast, after all; her appetite might be lighter and perhaps she preferred her bagel just with cream cheese. However, Im of the opinion that if youre going to eat, you might as well make it substantial. I began to pile toppings on my bagel. Cheese, scrambled eggs, a bit of vegetables, thinly sliced ham Soon, a rather hefty bagel sandwich was ready. It was quite substantial for a breakfast. . Seo Ye-ins gaze slowly drifted down and fixed on my plate. Based on past experiences, that look usually meant she wanted something. Want me to make you one? Nod. Plate. When Seo Ye-in handed me her plate with only a bagel and cream cheese on it, I took it and started skillfully piling on the toppings. Soon, an identical bagel sandwich to mine was completed. Just as I was about to sit down, Hello, hello! A cheerful greeting rang in my ears. Turning towards the sound, I saw Han So-mi waving her hands energetically and Song Cheon-hye standing right beside her. When I made eye contact with her, Song Cheon-hye offered a greeting in a formal tone. Hello. She maintained her usual haughty and cool demeanor. However, upon closer inspection, her face seemed a half-tone darker than usual and there was a faint shadow under her eyes. Her eyes appeared slightly swollen too. It seems she had some troubles last night. The shock of failing her second attempt must have been great. She pretended not to care but she probably couldnt sleep well as scenes from yesterday kept replaying in her mind. In that regard, Song Cheon-hye is lucky to have a friend like Han So-mi by her side. The latter was like a beacon of positivity unmatched even by Go Hyeon-woo. Her presence alone had the knack of lifting the spirits around her, and even now, it seemed to slightly improve Song Cheon-hyes mood. Oh! Bagels! Upon seeing the bagel towers on our plates, Han So-mis eyes lit up. Cheon-hye, its bagel day, bagel sandwiches! Why so surprised? Bagels can happen. However, contrary to her disinterested tone, Song Cheon-hyes eyes quickly scanned my plate. Her previously darkened face brightened a bit and she subtly licked her lips. I asked her, Shall we talk strategy over the meal? Lets do that. Han So-mi and Song Cheon-hye went to grab their share of the bagels. As Seo Ye-in watched them walk away, she turned to look at me and slightly tilted her head. Are you close? If you include the unspoken part of her question, it might as well have been, When did you guys get so close? Not really. Though it might sound harsh, that was the reality. Han So-mi was a cheerful and extremely friendly person and this meant she always approached people without hesitation but that was probably the same with everyone else too. Its not that we were particularly close. Song Cheon-hye and I were only temporarily tied through a mentoring relationship, and we did not harbor much interest in each other. The investigation into Inferno Fist was probably still ongoing and there was no reason to believe she had dismissed any suspicions about me. Cant we at least share a meal together? Its fine, right? Mhmm. Seo Ye-in nodded her head up and down as if she didnt really care. After securing a table for four and starting on our bagels, Han So-mi and Song Cheon-hye came to sit opposite us. The two were casually trying to start breakfast but I couldnt help but ask when I saw their plates. How come they all look exactly the same, the bagels? Hehe. Han So-mi gave an awkward laugh while Song Cheon-hye discreetly avoided my gaze. There sat perfect replicas of the bagel sandwiches I had made. Two of them, in fact. Chapter 99: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (6) Chapter 99: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (6) Seo Ye-in generally didnt talk too much and Song Cheon-hye seemed slightly uncomfortable and awkward around her. And so, the two mostly ate their bagel sandwiches in silence while Han So-mi and I who were unconcerned with such matters led the conversation. A trivial question emerged. Are you enjoying the sweets? Yes, theyre delicious! Really! Where did you buy them? I risked my life by entering a very dangerous place to get these. A lot of people were sacrificed because of it. No way! Han So-mi feigned shock and then giggled immediately. She seemed to take my comment as a joke. After all, how could she guess I had gone into the Black Death dungeon to get them? Theyre not only tasty but also plentiful, right? Yeah, I havent even eaten half of them yet! Thats actually on purpose. Its a bribe. Maybe itll earn me a pass if I break the school rules later? That wont work. No luck there. Too bad. Ill spar with Go Hyun-woo occasionally! Thatll do. I was only half joking about the bribe, and since I had already achieved my goal of getting Han So-mi to spar with Go Hyun-woo, I was satisfied with that. Trivial question number two. I gestured towards Song Cheon-hye and asked. Im curious about something else. Between you and Song Cheon-hye, who ate more sweets? ! Just then, Song Cheon-hye who was taking a big bite of her bagel sandwich looked up and her pupils darted around dramatically after hearing my question. She hurriedly started chewing to clear her mouth but Han So-mi did not wait for her to finish. Cheon-hye ate more. Really? By how much? I dont know, just a lot! I nodded as if convinced. I knew it from the moment she said, Just give it to me instead. There was always an ulterior motive. Cheon-hye really likes sweet things! ! Overwhelmed by the combined pressure from Han So-mi and me, Song Cheon-hye struggled to regain her composure. She had just managed to swallow what was in her mouth and was about to argue her point but the conversation had long since moved on to another topic. Making excuses now would just make her sound more guilty. She sighed softly, visibly frustrated and with a sense of defeat. Anyway, I felt it was time to discuss strategy so I turned to Song Cheon-hye. Did you review yesterdays strategy battle? Yes, I did. Since we failed with just a minute to spare, it seems we might stick with the same broad approach. I think so too. Given that we had nearly completed the full 10 minutes, there was no immediate need to change our strategy. Repeating the same setup and improving our proficiency seemed like a better choice. After only two attempts, there was still considerable room for improvement. Maybe focusing on just the Beheader Goblin would do? At the mention of the Beheader Goblin Song Cheon-hyes body flinched. It seemed that the scene from yesterday had flashed before her eyes for a moment. The cleaver filled with mana spun through the air and cleaved the statues waist with a loud crack. After it was over, I asked Senior Dang Gyu-young, and she said it wasnt intentional. It was too elaborate to have been intentional. Song Cheon-hye spoke in a calm tone as if she had already guessed as much. However, her expression relaxed to the point where it was visible that she was relieved by my words. But similar incidents could happen anytime in the future. Song Cheon-hyes expression that began to relax tensed up again. From what I understood last week, Dang Gyu-young is merciless only when it comes to mentoring. If a weakness is exposed, she ruthlessly drills into it until its improved. In other words, she believes in tough training. So, if a similar situation popped up again, she would undoubtedly give the same order. That meant the Beheader Goblin would definitely throw the cleaver again. It doesnt seem like you brought up the Beheader Goblin just casually, it sounds like you have an alternative plan. Of course, there is one.New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Song Cheon-hye waited for the next words with serious eyes. I spoke as if revealing a major secret with a gravely serious tone. There were just too many things to worry about. She had to continuously inject mana into the magic circle, cast one spell after another, ensure those spells accurately hit their targets, prevent any goblins from getting through, and exchange blows with the executioner Trying to manage all these tasks at once was overwhelming. And now, she had to add read and respond to the Beheader Goblins patterns to her list of objectives. The movements might be large, but catching that brief moment during a frantic battle was not going to be easy. Its tough, but I have to try. No, I have to do it. Song Cheon-hye made up her mind. Do your best in any situation. That was the way of the Thunder Lord and it was also the way of Song Cheon-hye who had inherited his will. Her numerous experiences so far have proven that the method wasnt wrong, and it will be the same this time as well. That aside Song Cheon-hye shifted her gaze to the right. What is she so excited about? Han So-mi hummed a tune and walked with light steps as if she was flying. Song Cheon-hyes gaze turned sharply colder as she looked at her. This was because she remembered being suddenly attacked by Kim Ho and Han So-mi in a combined assault just as she had taken a big bite of her bagel sandwich. Between you and Song Cheon-hye, who ate more sweets? Cheon-hye ate more. I thought so, there was always an ulterior motive. Cheon-hye really likes sweet things! Song Cheon-hye herself knew better than anyone else that Han So-mi was an untainted and pure soul. But even so, arent there things you should and shouldnt say in front of someone youre not even close with? Are you trying to make me look like Im obsessed with sweets? There may have been no malice behind her words but it was certainly an issue that needed to be addressed at least once. Just now, you Just as Song Cheon-hye was about to start nagging, Han So-mi rummaged through her inventory and pulled out a snack she had received from Kim Ho. A dried fruit gift set. Cheon-hye, want some dried peach? Ill have some. Upon reflection, it seemed that the nagging could wait. Song Cheon-hye was infinitely generous when it came to sweets. *** After school. Just like the day before, we gathered at the dungeon building. Today, the pair of Kwak Ji-cheol and Hong Yeon-hwa had entered the temple first and were currently attempting the challenge, while Song Cheon-hye and I were in a waiting position. Since we had already somewhat decided on our course of action in the morning, there was no need to discuss further, and it wasnt as if we were on terms to engage in friendly everyday conversation. So, while waiting aimlessly and casting glances here and there, Waatch Song Cheon-hye who was lost in deep thought muttered to herself. It seemed that what had been merely in her head had inadvertently slipped out. When I subtly turned my head to look at her, she pressed her lips tightly together and maintained a poker face. As I continued to stare, she seemed puzzled and asked, Why are you looking at me like that? and block it. Thats exactly it. . Song Cheon-hye continued to keep a poker face as if she didnt understand what I just said. However, her face gradually turned redder as if she couldnt help it. Fortunately, the embarrassing moment quickly passed. The portal opened, and Kwak Ji-cheol and Hong Yeon-hwa emerged. They seemed much happier than usual which meant their strategy battle went well. The typically tense atmosphere between them had also become much more friendly. I threw a short question to Kwak Ji-cheol to confirm, Success? Thats right. This guy who didnt talk much last week answered confidently. It seemed he had gained some confidence, perhaps certain they were ahead of us. Hong Yeon-hwa, though she said nothing, clearly carried an air of heightened pride. When our eyes met, she momentarily turned humble, then looked at Song Cheon-hye with a triumphant expression. . Song Cheon-hyes reaction remained indifferent as ever. Yet, to my eyes, it seemed she was straining not to let her poker face slip. Shall we go in too? Its about time we succeeded, isnt it? I casually asked, Yes. Lets ensure success this time. Song Cheon-hye seemed to want to get out of this place as quickly as possible and she dragged me along before entering the dungeon together. Chapter 100: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (7) Chapter 100: 6th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (7) [3] [2] [1] [Start!]Updated from [Statue of the Goddess: 100%] [Remaining Time: 9:57] As soon as the battle strategy began, Song Cheon-hye deployed her magic on the ground. She had good success with the Lightning Field in previous attempts, so there was no reason not to use the same tactic. Electric currents flowed across the floor and they formed a large magic circle that began to fill with intricate symbols. As soon as the goblins reached the main gate and stepped onto the floor, Fizzzzzz, fizzzzzz! Keruk. Kiig! Their bodies emitted wild sparks. Waves of electric currents poured down on those who continued to advance regardless. Song Cheon-hye emitted bursts of lightning magic which burned every approaching goblin to a crisp. She is clearly improving. Perhaps because it was their third attempt, the coordination of her magic felt more natural and her accuracy had slightly increased. Rumble, Meanwhile, I waited near the side wall and when the wall collapsed and a breach opened, I used Wind Force to close it. Its all smooth sailing up to this point. [Remaining Time: 4:53] Grrr Just over five minutes passed, and as expected, the Beheader Goblin appeared. However, this time Song Cheon-hyes response was slightly different. Ill finish this quickly. Cover me. Lets do it. She didnt wait for the creature to approach the main gate; instead, she charged forward while swinging a thick bolt of lightning. Grrrrr? When the Beheader Goblin crossed its cleaver to block, a loud clash sound ensued. As a result, the Beheader Goblin managed to block the attack but the aftermath of the collision forced its arm that was holding the cleaver to the side. The lightning struck directly into the chest of the staggered creature. Rumble, bang! Yet, knowing that there was still a long way to go before the goblin could be felled, Song Cheon-hye swiftly cast the next spell. She relentlessly pushed forward and didnt give the Beheader Goblin any chance to catch its breath. Swift and decisive. It was an improvisational move, but certainly worth considering. The main obstacle in this defense was the Beheader Goblin. If she could focus her firepower early on to take it down, all that would remain would be the F-rank goblins who were hardly worth a punch. Not a bad idea. However, Song Cheon-hye overlooked one fact unfortunately. Grrr The Beheader Goblin was tougher than most goblins. Being a close-range boss with exceptional resilience, it did not easily fall despite Song Cheon-hye almost unilaterally inflicting damage. This meant that the fight which was intended to be quick and decisive was dragging on. Krrrk! Krk! This also meant that the main gate was completely exposed to the enemys attacks. The Lightning Field was maintained, slowly dealing damage and hindering movement, but the goblins that crossed beyond the range of the magic circle entered the temple without any interference. What choice do I have? It was up to me to provide support. Whether Song Cheon-hyes decision was right or wrong, it was my role as her partner to fill the gap created by it as much as possible. Providing feedback and refining strategies would have to wait until after the challenge was over. I abandoned the side defenses and approached the statue of the goddess. When I unleashed Wind Force over a wide area, the goblins rolled across the temple floor like fallen leaves. This alone had bought us quite a bit of time in previous attempts. However Theres no way our senior would just stand by and watch. As soon as I thought that, the goblins who must have received new orders from Dang Gyu-young moved in an organized manner. They surrounded the statue of the goddess at a safe distance and then, Krrrk. Krk! Kck! began to throw stones and spears they had brought along. I immediately conjured a counter-wind to knock down the projectiles, but a few still managed to weakly hammer at the statue of the goddess. Ha. It was then that Song Cheon-hye who was startled seemed to come back to her senses. She quickly grasped the situation in a few seconds. The statue whose waist should have broken had only lost its head and the goblins and the Beheader Goblin that would have disappeared with a reset were still there. Realizing that it wasnt over yet, life returned to her eyes. Lets focus. Were almost there. Ah! Y-Yes! Song Cheon-hye narrowly dodged another punch from the Beheader Goblin that came flying at her. And she stretched out her hand before currents of electricity started streaming through it. Fzzzzzt-fzzt-fzzt! The Beheader Goblins body turned into black ash and scattered. Immediately afterward, Song Cheon-hye turned her back and just like a bolt of lightning, she streaked across the temple. The next moment, she landed near the statue of the goddess and released bursts of lightning that swept away the goblins in an instant. While using Wind Force to push away the goblins, I spoke to Song Cheon-hye. Waatch, it and Block it. I-Im still not used to it. Were already on our third attempt though? Its only the second time I fought the Beheader Goblin like this. That makes sense. Then youll succeed next time, right? Of, of course. Fizzzzzzzzz! Waves of lightning surged again before engulfing the goblins. As Song Cheon-hye frantically cleared the area around the statue, [Statue of the Goddess: 15%] [Remaining Time: 0:00] Finally, all 10 minutes were used up. The temple that was previously swarming with goblins was instantly cleared as if washed clean and the dungeon reset. The strategy battle was a success. [Goddess Statue Health 15/100% = 75 points] + [Goblins Killed: 84 = 42 points] + [Strong Enemy Killed = 100 points] + [Clear Bonus = 300 points] [Total Score: 517 points] However, the joy of success was short-lived. Song Cheon-hyes eyes as she looked at the score were not quite satisfied. By her standards as an elite, allowing the goddess statue to be reduced to the brink of destruction was akin to failing. Knowing that this failing was the result of her own judgment made it all the more unsatisfactory. She murmured in a slightly subdued voice, . Rushing things wont work. It holds up better than expected, doesnt it? The Beheader Goblin. Yes, we will play defensively as usual. With that, we embarked on our fourth attempt. To summarize the key events, Song Cheon-hye once again missed catching the cleaver by a hairs breadth. With no other choice, I ended up handling the cleaver myself and instead of the goddess statues neck, an arm was severed this time. Perhaps because she was embarrassed that she had failed after boasting that she would of course block it, Song Cheon-hye couldnt look me in the eye even after the strategy battle was over and she sneakily averted her gaze. Still, looking solely at the results, the fourth attempt was also a success. Thanks to our defensive strategy, we were able to preserve more of the goddess statues health. We planned to continue improving our record little by little in a similar manner. We decided to limit our challenge attempts in the strategy battles to twice daily, And afterward, each of us took turns practicing close combat sparring with Dang Gyu-young like the previous week. I too honed my Wind Force and Twister skills against the goblins that Dang Gyu-young herded towards me. *** The next day. After classes as usual, everyone was about to go their separate ways when there was a commotion outside the classroom. Peeking out, I caught a glimpse of red hair among the passing students. Whispers caught my ear one by one. Hong Yeon-hwa has come? Why is Hong Yeon-hwa in our class? She must be here to see someone. But, who? That someone was me. I knew this because Hong Yeon-hwas gaze was fixed precisely on me. Finally. Chapter 101: Root Chapter 101: Root The tower master of the Ruby Magic Tower had sharp eyes and usually maintained a neutral or slightly scowling expression on her face which often made her appear as if she was always angry. And the more I looked at her, the more Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to resemble this tower master. For this reason, when Hong Yeon-hwa stood in front of the classroom with a fierce aura, those watching couldnt help but speculate whether she had come to pick a fight with someone here. Hey, did she come here to challenge someone to a duel? Really? Who? It must be Song Cheon-hye, obviously. Wow, are they finally going to clash? Is this the big match? And the person likely to be her opponent was Song Cheon-hye who was widely considered to be Hong Yeon-hwas rival. As if responding to their guesses, Song Cheon-hye silently rose from her seat and began to slowly walk out of the classroom. As the distance between the two closed, the tension in the room reached its peak. A duel? Is she challenging her? However, contrary to expectations, the two merely exchanged brief nods as they passed each other. Then who on earth did she come to see? Curious gazes were focused intensely. Feeling increasingly annoyed by the pouring attention, Hong Yeon-hwa flashed her eyes menacingly and snapped, Are you done watching? It was a deadly aura that seemed fierce enough to burn ones eyeballs if they continued staring at her. The students gazes suddenly dispersed and each of them hurried away. Hong Yanhuas eyes darted around the room until the attention on her dwindled and then she quietly crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Her demeanor was exactly like that of the Ruby Magic Tower master. They really look alike. ? Hearing my murmur, Seo Ye-in who had been sound asleep until now groggily lifted her head. She looked at me, tilted her head in confusion, slowly followed my gaze out of the classroom to find Hong Yeon-hwa, and then looked back at me before tilting her head again. Click, And then she started to pull out a magic gun from her inventory before I hurriedly stopped her. No, shes not here to fight. Put the gun away. Then, a duel? Not a duel either. Most of the people who had come looking for me until now had ulterior motives. Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Ji-su had planned to drag me to the Emerald club by force, while the Emerald and Nature clubs once came to propose negotiations through a duel. On the other hand, it seemed likely that Hong Yeon-hwa had come to me with genuinely good intentions. She had no intention of fighting, not in the slightest. Thus, I first made her put away the magic gun and sent Seo Ye-in ahead. I approached Hong Yeon-hwa and asked, Hey, whats up? Ah, hello. Her previously fiery demeanor quickly softened and became gentle. Her voice, compared to just a moment ago when she had asked, Are you done watching? was now about half as loud. Well. I came becauseI have something for you I casually glanced around. I had a rough idea of why she had come, but the front of the classroom was hardly a good place for a conversation. Despite Hong Yeon-hwa glaring to chase them away, there were still many eyes stealthily watching us. Lets walk and talk. Mhmm. Since we were both heading for the mentoring session, I walked with Hong Yeon-hwa toward the dungeon building. . The whole time we were walking, Hong Yeon-hwa kept glancing sideways at me. Even if she was trying to gauge my reaction, the frequency of her side glances was quite high. It seemed she was trying to find the right moment to start a conversation so I pretended not to notice. Finally, as if she had mustered up the courage, Hong Yeon-hwa took a deep breath and began to speak. Um you know. Yeah, you said you had something to give me. Mhmm, the president asked me to give this to you The president here didnt refer to her sister Hong Ye-hwa but to the president of the blacksmithing club. And what the blacksmithing president had asked her to deliver to me was A long box and a small box. Its completed. The long box contained an equipment item that I had requested upon presenting a [Crafting VIP Ticket]. The small box was something the blacksmithing club president had made with leftover materials after failing to melt together millennium iron and black mithril which I had helped resolve. I put the small box into my inventory and opened the main dish, the long box, Inside, on a soft cushion, lay a very short rod just over 30 cm long. It had an overall black color with a subtle sheen. This would also allow for an ongoing exchange of business between me and Ruby Magic Tower and we would maintain a mutually beneficial relationship. *** Kerluk? The goblin flailed its arms and legs. Its body hovered about an inch off the ground. The situation was similar for the other goblins around. This was the effect of the Levitate Zone. It created an upward current within its range and lifted everything up in the air. The strength of the wind was not very strong, but its continuous nature was what mattered. A gentle push with Wind Force sent the floating creatures flying easily. Grrr The Beheader Goblin lasted a little longer but the outcome was much the same. It had been charging at me and wildly swinging a cleaver for a while but it was merely marching in place against the headwind. Then, with a gentle shake of the Root weapon, Whizz Winds from all directions converged and rendered it immobile. Its posture shifted slightly sideways with the swirling wind. While I repeatedly cast similar wind spells, a notification message appeared in the corner of my vision. [Acquired Twister (F).] Ive learned it. After creating countless whirlwinds and launching goblins over the past few days, I had finally acquired this new skill. Dang Gyu-young had been sitting near a statue of a goddess, lost in thought, but she turned her head toward me when she felt the wind suddenly increase. What? Youve mastered it already? Yes. Really? In just three days? It doesnt seem like an easy skill. If you focus and work hard, you can do it. Sometimes, you can be really annoying. The wind magic required continuous control of the flow, and the complexity of creating whirlwinds made it a skill with a relatively high difficulty to learn. My control had surpassed the level of a veteran and reached that of a fossil, and Twister was a path I had walked many times before. With the added bonus of mentoring, there was no reason I couldnt master it in three days. What exactly is the skill youre using? See for yourself. No, dont use it on me Whoosh! I deliberately cast Twister on her. The whirlwind enveloped Dang Gyu-young and tried to restrict her movements. Ack!! Really, you! Dang Gyu-yeong was horrified as if a bad memory of hers from the sticker duel battle came back, then she merged with her shadow below and disappeared only to suddenly appear behind me. She then stretched out both hands, grabbed my cheeks, and pulled them long and hard. I told you, not to use, that wind magic. Mmmph When I apologized with a smile on my face, Dang Gyu-young pouted and looked into my face. Her expression which was initially strained as if she couldnt bear it any longer gradually relaxed, and she gently tugged at my cheeks a few times before letting go. You keep creeping up on me lately. I should really tear those cheeks off. But why do you keep pulling my cheeks? Theyre soft and nice to pull, thats why. When she spoke so boldly like that, I actually didnt know what to say. Dang Gyu-young half-opened the exit as she asked, So its over now, right? Can I go? Its not over. I need to raise my rank. Ugh, fine. Do whatever you want, junior! Dang Gyu-young shook her head in dismay and sat back down beside the statue of the goddess, Whoosh! I pulled the goblins into a whirlwind made with [Twister] and trapped them. The trapped goblins spun violently like laundry in a washing machine. Looking at the green laundry swirling around, I thought to myself. Ive gained equipment and learned skills. I think I need to adjust my traits again. Copy-Attribute [2/2] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) 2. Priest (D) The second slot trait Priest had been quite helpful in my mana training, but with my [Core] having reached C-rank, it would be more efficient to overwrite it with another trait. However, I hesitated to overwrite it immediately since I felt it might still be useful one more time. I looked down at my feet. Its about time to go down again. To the underground levels. ******** TN: She likes pulling on his cheeks so I think shes the girl in the illustration in novel updates. That girl is also pulling on his cheek. Chapter 102: Durable Pen Chapter 102: Durable Pen Go Hyeon-woo sat motionless with his legs crossed and his eyes closed in a full lotus position. A light breeze blew along with waves of energy around him, and the densely concentrated mana of the special cultivation room rippled like waves. Time passed. Eventually, the fluctuations of internal energy calmed and the breeze settled. Slowly, Go Hyeon-woo opened his eyes. Its morning. Thus began Go Hyeon-woos day in the special cultivation room, where he had been cultivating his energy through the night until he woke up. He tossed a handful of Byukgokdan Pills into his mouth and downed a protein shake in one gulp before heading to class. For him, building knowledge was just as important as cultivating skills so he never missed a class. Learning about monsters, dungeons, skills, traits, and various items felt incredibly beneficial to him. After class, he would practice under the guidance of his mentor who was a senior expert and carry out the assigned practical assessments. By this time, about half the day would have already passed. But it would still be too early to rest. He would spend his free time sparring with Han So-mi with wooden swords. Han So-mi seemed reluctant at first, but once the sparring began, she engaged seriously and did not slack off until the end. After a bout of swordplay, Go Hyeon-woo would smile broadly and say, Miss Seo, you worked hard today as well. Until next time. Hmph, I wont do it once I run out of sweets. Han So-mi would always leave with a snort. But according to Kim Ho, he had given her quite a lot of sweets. Enough so that it would be a while before they ran out. Next, Go Hyeon-woo sat alone in a quiet place and entered meditation. Classes, mentoring, strategy battles, sparring He took the time to reflect on and organize everything he had learned and experienced. Once he felt he had sufficiently organized his thoughts, Go Hyeon-woo opened his eyes and the Dharma statue he had placed in front of him came into view. This unnamed Daruma statue was carved by an unknown person. Kim Ho had acquired it from the Black Death dungeon and had generously lent it to him. Even a brief examination had previously given him insights that helped him withstand the test of the Three Strikes of the White Serpent. Observing it over time might reveal even more. VIsit for the best novel reading experience Go Hyeon-woo stared intently at the smiling face of the Dharma statue. Some days, he ended up wasting time without gaining anything significant, but on other days, he managed to catch a glimpse of the very edge of the martial philosophy. On some days, he gained so much that, unable to contain his excitement, he would suddenly rise from his seat and break into a sword dance. After a long staring contest with the Dharma statue, he would come to his senses only to find that the night had deepened and it was completely dark outside. From then on, he would settle in the center of the special cultivation room and begin his meditative breathing exercises. This would continue until dawn broke again. Endless training followed by more training. Even the students of Dragon Slayer Academy who dreamt of becoming future heroes would see it as an extremely tough regimen. However, Go Hyeon-woo found these days to be the most enjoyable. Had he ever felt so distinctly day by day that he was becoming stronger? The term remarkable progress was truly fitting. If these days continued, he would be able to endure the pains of training with a smile. I must thank Kim-hyung. As much as he enjoyed this rapid growth, he was also very grateful to Kim Ho who laid the foundation for that growth. Looking back, there was nothing that had not benefited from his help. The special cultivation room season pass, the Durable Clip, the magic sword, mentoring, the Dharma statue, sparring with Han So-mi Kim Ho had said that these were all done in a fair compensation. As a trustworthy ally who would enter dungeons with him and fight at the risk of his life, this was considered fair compensation for Kim Ho. However, Go Hyeon-woo did not see it that way. To him, extending a hand when a friend needed help was a matter of course. Moreover, as a warrior, one should be willing to risk life and limb in a fight against the strong. It wasnt about receiving compensation; rather, he felt gratitude towards Kim Ho for providing these opportunities. So, excluding all these taken-for-granted acts, what had he actually done for Kim Ho? It always seemed that he received more than he gave. I must repay this debt over time. Given the strength of Millennium Iron, it was certainly enough to crush someones skull, so it seemed suitable to use as a secondary weapon. However, performance aside For Go Hyeon-woo who was gradually feeling a growing sense of debt toward Kim Ho this Durable Pen was not entirely a welcome gift. Go Hyeon-woo let out a wry smile. Im always grateful to you, Kim-hyung. However, its not easy on my mind to keep receiving like this. At that, Kim Ho furrowed his brows in puzzlement. Keep receiving? Why do you think that way? We entered the Black Death dungeon together, so you should have a share too. Thats not the case. I believe that even just the Dharma statue alone is more than my share. Why would you say its more than enough just because I lent it to you for a while? The Dharma statue was a loan, but didnt you actually give me an opportunity to gain a fortunate encounter? Its definitely worth risking my life for. Hmm. Is that so? When Go Hyeon-woo showed no sign of relenting, Kim Ho fell silent for a moment, then his lips curled into a smile as if he had found a simple solution. Think of it as an advance then. The term advance implied that Go Hyeon-woos share of whatever they would gain next could be considered as already paid for by the pen. That something would most likely be dungeon rewards, which meant they would soon be entering a dungeon. That is indeed good news. Are we going underground? Yes. Theres something we need to retrieve. Good. If you need my sword, just let me know. Really? Kim Ho looked at Go Hyeon-woo and grinned. Then tonight. *** Late at night. Go Hyeon-woo and Kim Ho made their way toward the dungeon building. By the time they reached the meeting place, Shin Byeong-cheol was already waiting. He was usually quite annoying but he performed his tasks thoroughly. Almost at the same time that Shin Byeong-cheol felt that they were here, Go Hyeon-woo greeted him. Shin-hyung. My dear customers, how was your dinner? Now, take these. Shin Byeong-cheol rubbed his hands together and flashed a salespersons smile. Then he distributed the [Anonymous Badge] and a second-year tie pin to each of them. This was to avoid the suspicion of any seniors they might encounter through perception-blocking magic. After Kim Ho attached the badge to his uniform, he asked, Surely were not going to have to report in three times to the seniors again this time, are we? Oh no, certainly not. What seniors? Ill make it smooth as silk. Not a rat in sight will bother us. Didnt you say something similar last time? Ayy, trust me, this time its for real. Just give it a chance. After his bold promise, Shin Byeong-cheol led the way before gesturing for them to follow. Following Shin Byeong-cheols lead, the group entered a circular staircase and occasionally changed directions through various passageways as they descended deeper underground. While walking and looking at his buzz-cut head that looked almost bald, Go Hyeon-woo started to talk. Shin-hyungs guidance seems to have improved significantly. Its quite different from before. When Shin Byeong-cheol had first led them down to the underground levels, he had often hesitated, sometimes stopping and wondering whether to take the right passage or the left stairs. In contrast, there was hardly any hesitation now and the speed of descent was as fast as a light run. Flushed with pride at Go Hyeon-woos compliment, Shin Byeong-cheol boasted, Recently, Ive been guiding not just one or two teams down here. Wouldnt you say Im quite the veteran by now? Hahaha, However, one regrettable aspect remained. Once again, they were relegated to going on foot. Since he didnt have amazing hiding skills like Dang Gyu-young or the ability to neutralize magical engineering equipment like Chae Da-bin, they couldnt use the elevator. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for; hiring a first-year guide inevitably meant lower quality. Of course, both Kim Ho and Go Hyeon-woo were the type who would gladly endure minor inconveniences just to get into the dungeon, so they simply continued their steadfast walk downward. And finally, Floor D. Upon reaching their destination, an ominously gaping portal greeted them. [No.353] [Feathered Serpent Temple] ******** TN: This is not the same dungeon. Last one was Altar. This one is Temple. Chapter 103: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (1) Chapter 103: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (1) Humid heat was carried by the wind. The first thing that came into view was a long, eerie road stretching through a dense tropical rainforest. Just like at the [Feathered Serpent Altar], the path seemed blatantly obvious as if to say, follow this way. Following the road with ones gaze led to a gigantic pyramid-shaped structure at its end, topped unmistakably by a building that could only be a temple. A dome-shaped translucent golden barrier surrounded the temple and although it was shining in a brilliant golden color, it made those who saw it feel an unexpected sense of discomfort. Throngs of barbarians swarmed in front of the structure. There were easily more than twice the number here than at the Feathered Serpent Altar. Lets go. We dont have time. Despite the overwhelming crowd that might have intimidated others, Kim Ho briefly glanced at the temple and then started sprinting along the path. Go Hyeon-woo kept pace with Kim Ho and run by his side. I didnt show you the strategy guide this time. Do you know why? Honestly, Im not sure. But I trust that Kim-hyung must have something planned. It was a one-day dungeon raid that still put their lives at risk yet he had made no prior preparations. In comparison to the meticulous demeanor Kim Ho had always displayed, his current casual approach felt strangely reckless. However, this wasnt a sign of carelessness; it was an indication that he was entering the fray with absolute confidence and that he was certain of success even without any preparation. This was the conclusion Go Hyeon-woo had reached. Still, curiosity got the better of him and he waited for what would come next. Kim Ho responded with a sly grin. We just need to smash everything up. No strategy necessary. I like the simplicity of that. Go Hyeon-woo grinned back. Kim Ho pointed upward to the temple with his Root weapon. First, we break through straight to the top. With that, he picked up the pace a little more and took the lead. As the road ended and the two approached the temple, the gaze of the swarming barbarians turned uniformly towards them. The concentration of hostility from hundreds of people was so intense that it stung the skin. What are these guys? Living sacrifices? Just kill them! Barbarians surged from all sides. The foremost barbarian thrust forward with a wooden spear, aiming to impale Kim Ho. Kim Hos form slid smoothly to the side, dodged the spear blade, and plunged forward. His fist blazing with dark red flames struck deep into the barbarians chest. Boooooooom! A fiery storm swept forward, engulfing the area. Kim Ho dashed into the path still shimmering with embers and kept running. As he lightly stirred the Root, Whee! Winds swirled around Kim Ho and spread the flames in all directions. He seemed to be wielding a whirlwind made of fire. Go Hyeon-woo followed closely behind him while slashing at the approaching enemies with his magic sword as if they were mere straws. All the while, his gaze remained mostly fixed on Kim Ho. He was closely observing every move he made. The more I see of Kim-hyungs skills, the more amazing they seem. The fact that he had defeated the barbarians was not in itself remarkable, but the method was crucial. The smooth sequence of dodging the incoming spear and driving his fist into the opponents chest was impressively fluid. He knew that Kim Ho was a mage and specifically a support type but his performance in the recent 2-on-2 duel battle and the way he used his body would make one believe he was a skilled martial artist. Additionally, the move Kim Ho had just displayed. With a single punch, he had created a storm of flames in front of him. The power was so immense that it was doubtful even Go Hyeon-woo with all his might could have withstood it. Although Go Hyeon-woo thought it couldnt be so, he remembered the nickname of the former master Flame Emperor in his head.New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Whooooosh! Again, a storm of flames surged forward. As Kim Ho stirred the ground, the barbarians were lifted off the ground and swept aside by the gust of wind. This created another large gap in the tightening encirclement, after which he continued running without slowing down. Eventually, the two reached a massive building and swiftly ascended the stairs. The barbarians relentlessly pursued them but just as they seemed to catch up, Go Hyeon-woo would cut them down with his sword or they would be overwhelmed by the physically charged wind and tumble down. At the translucent golden barrier, Kim Ho abruptly stopped, turned around, and descended a few steps. Die! First. deal with him. In an instant, everyone in the hall quickly assumed a battle-ready stance. Go Hyeon-woo too set aside the myriad questions swirling in his mind for the moment. The barrier was said to be lifting soon. Though he did not know how it would be done, his role was clearly defined. Prevent anyone from passing through. No one was to interfere with whatever Kim Ho was doing inside. Go Hyeon-woo turned to face Fatty and Skinny. The wind wrapped around his blade as it blew. *** Dungeon No. 353, the Feathered Serpent Temple. As can be inferred from the similar name, it was a dungeon connected to the storyline from the Feather Serpent Altar No. 388. The main objective here was also a [Raid]. The raid was considered cleared once the Feathered Serpent Priest was defeated. The difficulty level is also D-rank, just as before, but this time, the party size has increased to six members. Why a six-person dungeon? Because the ritual had already started by the time one entered the dungeon. The priest was already endowed with several powerful buffs. As the ritual progressed, the number of buffs would only increase. Naturally, this made defeating him all the more difficult. Then, the logical step would have been to stop the ritual before defeating the priest. The path there is anything but smooth. Compared to the [Feathered Serpent Altar], the number of the barbarians was multiplied several times over. After breaking through their mass attack, next in line would be the buffed-up Fatty and Skinny blocking the way. After defeating these mid-bosses and trying to enter the temple, challengers would find it encircled by a protective barrier. And then after breaking through the barrier and entering the temple, they would find the barbarians encamped inside. By the time they had dealt with them and entered the boss room, much time would have already been wasted. In the end, they would face the priest who would be heavily laden with various buffs by then after much time had passed. Thats the standard procedure, anyway. Now, I had dealt roughly with the barbarians and handed the mid-bosses over to Go Hyeon-woo, thus shortening the time it took to reach the temple. Next was the barrier. To break it, one had to concentrate their firepower in an instant, and getting around it required a fair amount of effort. The only one who could freely pass through the barrier in this dungeon was the priest. And I too am a priest. Copy-Traits [2/2] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) 2. Priest (D) I already had this trait copied. I casually stepped inside the temple. Intruder! The barbarians roaming inside reacted as if they had discovered a giant cockroach in the corner. They had likely never imagined someone could cross the barrier, so their surprise was understandable. Especially since they usually regarded the living sacrifices as no more than livestock. Their next reaction like the others before them was to thrust their spears at me. Bang! Bang! Like the others, they ended up smashed against the temple walls by blasts of compressed air. Please move aside. Capture him! Barbarians flocked from other places as well, but I kept walking and pushing my way through. I knew the layout of the interior by heart, so I headed straight for the central chamber without any hesitation. As I drew closer, the flowing golden light intensified and the magical power grew stronger. Upon entering the central room People dressed neatly were lying on stone beds lined up in a circle. They looked almost lifeless. Their eyes were hollow as if their souls had left them, though a faint life force could still be felt. These were the living sacrifices to be used in the ritual. And in the very center stood a priest with a golden dagger, about to extract the heart from one sacrifices chest when he sensed my presence and slowly turned towards me. Ah, youve come. Ive been waiting for you. And when he looked at me, he smiled kindly like a grandfather welcoming his grandchild for the first time in a while. Chapter 104: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (2) Chapter 104: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (2) The [Feathered Serpent Altar] and the [Feathered Serpent Temple] were dungeons connected in their storyline, where the choices I had made in the former greatly impacted the latter. One of these impacts was the priests recognition of me. To quickly summarize what I had done in the previous dungeon: I had stormed into the village and turned everything upside down, Catch me if you can? You wont be able to, will you? I tainted the priest and dodged around until Go Hyeon-woo secured the magic sword. You might want to pay some attention to your defense; it seems a bit sloppy, dont you think? -I will not make your end a quick one. When it seemed that there was no reason to delay any further, I finished the fight with an Inferno Fist. Dont think this is the end. Next time I will definitely! Sure, lets meet again next time. Boom, boom, boom! Even though such a fiery event happened between us, the priests tone when he now faced me was incredibly gentle. Ive been waiting to meet you again. Day and night, you were all I thought about. Im not very happy to hear this from a man. There was no need for you to wait so desperately for me, you know. The priest smiled kindly again. Everything still seemed peaceful yet his eyes shimmered with a relentless killing intent. It seems youve come to interfere again, but youre too late. The ritual has already begun, and even I cannot stop it now. How do you plan to stop it? Just like he said, the ritual continued on its own without the priest doing anything.Updated from Invisible energy continually flowed out from the bodies of the lying individuals and was being absorbed by the priest. His body which had seemed somewhat frail when we last met was now robustly bulked up, and his tattoo which was filled with magical power glowed golden. Even the wrinkles on his face seemed to have diminished. Impressive ritual. If I sacrifice you and your noisy friend outside, I could significantly hasten the summoning. I might as well reclaim the magic sword in the process. You speak as if youve already captured everyone. The smile on the priests lips deepened and he began to reveal more of his killing intent. Thats right. None of you will leave this place alive. Didnt you say the same last time? Yet here I am, safe and sound. The priest momentarily shifted his gaze from me to look behind, where the barbarians who had followed me were closing in their circle. Feel free to struggle if you think you can. Yes, well. Lets get started. The priest held a golden dagger in one hand and stretched out his empty hand to the side. Then the staff that had been standing in a corner of the room flew smoothly into his grasp. When he lifted the staff high and began chanting a spell, several golden balls of magical power started to rise and gradually expand in size. Whirr I mixed Wind Force with Twister, creating a spreading whirlwind. The barbarians who were approaching me were swept away and toppled over. Meanwhile, the golden balls that were now significantly larger hurtled towards me. They floated silently and slid through the air at a rapid pace. I grabbed one of the barbarians within reach and threw him into the air, where he was crushed upon colliding with an energy ball. Crunch, It was an attribute-less magic, and I knew it would crush me too if it hit me. As I quickly moved away, the stone floor and walls behind me caved in. The priest was creating more golden balls and the barbarians were chasing after me. I clenched my fists tightly as I ran away. And it started blazing with a fiery dark red flame. [Inferno Fist] Try using it if you dare. Even though it was the skill that had knocked him out in one blow in the last dungeon, the priest did not seem particularly scared of it. He must have something hes relying on. His first source of confidence was that the room where the fight was unfolding was the central room located in the deepest part of the temple. If I were to use Inferno Fist recklessly, I would risk bringing down the building itself. I could be trapped under the rubble before I could escape. Therefore, I first absorbed the fiery energy through Overheat to greatly enhance my physical abilities. Pop! Pop! I narrowly dodged the incoming golden balls, kicked off the ground a few times, and quickly closed the distance. The dagger he held in one hand emitted a light and then large energy balls shot out. Until just moments ago, this was a spell that required considerable time and focus to cast, but now it had manifested without any prior indication. However, before the energy balls even reached me and before the dagger even began to glow, I had already put a good distance between us. When his critical strike turned to nothing, the priests face hardened. How did you dodge that? Just watch it and dodge it. To be honest, it wasnt something you could just watch and dodge; it was more like psychological warfare. I had known about the true nature of that dagger from the beginning and had pushed him to the point where I guessed he would use it. The priests third source of confidence was the magic dagger. It was also the hidden piece I intended to take from this dungeon. The magic it carried was [Memorize]. It was a utility-type magic that allowed you to store a spell that would normally take time to cast and manifest it instantly. Just like the priest himself demonstrated a moment ago, it was often used as a hidden ace. To drop the magic dagger, the priest must be defeated in the central room after he used up all the living sacrifices. The priest must not leave the central room under any circumstances, nor should the sacrifices be attacked prematurely. Moreover, it was necessary to completely isolate the temple from the outside to ensure no more living sacrifices were added. And right now, the barrier was fulfilling this role but once it was lifted, It will be up to Go Hyeon-woo to hold them off. Thats the reason why I left him outside the barrier. At the same time, it was a chance for him to test his skills against the mid-bosses. Pop! I compressed space again and rushed towards the priest. The priest, perhaps deciding to try a different tactic, made the energy balls orbit around him and pointed his staff directly at me. A golden pillar of magical power shot out like a beam. This is even easier. It was the main magic he used in the last dungeon, so it was just as easy to dodge. Leaning back and forth to avoid the energy balls, I swung Root and the sword wildly and accumulated damage on the priest. Then I quickly retreated to regroup. Before I surged forward again and launched a flurry of attacks then withdrawing to maintain distance. How many times did I employ this hit-and-run strategy? This, this cant be Gradually, the number of surrounding barbarians and living sacrifices had dwindled to the point where I could count them all at a glance. And contrary to the priests expectations, I had not made even a tiny mistake. You seem to be getting nervous. . Shut up. The priest gritted his teeth. He raised his dagger and muttered an incantation and all of a sudden the oppressive atmosphere that had been bearing down on us seemed to lighten. At last, the protective barrier surrounding the temple had been deactivated. This meant that the barbarians who were previously unable to enter would now flood into the temple like a tidal wave. It also meant that the number of living sacrifices available for life force absorption had significantly increased. The priest regained his composure and let out a low chuckle. Heh Didnt I tell you it was all futile? Its too late to give up now. I will grant you a most painful death. Well, Im not so sure about that. Lets just finish what we started. As you wish. The battle resumed. Wounds were carved and healed here and there on the priests body and the number of sacrifices dwindled. Perhaps since he was thinking that a huge supply of living sacrifices was close at hand, his defense seemed to slacken. However How can this be?! Despite the number of remaining sacrifices dropping to single digits, the temple remained eerily silent. No one seemed to be entering the central room, nor was there any sign of movement throughout the temple. The priest urgently shouted outside the door. Why Why arent they coming?! Why arent they, huh? Seems like Go Hyeon-woo is doing a good job. Chapter 105: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (3) Chapter 105: No.353 Feathered Serpent Temple (3) Go Hyeon-woo quickly rushed away. Bang! The next moment, a massive stone pillar came crashing down. Fatty embraced the pillar he had driven down and aggressively pushed forward. Drrrrrrr The floor was furiously torn up with his charge. A collision would be like getting hit by a moving train. However, Go Hyeon-woo did not step out of Fattys path but stood still to face him. As the distance between them closed, he wrapped a gust of wind around the tip of his blade and struck at the pillar. Pak, There was no significant effect. It was only natural that this did not slow Fattys charge at all. In such a tense moment, Go Hyeon-woo took a large step to the side and dodged the body attack. Hmm Sssssk! The sharp sound of cutting air reached Go Hyeon-woos ears, signaling danger. He quickly realized that these were darts shot by Skinny. He immediately used his footwork to dodge some and deflected the unavoidable ones with his magic sword. And then continuing his footwork, he moved swiftly forward. Bang! Fattys pillar came crashing down behind him. It was a massive, all-out attack, bound to leave some openings. Go Hyeon-woo spun around to counterattack but then retrieved his sword and retreated. Sssst! He backed off because Skinny was covering Fatty with poisoned darts. A mocking laughter seemed to echo from somewhere. Hehehe At that moment, Fatty regained his stance and lifted the pillar before swinging it down with force. Go Hyeon-woo tilted his body back and forth to avoid the stone pillar, then wrapped a gust of wind around his blade and struck back. Pop, This movement of his slightly shifted Fattys trajectory, though the deviation was barely noticeable. Hmm Go Hyeon-woo continued to murmur thoughtfully while fending off or dodging the relentless attacks. He occasionally swung his sword but only managed to tap the pillar playfully. Baaang! Go Hyeon-woo widened the gap from the descending pillar once more. However, instead of advancing with a physical attack as before, Fatty stopped and asked in a slow and thick voice. Why not. fight properly Tatatat! Even in the midst of this, Skinnys poisoned darts continued to fly toward him. After parrying the incoming darts, Go Hyeon-woo responded, I cannot approach this battle casually. I am still not used to this new technique, so it seems I need some practice. His hesitation to launch a significant counterattack was partly because the combined assault of the two enemies left hardly any openings, but he also wanted to test a new technique he had improved. This improved technique incorporated insights and minor revelations that he gained from the mentoring sessions and observing the Dharma statue. Wrapping the wind around the tip of his blade was an attempt to get a feel for the technique in his own way. Fatty asked again, Practice; how long will you keep doing it? It ends now. I am ready now. Fatty silently nodded his head. Then with his arms bulging as if they were about to burst, he lifted the pillar high in the air and swung it with all his might. Whooom! The air tore with a booming sound. The swirling pillar filled the view with a gray haze. .. Despite this, Go Hyeon-woo remained calm and collected. With every step he took, the stone pillar narrowly missed him as it swung by. Then suddenly, Go Hyeon-woo heightened his momentum. A gentle breeze circled around and then coiled itself around the blade. Kr aagh The priest leaned against the wall and slowly slumped to the floor. A blade with its upper half gone was deeply embedded in his chest. Now, only the priest, I, and the shriveled corpses remained in the central room. When the effects of the ritual were drastically reduced by the depletion of the living sacrifices, even the priest who once boasted formidable resilience started to take damage. He seemed to have no strength left to resist, but I stood a little distance away and just watched the priest blankly. He asked as if he felt puzzled. Why didnt you finish me off? Id like to, but something feels off. Some bosses have a final struggle pattern right before they die, and this Feathered Serpent Priest was a good example. He appeared defenseless while secretly looking for an opportunity. I walked across the central room and picked up a wooden spear dropped by the barbarians. I threw it and it flew and stuck deep. The priests face contorted. You! Stop dragging this out and bring out whatever youve got hidden. We have a long way to go. Grrrrr Shall I throw this again? Fine! Flash! The priests body brightly lit up and he abruptly stood up. It seemed as if he wasnt rising on his own but rather someone was pulling him up. His sturdy frame deflated like a balloon losing air and his once firm skin wrinkled and sagged. In front of the emaciated priest, whose bones were now visible, a highly compressed golden ball appeared. It looked similar to the energy balls he had been firing off until moments ago, but the power was incomparably greater. After pouring everything into casting his final spell, the priests body collapsed back to the floor. He clung to a shred of life. He wanted to see me fall before he did. As you wished I have done it. Now, try and Escape if you can? Whirrrrrr The golden ball targeted me and flew towards me. Its speed was not particularly fast. However, when I casually stepped aside, the ball halted mid-air, then turned and flew at me again. Whirrrrrr I dodged again, and it changed direction once more to pursue me. It was like a magic missile with homing ability. Whirrrrrr whirrrrrrr, whirrrrrrr Moreover, each time it changed direction, it picked up a bit more speed. I had a decisive speed advantage thanks to my Thiefs Step and Overheat, but the energy ball which I initially evaded with ease gradually began to catch up with me. Hehehe As I frantically ran around the room, the priest let out a low chuckle. It must have been amusing for him to see me struggling as if my life depended on it. Moreover, hed find even more amusement knowing that whatever I did, my future was to be hit by the energy ball. Meanwhile, I quickened my pace and thought to myself, Ive gained quite a bit of speed. After changing directions numerous times, the golden ball almost looked like a beam of golden light. Whizzzzzz, Now, even at my top speed, it was becoming difficult to evade. Feeling it was enough, I stopped running away. And I stood with my back against the wall. Seeing this, the priests wrinkled face broke into a grin filled with delight. He was thinking that I had finally given up. Its over no Whirrrr Just as the golden ball was about to strike me. I lightly extended my hand forward. [Distortion activated.] [Cooldown Time: 23:59:59] The trajectory of the ball that was about to touch my fingertips twisted dramatically and, unable to keep up with its momentum, crashed into the wall. The priests eyes bulged as if they were about to burst. Chapter 106: Used as a Coffe Cup Chapter 106: Used as a Coffe Cup The power of the golden ball was immense. Boooom! Perhaps because it was cast by a D-rank boss who poured his life force into the magic, not only did one side of the wall shatter completely, but the temple itself shook as if struck by an earthquake. I shrugged my shoulders at the sight. As long as it doesnt hit me. Although I could easily tweak the trajectory of the ball with Distortion, using it rashly could cause it to change direction and fly back at me. So I kept running and increasing the speed of the energy ball until I precisely adjusted the angle so it would crash into the wall with Distortion. This cant be happening How could this Of course, to the priest who was unaware of these details, it must have looked quite different. It seemed as if I was barely avoiding the ball only to casually flick it away with a gesture of my hand. Despair and disbelief filled his eyes. Im very sorry. This cant be The priest kept repeating This cant be until he finally drew his last breath. Shortly after, his body turned to dust, leaving behind a golden dagger and two boxes. [Magic Dagger (C)] [Feather Serpent Temple Random Box (D)] *2 Rumbeee The vibrations underfoot grew increasingly intense. It was due both to the energy ball having struck the entire temple and to the sign that the dungeon was collapsing following the priests death. Therefore, I immediately moved outside the temple. The first thing I saw was the back of Go Hyun-woo. And below him, a veritable hellish scene unfolded. The sword energy had swept through so many times that an entire floor had been sliced away and the torn remains were all dark red. Just as Go Hyun-woo was about to swing his sword mercilessly again, he turned his head towards me. It looks like its over. Yes, you held up well. It made things easier for me. Im glad to have been of help.Updated from Lets go, now. *** After stepping through the portal to the outside, Shin Byeong-cheol revealed himself from stealth and greeted us. Ah, youve emerged. How did it go? Any trouble clearing it? No trouble at all. It was quite the beneficial experience. We began walking towards the surface. During this, Shin Byeong-cheol slowly closed the distance between us, somewhat awkwardly, then smiled broadly in the style of Han So-mi. He seemed to be anticipating something quite eagerly. I pulled out a random box from my inventory and handed it over to him. Here you go. Consider this your fee for the request. Oh, thank you so much, customer-nim. He politely extended both hands as if ready to receive it. Typically, the fee for guiding through the lower levels of the dungeon was paid by purchasing items from the student store or by sharing a portion of the dungeons rewards. And since the reward for clearing the Feathered Serpent Temple this time was random boxes, I was handing over one of them. However, a D-rank random box was somewhat excessive for Shin Byeong-cheol, who provided guide services at a first-year level, so I balanced it out by planning a few more unpaid requests in the future. But before handing over the random box, I checked with him one last time. What if it turns out to be a dud? You wont regret it? Of course not. A man takes his chances, good or bad, right? Alright then. With that said, it only seemed right to let him have his way. As soon as I let go of the box, Shin Byeong-cheol eagerly bowed repeatedly and took the box with both hands. Then he asked, Hey, can I open this right now? He seemed quite anxious. I nodded my head nonchalantly. Its yours now, so do as you wish. Okay, here goes. Will I get the golden rainbow?! Click. [Feathered Serpent Tribes Wooden Cup (F)] Shin Byeong-cheol stiffened up on the spot. I told you, a dud really is the end of it. Go Hyun-woo fully understood his feelings and gently patted Shin Byeong-cheols shoulder. After a moment, the light faded and what remained was a tightly rolled magic scroll. [Shape Transformation Scroll Life(B)] Another B-rank? Seo Ye-ins incredible luck had been evident in the two previous random box openings. She had drawn a B-rank cushion from a D-rank random box, And then drew out an A-rank Millennium Iron from a B-rank ingot box. She was a true master of luck. Still, I hadnt expected her to draw another B-rank item this time. Moreover, it seemed like fate was targeting Seo Ye-in with yet another daily life item. [Shapeshifting Scroll Life(B)] Allows the appearance transformation of B-rank or lower daily life-type items. The item used for appearance transformation will disappear. Warning: Use on A-rank or higher items may result in a downgrade of their effects. Seo Ye-in already possessed the [Feather Cushion (B)] from the previous box opening. It wasnt just a normal cushion though; it was laden with effects for an improved nap life, accelerating fatigue recovery, enhancing resistance to status ailments, and improving skin health. According to An Jeong-mi, it had been very useful to her. However, the design of the cushion was quite boring compared to its performance. It seemed as if the scroll that popped out was suggesting to us, Why not change that cushions appearance? As expected, Seo Ye-in showed great interest. Each time I playfully moved the scroll around, her gaze followed it. Then she looked straight at me and sent me an expressionless but sparkling look that clearly meant, Give that to me. I smiled wryly and extended the scroll to her. Alright, take it. Daily life items dont really mean much to me anyway, and with my luck, I wouldnt have been able to draw it anyway. Thank you. My gesture was partly as a friendly favor and partly with a calculated intent. The butler is watching, after all. When I first met An Jeong-mi, she had promised to compensate me for helping Seo Ye-in grow. And when I had promised to go out with Seo Ye-in to the downtown area over the weekend, she had assured me that she would make it worth my while. With such a growing sense of debt towards me, there was no need to put a price on just one scroll. As expected, An Jeong-mi watched me with deeply moved eyes. I then pointed to the second random box amidst the warm atmosphere. Shall we open the remaining one? Shall we? Seo Ye-in had placed her hand on the cover. However, for some reason, she paused midway through opening it and hesitated. She titled her head in puzzlement as she looked at the random box before she handed it over to An Jeong-mi and said, You open it. Caught off guard by the sudden pass, An Jeong-mis pupils wavered. You mean me? Mhmm. An Jeong-mis expression turned into that of a new employee who had suddenly been burdened with a huge project. This random box was mine, and since it was D-rank, the likelihood of something out of the ordinary popping out was quite high. Thus, the possibility of an awkward situation arising was also quite high. Her eyes conveyed extreme discomfort and a plea for help, but Its okay. Im not too worried about what might come out. I only doubled the burden on her with my friendly smile. Based on past experiences, it seemed that Seo Ye-ins tremendous luck did not activate twice in a row. That left me and An Jeong-mi, and probably the odds were similar no matter who drew. Wouldnt it be more fun if the butler did it? Understood. An Jeong-mi seemed to resign herself to her inevitable fate. And then she carefully opened the box with the most tense demeanor she had shown so far. Click, [Feathered Serpent Tribes Wooden Cup (F)] Her complexion turned ashen, or rather, it was now the same color as the wooden cup. She immediately bent at the waist in a 90-degree bow. Im sorry. Its okay. Really. I dont know how to apologize for this Its okay, Im telling you. Even though I repeatedly told her that it was okay, An Jeong-mi couldnt raise her head for a long time. In the end, the wooden cup was going to be used by An Jeong-mi as a coffee cup. Chapter 107: Watch It and Block It (1) Chapter 107: Watch It and Block It (1) An Jeong-mi seemed apologetic throughout, but I truly wasnt bothered at all. When we had set out to conquer the Feathered Serpent Altar, the Priest item was my target, but I had already acquired and melted it down a while ago; and I had no further expectations afterward. Besides, even if there had been something I wanted, a random box isnt exactly an item that behaves as one wishes. So, I was quite relaxed about it and thought it would be fine either way. And after all, the main reward is the dagger. [Feathered Serpent Magic Dagger (C)] Automatic Durability RecoveryFolloow current novE?ls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m) Memorize (C) 1. Stores magic twice 2. The rank of stored magic is reduced by 1 Memorize. Most magic skills require time to cast, whether it would be long or short, but magic stored with Memorize can bypass this casting time and activate instantly. However, its not as if one can store and freely use magic without limits; with a C-rank Memorize, you can only use magic twice per day. Once youve used it twice, Memorize would be sealed until the next day. If you store an A-rank magic, it manifests as B-rank when instantly activated with Memorize, And while there is the advantage of instant activation, the strength of the unleashed magic is somewhat reduced. If you store D-rank magic, it manifests as E-rank. The rank decreases by one step according to the C-rank standard of Memorize. These limitations could be mitigated by increasing the rank of Memorize. Unfortunately, skills imbued in equipment rarely grow. Still, a C-rank would prove quite useful for a while. I separated the blade and the handle of the magic dagger and attached the detached blade to the end of the [Root]. This resulted in a very short lance with a black shaft and a golden blade. [Root(A)] Very high mana conductivity Damage protection (A) applied Automatic durability recovery. Levitate zone (C) constantly activated. Upgradeable Upgradeable Upgradeable Ive made sufficient use of the Priest trait by now. Copy-Trait [2/2] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) 2. Priest (D) It was fine now to overwrite the second slot with a different trait. If Im to copy a skill or trait, taking it from third-year Dang Gyu-young would be most ideal. So, during last weeks duel battle and the [Distortion] training, I closely observed her abilities, but unfortunately, everything I identified was from either the thief or shadow caster classes. A versatile skill like [Thiefs Step] wouldnt be noticeable if I copied and used it, But using [Shadow Butterfly Flight] would instantly raise suspicions about me since a truckload of people would start doubting me. This was because a shadow caster itself is extremely rare, and Shadow Butterfly Flight was almost like Dang Gyu-youngs signature skill. The same went for her traits. For these reasons, I decided to put off copying anything from Dang Gyu-young. Next, I turned my attention to Song Cheon-hye. She was also a mage class like me and since she also belonged to the disciplinary committee, she ranked among the top of the first-year students. Last week, I was slowly progressing in the defensive strategy battle at Song Cheon-hyes pace, but half of the reason for that was to observe any special traits she might have. The other half was because of the [Close Combat] and [Commander] rules, so I needed to raise Song Cheon-hyes skills to a certain extent rather than doing it everything on my own. Its almost complete now. I had already chosen the trait to copy from her, and after continuously practicing in practice mode, we had developed a sufficient level of proficiency in defense. It was time to start scoring in the real dungeon defense. *** After school. Kim Ho asked again. Whats your target score? Hong Yeon-hwa I mean above 90%. Song Cheon-hye almost blurted out Just higher than Hong Yeon-hwa but quickly caught herself. The fact that she saw Hong Yeon-hwa as a rival was her own secret. Kim Ho didnt seem to care about her minor slips of the tongue and just focused on the latter part. 90% is definitely worth trying. . How? How does that calculation work? Where does the missing 20% come from? Instead of answering, Kim Ho pulled something out of his inventory. A very short spear with an overall black color. Ive just acquired it. At first glance, it was clear that it was a high-quality item. It appeared more like a well-crafted weapon than a magical item, but the true nature of an item wasnt known until its effects were checked. It might even have effects specialized for this particular battle. Still, Song Cheon-hye was somewhat skeptical. It seems like a good item, but isnt 90% a bit too optimistic? I would understand 75%. No, 90% is correct. Id say at most 80%. Im confident about it. Want to bet? Whether we exceed 90% or not. Song Cheon-hyes competitive spirit was ignited. What are we betting? The same as last time, a wish ticket. You already have one. If I win, Ill have two. If you win, its a tie. Song Cheon-hye quickly reviewed their conversation and tapped away at her internal calculator. In the worst case, it would be status quo. Since she would be scoring it just like in practice mode, ensuring at least 70% of the goddess statues health was guaranteed. She didnt trust this man very much but he wasnt the type to make up stories or boast excessively. Thus, while it was unclear exactly what he had prepared, setting a new record to some extent was possible. 90% seemed just nonsense to her, but up to 80% was feasible. And at that level, they wouldnt be too far behind Hong Yeon-hwas team. It would not be a loss in terms of scoring and she would win the bet. Song Cheon-hye reached a conclusion. I need to raise the stakes. Pretending she couldnt win, she made a counteroffer. Okay, but if you fail to reach 90%, lets make it two. Two wish tickets? Yes. Kim Ho paused to look at Song Cheon-hye while deep in thought. His expression was hard to read but there seemed to be a trace of pity in his eyes. Soon he agreed with a somewhat resigned nod. Lets do that. Two wish tickets. Done. A faint smile appeared on Song Cheon-hyes lips. With two wish tickets, not only would she eliminate the one Kim Ho possessed but she would also gain one for herself. She planned to use that wish ticket to ask him about the suspicious circumstances during the time he was found in the dungeon building. Perfect. Chapter 108: Watch It and Block It (2) Chapter 108: Watch It and Block It (2) When Kim Ho and Song Cheon-hye entered the dungeon, Dang Gyu-young who had been sitting next to the statue of a goddess greeted them. Practice? Or real? Well try the real one. Good. Dang Gyu-young was quite pleased with their decision. Her role in this weeks defense strategy battle was as commander, and all she did was sit in a corner and barely lift a finger. Compared to the sticker duel battle, nothing could be more relaxing but that was only enjoyable for a day or two. After spending the whole week like this, she was beginning to feel the onset of boredom. Send a signal when youre ready. Well start right away. Yes, Senior-nim. As soon as Dang Gyu-young lightly kicked off the ground, she disappeared in an instant. Watching the spot where Dang Gyu-young had vanished, Song Cheon-hye glanced up at the goddess statue and then said to Kim Ho, Lets take our positions. Lets do that. The two moved to their usual positions as they had always done. Standing in front of the main gate, Song Cheon-hye pulled out a pair of gloves and put them on both hands while gazing at the sunset that dyed the outside scenery red. She clenched and unclenched her fists, causing the tiny topazes embedded in the gloves to crackle with a faint current. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Statue of the Goddess: 100%] [Remaining Time: 9:58] Kerruk. Keruk! Goblins aligned in rows advanced in unison. Song Cheon-hye watched them calmly as she infused mana into the ground. A large magic circle was swiftly taking shape. [Lightning Field] Fizzzzzz! As soon as the goblins stepped onto the magical floor, sparks wildly erupted from their bodies. However, the goblins paid it no heed and continued to push forward. They were faithfully executing Dang Gyu-youngs commands. Meanwhile, Song Cheon-hye did nothing more than set up the field. She simply crossed her arms and watched indifferently as the goblins passed by her. Only when rocks or wooden spears flew toward her did she erect a magical barrier to block them. Kerruk, Keeek! Just as the goblins were about to exit the range of the field, Song Cheon-hye unleashed a spell she had prepared in advance. [Lightning Nova] Fzzzzzzzzzzzzt! Waves of current radiated out from Song Cheon-hye at the center. Goblins swept away by the waves instantly turned into charred ashes and scattered away. The next moment, the area within a few meters of her became an empty space. Keeek! Kerruk. As the goblins continued to advance and continued filling the space, Fzzzzzzzzt! Once again, a Lightning Nova radiated out from Song Cheon-hye and swept them away. One thing she had learned through repeating these defense battles, Defense must be efficient. There was no need to complicate things by linking this magic with that. Just choose the most efficient pair and unleash them repeatedly. Having nearly a hundred spells at her disposal, it took some trial and error, but she eventually narrowed it down to combining [Field] and [Nova]. She waited until as many monsters as possible were within the range of the Lightning Nova, then wiped them out all at once. The two spells had nearly identical ranges so they worked well together. While Song Cheon-hye was perfectly defending the main gate, a familiar sound reached her from over her shoulder. Rumbleee, It was undoubtedly the sound of the side wall collapsing so Song Cheon-hye felt no need to look back. After all, Kim Ho would handle it well on his own. As she continued to cast Lightning Nova while focusing only on what was in front of her, about half of the remaining time had passed. [Statue of the Goddess: 100%] [Remaining Time: 4:51] Grrrr Now that the Beheader Goblin had appeared, the real challenge began. A clear mana shimmered on the cleaver it clenched. The Beheader Goblin began to pick up its speed and the hordes of goblins rushed forward behind it. Meanwhile, Song Cheon-hye stood at the main gate and stared at the approaching goblins. In one hand, intense currents crackled and gathered to form a thick bolt of lightning. And in her other hand, she was assembling the next spell. Soon, the cleaver and the lightning clashed together. Zzzzzt! Grrrr. The Beheader Goblin took a few steps back. It was a natural outcome given Song Cheon-hyes superior skills. Soon, the goblin charged in even more fiercely with increased hostility. Song Cheon-hye maintained her position calmly while responding to each attack with poise. Before the goblins could breach the main gate, she unleashed the Lightning Nova she had prepared in advance. Fizzzzzzzzzzzz! I need to buy more time. She realized this for the second time. Yes. Ill cover for you. Song Cheon-hye quickly grasped Kim Hos intention. From their previous attempts, it was clear he meant for her to cast a powerful spell that they hadnt had the chance to use before, one that would significantly deplete the Beheader Goblins health. She immediately began to gather mana and focused her mind intently. All kinds of geometric characters were quickly assembled to take the shape of a spell. Due to the large and complex nature of the spell, it required a significant amount of mana, but soon a blue crown floating above Song Cheon-hyes head began to infuse additional mana into the spell. Boom! Bang! Meanwhile, Kim Ho had been perfectly buying time by pushing everything approaching them away with his wind magic. The Beheader Goblin who had been trying to force its way through as before was helplessly pushed back by the wind force. And just as Song Cheon-hyes magic was nearly complete, Whirrrrrr Kerrukk? Keek? Grrr? The wind that had been blowing straight started to swirl and pull the Beheader Goblin and the goblins together into one spot. And Song Cheon-hyes large-scale magic spell descended at that center. [Summon Thunderstorm] Rumble! Crash! Thick thunderbolts struck down and turned the entire area upside down. Originally, it was a wide-area spell that inflicted damage over a wide area, but now Song Cheon-hye had slightly modified the spell to focus the lightning at the center of the whirlwind. It struck precisely above the Beheader Goblins head. Soon the area in front of the gate was covered in thick dust, obscuring all visibility. When the lightning finally stopped, Kim Ho created a gust of wind to clear away the dust. Gur, ugh The goblins trapped inside the whirlwind had already been neatly dispatched, and the Beheader Goblin was staggering around in an almost groggy state. Kim Ho glanced at this scene and turned his back without hesitation. Finish it. Ill go block the others again. When Song Cheon-hye glanced to see what the situation was like on the side wall, the wind died down little by little and the goblins were coming out of the breach one by one. It seemed there was a time limit even to the magic channeled through his spear. After all, it wouldnt make sense for it to last indefinitely. Groaaar! Even in this hopeless situation, the Beheader Goblin did not lose its fighting spirit and swung its cleaver at her. However, the impact felt much less when the lightning struck the cleaver, which meant that the large-scale magic had significantly drained its health. Before they even exchanged a few blows, Kraaaah! The Beheader Goblin roared loudly and pulled its arm back. It was the one holding the cleaver. Seeing this, Song Cheon-hyes eyes sparkled with realization. She had read its pre-movement for throwing the cleaver. With a swift motion, she dashed toward the Beheader Goblin and unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning toward the swinging cleaver. Bloock!! iiit!! Just as the cleaver left the Beheader Goblins hand, it collided with the lightning and its trajectory sharply veered off course. The cleaver spun wildly before flying far from the statue and landing with a thud in an unexpected spot on the ground. Grooo Then as if all its health had been depleted, the Beheader Goblin simply turned to ash and scattered away. Song Cheon-hye clenched her fist tightly. Success! How much health is left? She hurriedly checked the scoreboard to find: [Statue of the Goddess: 94%] [Remaining Time: 1:03] There is so much left.? A small gasp escaped Song Cheon-hyes lips. At this rate, it was almost as if they had allowed no attacks at all. However, she couldnt let her guard down until the very end. There were still remnants around, and there was always the chance that something as trivial as a blind stone might strike the statue. Song Cheon-hye rushed towards the statue to help Kim Ho. *** [Statue of the Goddess: 93/100% = 465 points] + [Goblins Killed: 120 = 60 points] + [Strong Enemy Killed = 100 points] + [Clear Bonus = 300 points] [Total Score: 925 points] * Ground Floor Dungeon Strategy Multiplier 0.8 = 740pts Watching the scores tally up, Song Cheon-hye was quite satisfied. It was almost certainly one of the highest scores in the grade. She felt confident that this would sufficiently humble Hong Yeon-hwa as well. Because of this, her tone was considerably gentler. I thought it was impossible, but you really did exceed 90%. I must have been mistaken. I was also worried about how you would use your new weapon, but you used it in a way I couldnt have imagined, which surprised me a bit. Your decision to coordinate with me and deliver a burst attack on the Beheader Goblin was smart. The pattern emerged quickly. However, Kim Ho just smiled broadly and watched Song Cheon-hye. Normally, he would have said something by now, but strangely enough, he kept his mouth shut. ? When Song Cheon-hye tilted her head in confusion, Kim Ho slowly raised one hand and lifted his index finger. What? Was he indicating to look up? She raised her gaze but there was nothing above. When she looked back at Kim Ho, the smile on his lips had deepened. Then he slowly spread two more fingers and silently mouthed the words with his lips. Three. Wish. Tickets. Ah. Chapter 109: Watch It and Block It (3) Chapter 109: Watch It and Block It (3) While I was blocking the side walls breach, I noticed the main gates defenses were breached and immediately sprang into action. First, I used the Memorize skill imbued in the Root weapon to cast Wind Force and drove it deep into the ground. Although Wind Force was a spell with a short casting time and could be used directly, I purposely went through Memorize because, It avoids the rule penalty that way. The intent was to make the system recognize that the Root not I was casting the spell, thereby avoiding the [Close Combat] rule penalty. Having temporarily secured the side walls defense, I approached Song Cheon-hye to help buy her time so she could cast a large-scale spell. Of course, I had another purpose in coming here beside just inflicting massive damage on the Beheader Goblin. I need to copy her trait. Copy-Trait [2/2] 1. Elemental Resistance (S) 2. Sovereigns Crown The Sovereigns Crown. It was a trait every mage wanted to have. The trait that greatly contributed to Song Cheon-hye being called a mana monster was also this one. Like the [Blessing of the West Wind] I had learned, it didnt have a rank And its effects included a bonus to mana-type skills and traits, along with reduced mana consumption. As soon as I copied this trait, my [Core] which had been stuck at C-rank, instantly advanced to C+. Since the number of mana-type skills would continue to increase, this would be extremely beneficial in the long term. The reason I had encouraged Song Cheon-hye to use large-scale magic was to make the activation of this trait more noticeable. After all, even for a mana monster, casting a powerful spell like [Summon Thunderstorm] would consume a significant amount of mana. As expected, while Song Cheon-hye was assembling a large spell and pumping it full of mana, I was able to copy the blue crown that appeared above her head. This weeks quest is well completed as well. [Side Quest: 6th Week Strategy Battle] Objective: Protect the Statue of the Goddess Deadline: ~Sunday midnight Reward: Varies based on the remaining health (93/100%) This weeks side quest was also completed with the highest reward condition of over 90%. [Material Selection (C)] Acquire your desired C-rank material. Though there was no immediate need for it, the future was filled with potential items to create, whether they be equipment or consumables. Using material selection would save the effort of having to search for that material. This was a solid advantage because the more you have, the better. That concludes this week. If there was an unexpected gain It came from the bet with Song Cheon-hye, where the wish tickets I now had multiplied into three. Alright, lets bet. But if you fail to reach 90%, lets make it two? When she countered with that proposal, I wondered what she was thinking. She must have been certain I couldnt achieve a 90% success rate, which is why she made such an offer, but was her confidence strong enough to raise the stakes? Or was it actually because she was like a genie from a lamp that was obligated to grant exactly three wishes? It was impossible to tell. *** The disciplinary committee room was quiet. It seemed that everyone had simultaneously stepped out. Song Cheon-hye was alone and she continued to review the documents she had been processing the day before, but she soon set them aside. Then she walked over to the sofa and sat down demurely. . As Song Cheon-hye leaned back against the sofa and stared blankly ahead, she slipped down and suddenly burst out, Therefore, the task of keeping an eye on Kim Ho was given to Song Cheon-hye who was a member of the disciplinary committee and his classmate. By coincidence, they were also paired in the same mentoring group which provided her with an opportunity to observe him more closely, and today an additional unusual detail emerged. He changed his weapon. A weapon I recall he didnt have one before. Kim Hos weapon, as recorded in the replay, was an E-rank Earth staff. Its performance was so poor that it was hardly distinguishable from a wooden stick. Eventually, he seemed so inconvenienced by it that he often went about unarmed. Considering Kim Ho was a mage, the fact that he had no decent magical tools was quite strange, but today he suddenly produced a high-quality spear-like weapon and used it. Of course, such a high-quality item hadnt just fallen from the sky, and Song Cheon-hye had a suspicion. The duel with the Emerald Magic Tower had a [Crafting VIP Ticket] at stake. He seems to have used that. Thats very likely. Ill inquire with the Blacksmithing club. If the blacksmiths workshop had crafted that spear, they likely kept records of which metals were used. Knowing this could significantly narrow down which dungeons Kim Ho might have entered to obtain the required metal. For example, the dungeons for acquiring [Black Iron] and [Mithril] were different. However, Kwak Seung-jae was somewhat skeptical. Its likely they wont disclose important information. Why not? Theres no justification. Although they are just a club, they are craftsmen nonetheless. Kim Ho hadnt done anything wrong, nor was there any issue with the spear, so there was no reason for them to divulge information about their client. Pressuring such craftsmen for information was inappropriate, and even if pressured, they were unlikely to budge. This was why the blacksmithing club held a great standing at the Dragon Slayer Academy. Its still worth trying. However, if they refuse, we must withdraw politely without causing offense. Ill be careful. Ive circulated an official notice about the Inferno Fist matter to all the clubs. The official notice did not directly mention the Inferno Fist, but it stated that if students noticed anything suspicious during their dungeon raids, they should report it to the student disciplinary committee. By next weeks dungeon raids, we should see some results one way or another. If they used the day Kim Ho and Dang Gyu-youngs group were caught in the underground levels as a marker, Then many of the dungeons that had been up for bid before that day had already been conquered this week. On the other hand, there were a lot of dungeons that were still being prepared even though they had been bid for. This was because students had to prepare thoroughly as their lives were at stake, and their schedules had to be adjusted taking into account academic and club schedules. But in two weeks, during the next raid week, all the dungeons that had been bid on would be conquered. Of course, there was no guarantee that they would get the results they wanted. The dungeon Kim Ho and Dang Gyu-youngs group entered might not be related to those that were bid on, and even if something suspicious was found, the other party could act first to cover it up. Well have to take more proactive actions then. *** On a weekend morning. While I was waiting at the meeting place near the dormitory, I saw Seo Ye-in walking slowly from a distance toward me. When I waved my hand, Seo Ye-in also approached and waved her hand gently. When she got closer to a certain distance, I asked in a playful tone. Shall we go, miss? Mhmm. To the downtown area. Chapter 110: Downtown Area (1) Chapter 110: Downtown Area (1) The total area of the dungeon island was not as large as one might expect, and the distance between the school grounds and the downtown area was relatively close. But since it was a rather cumbersome distance to walk, there was a shuttle bus that traveled between the two on a regular basis. Just then, one pulled up in front of us and we stepped onto the bus. There were plenty of empty seats inside. There were barely ten students on the bus and all of them were upperclassmen from the second or third year. Compared to the bustling schedule of a freshman, these students had more relaxed timetables, and most of them were not heading out for leisure like us but were on their way to complete some assignments.The source of this content no/v(el)bi((n)) For this reason, a few upperclassmen cast glances that seemed to say, Are first-year students already heading downtown? However, neither Seo Ye-in nor I were the type to care about others stares. Seo Ye-in took the seat by the window and I settled next to the aisle. Shortly after we sat down next to each other, the shuttle bus started moving with the smoothness reminiscent of a luxury limousine. ..! Seo Ye-in leaned halfway out the window and gazed intently outside. Gone was her usual sleepy-eyed expression. It was replaced by eyes that were clear and sparkling. I took it as a sign of her excitement. For now, rather than force her to talk, I decided to let her enjoy the scenery outside. Meanwhile, I drifted into my own thoughts. The night before. I had met with An Jeong-mi and we had a conversation. *** As soon as An Jeong-mi saw me, she started with words of gratitude. Thanks to you, Kim Ho-nim, this weeks mentoring was a success. She told me how Seo Ye-in had bravely kept up with her rigorous training and had also scored highly in the strategy battle of this week. Pride and satisfaction were evident in An Jeong-mis expression. And as always, I responded with humble words. I only told her to work hard; all the real effort was yours. Thats not true at all. You dont realize how much strength that simple encouragement gave to the young miss and to me. It seemed I had become something of a morale-boosting totem in An Jeong-mis eyes. But her expressions of thanks did not end there. Thank you again on behalf of the Future Strategy Office for your unwavering support of the young misss growth. Her tone was more serious than usual which made me wait for her next words without interrupting the flow of conversation with my usual humble words. Sure enough, An Jeong-mi reached into her jacket pocket and said, After much thought on how to express our gratitude She pulled out an elegant coupon and handed it to me. [Coupon Long Eared Magical Tool Shop (B)] I prepared this. I hope you will accept it. This Long Eared Magical Tools Shop was located in the downtown area and they stock a variety of powerful magic items. But the prices for all of them were high which made it difficult for students to purchase anything there. However, with this coupon, I could take any item equivalent to a B-rank from that Magical Tool shop. It was far more useful to give me the choice rather than simply handing over a B-rank item. As expected, if you give away, you get it all back again. As I had anticipated even before our first meeting, the butler was a person who knew gratitude. I did not refuse and accepted the coupon. I will gratefully accept it. As Ive mentioned before, Im in need of many things. Im sure Kim Ho-nim will find it useful. Also, I have another request. Yes, please tell me. An Jeong-mi handed over another Long Eared coupon (B) and said, While youre at it, I would appreciate it if you could also pick out some equipment for the lady. That wont be difficult. But given the capabilities of the Hye-seong Group, I wonder if theres really a need to use that particular shop. They could even effortlessly secure the highly coveted Feather Walk skill book, so would B-rank magic tools be a challenge? I suspect that if they decided, they could aim for some A-rank items as well. With such capabilities, was there really a need for the Hye-seong Group to use a shop in such a downtown area among the many available? When I posed this question with such implications, An Jeong-mis face took on a complex expression. By now, Kim Ho-nim, I think you understand. Its important that everything depends on the young misss own will. Despite So Ye-in possessing such dazzling talent, And despite receiving the full backing of the Hye-seong Group, She was only now beginning to build her basic skills and traits. The reason for this was that she had absolutely no motivation to learn anything until now. However, after enrolling in the Dragon Slayer Academy and meeting various people, including me, her desire to learn began to grow little by little. Given the flow of our conversation, she probably isnt much interested in items either. Yes, she generally doesnt easily form attachments to any kind of object. But An Jeong-mis face then changed in a different way. Then I would pretend not to be able to win and follow along and take a look at that amazing thing together. We explored the line of street vendors, shared a cotton candy, and watched various street performances. There were buskers, of course, a dancer who hovered about an inch off the ground, presenting intricate dance moves, and a magician who erected a pillar of ice and then sculpted a statue right there on the spot. Among these, the magic show attracted the most spectators. A gentleman wearing a mask climbed onto a small makeshift stage with exaggerated gestures. Without speaking a word, he pointed to a pigeon perched on his hand and signaled, I will make this pigeon disappear! After placing the pigeon into a magic hat, the masked gentleman vigorously crumpled it. He gently shook the now fist-sized hat, which suddenly expanded and unfolded into a large cloth. Then after smoothing it out over the ground, he abruptly pulled it back Snap! Dozens of pigeons flew into the sky. Clap clap The audience sent up a cheer along with their applause. It was a show cleverly mixing magic and tricks. . Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in remained unimpressed throughout. Her gaze didnt linger on the magic show but on the places where the tools, rabbits, and pigeons used in the tricks were concealed. She does have sharp eyes. She probably had figured out all the tricks this time too. Just as her interest seemed to fade and she was about to turn away, The masked gentleman on the makeshift stage suddenly appeared in front of her, blocked her path, and bowed politely in greeting. Seo Ye-in stared back intently at him. The masked gentleman silently communicated with her through hand gestures, and Seo Ye-in responded with nods and head shakes. ? ! . . It was impossible to understand them. Anyway, it seemed they reached a silent conclusion after their non-verbal exchange. The masked gentleman then pulled out a deck of playing cards, Frrrrrr. He fanned the cards out so their faces were visible and quickly gestured for Seo Ye-in to pick one. When Seo Ye-in randomly selected a card, The masked gentleman slipped it back into the deck, then dazzled with a swift shuffle before splitting the cards into three piles and offering them back to her. It was an invitation to guess where the card might be. . However, Seo Ye-in did not even pretend to look at the piles of cards but instead focused on the gentlemans suit pocket. She got it right During the shuffle, the gentleman had discreetly slipped the card out and hidden it, and Seo Ye-in had seen right through his trick. And even more impressively, she knew exactly where he had hidden it. . Realizing he was caught, the masked gentleman slapped his forehead in mock dismay and then sharply snapped his fingers toward the pocket where he had hidden the card. Then, just as he had done when he first blocked our path, he bowed respectfully and returned to the makeshift stage. Clap clap And as the magic show resumed, we began to move away. ? But after walking a little, Seo Ye-in tilted her head in curiosity and stopped to rummage through her pocket. Suddenly, the card she had picked earlier sprang out and it was twinkling beautifully. It was the [Lucky Trump Card]. A hidden piece. She really can get anything. She effortlessly scooped up a hidden piece just by passing by. Seo Ye-in was really a true luck master. Amidst this, one question remained in my head, But why is that here in the downtown area? When I turned back to look at the masked gentleman, it seemed as though the eyes behind the mask met mine and winked. He wasnt hostile, though But he was an event boss. Chapter 111: Downtown Area (2) Chapter 111: Downtown Area (2) Due to the aftermath of the EX-rank quest, all the characters in this game world had been replaced and there were likely many changes to the dynamic elements linked to them. One such example was this masked gentleman who was akin to an event boss or field boss. It remained a mystery how he ended up drifting to Dungeon Island, but at least he wasnt the type to cause trouble everywhere he went. All he did was perform magic shows and occasionally throw a hidden piece to the audience so there seemed no need to take any special action. The academy probably knew about him and seemed to have decided he wasnt a threat as they hadnt dispatched anyone to subdue him. However, the fact that this event boss had entered Dungeon Island meant that other field bosses might also appear. This was enough for me to raise my vigilance. I thought it would be wise to ask Shin Byeong-cheol later to keep an eye on some of their movements. After the magic show, as Seo Ye-in and I continued to walk around and explore, We arrived at our first destination. I showed Seo Ye-in the coupons I had received the night before. Your butler said you and I should get equipped with something from this place. Mhmm She nodded her head when I mentioned getting equipped but just like An Jeong-mi had observed, she didnt seem particularly interested. Lets go in and take a look around. Who knows? Maybe youll find something you like. She nodded her head again when I talked about getting equipment but she still showed little enthusiasm. When Seo Ye-in and I entered the store, a friendly middle-aged lady greeted us warmly. The woman seemed more like the owner than just a clerk working here. And against expectations, her ears were not pointed at all. Welcomeoh my, are you first-year students? Hello. What cute visitors we have here. She shifted her gaze between us and smiled contentedly. She seemed to be under some great misunderstanding. I felt it was too bothersome to correct her, so I just let it slide for the time being. Although she was friendly, it didnt seem like she was expecting much from us. The magical tools were all priced high, so realistically, what were the chances a first-year could afford them, and even if they did buy them, how much quality could they expect? It seemed wise to make it clear that we had the means to purchase to facilitate smoother communication. So I pulled out two coupons labeled [Coupon Long Eared Magical Tool Shop (B)] and continued. Wed like to use these. ! The shop owners eyes widened. B-rank coupons were typically used by third-year students, yet here were two first-years with not one, but two of them. Words like sales, performance, and results likely flashed through her mind. She was already friendly to begin with but her demeanor became even more accommodating as she guided us to a specific section. The B-rank corner is this way. Is there anything specific youre looking for? Wed just like to look around for now. Take your time, and feel free to ask if you have any questions. Keywords associated with elves and long ears could include archery, wood magic, and nature. Most of the items in this magic tool shop fell into that category. They didnt quite match my preference for aggressive magic or Seo Ye-ins inclination towards magic engineering equipment. Nevertheless, there were items that were universally useful regardless of class. Lets focus on accessories. Mhmm. Now that I narrowed down our focus, I simply observed for the time being. Choosing for oneself is always ideal. However, it seemed that Seo Ye-in found this task rather difficult. She passed by most items and, though she checked the options on a few out of curiosity, she quickly lost interest and put them down. Eventually, I decided to make a suggestion. Do you want to go with what I choose? It seemed better for me to show her one or two items and follow her reactions from there.VIsit for the best novel reading experience Seo Ye-in faced me and then slowly nodded her head up and down. As soon as we entered the store, I had already identified all the items with decent performance. Among them, I showed Seo Ye-in one that I thought she would like. [Vision Collection Glasses] Collects the vision of random targets within a certain range. How about this? Good. She agreed immediately. Without even looking at the item properly. As a test, I showed her the second item I had picked out: [Concussion Earrings] Long-range attacks have a certain probability of causing concussion status ailment to the enemy. [Processed Fairy Wood (B)] A thick tree branch with a refreshing green color and palm-sized leaves. [Branch of the World Tree (B)] A glass bottle that looked like a pretty craft that was filled with translucent gas. [Blessing of the Fairy Queen (B)] The items I had chosen seemed quite unexpected to the store owner as she asked, Its strange. Nobody has been looking for these. What do you plan to do with them? Im trying to make something with my friends and seniors. Theyre for crafting then. The store owner finally nodded her head in understanding. If its for crafting, it made sense to try out materials that arent commonly used. Though the ranks were somewhat high for just experimenting, that wasnt her concern as the seller. After paying with two coupons, I took ownership of the three items chosen from the storage room. The lady bid us farewell at the door with a parting greeting. Thank you; please come again. *** We moved to a relatively quiet area a little away from the bustling streets. A resting area lined with simple tables. It was the perfect spot to sit and enjoy the evening air but it was currently deserted. We found a table and sat across from each other. I plucked the leaves from the [Branch of the World Tree]. As I did, the vibrant green life force that the branch had held seemed to fall away with the leaves. Then, Seo Ye-in took them and carefully attached them to the [Processed Fairy Wood]. Here. Mhmm. Here. Mhmm. Stick them on carefully. Carefully. As I detached and Seo Ye-in attached, the fairy wood gradually became densely covered with green leaves, while the branch became increasingly bare. And the moment the last leaf was removed, the mysterious energy that the branch had contained also vanished. Now, it was just a piece of slightly better-quality wood. The value of this B-grade item had plummeted but I didnt care. I slowly sprinkled the [Blessing of the Fairy Queen] over the leaf-covered fairy wood. As the leaves absorbed life force, they unfurled silently and bloomed like flower buds coming to life. But the fairy wood that had been there was nowhere to be seen and was replaced instead by a jewel box that seemed to be crafted from grass and trees. [Fairy Queens Jewel Box (B+)] A random box made by combining life-type materials. It was a B+ rank item which meant it was half a rank higher than anything obtained from the Black Market. Of course, if that were all there was to it, I would not have risked my luck on a random box even with a B+ rating. This one has known drop information. What could come out of it and the approximate chances of each drop were known. Based on that, there would be no loss unless you were extremely unlucky like Go Hyeon-woo. And if Seo Ye-in opens it The outcome could be even more unpredictable. Still, since I wanted to maximize our chances just in case, I cautiously started a conversation with Seo Ye-in. You know that card you got earlier Before I even finished speaking, Seo Ye-in pulled out the [Lucky Trump Card] she had just received from the masked gentleman. Her eyes questioned whether this was the right place to use it. When I nodded my head, Flash! The trump card emitted a bright light and was absorbed by the jewel box. The probability of a high-quality item appearing increased and the likelihood of a dud decreased. Seo Ye-in shifted her gaze between me and the jewel box, then tilted her head slightly and asked, Open it? Please, go ahead. I gently pushed the jewel box forward and Seo Ye-in slowly pulled it toward herself. After looking down at it for a moment, she opened the jewel box and, Boom! Clouds burst forth like an explosion and engulfed the entire area. ******** TN: A Boom! From the accumulated luck is crazy. Chapter 112: Downtown Area (3) Chapter 112: Downtown Area (3) Everywhere was enveloped in a white cloud so thick that nothing could be seen. From within the cloud, I caught a glimpse of Seo Ye-ins hand slowly groping through the air. Seeing her act like that, I instinctively reached out my arm. Here, my arm. Her fumbling hand then gently grasped my arm. I continued speaking in that position. Its just the random box effect. Just stay still for now. Dont move around and accidentally bump into something. Usually, the color and intensity of the light from a random box can indicate the quality of the item appearing. However, sometimes, the effects change depending on the item that appears. And the clouds are a precursor to a very special item. Especially if they burst forth enough to cover everything around. It was certainly worth getting excited about. As time passed, the clouds gradually began to thin. As more time passed, the cloud completely dispersed which allowed us to see each other again. Curious about what item had appeared, I checked the jewel box and found a pair of bracelets inside. One was white, the other was black. Looking at the white bracelet first, It seemed as if several clouds, each the size of a fingernail, had been plucked out and connected with a very thin thread of gold. When I touched it, it felt soft and thin like clouds and almost ethereal. [Fluffy Cloud Bracelet (A)] Summons fluffy clouds. Protects the wearer from magical damage. The other bracelet looked similar but had the dark brooding color of storm clouds. And its name reflected that perfectly. [Storm Cloud Bracelet (A)] Summons storm clouds. Protects the wearer from physical damage. Two A-rank accessories. They were the highest level of reward that could emerge from the Fairy Queens Jewel Box. In fact, the odds were quite high that not only could a dud have appeared, but even just one item might have surfaced. If that had been the case, I would have accepted it as my luck and perhaps handed it over to Seo Ye-in but fate had granted us the highest reward. Youve done it again, lucky charm.Folloow current novE?ls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m) Is it helpful? Seo Ye-in asked. It had been the same when she opened the Leaders Black Chest; it seemed more important to her whether the item dropped was useful to me than the item itself. I nodded my head and asked back, Of course. Which do you prefer? Since we had used two coupons to obtain these results, it made sense for us to each take one. And since Seo Ye-in had played a major part in obtaining the highest reward, I gave her the first choice, A long time passed without an answer. Looking at Seo Ye-ins face, she was seriously lost in thought. She alternated between looking at the two bracelets before thinking a bit, then looking again and thinking a bit more. After repeating this several times, she finally slowly raised her hand and pointed, This one. She pointed toward the Fluffy Cloud Bracelet. Good choice. In terms of performance, the Fluffy Cloud Bracelet was slightly more useful to Seo Ye-in. This was due to the fact that long-range classes, such as gunslingers, were more likely to get into fights with other long-range classes rather than being caught by close-range classes. And a significant portion of those other long-range classes consisted of mages. Moreover, her weak defense had been continually pointed out so this bracelet would likely compensate for that significantly. Let me see your hand. Following my request, Seo Ye-in extended the hand that had just pointed to the bracelet. I slightly rolled up her sleeves to reveal her wrist and fitted it with the Fluffy Cloud Bracelet. Seo Ye-in brought her bracelet-clad hand closer and quietly observed it. She inspected it thoroughly and playfully touched the cloud designs as if they fascinated her. It seemed she liked it. *** I had given her a cushion and a shapeshifting scroll but I hadnt heard anything about what happened afterward from Ahn Jeong-mi. To be precise, I hadnt asked yet. Seo Ye-in replied while chewing on a piece of toast. I havent done it yet. Have you decided what to change it into? Once again, Seo Ye-in shook her head and then asked me in return, What do you think is good? The most common and widely used option would be a doll, I suppose. That was the standard among players, and it was likely similar in this game world. Who would dislike transforming a cushion or pillow while keeping its effects intact, just changing its exterior to that of a cute doll? However, Seo Ye-ins response was still lukewarm. She tilted her head slightly to the side and asked, A doll? Whether she liked it or not, it seemed she hadnt even considered a doll to begin with. I asked back because I picked up on something. Do you dislike dolls? Shakes head, Dont like them either? Mhmm Ahn Jeong-mi had mentioned that Seo Ye-in didnt really form attachments to objects. Her attitude toward dolls must have been similar. Indifferent whether they were present or not. I understood, but I couldnt just say, Dont bother changing it if theres nothing you want~ If you dont like dolls, forget it~ after giving her a shapeshifting scroll for the cushion. Should we go and pick one out? A doll. Okay. Seo Ye-in readily accepted my suggestion. That settled our next destination. The easiest and simplest way to get a doll was to go to a doll or toy store and buy one, But the best things arent obtained easily. The rarer the item, the more complicated it is to acquire. And if one were to name a prime location to obtain a rare doll in the downtown area, It would be the game center. A place filled with all sorts of mini-games where many of the prizes are decorative items like dolls. It was also a spot known for hiding hidden pieces so even if our conversation hadnt turned to dolls, we were bound to stop by at some point. Lets get going, then. After diligently forking through our meal, only crumbs and honey syrup were left on the plate where the French toast once was. Now that our stomachs were reasonably full, we tidied up the table and stood up. Just as we were about to exit the bakery, The waiter handed Seo Ye-in a neatly wrapped box and a paper envelope. The packaging of the box was transparent, so the inside was clearly visible. Its cookies. It made sense why she didnt touch any of the cookies on the display even though there were many of them. At a glance, the variety of cookie shapes suggested that she had picked one of each type. You bought a lot. Are you going to eat all these? For research. I see, for research. I immediately understood and nodded my head. If the research led to an improvement in the quality of the cookies Seo Ye-in baked, there was no reason for me who was the guinea pig number one to object. It would be even better if it reduced the need for those so difficult shape-matching challenges. So, I understood the box but what was in the paper envelope? When I cast a curious glance, Seo Ye-in caught on and slightly opened the envelope. Instantly, a spicy aroma wafted up. It was so intense that it made my eyes sting a bit. Isnt this that spicy bread from earlier? Wasnt it called Hellfire Pizza Bread? When did you pick this up? Can you even eat it? No. Then what are you going to use it for? Seo Ye-in replied casually as if it was only natural. A gift for the butler. Chapter 113: Downtown Area (4) Chapter 113: Downtown Area (4) Did the butler like spicy food? Seo Ye-in had chosen the gift with genuinely pure intentions, but would the butler really like the Hellfire Pizza Bread? Or was she merely teasing her? Several questions arose in my mind, but it already seemed like it wasn¡¯t my place to get involved. For now, I decided to just watch and see what would happen. Just as we had decided our next destination while eating honey toast, we headed to a game center where one could win dolls. After leaving the bakery, Seo Ye-in and I walked leisurely, almost as if strolling, toward the bustling heart of the downtown area. As we got closer to the center of the downtown area, popping sound effects began to ring in my ears. The sound effects became clearer with each step, and soon a game center that was illuminated by flashing lights and lined with various arcade machines came into view. The noise intensified as we stepped into the game center where a cacophony of different sound effects, barely comprehensible shouts, yells, and cheers all converged. ¨C Did you hit the high score? ¨C No, stop using that trick! ¨C That¡¯s not how you do it. ¨C I lost, but it was a good fight. ¡°...¡± And there was Seo Ye-in who was quietly covering her ears with both hands. Her expressionless face was clearly marked with displeasure. I had a feeling it would be like this. Of all the places we had visited together so far, this game center was by far the loudest. It didn¡¯t seem right to stay long. I gestured and mouthed to Seo Ye-in. ¨C Let¡¯s just quickly look at the dolls. ¨C Mhmm. We first scanned the rows of claw machines which were relatively easy. The dolls were piled up like a mountain and it seemed like we might snag something. ¡°...¡± Seo Ye-in stared into the claw machine for a long while but nothing seemed to catch her eye. This won¡¯t do. Clunk, But we couldn¡¯t just leave. I put a silver coin in the claw machine and snagged a shark doll in one go. I handed it to Seo Ye-in and moved on quickly. Next were the dolls displayed at the prize corner. These were slightly more difficult ones that could be obtained by clearing several mini-games in succession. A large panda, a long anaconda, a starfish, a penguin... ¡°...¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s interest gauge seemed to increase slightly as if she was curious for a moment, but it quickly plummeted to the bottom. This won¡¯t work either. Shoo shoo shoo! I cleared the mini-games at the speed of light and wrapped the anaconda doll I won around Seo Ye-in¡¯s neck. Then we moved to the next and final destination. A special area set aside in one corner of the game center. Looking inside, the facilities were almost similar to the rest but this area was unusually quiet. There were fewer than ten people playing the mini-games inside and all of them were students. Ordinary people either didn¡¯t step foot inside or left quickly if they did. Seo Ye-in tilted her head curiously and asked with her eyes, ¡°What is this place for?¡± ¡°The student corner.¡± This area of the game center was designated solely for the students of Dragon Slayer Academy. As soon as we entered the student corner, the noise that had been filling my ears noticeably decreased. The reason was the soundproofing magic applied to both the interior and exterior. Of course, there were plenty of arcade machines and students actively playing so it was far from quiet. Still, the level of noise was tolerable enough that Seo Ye-in removed her hands from her ears. Looking around at the students engaged in the games... Most were third-year students with a few second-year students. Like the shuttle bus, there were no first-year students at all. Unlike other areas, the atmosphere here wasn¡¯t one of enjoyment but rather everyone was playing the games with a markedly serious demeanor. Why? Because ¡°they aren¡¯t here for fun¡±. The main reason for their seriousness can be attributed to the cost of playing games in this student corner, which is paid in ¡°Dragon Slayer Academy Tokens¡±. Currently, the only ways for a first-year to earn points were by conquering ground-floor dungeons and selling replays. The fact that she had accumulated 20,000 points meant that, although she wasn¡¯t on par with Go Hyeon-woo or other promising students, Seo Ye-in¡¯s replays were selling quite well. Of course, even with a hefty balance, constantly dying like it was nothing could quickly deplete 20,000 points. ¡°Maybe we should try to increase it a bit.¡± So it wouldn¡¯t hurt to secure a few more tokens in advance. Before entering the main game, I took Seo Ye-in to a slot machine in one corner. The operation of the slot machine was simple. You put in a token, pull the lever, and the machine gives back tokens based on the results. It could return five or ten tokens and even thirty if you hit the jackpot, but you¡¯d get zero if you had mediocre luck. It meant swallowing up 300 points and then nothing. But what if our lucky charm here pulls the lever? What if Seo Ye-in who had extraordinary luck tried her hand? It was definitely worth getting our hopes up. After exchanging a glance with me, Seo Ye-in purchased a few tokens at the student store. As she did, several coins clinked into existence out of thin air. Seo Ye-in inserted a token into the slot machine and pulled the lever; the machine shuddered and spat out four tokens. The start is decent enough... Seo Ye-in inserted another token and pulled the lever again. This time the machine dispensed two tokens. On her third attempt, she put in one token and got one back, breaking even. It seems to be going just as expected. The hypothesis I had formed while she was opening the Black Death Random Boxes seemed somewhat validated. Seo Ye-in seemed to have a virtual ¡°luck battery¡± trait, where once a jackpot was hit, a significant amount of her luck would deplete. Continuing to test her luck would drain the remaining battery more and more until eventually, her trait would seem almost nonexistent. After a certain period, her luck would recharge like a battery and the jackpots would start bursting again. Today has definitely been a jackpot. We had drawn two A-rank bracelets; to ask for more would be shameless. From here on out, it was only right to rely on skill. ¡°Let¡¯s do this then.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± We casually circled the student corner and started deciding which game to challenge next. The first priority was choosing a genre Seo Ye-in was most confident in. It wouldn¡¯t make sense for her to suddenly become a swordfighter and expect her to perform well. Thus, we settled on a shooting game. Secondly, it was crucial to choose a two-player co-op game. This place was designed for aspiring future heroes. Given the greatly increased difficulty of the mini-games, it would be impossible for Seo Ye-in alone to cope; there was a much higher chance we would burn through all 20,000 points before even seeing the ending credits, so it was better for me to take the wheel to some extent. With these considerations, we chose our game meticulously. On the screen, a pair of men and women posed with pistols. And there in front of us were two pistols that were identical to those held by the figures on the screen. After picking up the pistols, Seo Ye-in was the first to insert a token into the arcade machine. She then offered me a token, but I shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ll use my own.¡± For me, the amount of points spent was not an issue. It was because the prize I was aiming for had slightly tougher conditions to meet compared to others. [Random Rank Up]*3 ?Acquisition Condition 1: See the ending credits ?Acquisition Condition 2: Use no more than five tokens The condition to see the ending credits was the same for Seo Ye-in, but the moment ¡°Continue¡± exceeded four times, we would have to abandon this reward. This meant we had to play with great care while valuing each attempt. Typically, even the second and third-years wouldn¡¯t dare attempt such difficulty. But for me, it was merely a laugh-worthy challenge. No need to even use up to five tokens. I planned to finish with just one coin. At this point, I recalled various nicknames I had earned at the game. The S-rank Hero Factory, the Graduates¡¯ Manufacturing Machine, the Top Ranker, the Strongest Support, the God of the Fixed Zone, And, The Mini-game Demon King. Chapter 114: Downtown Area (5) Chapter 114: Downtown Area (5) A jeep rattled across the heart of the jungle. In the back seat, a man and a woman dressed as explorers were checking their firearms. These were the avatars we would control in this mini-game. Eventually, the jeep came to a stop deep within the jungle. After exchanging glances, the pair nodded and began to make their way through the dense foliage. A bright flashing message appeared on the screen: [Mission Start!] has begun. As we progressed, two zebras were spotted deeply engrossed in grazing among the bushes. They suddenly sensed our presence and snapped their heads up. Their teeth were as sharp as saw blades. Moreover, they stood up on two legs and charged at us frantically. Heeheeheeheein! Bang! Bang! Bang-bang! We immediately opened fire. The bipedal zebras fell under the barrage of bullets. Heeheeheeheeing! As we moved further, more zebras appeared. ¡°Aim for the head.¡± As Seo Ye-in focused her shots around the heads of the zebras, they fell more quickly. After we continued to move through the jungle, various wild animals other than the zebras suddenly appeared and began to threaten us. Their bodies were disproportionately built and all had sharply pointed teeth, making them look like carnivores. They seemed truly aggressive as if they viewed the explorer duo as prey. Heeheeheeheeing! Gazelles with horns at the forefront charged at us, but we maneuvered our avatars to dodge them. We then focused our gunfire to bring them down. Kikiik! Occasionally, monkeys perched on the trees threw fruits at us. Although we didn¡¯t know what was inside, when they hit the ground they burst and released some kind of acidic liquid that melted the soil. It was clear what would happen if one hit us directly, so dodging them was essential. Tutututututututut! We shot all the monkeys down from the trees and continued to advance before encountering more and more wild animals. The first stage is pretty easy. It was essentially a tutorial stage with low difficulty, and since Seo Ye-in had accumulated experience as a marksman herself, she managed well while shooting and dodging as necessary. Tutututututututut! After dealing with another group of zebras, Suddenly, red warning lights flashed across the screen. [Warning!] [Warning!] This time, a bipedal elephant with a muscular body filled the screen when it appeared. In one hand, it tightly gripped a long horn as if it were a weapon. It was the first stage boss battle. Bwoooh! The elephant spun like a windmill while swinging its long trunk around. As we crouched to dodge at the same time, it followed up by swinging the horn it held in its hand. Likewise, we leapt to the sides to avoid the attacks and then opened fire with our pistols. Tutututututututu! Bwoooh! The bipedal elephant thrashed in agony. Soon it was engulfed in even greater fury, it alternated between slamming its long trunk and the horn in its hand. The pattern was predictable and the preparatory movements were wide enough, so dodging was not difficult. Opportunities to strike were also fairly frequent. ¡°Now, shoot.¡± Tutututututututu! ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in was diligently following the advice to aim for the head. The bullets reliably lodged in the elephant¡¯s forehead without missing. And the boss¡¯s health gauge quickly decreased, Bwoooh...... Finally, the exhausted elephant collapsed onto the ground. [Stage Clear!] A brief cutscene followed. The two protagonists, the man and the woman, examined the fallen elephant closely with serious expressions on their faces and took samples. The man said, ¨C We need to investigate this more thoroughly. And then they ventured deeper into the jungle. The second stage started immediately. This is where it really begins. In truth, the first stage was merely a device to bury the challengers. [Warning!] This time, a huge gorilla with four arms landed with a thud. It held objects and other animals in its hands that were ready to be thrown. Stage two boss fight. ¡°It¡¯s throwing the ostrich.¡± As soon as I spoke, the gorilla grabbed a nearby ostrich and threw it at us. The ostrich that was curled up like a ball fluttered towards us, but Seo Ye-in was not one to be caught off guard again. Tututututututututu! ¡°Tree fruits. Step back.¡± As we stepped back, the next moment the gorilla threw a tree fruit that exploded on hitting the ground. The fruit was large and the acidic solution it released had a wide corrosive range. ¡°Focus now. Bees are coming from the hive.¡± The gorilla tore a large beehive from a nearby tree and threw it. I managed to smash the hive in mid-air but dozens of fist-sized hornets flew out. We intercepted the swarm of hornets one by one. Tututututututututu! Tututututututututu! However, Seo Ye-in missed a few, -Aaagh! and her avatar was stung to death by the hornets. Meanwhile, I intercepted them perfectly. [Continue?] ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in inserted a token and stared intently at me. Her gray eyes seemed to ask, ¡°Why are you better at shooting than me?¡± I¡¯m the mini-game demon king. However, I couldn¡¯t actually say that, and just then her avatar revived, so Seo Ye-in turned her attention back to the screen. Tututututututututu! The four-armed gorilla was grabbing whatever it could and throwing it wildly at us. Each time, I gave Seo Ye-in a heads-up and we moved our avatars around to dodge. ¡°Tree fruit.¡± ¡°Two ostriches.¡± ¡°That rock is going to shatter. Watch out for the shards.¡± ¡°Here comes another beehive. Get ready.¡± Tututututututututu! The hornets that burst from the second beehive were neatly intercepted by Seo Ye-in. She didn¡¯t miss a single one. And whenever the gorilla revealed an opening, we concentrated our attacks on it. [Stage Clear!] And with a final thud, the creature collapsed and stage two was cleared. The explorers¡¯ complexions became darker as they investigated the gorilla. ¨C This is not good. The two then moved deeper into the forest. The density of the trees increased, making it more like a forest than a jungle. The forms of the emerging animals became even stranger with creatures having multiple limbs at a cute level and countless others being combinations of two or three different animals. Tutututututu! Indifferent to the obstacles, we turned everything in our path into a honeycomb of holes as we progressed. A black panther with a snake for a tail collapsed to the ground under a barrage of bullets from Seo Ye-in. I glanced at Seo Ye-in. She¡¯s a quick learner. She had struggled immensely even in stage two. But by stage three, her deaths had dramatically decreased. Although I had pointed out the dangerous spots in advance, as in stage two, most couldn¡¯t avoid them even with guidance. She had adapted to this mini-game and was now dodging everything effortlessly. ¨C Kheuh-heng! The two-headed lion that appeared as the boss of stage three also fell easily, following my directions. [Stage Clear!] The grand final stage began. The explorers, the man and the woman, were pushing through the forest when they suddenly stopped. ¨C That¡¯s...! A building stood ominously in the midst of the deep forest. Just then, one side of the building suddenly opened and people dressed as researchers came out dragging a large cage behind them. They released the creatures trapped inside. And most of the animals that were a mix of two or three different species disappeared into the forest, but among them a leopard with a dizzying pattern spotted us and charged at us with incredible speed. ¨C Kyaaak! Tutututututu! While Seo Ye-in was firing her gun repeatedly, I suddenly had a thought, It¡¯s always the human¡¯s fault. Chapter 115: Downtown Area (6) Chapter 115: Downtown Area (6) Just like I guessed from seeing the people dressed as researchers, the building was actually a biological experiment laboratory. On one hand, research was underway to inject drugs into captured wild animals to increase their muscle mass and make them more ferocious, On the other hand, research was underway to mix several different animals and harness the power of each one of them. The creatures we had encountered in the previous stages had all been created here. The two explorers trembled with horror at the horrific sight. ¨C Such a cruel thing...! And they began destroying the devices used in the experiment one by one. Of course, the researchers weren¡¯t just going to stand by and watch. Just when it seemed they would flee, they quickly mounted humanoid robots and retaliated. Tutututututut! Seo Ye-in fired her gun repeatedly, but the bullets only made a pinging sound as they were blocked by the solid steel, leaving only minor scratches. ¡°Aim for the side. The side.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Upon closer inspection, one could see that a sophisticated mechanism made up of intricate parts was attached to the side of the robot. When targeted, the robot fizzled and stopped moving. Until this realization, one had to shoot randomly at anything that appeared, during which time the researchers mounted on the robots would happily pummel us. It was a malicious design intended to drain 300 points, but knowing this in advance, it was not much more difficult than the previous stages. Tutututututut! We took turns taking down the robots and mutant wild animals that appeared and destroying the experimental devices one by one. At the same time, when the wild animals trapped in the cages were released, the laboratory turned into complete chaos. [Warning!]Read latest novels at novelhall.com [Warning!] Red warning lights flashed everywhere, ¨C Kuwoong! A robot even larger and heavier than the ones the researchers had ridden descended into the arena. Aboard it was a mad scientist. He was the final stage boss. Just like I had done throughout the mini-game, whenever the boss made a threatening move, I signaled to Seo Ye-in. ¡°He¡¯s swinging down his left arm. Dodge lightly.¡± ¡°Lightly.¡± The explorers moved lightly to either side and dodged the giant robot¡¯s swinging left arm. ¡°Count to three and then jump. 1, 2, 3. Jump.¡± ¡°Jump.¡± The giant robot swept the floor but the explorers timed their jump perfectly and leaped up. ¡°Now shoot.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Tutututututut! As bullets continuously struck its weak spots, the giant robot¡¯s health gauge steadily decreased. And when the health dropped below a third, Red lights flashed across its body. ¡°Laser beams are coming.¡± And a lot of them. It was the final boss¡¯s desperate attack pattern, and the problem here was that these lasers were shot in a highly complex pattern. There wasn¡¯t enough time to explain each dodge move to dodge. So, I had no choice but to say, ¡°Watch closely and try to dodge.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± And if that fails, just use a continue. We¡¯ve come this far, so you can afford about 300 points, right? Soon after, the giant robot crouched down. Then it spread out and shot dozens of laser beams at us. Left, right, diagonal, jump, left, forward, pause, right, back, pause longer, diagonal, diagonal, jump... I danced a frenzied tap dance while dodging every single one of the laser beams with dazzling moves. I glanced over to see how Seo Ye-in was doing, ...Alive? Contrary to my expectation of seeing a gray ¡°Continue?¡± screen, Seo Ye-in¡¯s avatar was alive and firing away. ¡°How did you do that?¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in slowly raised her hand and formed a V-sign. I had meant it as a way to tell her to dodge as best as she could, but Seo Ye-in had actually watched closely and managed to dodge everything. A truly devilish talent. Did he choose an item with the [Coupon] that was suitable for the young miss and to which she could become attached? This skilled butler¡¯s keen eyes sparkled sharply. Before leaving the dormitory and after returning, she scanned Seo Ye-in from head to toe while looking for any changes. Then she noticed a white bracelet hanging on Seo Ye-in¡¯s wrist. ¡°Miss, may I take a look at your bracelet for a moment?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± As Seo Ye-in extended her hand, Ahn Jeong-mi checked the item¡¯s description. She slightly squinted her eyes at the unexpected discovery. Fluffy Cloud Bracelet... A-rank? It was indeed a surprising find. She had clearly given Kim Ho B-rank coupons, yet it returned as an A-rank item. She would have to find out how he did it, but one thing was certain. I did well to entrust it to Kim Ho-nim. Once again, Kim Ho had proven to be a help to Seo Ye-in. This would also bolster her own reputation in the Future Strategy Office, and she could support the two of them more actively in the future. Then, as Seo Ye-in rummaged through her inventory, ¡°I also got a doll.¡± She suddenly pulled out shark and anaconda dolls. And the next moment, even Ahn Jeong-mi flinched when a tiger¡¯s face appeared. The detail was so vivid that for a moment she thought it was a real tiger. ¡°It seems you went to the game center. I¡¯m glad to see you had a good time.¡± ¡°I also bought a gift for the butler.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± Jeong-mi blinked her eyes. What did she just say she bought...? Seo Ye-in then took out a neatly wrapped paper bag. Judging by the bakery mark on it, it seemed she had brought back some bread. In fact, the bakery coupon was something she had obtained with difficulty for her own use, but she had willingly given it up for Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in. She was human too and felt a tinge of regret but Seo Ye-in had thoughtfully packed the bread for her. Ahn Jeong-mi shivered with the rush of emotions. ¡°Miss... You¡¯re all grown up now...!¡± Her eyes felt like they were warming with tears. After years of perseverance, Seo Ye-in had matured into someone who knew how to express gratitude. ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll open it right now!¡± However, the moment Ahn Jeong-mi tore open the packaging and unfolded the envelope, An unusually spicy scent hit her nostrils sharply. ¡°!?¡± Ahn Jeong-mi froze with a smile still on her face. She slowly looked down to inspect the contents more closely. What appeared to be a pizza bread. Instead of tomato sauce, it seemed as if hellfire lava was bubbling, and within that inferno, all sorts of spicy toppings seemed to be screaming to set her tongue ablaze. It was the notorious specialty of the downtown bakery, Hellfire Pizza Bread. Ahn Jeong-mi paused to reflect for a moment. Did I do something wrong? Was this the young miss¡¯s way of expressing her dissatisfaction? No, it didn¡¯t seem like that. She had spent more than a year or two in Seo Ye-in¡¯s service, so she had become adept at quickly detecting any signs of displeasure, and there seemed to be none at the moment. The bread itself had been brought with good intentions. However, the fact that it was Hellfire Pizza Bread was somewhat problematic. Ahn Jeong-mi thought to herself. As a butler, it is my duty to gratefully accept any gift from the young miss, whatever it may be. ¡°...¡± Seo Ye-in continued to gaze intently at Ahn Jeong-mi. Her look seemed to ask, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± which prompted Ahn Jeong-mi to force a broad smile onto her face. ¡°Thank you, Miss. I will enjoy eating it.¡± And with that, she took a big bite of the Hellfire Pizza Bread. Ahn Jeong-mi experienced hell that day. TN: Poor butler...lmao Chapter 116: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (1) Chapter 116: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (1) [Skills] ? Wind Force (C+) ? Inferno Fist ? ? Amplification (D) ? Twister (E+) ? Copy-Skill [2/2] Thief¡¯s Step (B+)Overheat (D) [Traits] ? Core (C+) ? Monarch (E) ? Blessing of the West Wind ? Distortion ? Copy-Trait [2/2] Elemental Resistance (S)The Sovereign¡¯s Crown After checking my skills and traits, I shifted my gaze to the three magic scrolls in my hand. It was the same as [Rank Up] in that it had ¡°UP¡± written in large letters, but this one had a ¡°?¡± in the background. [Random Rank Up]*3 ?Raises the rank of a skill/trait with a certain probability. ? Random rank up is not influenced by probability-related bonuses. ? Randomly selects one of the skills/traits you learned. Although it was not a common item on the prize list and I quickly grabbed it, upon closer inspection, it came with rather tricky conditions. Firstly, the skill/trait would be randomly selected. Copied skills/traits were not applicable and only those I had fully learned myself would be selected. Among these, it was better to get difficult-to-grow traits like [Amplification] or [Monarch] rather than those like [Wind Force] or [Twister], which could be enhanced over time through steady effort. ¡°Anything that goes up is a blessing though.¡± However, even that was not easy due to the second condition. The rank of a randomly assigned skill/trait would increase by a ¡°certain probability¡±. And this ¡°certain probability¡± dramatically decreased inversely with the rank¡¯s increase. For example, while the chance of upgrading an F-rank skill to E-rank might be 100%, the chance of upgrading a B-rank to A-rank approached nearly zero. In exchange for skipping the time, effort, and know-how normally required to increase your rank, you had to win against the odds. Lastly, there was a third condition. No luck bonuses applied. This meant that whether it was the lucky Seo Ye-in or me trying, the outcome would be the same. To summarize, The chances of losing all three without gaining anything are quite high. My personal record was failing 30 consecutive random rank ups in the past. So I predicted that these three scrolls would be gone in the blink of an eye. And adjusted my mindset comfortably. I got nothing from the game center... Possessing nothing. If you don¡¯t have expectations in the first place, you won¡¯t feel cheated. Like an old master ready to ascend to heaven, I used the [Random Rank Up] with everything laid aside. Flash! The scroll began to emit an increasingly intense radiance, and then, Fwoosh... The light quickly faded and turned to ash that scattered in the air. [Rank Up Failed.] Yep, just as I thought. I immediately proceeded with another random rank up. Second attempt. Fwoosh... [Rank Up Failed.] Yep, I didn¡¯t expect much. I moved on casually to the next one. Third attempt. Flash! Yep, I obviously didn¡¯t expect¡ª Whooosh! Light flowed from the scroll and was absorbed into my body as the notification appeared. [Rank Up Successful!] [The rank of ¡®Inferno Fist¡¯ has increased. C->B] Do you know ? It¡¯s really a great game. This is why I can¡¯t quit random rank ups. The [Inferno Fist] was a forbidden skill, not only because of its excessive power but also due to the many restrictions imposed on its use. To increase its rank, one had to suffer greatly by frequently visiting a special dungeon. Therefore, rather than endure that hardship, I had planned to keep it at C-rank and perhaps explore other skills, until¡ª A rise to B-rank changes everything. Fortunately, with the major extension of its ¡°expiration date¡±, now it would be useful from the latter half of my second year well into the early third year. It was a highly satisfying outcome. He wanted to go out but it seemed a waste to him to miss a whole day of training just for that. I opened my mouth, ¡°Taking a day off once in a while isn¡¯t a bad idea. Besides, it¡¯s not like we just played around. We came across some fortuitous encounters and even got these bracelets.¡± In truth, Seo Ye-in was the one who had found the lucky trump card but we used it both anyway. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s expression shifted slightly when he heard this. ¡°Fortuitous encounters, I see. Perhaps I thought too simplistically just hearing the word ¡®downtown area¡¯. Then, it¡¯s indeed worth taking some time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pick a day and go together later.¡± ¡°Sounds good; let¡¯s do that.¡± Go Hyeon-woo changed his demeanor as if flipping his hand over. He was a living training machine but also a typical warrior who would get overly excited just at the mention of ¡°Fortuitous encounters¡±. *** In today¡¯s group duel battle class, Teacher Lee Soo-dok seemed tenser than usual, many times more so. His demeanor was so fierce that it seemed he would twist someone¡¯s neck if they only irritated him. The killing intent was so intense that the students didn¡¯t dare slack off and focused their attention solely on him. In this tense atmosphere, Lee Soo-dok casually dropped a word. ¡°Midterms.¡± ¡°......!?¡± Question and exclamation marks might as well have appeared above the students¡¯ heads. Given the mood, they didn¡¯t dare to whisper among themselves and only darted their eyes around to communicate. ¨C Did he just say midterms? ¨C Did I hear that right? ¨C Could we have misheard? ¨C It must be something else, right? Everyone seemed to want to deny what they had just heard, but Lee Soo-dok firmly put an end to any doubts. ¡°In two weeks, starting in week nine, it¡¯s the midterm period. The exam will cover everything you¡¯ve learned since entering this Dragon Slayer Academy, including duel and strategy battle.¡± His tone grew lower and slower and he surveyed the third class with an even more murderous gaze. ¡°I hear some of you have been slacking off in class because you¡¯ve done well in the practical evaluations...¡± It seemed he had heard some rumors from the other teachers. That must be the reason for his grim mood today. Upon receiving Lee Soo-dok¡¯s gaze, several students winced and looked away. Among them was Song Cheon-hye, and although she was a top student and usually focused in class, she sometimes dozed off because she was tired from her duties in the disciplinary committee club. This was especially true during Mrs. Jo Ok-soon¡¯s lectures on monster ecology where staying awake was more the exception than the rule. Lee Soo-dok continued with an ominous smile. ¡°.... Those of you who have been skipping lessons can look forward to the midterm exam. It¡¯s going to be interesting.¡± ¡°.........!¡¯ The students¡¯ faces tensed. Though they didn¡¯t know exactly what he meant, it was clear they would be frantically reviewing what they might have missed in past lessons. After dropping that significant hint, Lee Soo-dok swiftly moved on to the next topic. ¡°Let¡¯s now go over the rules for this week¡¯s duel battles. Of course, this too will be part of your midterm.¡± MAP: [Random] RULE: [Crystal] Lee Soo-dok then pulled out a device resembling a camera tripod and a fist-sized crystal from his inventory. He casually threw the device, which landed a short distance away and automatically set itself up. The makeshift structure soon began to emit a clear and bright light. ¡°One key element of this duel battle session is the ¡®Sanctuary¡¯. Once you enter the arena, it will take a different form, but it will be easy to recognize.¡± If it was anything similar to that makeshift structure, it would be shining brightly wherever it was. Next, Lee Soo-dok held up the crystal. Apart from being quite large, it seemed unremarkable. However, as Lee Soo-dok approached the Sanctuary with it, Whirr¡ª The Sanctuary and the crystal connected with a beam of white light and the crystal began to slowly fill with light. When Lee Soo-dok stepped back to create some distance, the connection broke and the light inside the crystal quickly faded away. Lee Soo-dok approached again and reconnected the Sanctuary and the crystal with a beam of light before he continued to explain. ¡°As you can see, this crystal gradually charges up when it is kept at a certain distance from the Sanctuary. Conversely, it discharges quickly if that distance is exceeded. And,¡± Flash¡ª! After accumulating enough light, the crystal emitted an intensely white radiance. The crystal could just as well have been called a lump of light instead. ¡°Once fully charged, it looks like this. So, the objective of this duel battle is as follows.¡± The one holding the crystal must maintain a certain distance from the Sanctuary while avoiding or blocking the opponent¡¯s interference in order to charge the crystal. Conversely, the opponent¡¯s goal is to naturally prevent this. They could knock down their enemy, snatch the crystal, or forcefully increase the distance from the Sanctuary which would break the charging process. I nodded thoughtfully after I heard this. This is my favorite. Chapter 117: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (2) Chapter 117: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (2) After school. When I arrived at the arena, Dang Gyu-young was already there. She was leaning nonchalantly against the spectator seats and waiting there. ¡°Good afternoon.¡± ¡°Oh¡ª you¡¯re here¡ª¡± In response to my greeting, Dang Gyu-young lazily waved her hand and then pointed to the arena with an outstretched finger. ¡°Go have one match first. The others have already gone in.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior-nim.¡± This week¡¯s quota was a total of three matches. The first of these would be conducted without the intervention of a mentor. The [Crystal] was a rule introduced for the first time this week and it was unfamiliar to most students. Although Lee Soo-dok had given a brief explanation, as the saying goes, seeing is believing; it¡¯s faster to learn by directly experiencing something than by discussing it all day. Additionally, the academic administration wanted to maintain at least a minimum level of fairness between students who participated in mentoring and those who did not. If a mentor entered, they could tell the students everything from what¡¯s inside, where to go, and how to strategize, etc. They could essentially guide them from start to finish, which could lead to unfair competition regardless of actual skill. So even if tailoring advice and training to individual needs would come later, they wanted to ensure everyone started from the same baseline. After scanning my student ID at the terminal, a match was quickly found. [Kim Ho 513 points] vs [Cha Hyeon-joo 510 points] As soon as I stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, my surroundings changed dramatically and the next moment, I found myself standing in the middle of a forest lined with dense vegetation. The location of the ¡°Sanctuary¡± was immediately obvious even without searching. A huge tree stood tall alone with a grand presence. What¡¯s more, it was glowing with a mystical light. And the Crystal? It was time to start looking. It would be hidden somewhere in this forest, and the first to find it would gain the right to charge it. Cha Hyeon-joo, my opponent in this duel battle, was nowhere to be seen. But just like me, she must have finished preparing somewhere on the other side of the forest as the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kim Ho 100%] vs [Cha Hyeon-joo 100%] [Crystal: 0%] I immediately kicked off the ground and began to run. Heading straight in one direction without wandering or turning back. If it¡¯s forest terrain, it¡¯s probably around there. There were likely spots where the crystal could be. I was heading toward the spot that my stagnant water intuition was pulling me towards. As I pushed my Thief¡¯s Step skill to its limit, trees whipped past on either side of my view. Soon, a small clearing appeared, and at its center, a makeshift altar held a crystal the size of a palm. I quickly grabbed it and tucked it into the front pocket of my uniform before attempting to run off, but then¡ª Swiiiiish! With a sharp piercing sound, two streaks of light flew towards me. I twisted my body to dodge and saw that they were two thin and small throwing knives. Standing where the knives had come from was a girl. A mask covered the lower half of her face making it hard to see her full features, but her eyes which were exposed glared at me with killing intent. Cha Hyeon-joo nodded towards the crystal in my front pocket and said, ¡°Put that down.¡± ¡°Would you put it down if you were me?¡± Her hand blurred and then two more streaks of light were hurtling towards me. Swiiiiish! I leaned to the side and the knives narrowly missed me. She was the type to throw knives first if things got tricky. I turned around swiftly and started running. Right towards the tree glowing with a mystical light, right towards the Sanctuary. Throwing knives continued to fly at me from behind and they were accompanied by a voice filled with killing intent. ¡°Stop right there.¡± ¡°Would you stop if you were me?¡± Instead, I increased my speed even more. How many times had I dodged and run, Whizz¡ª! The pillar of light emanating from the sanctuary illuminated me like a spotlight. And the crystal in the front pocket of my shirt began to fill with a mysterious light. Having entered the range of the sanctuary, the crystal connected with it and started charging. [Crystal: 1%] [Crystal: 2%] ... However, the charging speed was much slower compared to when Lee Soo-dok demonstrated it in the classroom. Back then, it was set to charge quickly as an example, but now the connection had to be maintained for at least several minutes. A beam of light that barely missed me pierced through the tree that had been behind me. Had it been a throwing knife like before, it should have stuck deeply, but this time it left a fist-sized hole. Sssss¡ª! This time, three beams of light surged toward me. Upon closer inspection, the projectiles flying toward me were quite different from any dagger. They were thin and elongated with a sharply pointed end. Arrows. And not just any arrows¡ªthese were arrows filled with mana. It turned out Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s main class was an archer. It seems she was deliberately concealing her true abilities just like me. However, the fact that she had been posing as a dual-dagger rogue and suddenly switched to using a bow meant one thing, She must be really angry. I surmised that her anger had overcome her reason. Well, having been sent flying by Wind Force not once but twice would make anyone furious. Sssss¡ª Each arrow that flew was filled with emotion. Since she didn¡¯t show herself, it seemed she had slightly revised her objectives for this duel. Instead of just stealing the crystal, she aimed to incapacitate me. Knocking an opponent out was indeed part of the victory conditions, so it wasn¡¯t too far off. Sssss¡ª Of course, hitting me was necessary for that to be possible. I kept using my Thief¡¯s Step and maintained my speed while subtly changing directions to dodge the arrows. I really wanted to go after Cha Hyeon-joo and knock her back once more, but if I strayed too far from the sanctuary, the connection with the crystal would be severed. [Crystal: 72%] Since it was already significantly charged, I decided to keep running. Perhaps she read my mind. The barrage of arrows thinned for a moment, Wizzzzzzz¡ª! Then a bundle of arrows was launched at me all at once. The sound they made as they cut through the air was distinctly different from before. I continued using Thief¡¯s Step and zigzagged to avoid the arrows. Wizzzzzzz¡ª! However, the arrows that should have flown past me and embedded themselves in a nearby tree bent mid-flight and turned to chase after me. She¡¯s using homing arrows. That¡¯s a high-level skill too. Wizzzzzzz¡ª! Cha Hyeon-joo launched additional homing arrows. It seemed her plan was to keep increasing the number of arrows until it was impossible to avoid them. I should scatter them and go. After gathering wind at my fingertips, I quickly spun around and linked Twister with Wind Force. The whirlwind spread in the opposite direction and drastically changed the trajectory of the chasing arrows. Sounds of arrows embedding themselves into various trees echoed around. But at that moment, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s this?¡± A very thin arrow, breaking through the whirlwind I had created, aimed straight for my solar plexus. It was a sly move, designed to distract me with the guided missiles while secretly firing this one shot. That was really clever. I admired her tactic in my heart, filled Root with mana, and swung it towards the arrow. Clang¡ª! For a secretly fired arrow, the force it carried was extraordinary and the impact was strong enough to make my hands grow numb. If my skills were any less, I might have torn my grip. I briefly transferred Root to my other hand and shook out the numbness from my hand. That was really close to triggering my distortion trait. It seems there are quite a few hidden gems among the first-year students this year. But this is as far as it goes. [Crystal: 100%] Regrettably, the charge was already complete. Fwoosh¡ª! The crystal emitted a bright flash of light, signaling the end of the match. Then the scoreboard displayed the result. [Kim Ho Win] vs [Cha Hyeon-joo Lose] I cheerfully waved my hand in the direction where Cha Hyeon-joo was. ¡°Good fight~!¡± Swiiiiiiishh¡ª! Cha Hyeon-joo continued to fire arrows at me until the moment I teleported out using the magic circle. Chapter 118: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (3) Chapter 118: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (3) ¡°It ended quickly? How come you were the first one out?¡± The stands still held only Dang Gyu-young. Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye who had matched before me had yet to emerge. ¡°Their matches must be long ones. For me, I charged up in one go and that was it.¡± Fighting over the crystal with it being snatched away and then reset tends to prolong the battle. In contrast, I immediately sprinted to recover the crystal, neutralized all interference from Cha Hyeon-joo, and kept charging it until I finished. It was almost record time. Dang Gyu-young tapped the seat next to her with her fingertips. ¡°Come here. Let¡¯s watch the replay together.¡± Since it was the first match, the next step was to show the replay to my mentor and review it together. [Kim Ho513.Cha Hyeon-joo510_DuelBattle_Week7.replay] When I handed over the crystal ball, Dang Gyu-young checked the names written on it and her expression hardened slightly. ¡°...You faced Cha Hyeon-joo?¡± ¡°Do you know her?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s on our side for now.¡± From her equipment and skill tendencies, I thought that she was likely associated with the Guild Union and it appeared I was right. However, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s demeanor was somewhat ambiguous as if she was hiding something. I decided to ask about this later and focused on the replay for now. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes were fixed on the crystal ball and she muttered, ¡°You two found the crystal almost at the same time.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was from that time that I realized Cha Hyeon-joo was quite skilled. Even if I found the crystal through an instinct honed by experience, the time it took Cha Hyeon-joo to arrive was not significantly different from mine. She seemed to possess some sort of search-type skill. The replay continued and soon Cha Hyeon-joo and I began close combat. Cha Hyeon-joo swung her twin swords in rapid succession. And there I was dodging and blocking as if I was going to be hit but never actually getting hit. Dang Gyu-young spoke in a disinterested tone. ¡°Right, as if you would get hit.¡± Considering that Dang Gyu-young, a third-year student and club president, poured her full force into her attacks and didn¡¯t manage to touch me, it was even less likely for first-year Cha Hyeon-joo to do so. Bang! Inside the crystal ball, Cha Hyeon-joo was struck by a Wind Force and sent flying. ¡°Oh dear.¡± Dang Gyu-young let out a low sigh. Her suddenly sympathetic gaze suggested that she felt some kinship with Cha Hyeon-joo. Bang! Cha Hyeon-joo was hit by the Wind Force a second time and sent flying far away. Dang Gyu-young looked away from the crystal ball and glared at me. ¡°Kim Ho, you really are a terrible person.¡± ¡°I have to survive too. There¡¯s only so much I can dodge.¡± ¡°Was it really necessary to send her flying twice?¡± ¡°Actually, it wasn¡¯t necessary.¡± I admitted it freely. Partly because the second time was intended to provoke her. Sssssss! Then Cha Hyeon-joo switched her weapon to a bow and launched an arrow. Dang Gyu-young exclaimed in admiration again. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really something else. Isn¡¯t this only the third time she¡¯s taken out her bow since she enrolled?¡± Cha Hyeon-joo usually uses only daggers whether she wins or loses. She only brought out her bow in private when facing an opponent of promising student level. But how fired up must she have been to make me, hardly a promising student, her honorable third opponent? Amidst this, a phrase from Dang Gyu-young caught my attention. The part about competing against ¡°an opponent of promising student level¡±. Suddenly, I remembered what Shin Byeong-cheol had said during the placement test. We have another kid who¡¯s really good with a bow. In the duel battles, they hid their skills and only used daggers, but still managed 2 wins and 1 loss. ¡°Then she must be that promising archer.¡± Dang Gyu-young seemed to ponder for a moment before shrugging and responding. ¡°No point in hiding it now. Yes, it¡¯s her.¡± ¡°I thought so.¡± Her skills were quite impressive even when she fought with twin daggers, and even more so with the bow. Especially notable was her tactic of launching a barrage of homing arrows before slipping in a stealthy shot amidst them. At that moment, Dang Gyu-young looked away from the crystal ball to check a message. ¡°Speaking of which, I just got a contact.¡± ¡°From Cha Hyeon-joo?¡± ¡°No, her mentor.¡± ¡°What does it say?¡± ¡°They want us to keep the replay private.¡±NEew stories at novelhall.com I had a feeling it would be something like that. Anger had overwhelmed reason and she drew her bow in a moment of fury. However, as the match concluded and her head cooled slightly, rational thoughts began to return. Up until now, her skills that had been well concealed were now fully recorded in the replay. It would be a little better if she at least won, but if she lost and her skills were all revealed to the world, the loss would be enormous. That¡¯s probably why she had asked her mentor for help. From my perspective, the slower your skills are revealed, the better. Still, I acted reluctant again. Using the sale of the replay as an excuse. ¡°Well, I need to earn those points.¡± This is it. Kwak Ji-cheol stopped and spun around. Continuously fleeing would only gradually deplete his health until he collapsed. Rather, he would have a higher chance of winning if he took advantage of his special skills built a fortress here, and held out. Kwak Ji-cheol cast several spells. And just before Seo Ye-in almost caught up to him, he barely completed the spells. [Double Layer Wall] [Strong Wall] Creak-creaaak! He gathered the surrounding dirt and gravel to form a double-layered wall before reinforcing it to be thicker and sturdier. Seo Ye-in who arrived later fired her assault rifle repeatedly against the stone wall. Dadadadadadadadadada! The destructive power of the magic bullets was so strong that they penetrated the first wall effortlessly. However, the second wall usually slowed them down halfway through, and even if they did penetrate, their power was greatly reduced and they would cause minimal damage. Kwak Ji-cheol was relieved and at the same time his eyes shone sharply. The counterattack starts now. [Earth Cluster] [Earth Cluster] Two spheres of earth rose. Then they began to spin rapidly as they hurled clods of dirt like bullets. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A bullet for a bullet. I¡¯ll deal with you in the same manner. Dudududududududu! Dadadadadadadada! At a certain distance, the dirt bullets and magic bullets crisscrossed together. However, while the magic bullets were blocked by the wall, the dirt bullets occasionally caused damage to Seo Ye-in. [Kwak Ji-cheol 68%] vs [Seo Ye-in 96%] [Crystal: 11%] Moreover, the crystal was gradually charging. From Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s perspective, he could simply hold out without any problem. ¡°...¡± Whatever she was thinking, Seo Ye-in suddenly let go of her assault rifle. Then the rifle disassembled itself and began to reassemble automatically. After she was effectively disarmed, Seo Ye-in took a few steps forward and then started running before picking up her speed. What is she up to? Although Kwak Ji-cheol found the opponent¡¯s strange actions perplexing he reflexively fired his dirt bullets. Dududududududu! He hadn¡¯t noticed but Seo Ye-in¡¯s feet blurred as if leaving afterimages. This meant that [Feather Step] was being activated. She lightly stepped around while dodging most of the incoming dirt bullets. Ppop! A cute clump of clouds appeared next to Seo Ye-in, circled around her, and then swallowed a dirt bullet that she couldn¡¯t dodge. Seeing this, Kwak Ji-cheol was dumbfounded. What on earth is that? He had no idea that this fluffy cloud was a skill from a precious A-rank bracelet. ¡°Kuek...!¡± Kwak Ji-cheol furiously spun his Earth Clusters. Avoiding the bullets, Seo Ye-in and the fluffy cloud closed the distance between them. She recalled playing in the downtown area over the weekend. It seemed as if she could hear Kim Ho¡¯s voice in her ears. ¨C Dodge lightly. ¡°Lightly.¡± Seo Ye-in irregularly stepped left and right and continued dodging the dirt bullets. As Kwak Ji-cheol grew desperate, he thrust his staff into the ground, and the earth surged towards Seo Ye-in. Kurrrrrrr... Again, Kim Ho¡¯s voice rang in her ears. ¨C Jump on the count of three. 1, 2, 3. Jump. ¡°Jump.¡± Seo Ye-in lightly leaped over the undulating ground. Then, dozens of hands made of dirt rose from the ground and tried to grasp her. ¨C Hop up. Hop, hop. ¡°Hop.¡± Seo Ye-in lightly trampled over the hands as she jumped and jumped again. Finally, with a great leap, she landed softly right in front of the wall Kwak Ji-cheol had erected. It was only then that a question flashed through Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s mind. ...But why has she come so close? Why would a marksman need to get this close? The question was quickly answered. Because the reassembly of the weapon held by Seo Ye-in was completed and its complete form was revealed. ...A shotgun? Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s face hardened. ¡°W-Wait.¡± Whaaaaaam¡ª! A barrage of magic bullets scattered, instantly demolishing the earthen wall and blowing Kwak Ji-cheol beyond it. ¡°Kaaaaah!!¡± Chapter 119: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (4) Chapter 119: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (4) (TN: Hong Yeon-hwa has a wand, not a staff. I always translated as staff but a wand is totally different.) *** ¡°So, you got hit with a shotgun and went down in one shot?¡± ¡°......¡± Kwak Ji-cheol kept his mouth shut at Dang Gyu-young¡¯s question. Even he thought it was ridiculous. He had thought he was managing the match well, but then Seo Ye-in unexpectedly closed the distance and blasted him with a shotgun. To have been defeated in close combat after two weeks of intense training, especially by a marksman, left him speechless. However, Dang Gyu-young wasn¡¯t angry or scolding him. She continued to ask questions in her usual tone. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it. What do you think went wrong?¡± It was more constructive to reflect on where things had gone wrong than to waste emotions on what had already happened. After thinking for a moment Kwak Ji-cheol responded. ¡°It seemed like things were going well until I set up the fortress.¡± He quickly recovered the crystal, connected it to the sanctuary, and built an earthen wall for a siege. At that time, this was the best strategy he could employ. Dang Gyu-young gave a small nod as if encouraging him to continue speaking. ¡°Mhmm, and?¡± ¡°...I should have sensed something was off when the marksman approached so closely, but I was too focused on defense and reacted too late.¡± Dang Gyu-young nodded her head. ¡°That¡¯s right. When an opponent does something unexpected, you should try to understand their intentions and why they are doing it. It¡¯s rare for someone to act without thought and plans.¡± ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa listened to their conversation and thought to herself. She gives more useful advice than I expected. When she first started mentoring, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s first impression of Dang Gyu-young wasn¡¯t very good.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m The first reason was that although Dang Gyu-young was a mage like her, she wasn¡¯t affiliated with the Magic Tower Association but rather with the Guild Union. The second reason was just her prejudice against those of the thieves¡¯ club. Thieves were often said to be excessively free-spirited and people who tend to handle tasks whimsically, according to their moods. She was worried that the mentoring would be conducted half-heartedly if it became tedious after a while. However, as the third week of mentoring approached, Dang Gyu-young was still diligently teaching the first-year students and was gradually earning their respect. It seemed that this level of commitment was necessary to fulfill the role of a club president. Dang Gyu-young carefully observed the mentees, including Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°The feedback session is over, and now let¡¯s switch roles. It just so happens you four are evenly split.¡± In the first duel battle, Kim Ho and Kwak Ji-cheol had picked up the crystal first so they were on the charging and defending side, While Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye had been a step slow in finding the crystal, making them the reclaimers. The idea now was to reverse these roles. As Dang Gyu-young stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, she casually threw out the instruction. ¡°Two at a time, follow me. First up, Kim Ho and Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± Then she vanished inside. Hong Yeon-hwa was caught off guard by the sudden situation, so she just stayed in her place and blinked her eyes. ...Huh? Who with whom? After repeating Dang Gyu-young¡¯s words a few times, reality finally sank in. Switch roles. Two at a time. One-on-one. Kim Ho. Then her eyes met Kim Ho¡¯s indifferent gaze. ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mood plummeted instantly. Recently, her perception of Kim Ho has improved considerably. Especially, the instances where she would shrink away at the mere sight of him had almost vanished. But facing him one-on-one was an entirely different matter. Her casting speed was exceptionally fast compared to others, which allowed the number of magic circles to grow at an unparalleled rate. Only after the area was filled with numerous small magic circles did Hong Yeon-hwa stop casting. Then she stared intently at the noise coming from beyond the forest, Rustle, And saw Kim Ho casually making his way through the underbrush. He began to step forward but paused before lowering his gaze briefly. He had spotted the densely packed magic circles on the ground. At the same time, Hong Yeon-hwa snapped her fingers, Boom! One of the nearby magic circles turned red and violently erupted into a pillar of fire. Fire Pillar. Originally, magic of such a grand scale as these magic circles required a considerable amount of time for casting, but Hong Yeon-hwa had enlightenment while melting the millennium iron alloy in the blacksmith¡¯s workshop. Based on this enlightenment, after numerous experiments, what was ultimately completed was this significantly lighter version of the Fire Pillar. Just moments ago, it was used simply as a threat, to demonstrate how she could utilize the magic circle and what would happen to those who approached recklessly. Kim Ho looked down at the magic circles with a face that hardly showed any sense of crisis. Somehow, Hong Yeon-hwa felt like she could read his thoughts. ¨C Should I just push through? Recalling what happened in the placement test, he had taken a fully enhanced Fire Pillar head-on and not a single hair on his head was charred. Such a lightweight Fire Pillar might just be ignored by him as he walked through it. However, Hong Yeon-hwa was certain that Kim Ho would not do that. After all, since it was a sparring session during mentoring with nothing to gain from winning and because he was known to adjust his level to his opponent during training. As expected, Kim Ho nodded at Hong Yeon-hwa and accepted her challenge of a tactical advance. Although he could take no real damage from the fire magic, he would engage in the sparring under the assumption that he would take damage. Soon, Kim Ho took his first step and slowly started circling around the magic circles while looking for an opening. The first strike came from Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s side. Fwoosh! Fwoosh! As she fired a series of fire arrows, Kim Ho swiftly moved left and right while dodging them effortlessly. He then took a step forward, but¡ª Kwaah! A pillar of fire erupted from the magic circle he had just stepped on but he quickly withdrew his foot and retreated. He continued to circle around while looking for an opportunity. Fwoosh! Even though Hong Yeon-hwa knew that Kim Ho would not be hit, she kept sending fire arrows his way relentlessly. Her intent was to keep him busy and on edge. Occasionally, as Kim Ho stepped on a magic circle, Kwaah! She immediately activated the Fire Pillar from the circle which forced him to retreat. And when Kim Ho dodged the fire arrows and skirted around the edges, he would sometimes breach the perimeter, and each time, Hong Yeon-hwa would force him back. This pattern repeated for a while. The number of magic circles was steadily decreasing, but since they were so densely spread across the entire arena, reducing them one by one seemed endless. Kim Ho would have to repeatedly step on and retreat from these circles several times before he could reach Hong Yeon-hwa. [Crystal: 37%] And there was a much higher chance that the crystal would charge up before he even got close. A sliver of hope arose in Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mind. Could she possibly win this way? Even though the conditions were heavily in her favor, could she really win like this? At that moment, Kim Ho raised the spear in his hand and pointed it at Hong Yeon-hwa. Whoosh¡ª ¡°Ah¡ª¡± A gust of wind blew and Hong Yeon-hwa was helplessly pushed aside. Chapter 120: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (5) Chapter 120: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (5) It was already a well-known fact that Kim Ho mainly used wind magic. She had experienced this firsthand whether she faced him as an ally or an enemy. And just in the recent sticker duel alone, the contribution of his wind magic had been significant. The skill adeptly supported Hong Yeon-hwa in moments of danger and effectively disrupted Dang Gyu-young¡¯s movements which only went to prove how useful it could be. However, since wind wasn¡¯t visible to the eye, it was difficult to gauge its true power. It seemed more about Kim Ho¡¯s excellent control that allowed him to use it effectively when needed rather than the inherent strength of the skill itself. So she thought she could withstand the wind magic, but then¡ª Whirrrrrr¡ª ¡°Ah¡ª¡± It was too strong! Hong Yeon-hwa was again pushed aside by the fierce gusts of wind. No matter how hard she tried to hold her ground, she couldn¡¯t withstand it. After shaking Hong Yeon-hwa a few times, Kim Ho approached. Even in her current hectic state, Hong Yeon-hwa flicked her finger and activated a magic circle. Whooooooosh¡ª! Kim Ho retreated to avoid the rising pillar of fire. Then he skillfully avoided several large fireballs flying toward him and lightly traced his spear in the air. Wizzzz¡ª ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± If she continued to be dragged around like this, she would only get further from the area where she had set up her magic circles. That would render her defensive position meaningless. Hong Yeon-hwa was determined to hold out. She scanned her surroundings and spotted a nearby tree. And then an idea suddenly flashed through her mind. Trees! Roots! A tree that was deeply rooted does not sway even in strong winds! Using her enhanced physical abilities from Overheat, she deeply embedded one foot into the ground. Wizzzz¡ª Surprisingly, her improvised idea worked well. Although Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s body swayed, she was not pushed back. Just as she was about to shoot out her fire balls and arrows while balancing her staggering body, Wizzzzzzzz¡ª The wind blew even stronger. Then, as her body swayed violently, Hong Yeon-hwa tilted heavily to one side and fell flat on the ground. ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa who was lying face down like that thought to herself, Someone, please cover me with dirt... I¡¯d like to use this place as my grave. And perhaps her tombstone might read, ¡®Hong Yeon-hwa, here lies in shameful rest.¡¯ Unfortunately, her wish was not granted. Kim Ho seemed to be waiting patiently without launching any further attacks. This only doubled Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s sense of humiliation. He might as well come and take the crystal... However, lying face down was just as embarrassing, so eventually, Hong Yeon-hwa staggered to her feet. Kim Ho, as always, looked on with an impassive face but this time his gaze seemed tinged with a hint of sympathy. There was only one way to escape this awkward situation. F-Fire, Arrow! Whoosh! The quickest solution was to resume the battle immediately. As soon as Hong Yeon-hwa launched her fire arrows, Kim Ho also began to move. Hong Yeon-hwa checked her position and realized she was quite far from where she had initially set up. Perhaps, this time might be no different. A small gap might just appear. Whoosh! In one hand, Hong Yeon-hwa held her wand transformed into a lava whip, and in the other, she conjured a fireball. After throwing the fireball and lashing the whip at the same time, she kicked the ground. Her plan was to divide Kim Ho¡¯s attention and then escape through the side where his guard was down. ¡°.......¡± Kim Ho effortlessly dodged the incoming flames and kicked the ground as well, blocking their path. Hong Yeon-hwa immediately stopped and changed direction before continuing her barrage of attacks. Whoosh! With both hands, she unleashed her magic, With her feet, she moved quickly left, right, and diagonally, And with her eyes firmly fixed on Kim Ho, she desperately sought a way through. That¡¯s when she noticed it, Is that... Hong Yeon-hwa noticed that Kim Ho¡¯s openings were slowly becoming more apparent. His movements also felt strangely unnatural. As her attacks continued, the area gradually became engulfed in flames, and Kim Ho moved to avoid the flames. This was in keeping with the unspoken agreement they had made when he accepted her tactical play on the assumption that he would be affected by her fire magic. The gap was widening. Hong Yeon-hwa kept a watchful eye on it as they exchanged blows and finally caught the perfect timing. Now! She forcefully kicked off the ground before shooting diagonally towards Kim Ho. At that, Kim Ho swung his spear as if he had been waiting for this moment. Whoosh¡ª Ah, wait. No way. Had he intentionally shown an opening again? When she thought about it, there was no way that monster-like person would have shown any opening just because there was a little fire nearby. Hong Yeon-hwa, in her haste, had fallen right into a simple trap. A gust of wind filled with physical force shook her violently as it blasted out. She stumbled and, carried by her momentum, ended up hitting her head against a large tree. ¡°.......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa cradled the spot where she was hit and crouched down. Kim Ho approached her quickly and asked, ¡°Sorry, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m okay...¡± In truth, she was far from okay. Tears welled up slightly on her eyes but Hong Yeon-hwa forced herself to act as if nothing was wrong. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Dang Gyu-young deactivated her stealth and revealed herself. She had intended not to intervene until their sparring was over, but she felt compelled to show herself due to the absurdity of the sudden situation. Dang Gyu-young crouched next to Hong Yeon-hwa and examined the spot where she had been hit. ¡°Let¡¯s see your head... Ah, that¡¯s quite a bump.¡± She then narrowed her eyes and glared sharply at Kim Ho. In truth, the incident was purely accidental, and Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s own excessive movement was more to blame for the injury to her head. But to Dang Gyu-young, it seemed clear that the ruthless wind magic was at fault. Therefore, in her view, the blame was entirely on Kim Ho. 100% his fault. Dang Gyu-young made a decision as she watched the bump swelling more and more. ¡°This won¡¯t do. Get out. Go to the infirmary, and tell Song Cheon-hye and Kwak Ji-cheol to come in.¡± Chapter 121: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (6) Chapter 121: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (6) The misuse of the ¡°bad¡± wind magic was the cause. As a punishment, I ended up accompanying Hong Yeon-hwa to the infirmary. Not only was a bump protruding on one side of Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s forehead, but it was also swelling increasingly larger; fortunately, it healed almost immediately after the ointment and healing magic were applied in the infirmary. But Hong Yeon-hwa slowly caressed the area where she hit as if she still felt a tingling numbness. I said while looking at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the arena.¡± ¡°Ah, Mhmm ...¡± ¡°If you really feel off, take a rest. I¡¯ll talk to senior-nim.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll go, to the arena.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa shook her head vigorously. She wasn¡¯t really in bad condition, but taking a break would surely result in a smack from Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s backhand. Therefore, we continued on our way to the arena to finish our mentoring session. And I soon realized something. This kid has reverted back to being timid. In the past few weeks, Hong Yeon-hwa had been gradually reducing her fear of me through our joint mentoring sessions, but the recent sparring seemed to have reset her fear gauge. ¡°...¡± She didn¡¯t dare walk beside me but kept her position diagonally behind me, just over my shoulder. This was mainly because our strides differed, and as she continually checked my face, her pace naturally slowed. Whenever she fell slightly behind, she would scurry forward to walk just beyond my shoulder, and if the distance increased, she would hurry back up. After several repetitions of this pattern, I slowed my steps and called back to her. ¡°Are you going to keep walking like that?¡± ¡°Mhmm? No, no? It¡¯s not like that...¡± Only then did Hong Yeon-hwa hesitantly come closer to my side and match my pace. However, the fact that he kept fidgeting and checking my face did not improve at all. Resigning myself to it, we walked on in silence until, ¡°......¡± During her fidgeting, Hong Yeon-hwa made a face that seemed to suggest she had something she wanted to say. It was more due to her clumsiness in hiding her expressions than anything else. Once again, I was the one to break the silence. ¡°If you have something to say, say it. If you¡¯re curious about something, just ask.¡± ¡°Well, um...¡± After a pause, what came from Hong Yeon-hwa was, ¡°... How was it?¡± A question that omitted and conveyed much. To put it at length, what she meant was, ¡°Did you think I managed the crystal duel battle well earlier, from your perspective as my opponent?¡± I gave her an honest impression. ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad. That Fire Pillar, did you modify it?¡± ¡°Uh, Mhmm...¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t seen it before.¡± ¡°I just started using it recently. That, the last time at the blacksmith¡¯s workshop...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa had first used the small Fire Pillar about two weeks ago when she decided to unleash fire magic on Millennium Iron at the blacksmith¡¯s workshop. It was a method she had devised to concentrate and maintain firepower most efficiently, and after using it continuously, she was inspired to adapt it for combat. Now, it could practically be considered a different spell altogether due to those modifications. The fact that a first-year who was barely a month into her enrollment could adapt magic to her tastes showed her capability. But that wasn¡¯t the only impressive thing. The duel had started after Dang Gyu-young gave Hong Yeon-hwa the crystal and sent her off. This gave her some time to prepare. However, it didn¡¯t take me long to locate Hong Yeon-hwa and catch up to her. In that brief period of time, she had laid down numerous magic circles and turned the area into a minefield.ReeAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Even considering the small size of the Fire Pillar, her casting speed was tremendous. ¡°There was no room to step. With that casting speed, you could probably set them up even during battle.¡± ¡°Maybe. With a bit more practice...¡± ¡°That, Cha Hyeon-joo came?¡± The slight strangeness in Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s expression was probably because he knew who Cha Hyeon-joo really was. After all, it was Shin Byeong-cheol who had tipped me off that there was a promising archer in our group. He then asked me, ¡°How did you get mixed up with her?¡± ¡°She was my opponent in yesterday¡¯s duel battle.¡± ¡°Who won?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°So she came looking for you.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol immediately understood. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just as simple as ¡°I won, so she came looking for me.¡± Quite a lot had happened. If I had to point out one decisive factor, it might have been the fact that I sent her flying twice with Wind Force. Shin Byeong-cheol lowered his voice and murmured, ¡°Be careful, she has a really nasty temper.¡± ¡°Worse than Song Cheon-hye?¡± ¡°Song Cheon-hye is cute compared to her.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Zzzt! As if our conversation could be heard, a sharp energy pierced through from outside the classroom. Shin Byeong-cheol threw up his hands and backed away as if pleading his innocence with a, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong~ I¡¯m just a harmless animal~¡± ¡°Good luck. Oppa, fighting.¡± (TN: fighting means good luck; oppa means older brother but only girls say it lol.) Leaving behind the luck Shin Byeong-cheol wished for me, I stepped out of the classroom and found a girl that I think was Cha Hyeon-joo waiting for me. During the duel battle yesterday, only her eyes were visible behind a mask, but now she was wearing large glasses that covered the upper part of her face instead. The half of her face visible below the glasses was quite attractive, yet the glasses made her overall appearance seem very plain. People often joke that glasses are a ¡°beauty seal¡± and in her case, it was no joke. A disguise artifact. It was far more powerful and natural than any crude item like an [Anonymous Badge]. Most people wouldn¡¯t even realize that a recognition interference magic was cast on it. But how did I immediately know this girl was Cha Hyeon-joo? Zzzt, It was because of the killing intent she had been directing solely at me all this time. As I got closer, her irritation became unmistakable. She was clearly furious. I looked at Cha Hyeon-joo for a few seconds, then pretended to be shocked and shouted loudly enough for everyone around to hear. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the one? The power of the Guild Union! The hidden genius archer! Cha! Hyeon¡ª!!¡± ¡°Shut up. Just shut up.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo quickly covered my mouth. She cast a sharp glance around to see if anyone heard us, but the other students had only glanced briefly in our direction when I shouted and soon continued on their way as if they were uninterested. Cha Hyeon-joo then shot a piercing glare at me again and muttered a single word before taking the lead, ¡°Follow.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I obediently followed Cha Hyeon-joo. We continued walking until the crowd thinned down. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you know why I called you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure?¡± The reason was too obvious to truly be unknown, but I had to give her the chance to say it herself. Facing me, Cha Hyeon-joo spoke each word clearly and one by one. ¡°I can¡¯t accept that loss. Let¡¯s fight again.¡± She sought me out for a rematch. A revenge match. Chapter 122: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (7) Chapter 122: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (7) To briefly summarize the first match from Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s perspective. She chased after me when I snatched the crystal, and after a brief melee battle, she was sent flying by Wind Force. She then quickly returned and engaged in a second melee but was again sent flying by Wind Force. She became furious and unleashed a barrage of arrows, but I dodged them all with ease. Much to her frustration. Eventually, the crystal charging ended which also marked the end of the match. It hardly felt like a proper battle, so her frustration was understandable. That¡¯s why she sought me out for a revenge match. There are still two more matches left for this week¡¯s quota. For me, as long as I met the quota and cleared the side quest, it didn¡¯t matter who the opponent was. However, there¡¯s also no reason for me to simply comply with Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s demands. So my response was, ¡°I¡¯d rather not?¡± ¡°What?¡± I scratched the back of my head with an air of annoyance. ¡°Whether you¡¯re convinced or not, what does that have to do with me? If you¡¯re not convinced, should you keep challenging me until you are?¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°Everyone acts as if they¡¯ve left something in my care. People should have some shame.¡± At that, Cha Hyeon-joo began to emit a subtly chilling aura. ¡°..... It would be better to fight a duel battle.¡± Her words implied that if I didn¡¯t accept a rematch, she would challenge me to a fight even if it meant breaking the rules. Of course, I was not one to be intimidated by such threats. No matter how we fought, I would win. So, I responded firmly. ¡°Try me if you¡¯re so confident. I won¡¯t go easy on you next time.¡± ¡°......¡± Cha Hyeon-joo continued to glare at me with a chilling demeanor, but inside, it seemed like she was rapidly weighing her options. Our first encounter might not have been convincing for her, but the result was a perfect game. I hadn¡¯t allowed a single attack throughout the match. Without a proper understanding of my abilities, it would be too much of a risk for her to recklessly start a fight. Realizing this, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s intensity softened slightly as she asked. ¡°Why not just have a match? Is that so difficult?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that it¡¯s difficult, I just don¡¯t feel like doing it. Coming to ask for favors with such a bad attitude doesn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°My attitude has always been like this. You must have heard from Shin Byeong-cheol that I have a bad temper. It seems she was well aware of that. There was nothing to say when she admitted to her own bad temper. Cha Hyeon-joo continued the conversation. ¡°What should I do then? Should I kneel?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t want to see that; if you¡¯re so eager to challenge me,¡± I extended one hand. ¡°Show some sincerity. A duel fee.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo looked down at my hand blankly, then let out a disbelieving scoff. ¡°A duel fee? Who do you think you are to demand a fee?¡± ¡°Did I say something unreasonable? Listen to this.¡± I explained everything in detail. ¡°First, I made yesterday¡¯s match private. I could have sold the replay to earn points, but your mentor asked for privacy as a favor, and I granted it.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°If I agree to a rematch, that will be kept private too. Then I can¡¯t sell the replay, so I¡¯ll lose out on points again.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Do I have any reason to avoid other matches and go out of my way to fight you at a loss? If there is, tell me.¡± ¡°...Fine, what do you want.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo was finally overwhelmed by the barrage of facts and she threw up her hands in defeat. I paused for a moment and then stated my demand. ¡°A Rank-Up E. Only an item of that caliber would make this worthwhile.¡± ¡°Rank-Up E? Are you joking?¡± Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s face contorted in displeasure. A [Rank-Up] was an item that raised the rank of a skill or trait immediately upon use, without any effort required. Even at rank E, it held considerable value. Her disbelief was evident when I asked for such a valuable item in exchange for a rematch. However, I responded seriously. ¡°No. I¡¯m completely serious. If you don¡¯t like it, leave it.¡± Right about here... Sssss! ¡°...an arrow will fly.¡± I swiftly grabbed the crystal and kicked off the ground. The next moment, a thick beam shattered the altar as it passed through and even punched a large hole in the tree behind it. 100%. It was obviously a decoy. While I made a fruitless detour after not finding the crystal, Cha Hyeon-joo would have had enough time to retrieve the crystal. But the altar was still intact when I arrived late? It was highly likely a trap. Seeing that Cha Hyeon-joo used the crystal as bait to snipe me, it seems she didn¡¯t care about charging it at all. Her intention was simply to bring me down by any means. Ssss, ssss, sssss! Beams continued to be fired one after another. I dodged left and right and skillfully moved my body before briefly glancing towards the sanctuary. I¡¯ll charge the crystal later. First, I needed to deal with that unruly archer. Setting my course toward the source of the incoming arrows, I kicked off the ground. Thump! Thump! The distance between me and Cha Hyeon-joo who had been sniping from afar closed in an instant. ¡°.......!¡± Cha Hyeon-joo appeared a bit startled to see me appear so close. From our previous encounter, she must have guessed I would run straight to the sanctuary as soon as I grabbed the crystal. But her surprise was fleeting; she quickly regained her composure and fired arrows with even greater intensity. Sssss, sssss, sssssss! Five beams flew one after another. And they actually drew a curve that was not typical of arrows and targeted various parts of my body. I pretended to twist my body around urgently and desperately. Thump! I kicked the ground forcefully again. And the next moment, I appeared right behind Cha Hyeon-joo. ¡°.......!¡± She immediately spun around before swinging the arrow in her hand like a dagger to counterattack. Her reaction time is impressive. But sadly, she was still only at a first-year level. If you combine Inferno Fist with Overheat and Thief¡¯s Steps, you get a speed that even the Black Death clan leader or Dang Gyu-young can¡¯t keep up with. And there is no need to say anything now that the rank of Inferno Fist has risen by an additional level. So Cha Hyeon-joo was quickly overpowered without even managing a few moves against me. In that state, the wind gathered and compressed in my hand. Seemingly anticipating what would happen next, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s pupils shook from side to side. ¡°Now, better buckle up tight.¡± ¡°Do-Don¡¯t do it, I¡¯m warning you.¡± ¡°Off we go~¡± Bang! ¡°You son of a¡ª¡± The compressed air exploded, and Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s body was swiftly carried off into the forest. Her voice echoed in the forest as she receded. I watched her body shrink to a speck and slowly walked toward the sanctuary. [Crystal: 1%] [Crystal: 3%] ....... I enjoyed the smooth and uninterrupted charging of the crystal. For a long while, I aimlessly watched the charging level steadily climb on the scoreboard. ...... [Crystal: 68%] It seems about time for her to arrive.... Whizz¡ª Sure enough, a bright streak of flame sliced through the sky with a sharp sonic boom. The flame shot up rapidly toward the airspace above me, Boom! And exploded, showering the area with fireballs like a torrential downpour of embers. I stood still, without moving, right in the midst of the flame bombardment and thought to myself. Elemental damage. Chapter 123: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (8) Chapter 123: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (8) Whoooooooosh! I looked up. Something resembling an artificial sun continuously rained down fireballs above me. That¡¯s quite expensive. Cha Hyeon-joo had used a special catalyst item to enhance her skill, [Fire Rain]. It was a type of arrow rain ability. Although the rare item yielded firepower comparable to that of a powerful mage when used as a catalyst, it was merely a waste of the item against me. After all, it was completely blocked by my S-rank [Elemental Resistance]. Whoooooooosh! The rain of fireballs poured down for quite some time. Some landed near me and caused fiery explosions, While others struck directly above my head. But I just stood in the midst of the fiery chaos without being affected.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com Ho 100%] [Kim Ho 100%] [Kim Ho 100%] Naturally, my health hadn¡¯t decreased by even 1%. As I stood idly by, the barrage of fireballs began to slow and eventually ceased entirely. [Kim Ho 100% vs Cha Hyeon-joo 97%] [Crystal: 74%] A moment of silence. The continuous assault had paused which meant that Cha Hyeon-joo was taken aback as well. The frustration of wasting a valuable item without any result likely contributed to her dismay. Ssssssssss! However, she quickly regained her composure and once again, arrows aimed at me surged forward. I moved leisurely side to side before slightly lifting my wrist. There, a bracelet looked like it was made of storm clouds strung together. It was the storm cloud bracelet I had acquired in the downtown area. Maybe I should give it a test run. Pop! A small, storm cloud appeared beside me. The storm cloud bubbled as it moved forward and collided directly with the incoming arrow. Thud! The storm cloud was flung backward by the impact, and the arrow changed its trajectory before lodging in a nearby tree. Once again bubbling, the storm cloud returned and hovered near me. Fluffy clouds absorb and neutralize magical attacks, While storm clouds mitigate and reflect physical attacks. They essentially act as a cushion. ¡°And they can be used like this too.¡± When the storm clouds were wrapped around Root, a long and fluffy stick was created. I added Wind Force and Twister to it and swung at the incoming arrows. Thud, The trajectory of the arrows abruptly bent and they deeply embedded into the ground. As expected of an A-rank. The performance was unmistakable. After deflecting the arrows several times in the same manner, There she is. I had roughly pinpointed Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s location. I immediately kicked off the ground and dashed forward. Thump! Thump! [Crystal: 77%] [Crystal: 72%] [Crystal: 66%] As I moved out of the sanctuary¡¯s boundary, the connection was severed and the crystal¡¯s charge rapidly decreased. But I ignored the scoreboard and focused solely on running forward. At that moment, my only priority was to give that spoiled archer a taste of a stagnant water¡¯s power. Thump! Thump! After my view shifted several times, Cha Hyeon-joo came into sight. She widened her eyes in surprise upon seeing me. ¡°Did you give her a good thrashing? Cha Hyeon-joo.¡± ¡°I really gave her a piece of my mind.¡± ¡°Haha, exactly. Our junior who graduated 200 times wouldn¡¯t lose.¡± Dang Gyu-young slapped my shoulder enthusiastically. Then when her excitement subsided, she gave me some advice in a somewhat serious manner. ¡°But be careful. Cha Hyeon-joo is quite persistent. She¡¯ll probably keep picking fights in the future.¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s eyes, even when declaring surrender, were filled with a deep-seated killing intent. That¡¯s why I dismissed her surrender. Like Dang Gyu-young said, she seemed stubborn and persistent, so it was inevitable that we would clash again at some point. *** Grind, grind, grind. With teeth gritted so tightly they might shatter, And fists clenched until they trembled, Cha Hyeon-joo sat in a corner of the arena and replayed her second duel battle with Kim Ho. Grind, grind, grind. The more she thought about it, the more each detail infuriated her and she could only grind her teeth in frustration. Kim Ho¡¯s teasing words echoed in her head. ¨C Show some sincerity. A duel fee. ¨C Off we go~ ¨C Let¡¯s see how far you can go this time! ¡°......!!¡± Unable to contain her anger, Cha Hyeon-joo attempted to punch the spectator seats, But her mentor quickly intervened with a worried look. ¡°H-Hyeon-joo-ah, just hold on a bit. Just a bit.¡± ¡°.......¡± Cha Hyeon-joo lowered her fist and took a deep breath before she began to review the match again. Grind, grind, grind. And once more, her teeth ground naturally. Meanwhile, aside from her emotional reactions, she maintained an objective perspective and pointed out every single element of the match. In the randomly selected first duel battle, the match had ended shortly after she had drawn her main weapon, the bow. The decisive reason she had requested a rematch with Kim Ho was because she felt uncomfortable about that fact. She was confident that if she showed all her skills from the beginning in the private duel, there was no way she could lose. However, once she entered the revenge match, she realized she wasn¡¯t the only one who had been concealing her true abilities. When he fully revealed his full skills, Kim Ho was a completely different person from the previous match. His speed was so fast that even she, an archer, could hardly keep up. If she couldn¡¯t even catch him in her sights, landing an arrow was out of the question. As a result, Cha Hyeon-joo couldn¡¯t do anything until he was right upon her, and once he closed in, he subdued her before she could even attempt a proper resistance. And that happened twice. It was a perfect demonstration of the difference in their skills. A perfect defeat that left no room for excuses. But that wasn¡¯t all. That infuriating man didn¡¯t even flinch when she used her ultimate skill, [Fire Rain], as if to show that such a move was ineffective against him. Later, he summoned a dark cloud that effortlessly deflected her attacks as if they were child¡¯s play. Finally, his determination and boldness to gamble the match by giving up on charging his crystal. Haah.... I have to admit it. It was a complete defeat for her in every aspect. However, Cha Hyeon-joo was far from the type to fall into despair or become disheartened after a few defeats. Instead, her eyes blazed with an even stronger fighting spirit. I need to become stronger. Much stronger. She would improve until there was a significant gap in skill between herself and Kim Ho, and then she would challenge him again. And she would utterly crush him. To do this, she needed to invest everything in her archery. Pretending to hide her skills while wasting time with daggers would only slow her progress. I need to give it up. She had her reasons for concealing her abilities and operating under the radar at this academy, but none of that mattered now. Cha Hyeon-joo declared to her mentor, ¡°From today, I¡¯m just going to use the bow.¡± Chapter 124: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (9) Chapter 124: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (9) The magic circle glowed red and sent up a vivid pillar of fire. Whoosh¡ª! I sharply changed direction to avoid the pillar of fire. However, as if anticipating this, another magic circle in that spot erupted with a pillar of fire. Whoosh¡ª! I had no choice but to retreat, but Hong Yeon-hwa who had been watching me snapped her fingers again. This time, a fire pillar activated behind me. Looking around, I saw that the area was filled with magic circles. To the point where was no place to step on. This was a sparring session with Hong Yeon-hwa. Hong Hyeon-hwa must have been aware of the feedback I gave her, so she waited until I was fully within her area before activating the magic circles. At first, things didn¡¯t go as she wanted and she would panic and activate the fire pillars as soon as I approached, but with repeated sparring, she learned to maintain her composure. The premise that ¡°I take damage from fire magic¡± still applied in this session, so I had to busily step back and forth to avoid the fire pillars. Other than the fire pillars activated from the magic circles on the ground, Hong Yeon-hwa was also directly casting spells. A large fireball targeted me and flew towards me. Whoosh! I created a compressed whirlwind in my hand and sent it towards the fireball. The whirlwind collided with the fireball and dispersed the flames in the opposite direction. It was a move using the [Twister]. Both Hong Yeon-hwa and I were honing our skills in our own ways. Whoosh¡ª! Fire pillars continued to rise here and there. Sometimes two or three would activate at the same time and restrict my movements. Although the number of pre-installed magic circles was limited and it might seem wasteful to activate multiple at once, new magic circles were being inscribed on the ground. Setting up magic circles during battle. This was one of the pieces of feedback I gave Hong Yeon-hwa. Meanwhile, even as I busily moved my feet, I found and exploited weak points in her defense bit by bit. The distance between Hong Yeon-hwa and me gradually decreased, and eventually, I approached close enough to lightly tap the crown of her head with Root. Tap, ¡°.......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa looked up at me and clutched the spot where she had been hit with her hands. Her expression seemed to indicate that she felt it was somehow unfair. I didn¡¯t hit her that hard. At that moment, Dang Gyu-young lifted her stealth and approached us. The sparring had reached a lull, and she was taking the opportunity to do a mid-point check. She glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa and quickly realized she looked exhausted. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Go rest.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa bowed her head to Dang Gyu-young and awkwardly waved me farewell. ¡°Th-thank you, for your hard work ...¡± ¡°Yeah, you too.¡± Before stepping onto the teleportation circle, Hong Yeon-hwa paused for a moment, gave me a look that I couldn¡¯t quite understand, and then quickly disappeared. Dang Gyu-young watched her go and asked me. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going?¡± ¡°Where would I go? We still need to spar.¡± ¡°Seriously, how do you never get tired?¡± If I left, Dang Gyu-young could go rest too but my stamina was far from being exhausted. Though she was grumbling, Dang Gyu-young took her position in front of me. Soon, the shadows at her feet took on various forms¡ªfists, hammers, greatswords¡ªand attacked. Whooooooosh! I wrapped Twister around Root and my hands and deflected the attacking shadows one by one. Next, Dang Gyu-young leaped up from behind me and started stabbing with shadow daggers. I dodged by leaning my body left and right. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been responding to my messages?¡± ¡°I blocked you.¡± ¡°...Why?¡± ¡°Why do you think? You kept contacting me for pointless reasons.¡± ¡°Pointless? I was serious.¡± ¡°Anyway, I have no intention of responding, so let¡¯s stop this.¡± From the flow of the conversation, it seemed that Kim Gap-doo had been so insistent with Dang Gyu-young that he had ended up being blocked on the phone. Despite Dang Gyu-young¡¯s firm rejection, Kim Gap-doo did not appear ready to back down. ¡°I heard you¡¯re completely smitten with a first-year these days. Is that guy really that handsome?¡± ¡°Smitten¡ª¡± Dang Gyu-young was taken aback and she was about to argue but then suddenly pulled me to her side. She casually draped her arm over my shoulder. ¡°Honestly, he¡¯s decent-looking. His eyes look a bit mean, though.¡± It was the classic ¡°I have a boyfriend, so back off¡± tactic. Dang Gyu-young desperately signaled with her eyes for me to play along, so I didn¡¯t naively ask, ¡°Senior-nim, since when were we like that?¡± As I stood there silently, I noticed Kim Gap-doo glaring at me with a mix of anger, resentment, and jealousy. ¡°So, he¡¯s that first-year. How long have you been together?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not dating yet.¡± Dang Gyu-young was apparently unable to lie about this, so she just answered honestly. Kim Gap-doo¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I still have a chance?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± When Dang Gyu-young firmly cut him off again, Kim Gap-doo once more turned into a hurt toad. And that sadness and anger were directed straight at me. ¡°...I¡¯m curious about that first-year¡¯s skills. I wonder if he deserves to be with you.¡± ¡°Whether he does or not, what does that have to do with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious. Since there are four on your side and four on mine, how about we have a match?¡± Dang Gyu-young seemed to ponder this suggestion instead of immediately rejecting it. Kim Gap-doo¡¯s group was from the martial arts class. They were opponents who engaged in close-quarters combat, the kind that a mage aiming to be an all-rounder must be prepared for. If that were the case, sparring with them would be a better experience than random matches. When she reached this conclusion, Dang Gyu-young asked again. ¡°You said there are four of you. Where¡¯s the fourth person?¡± ¡°He¡¯s running a bit late due to some business but will be here soon.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s have a match.¡± When Dang Gyu-young nodded her head, Kim Gap-doo subtly added another suggestion. ¡°While we¡¯re at it, wouldn¡¯t it be more fun with a wager?¡± ¡°Oh, I knew you¡¯d say that. Just stop being so persistent.¡± ¡°Call it persistence if you want. If we win, give me just one chance.¡± Kim Gap-doo intended to use the victory of his mentees to satisfy his own selfish desires without any hesitation. Dang Gyu-young asked anyway. As if she was now curious due to his persistence, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it. What kind of chance are you asking for?¡± ¡°If we win...¡± The third-year toad gradually became a red toad. Kim Gap-doo then stared at a spot on the floor, stammered but still shouted loudly. ¡°If we win.... go on a date with me, on the weekend, in the downtown area!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces cringed at his excessive and pathetic plea. Not only Dang Gyu-young, but also Song Cheon-hye, Hong Yeon-hwa, Kwak Ji-cheol, and even Bukgong Han-seol. Only Ilgong managed to maintain a calm expression on his face as he quietly recited a prayer. ¡°Namo Amitabha...¡± TN: Lol Chapter 125: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (10) Chapter 125: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (10) ¡°Ah... I¡¯m really dizzy.¡± Dang Gyu-young pressed her forehead as if she was feeling dizzy from all of this. It wasn¡¯t surprising when you consider that she had received two blows in a row: a public confession and a conditional request for a date. ¡°First, let¡¯s separate business and personal matters. We¡¯re in the middle of mentoring. Why involve the kids?¡± ¡°...That¡¯s a valid point.¡± Kim Gap-doo nodded his head in agreement. Both sides have the same number of people, and the more combat experience the martial arts and mage classes have, the more helpful it would be for the students. So the intention behind staging a duel battle is good. However, if the one who benefited from this was the mentor and if those benefits were personal and emotional like love games, it was inevitable that there would be gossip afterward. ¡°And there¡¯s no way this will be motivating. So, I¡¯ll make a proposal to you all.¡± Kim Gap-doo paused for a moment before making his proposal. Though the others didn¡¯t know what he would offer as a reward, it seemed precious to him. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he slowly looked around the room and made his declaration. ¡°Today, I¡¯m turning over my inventory. The winning team gets an elixir party.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± The effects of the elixir were outstanding. The martial artists who had been looking at Kim Gap-doo with pity immediately became fired up. Martial artists were a simple lot; their eyes would turn red at words like ¡°fortuitous encounter¡±, ¡°elixir¡±, and ¡°mystic weapon¡±. Even Go Hyeon-woo was like that. And this wasn¡¯t just one elixir or a single spiritual herb but an entire elixir party. ¡°Namo Amitabha...¡± Ilgong was still reciting his prayer with a calm expression, though a slight smile had formed on his lips. Maybe he¡¯s not really a monk. Our side was slightly tempted by Kim Gap-doo¡¯s declaration of an elixir party as well, but we were more inclined to side with Dang Gyu-young on this. Being forced on a date if we lost? That was ridiculous. Only Kwak Ji-cheol seemed excited, but he shrank back under Song Cheon-hye¡¯s glare. As the mood calmed down, Kim Gap-doo continued. ¡°And Dang Gyu-young, I know you wouldn¡¯t even consider this bet under normal circumstances. You¡¯re a calculating woman.¡± ¡°Yeah, you know me well.¡± ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t mind! Now listen to the conditions I¡¯m offering. I¡¯ve prepared something tempting enough. If you win...¡± It was expected, considering he was the mentor for martial arts students, but Kim Gap-doo was also the president of the martial arts club. As president, he began listing all the benefits he could hand over. These included a season pass for the special cultivation room in the second semester and a Crafting VIP Ticket. ¡°He¡¯s betting all that on a single wager?¡± I changed my opinion of Kim Gap-doo. Just giving away his collection of elixirs was already a big sacrifice, and handing over so many privileges could jeopardize his position as president. This meant he was very serious about this bet. In summary, he was a pathetically impressive toad. Of course, aside from that evaluation, This isn¡¯t something I can just pass up.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com Such an extraordinary wager was rare. Dang Gyu-young seemed to have a similar thought and instead of rejecting it outright as she had before, she crossed her arms and fell into deep contemplation. I whispered to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Accept the bet.¡± ¡°If we lose, it¡¯s a date for me, you know?¡± ¡°Then we just have to win.¡± ¡°If it were that easy, I wouldn¡¯t be worried.¡± ¡°I know. But we do have a sure-fire card.¡± That sure-fire card was of course, me, who had won against promising students in the previous two matches. The other side didn¡¯t know this, which made it even more effective. Dang Gyu-young looked at me with surprise. ¡°Showing off your skills? You¡¯ve kept them well hidden until now.¡± ¡°Just enough. In return, I¡¯d like to receive some shares as well.¡± Though the elevation wasn¡¯t very high, the terrain was layered like steps which made it possible to grasp the surroundings only by climbing higher. And among the strangely shaped rocks scattered throughout, there was one rock that stood tall and glowed like a lighthouse. This was the sanctuary of the current terrain. Meanwhile, we were summoned to a much higher cliff overlooking the canyon, which served as a sort of spectator area. Kim Gap-doo¡¯s team was probably summoned somewhere on the opposite cliff. After surveying the canyon, Dang Gyu-young looked around at us and asked. ¡°Who wants to go first for the opening match?¡± Then Song Cheon-hye immediately raised her hand. ¡°I want to go first.¡± She aimed to make a bold move and break the enemy¡¯s momentum from the beginning. It was a good choice, considering that the other side would probably play their strong card Bukgung Han-seol first as well. Dang Gyu-young seemed to think similarly and nodded her head in approval. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± When Song Cheon-hye stepped onto the small magic circle, she vanished with a swoosh before reappearing below a moment later. Soon, martial artist A from the opposing side, whom we had seen earlier, also appeared and their information was displayed on the scoreboard. [Song Cheon-hye 988 points vs. Son Hyeong-taek 631 points] ¡°Tsk, only in the 600s.¡± Dang Gyu-young clicked her tongue. She had secretly hoped the other side would send out Bukgung Han-seol. In terms of skill, Song Cheon-hye was about twice as strong, so it would have been ideal to start by defeating someone in the 900s but it was a missed opportunity. A hint of disappointment flickered across Song Cheon-hye¡¯s face but she steadied herself and resolved to do her best regardless of the opponent. Since the outcome could hinge on the crystal charge, relying solely on the score difference could lead to a sudden upset. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Song Cheon-hye 100%] vs. [Son Hyeong-taek 100%] [Crystal: 0%] Fzzzzzzzzt! Song Cheon-hye dashed forward, becoming a streak of lightning. In an instant, she reached the top of the layered cliff and surveyed the area. Just then, she locked eyes with Son Hyeong-taek on the opposite cliff, but they both ignored each other for the moment and focused solely on scanning their surroundings. Their priority was to locate the crystal before anything else. ¡°...!¡± Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s gaze suddenly froze on a spot, and he began to run. Even though Song Cheon-hye didn¡¯t know where the crystal was, she followed in the same direction, reasoning that the crystal was most likely where Son Hyeong-taek was going. Fzzzzzzzzt! Song Cheon-hye dashed forward as a streak of lightning once more. However, by the time they spotted each other again, Son Hyeong-taek had already discovered the makeshift altar and retrieved the crystal. ¡°........¡± Son Hyeong-taek immediately turned his back and ran away. He seemed to have judged that it wouldn¡¯t be too late to fight after connecting the crystal and the sanctuary. Song Cheon-hye who had transformed into a streak of lightning chased after him. Fzzzzzzzzt! ¡°Huh, huh?¡± A sound similar to a scream of panic escaped from Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s mouth. Song Cheon-hye was catching up much faster than he had expected. Even though he was running with all his might, the distance between them continued to close. And finally, the moment the distance between the two became zero, Song Cheon-hye who was wrapped in lightning rammed into Son Hyeong-taek with her entire body. Fizzzzzzzz! Boom!! ¡°Arghhhhh!¡± Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s desperate scream echoed along with a loud thunderclap. Chapter 126: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (11) Chapter 126: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (11) [Song Cheon-hye: 100%] vs. [Son Hyeong-taek: 78%] [Crystal: 0%] Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s health gauge took a significant hit with a single body slam. Though Son Hyeong-taek dropped the crystal from the impact, he quickly recovered it even as he tumbled across the ground. He then jumped to his feet and regained his stance, showing the resilience typical of a warrior-type class. ¡°...¡± The two of them briefly glared at each other and were locked in a standoff. Son Hyeong-taek was the first to move. As he stepped forward and rapidly punched the air, multiple wind fists shot out. Papapapa! While Song Cheon-hye countered each incoming wind fist, Son Hyeong-taek turned and made his escape. That¡¯s the best I can do for now. Now that it was clear that Song Cheon-hye had the upper hand in both strength and speed, fighting head-on was the worst option for Son Hyeong-taek. Charging the crystal and holding out was his only chance to seize victory, and to do that, he had to escape to the sanctuary no matter how cowardly it seemed. Song Cheon-hye immediately gave chase. As she ran, she extended one hand and currents of lightning split into two on her dark gloves before forming two hummingbirds. [Hummingbird] Fzzzzzzzzzt, The two electric hummingbirds flew gracefully through the air. ¡°...!¡± Son Hyeong-taek maintained his speed and glanced over his shoulder. But the moment the first hummingbird darted toward him, he shifted his steps. Irregular footprints marked the ground as his figure blurred for a split second, leaving an afterimage, and the hummingbird narrowly missed him. No matter what, she still can¡¯t hit me with that... A bit more precise control would do the trick. It seemed that improving her control was a task Song Cheon-hye still needed to tackle. ¡°Ah.¡± Song Cheon-hye never expected to miss, so for a moment, her expression cracked with surprise. However, as if this was within her range of expectations, she quickly regained her composure and naturally started controlling the next hummingbird. Fzzzzzz! Fortunately, this time she hit the target successfully. Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s movements noticeably slowed for a brief moment, ¡°Hup!¡± But with a strong shout, a faint energy wave spread from his body and his movements returned to normal. He had used some kind of debuff removal skill to break free from the paralysis. And so the chase between the two continued. They ascended and descended the tiered cliffs as if they were flat ground. Fizzzzzzzz, Song Cheon-hye surged forward like lightning. The distance between them quickly narrowed again. ¡°...Krrk!¡± Son Hyeong-taek checked behind him and grew urgent. Sensing that he would be body-slammed again if this continued, he started punching in all directions while running. Papapa! Towering boulders in his path shattered and fell; the ground overturned; and large and small rocks scattered everywhere. Song Cheon-hye who was in pursuit had no choice but to slow down to avoid or block them. Whirr¡ª Son Hyeong-taek was a step ahead and entered the sanctuary¡¯s range. Towering rocks and crystals connected with thick beams of light, [Crystal: 1%] The charging gauge began to fill. Even then, Son Hyeong-taek didn¡¯t slow down as if he was determined to keep running until the match ended. ¡®That¡¯s right, good job.¡¯ Go, Son Hyeong-taek! I couldn¡¯t cheer loudly because Dang Gyu-young was nearby, so I sent my encouragement silently while maintaining a serious expression. When she returned to the stands through the teleportation portal, Dang Gyu-yeong greeted her with a brief remark. ¡°You did well.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Song Cheon-hye also bowed her head calmly. Since it was a match that would have been strange to lose, no significant reaction was needed from either side. Next, Dang Gyu-yeong turned her gaze to Hong Yeon-hwa and Kwak Ji-cheol. She seemed to be thinking about which of the two to send out. I was pushed to the last match, so I wasn¡¯t a consideration. But surprisingly, Kwak Ji-cheol raised his hand. ¡°I would like to participate in the second match.¡± ¡°I was thinking of sending Hong Yeon-hwa. Do you have a special reason?¡± She would listen to the reason, but if it was simply due to a sense of duty, she wouldn¡¯t allow it. As a mentor, Dang Gyu-yeong had to prioritize the team¡¯s victory while excluding emotional factors as much as possible. However, Kwak Ji-cheol seemed to have his own reasons. ¡°I heard something from my big brother before about senior Kim Gap-doo .¡± ¡°Seung-jae? What did he say?¡± ¡°He said that, unlike a typical martial artist, Kim Gap-doo is excessively cautious.¡± ¡°Hmm, that matches what I heard.¡± While Dang Gyu-yeong¡¯s team had sent out Song Cheon-hye who had a score in the 900s as their vanguard from the beginning, Kim Gap-doo¡¯s team sent out Son Hyeong-taek who had a score in the 600s. He was partially a sacrificial piece, and Son Hyeong-taek fulfilled that role well enough. Additionally, if Kim Gap-doo was indeed as ¡°excessively cautious¡± as rumored, there was a high possibility that he would send out someone in the 600s range, like Ilgong for the second match as well. So, Kwak Ji-cheol argued that he should face him since their scores were similar. Dang Gyu-yeong asked, ¡°What if you end up against Bukgung Han-seol? Can you win?¡± No matter how cautious Kim Gap-doo was, it couldn¡¯t be ruled out that he might try to secure a win in the second match. Kwak Ji-cheol was silent for a moment before answering honestly. ¡°...Realistically, it would be difficult. But it wouldn¡¯t be a loss since it would force them to waste one of their stronger cards. And...¡± Kwak Ji-cheol glanced between me and Hong Yeon-hwa before continuing. ¡°...As much as I hate to admit it, they¡¯re a bit stronger than me.¡± If we were to use a sacrificial piece, it made the most sense for the weakest to take on that role. Dang Gyu-yeong confirmed once more, ¡°So, can you beat Ilgong?¡± ¡°I should retrieve the crystal first and then fortify my defenses. The terrain suits me well.¡± When it comes to defense, the Emerald Magic Tower¡¯s earth mages were unmatched. This terrain was also full of rocks which made it perfect for using earth-type magic. So, if the scores were similar, he would have a good chance of winning. Dang Gyu-yeong stared at Kwak Ji-cheol for a moment then nodded her head as if convinced. ¡°Alright. Go ahead.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol bowed his head slightly and descended via the teleportation magic circle. Soon, the names of the participants appeared on the scoreboard. [Kwak Ji-cheol 620 points vs Ilgong 670 points] As expected, Ilgong was his opponent. Kim Gap-du turned out to be an overly cautious toad just as the rumors said. Meanwhile, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder. How did such a cautious man agree to such a bet...? The 4-on-4 duel battle and the bet felt more like they were decided on the spot rather than being carefully planned and prepared in advance. The stakes that included the elixirs and club rights were also brought in rather forcefully. Perhaps he felt a sense of urgency when he saw Dang Gyu-yeong present me as her potential boyfriend. He might have thought this was her last chance. When a cautious toad falls in love, rational thinking becomes impossible. Anyway, the situation had already unfolded like this, and the important thing was ¡°how the upcoming match would turn out¡±. I sent my encouragement to Kwak Ji-cheol. Stay strong, Kwak Ji-cheol. If you and Hong Yeon-hwa win, I won¡¯t have to go out. Chapter 127: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (12) Chapter 127: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (12) [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kwak Ji-cheol: 100%] vs [Ilgong: 100%] [Crystal: 0%] As soon as the match started, Kwak Ji-cheol swung his staff. A large earthen disc formed and was placed on the ground, and as he mounted it, two hands rose from the earth to support and swiftly transport him. He quickly climbed to the top of the layered cliff as if he was surfing the waves. ¡°Found it.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s eyes flashed as he quickly scanned his surroundings. He had already pinpointed the location of the crystal. Such small luck was quite a good thing for him. He swiftly moved again while riding the earthen disc. Meanwhile, Ilgong¡¯s speed was barely more than a walk. He appeared to be taking a relaxed stroll rather than taking part in a duel battle. Kwak Ji-cheol also glanced in his opponent¡¯s direction from time to time with a puzzled expression on his face. It was as if he was troubled by the fact that he had yet to catch a glimpse of Ilgong¡¯s bald head. However, it was time to focus on his task. Retrieve the crystal and head straight to the sanctuary. Whirrrrr [Crystal: 1%] When the sanctuary and the crystal connected with a thick beam of light, Ilgong who had been leisurely walking turned his gaze towards it. The thick beam indicated that Kwak Ji-cheol was at the other end. Only then did Ilgong pick up his pace slightly, but he still didn¡¯t appear hurried. [Crystal: 28%] By the time Ilgong finally confronted Kwak Ji-cheol, the crystal charging was already significantly underway. He clasped his hands together and smiled gently. ¡°I apologize for being a bit late.¡± ¡°A bit late? You¡¯re very late.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol also wore a relaxed smile. He was simply grateful that Ilgong had arrived late. Thanks to this, he had been able to make thorough preparations. The entire area had already been fortified with all sorts of earthen magic. Layer upon layer of reinforced stone walls surrounded Kwak Ji-cheol, along with two golems and an earth cluster. Ilgong still maintained his gentle smile and took in the scene slowly before addressing Kwak Ji-cheol. ¡°Then I shall make my move.¡± ¡°Come as much as you like.¡± When Ilgong gathered his internal energy, his entire body took on a subtle golden glow, and Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s earth cluster gradually increased its rotation speed. Papapat! Ilgong swiftly launched three golden energy blasts, but one of the stone walls rose up as if alive, taking the hits and shattering in his place. Then a new stone wall rapidly emerged to fill the gap. Dudududu! The earth cluster fired off dirt and gravel bullets. Ilgong countered with his twin palms, but there were more projectiles than he could deflect, and the remaining ones weakly struck his body. [Kwak Ji-cheol: 100%] vs [Ilgong: 99%]Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com! Moreover, the two golems swung their massive fists. They were very slow and simple, making them easy to dodge, but getting hit even once could be fatal. Therefore, Ilgong couldn¡¯t afford to ignore them completely. Dududududududu! With his attention divided, more earthen bullets hit his body and caused cumulative damage. [Ilgong: 97%] [Ilgong: 95%] [Ilgong: 94%] [Crystal: 41%] From the safety of his fortress, Kwak Ji-cheol displayed his typical combat style by using the golems and earth cluster to launch a one-sided attack. ¡°.......¡± However, the expressions of Dang Gyu-yeong, Song Cheon-hye, and Hong Yeon-hwa who were watching the match were not very bright. ¡°This isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gotten much tougher.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol was indeed holding a one-sided advantage. But it was only one-sided, not overwhelming. As a mage, he had prepared more than enough to face his opponent, but if all he achieved was a slight advantage, it was not something to be pleased about. [Ilgong: 92%] [Ilgong: 91%] For example, despite having bombarded him with countless earthen bullets for a long time, Ilgong¡¯s health had barely decreased by 10%. The faint golden aura emanating from Ilgong¡¯s body minimized the damage. It was a well-known protective technique called the Demonic Buddha Shadow Vajra Energy and it was renowned for its toughness. Even the Hummingbird was blocked by that. ¡°Heh, heh heh... I¡¯d rather...¡± Kwak Ji-cheol let out a low laugh. The emerald on his staff glowed with a brilliant green light, causing the area to tremble as if an earthquake had struck. Finally, he stomped the ground forcefully and shouted, ¡°I¡¯d rather... forfeit¡ª!¡± Boom¡ª! The earth overturned, and a tidal wave of dirt, gravel, and rocks surged towards Ilgong. Ilgong watched this with a calm gaze, then raised his energy. The golden aura of his entire body concentrated into his outstretched palm, making his hand appear two to three times larger. [Great Vajra Hand Seal] A huge golden force shot forward. Boom¡ª! A tidal wave of dirt collapsed, and Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s body was pushed back a long distance. He barely managed to stand and glared at his opponent with a look of resentment before his vision blurred and he collapsed backward. Ilgong hurriedly approached and supported him. ¡°It was a good match.¡± [Kwak Ji-cheol Lose] vs [Ilgong Win] *** ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± As soon as Kwak Ji-cheol regained consciousness, he bowed his head. Having asked to be sent first only to return defeated, he had no face to show to Dang Gyu-young who had trusted him. Dang Gyu-young looked down at Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s head with indifferent eyes and asked a question. ¡°You did your best, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You tried every means available?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯d lose again if you fought him?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°......? When Kwak Ji-cheol looked up, his eyes asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you mad?¡± and Dang Gyu-young responded. ¡°If you did your best, who could say otherwise? You can improve your skills from now on. We¡¯ll review the match later. For now, go rest.¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol was a bit moved and he went to a corner. Dang Gyu-young then approached me and whispered. ¡°Kim Ho, be honest. You were expecting a 3-0 bus ride, right?¡± ¡°It would be a lie to say I wasn¡¯t.¡± Of course, it would have been great if Kwak Ji-cheol had won. But once the match started, Ilgong¡¯s skills had risen so sharply from before that I gave up on that idea a long time ago. As a result, the current score was 1-1. Two matches remained. ¡°You¡¯ll have to show your skills too.¡± ¡°Of course. But besides Bukgong Han-seol, hasn¡¯t the last participant been revealed yet?¡± ¡°Well, I need to ask about that too.¡± Dang Gyu-young showed me the chat screen. To communicate with the other side, she had no choice but to unblock Kim Gap-doo on her phone. [Dang Gyu-young: Hey, when is your last person coming?] [Kim Gap-doo: Not here yet ?.? Almost there though... Just a bit] [Dang Gyu-young: So who is it?] [Kim Gap-doo: It¡¯s a secret! I¡¯ll tell you when they arrive! Haha] [Kim Gap-doo: (cute frog emoji)] [Kim Gap-doo: (cute frog emoji)] ¡°I feel like blocking him again ...¡± Dang Gyu-young muttered to herself and clenched her fist as if she wanted to punch the frog. I completely agreed with her muttering. So that¡¯s the kind of character that senior is. Anyway, since one thing was certain, Dang Gyu-young asked. ¡°Next is Bukgong Han-seol for sure. Who¡¯s going to go against her?¡± ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously looked at me, as if she was seeking my approval. I wasn¡¯t sure why she was asking me instead of her mentor sitting right next to her, but even I thought it would be better for her to face Bukgong Han-seol. The match against the 900-pointer in the fourth round might not be a good fit for Hong Yeon-hwa. When I signaled my approval with a nod, Hong Yeon-hwa responded with a nod of her own and raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°That sounds good. Should we ask for a handicap?¡± Since Kim Gap-doo¡¯s team had one more 900-pointer, we had previously agreed to apply a handicap in one match. However, Hong Yeon-hwa slowly shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we don¡¯t need that.¡± Her voice was brimming with confidence. Chapter 128: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (13) Chapter 128: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (13) [Hong Yeon-hwa 688 points vs Bukgong Han-seol 968 points] Hong Yeon-hwa quietly stared at the names and scores displayed on the scoreboard. 900 points. This is the league of skilled individuals who achieved three consecutive victories in the placement test. There was a time when she was immensely frustrated that she couldn¡¯t start at 900 points. According to Hong Ye-hwa, all the promising talents or those with equivalent skills this year had reached the 900-point range. It made her feel particularly left behind. Therefore, it was hard for her to accept competing in the 600-point range. Even if she won and her score increased, it still felt significantly lacking compared to the 900-point range and losing only plunged her deeper into self-loathing. However, her thoughts have changed a bit now. The scores in individual matches are indeed a meaningful indicator of skill. But one cannot judge a person¡¯s skill solely based on their score. The living proof of that was in her group. Kim Ho who started at the 300-point range with one win and two losses. Although his score was lower than Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s, when they actually faced off, the overwhelming difference in skill made it impossible for her to even make a move. Another example was that recently, opponents in the 600-point range had started to feel too weak. This week, Hong Yeon-hwa had faced two random opponents in the crystal duel battles, and both of them collapsed before she could even properly chain her spells. Looking back, the memory of being beaten up by Kim Ho was so strong that it overshadowed everything else, but most of her other duel battles had been like this. She was now certain. As the semester continued and she participated in more duels, her score would only continue to rise. As a result, her yearning for 900 points had significantly diminished, but a trace of curiosity still remained. How would her skills measure up against those in the 900-point range? Had they been effective before? How about now that she was stronger? She was about to find out. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Hong Yeon-hwa: 100%] vs [Bukgong Han-seol: 100%] [Crystal: 0%] Hong Yeon-hwa extended her wand forward. The ruby on her wand shone as it instantly drew a large Fire Pillar magic circle beneath her feet. Even though her casting speed was already unparalleled, it seemed to have shortened even further recently. When she absorbed the completed Fire Pillar through Overheat, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s entire body became engulfed in flames. In her enhanced state, she kicked off the ground a few times and quickly ascended to the top of the layered cliff. ¡°...¡± She spotted Bukgong Han-seol on the opposite cliff in the distance. Since she arrived first, she was already searching for the crystal. Hong Yeon-hwa quickly scanned the surroundings as well, There it is. She discovered a makeshift altar cleverly hidden among the cliffs. When she glanced at Bukgong Han-seol, she noticed that the latter was still looking around and was still unaware of the altar¡¯s location. Yet she occasionally glanced towards Hong Yeon-hwa, ready to follow if she found the crystal first. In that case... Hong Yeon-hwa deliberately acted startled and exaggeratedly pretended she had found the crystal. Then, with a thud, she stomped her feet and dashed down the cliff. Bukgong Han-seol didn¡¯t miss this and started running after Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Hmph.¡± However, once Hong Yeon-hwa descended the cliff and was out of sight, she quickly changed direction. Her deliberate behavior had been to create a fake-out. She sent Bukgong Han-seol in the exact opposite direction of where the crystal was located. Taking advantage of this, Hong Yeon-hwa leisurely moved to the makeshift altar, grabbed the crystal, and headed straight for the sanctuary. ¡°Oh my, Han-seol...¡± Kim Gap-doo who was watching the match palmed his face. To fall for such a simple trick. He hoped Bukgong Han-seol would realize this soon, but she wandered aimlessly in the wrong direction, just as Hong Yeon-hwa had intended. Whirrrrr¡ª In Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s memory, Aqua Flame had been E-rank. At that time, its rank was low, so even when she used fire magic against ice-element opponents, they could somewhat cope with it. But now it had risen two ranks while melting the Millennium Iron alloy and reached a remarkable C-rank. Currently, the skill/trait rank limit for first-year students was generally C-rank, with the average being around D-rank. At C-rank, it was a level that could competently apply to all opponents among the first years. Even though she understood this in her mind, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to face an ice-element opponent until now, so she was just starting to test its exact power. But to see someone with over 900 points struggle so much just to shake off a single fireball. Aqua Flame might be a stronger trait than she had thought. Hong Yeon-hwa had inadvertently countered her opponent. Bukgong Han-seol hardened her expression and looked at her opponent. I must avoid it at all costs. She must not get hit by any fire magic. If she struggled this much with a hastily thrown fireball, a properly cast fire spell would be beyond her ability to handle. That meant she had to dodge all the incoming spells and approach Hong Yeon-hwa to snatch the crystal. But was that even possible? Bukgong Han-seol took in the sight of the magic circles filling the battlefield. To her eyes, they looked like fiercely burning flames rather than magic circles. [Hong Yeon-hwa 100%] vs [Bukgong Han-seol 94%] [Crystal: 34%] However, time was not on her side. The crystal¡¯s charge percentage was steadily increasing even as she hesitated. If she didn¡¯t move, defeat was inevitable. Bukgong Han-seol gathered her internal energy and concentrated it in her hands, then she lunged forward and released the energy. Papapapapapapat! Hong Yeon-hwa watched the threatening energy projectiles flying toward her and thought, Should I dodge? It might hurt a bit if they hit. She was about to move sideways but quickly changed her mind. She extended her wand forward and cast a spell rapidly. Fwoooosh¡ª A stream of flames burst out like a flamethrower before engulfing the energy projectiles. As expected, the Aqua Flame-enhanced fire easily neutralized Bukgong Han-seol¡¯s long-range attack. ¡°......!¡± Bukgong Han-seol¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She didn¡¯t expect her attack to be blocked so easily. However, it was too late to stop, so she didn¡¯t slow her momentum. Just as she was about to unleash another powerful strike, Hong Yeon-hwa snapped her fingers. A magic circle right in front of Bukgong Han-seol turned red, and Boom¡ª! ¡°!!¡± A vivid pillar of fire shot up. Bukgong Han-seol barely managed to retreat and avoid the Fire Pillar. However, she was already deep in enemy territory. Magic circles filled the surroundings. One was even set right under her feet and it was already glowing red. Glowing... red? Boom¡ª! Bukgong Han-seol desperately dashed to avoid the pillars of fire erupting everywhere. Surviving was more important than targeting Hong Yeon-hwa at the center of the formation. Boom¡ª! She zigzagged, running this way and that, before she finally escaped the reach of the magic circles. After she managed to catch her breath, Bukgong Han-seol thought, Well, at least I made her use up quite a bit. Once a magic circle casts a spell, it disappears. With her frantic running earlier, she had triggered dozens of Fire Pillars, so if she repeated this a few more times, wouldn¡¯t she reach Hong Yeon-hwa? However, what caught her eye next were new magic circles rapidly filling the empty space. Bukgong Han-seol suddenly wanted to go home. Chapter 129: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (14) Chapter 129: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (14) The situation was increasingly turning against her, but Bukgong Han-seol did not give up. [Hong Yeon-hwa: 100%] vs [Bukgong Han-seol: 92%] [Crystal: 51%] Judging by the time remaining until the crystal was fully charged, There are at most two or three opportunities. She had to reach Hong Yeon-hwa at the center of the magic circles within that time. It was certainly not an easy task, but it didn¡¯t seem entirely impossible either. Just a moment ago, she had been busy dodging the fire pillars rising from all directions. Still, after running around a bit, she felt like she had an instinctive sense of how to move which was to be expected from a student with a score in the 900 range. At least the second and third attempts would be easier than the first. Bukgong Han-seol gathered her internal energy and stepped back into the area filled with magic circles. Fire pillars rose as if they had been waiting for her. Boom¡ª! Bukgong Han-seol skilfully advanced forward while stepping around the fire pillars. The magic circle right in front of her glowed red but she quickly passed it before it could activate. Next, three magic circles ahead simultaneously lit up, Boom¡ª! And three fire pillars erupted. Bukgong Han-seol tried to slip through the tiny gaps between them, but, as if anticipated, a flurry of fire arrows shot through the gaps. Fwoooooosh, ¡°!!¡± Bukgong Han-seol had no choice but to step back and to the side. As if in pursuit, more fire arrows followed one after another, and she moved further to the side to dodge them. She tried several times to strike back with her energy, but since she couldn¡¯t bring down even one fire arrow, she focused on dodging as much as possible while trying to get closer to her opponent. Boom¡ª! A fire pillar erupted right where she was about to step. Bukgong Han-seol hesitated and changed direction again, and the subsequent barrage of fire arrows guided her in another direction. Whoooosh, As she continued to navigate between fire arrows and fire pillars, Bukgong Han-seol thought to herself, Just a bit more! Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s tactics beautifully combined Flame Arrows and Fire Pillars to restrict her movement and guide her in a specific direction. Bukgong Han-seol continued to circle around the same area as her opponent intended. If this dragged on, the crystal would eventually finish charging. However, Bukgong Han-seol noticed something. The more Hong Yeon-hwa activated the Fire Pillars, the more gaps began to appear. The magic circle engraved on the ground disappeared with each spell cast, leaving empty spaces until the caster engraved new ones. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s casting speed was astonishingly fast and she was quickly filling the gaps, but Bukgong Han-seol¡¯s constant movement within the area caused the depletion rate to increase. The empty spaces were gradually increasing. Not much time left. She pretended to play along with her opponent¡¯s intentions while keeping an eye on those gaps. Finally, the opportunity came. Just when the Fire Pillar cast by Hong Yeon-hwa was fading, Bukgong Han-seol kicked off the ground and dashed forward. She stepped only on the empty spaces left by the depleted magic circles and quickly closed the distance between them. At the same time, she unleashed the internal energy she had been gradually accumulating and executed her most powerful technique. Her entire body was enveloped in a chilling cold, which concentrated in her palms and was released forward. [Absolute Snow Soul Palm] She thought she would struggle quite a bit considering her opponent¡¯s score was in the 900-point range but there hadn¡¯t been a single tense moment during the match. Bukgong Han-seol¡¯s footwork was somewhat sophisticated, but her intentions were obvious which made her next move predictable. Moreover, every time Hong Yeon-hwa controlled her with fire magic, she obediently moved as directed. When she shot a fire arrow to send her to the left, she went left. And when she shot a fire arrow to send her to the right, she went right. If she made a pillar of fire to make her retreat, she retreated. In contrast, how was her match with Kim Ho? Controlling him with fire magic was impossible and she couldn¡¯t predict where he would move, so every moment was filled with tension. While dodging all her fire magic attacks, he would come close and tap her head. Even when she set up a perfect defensive line, he somehow broke through and tapped her head. No matter how she set up, thinking he couldn¡¯t possibly get through, he would come in and tap her head. ¡°...¡± As she recalled this, the spots where Kim Ho had tapped her head started to tingle, so Hong Yeon-hwa quietly raised her hand to rub her head. The thought that came to her was, But I guess my skills have improved. After she was tormented daily by a stagnant water, Hong Yeon-hwa found her skills had unknowingly grown significantly. [Crystal: 96%] As the charging neared its end, Bukgong Han-seol¡¯s previously evasive steps slowed down and eventually came to a stop. Then she conceded defeat in a dejected tone. ¡°I lost......¡± [Hong Yeon-hwa Win] vs [Bukgong Han-seol Lose] ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± Bukgong Han-seol who had been so confident before the match was now completely dejected. However, Kim Gap-doo gently patted her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Han-seol. You did well.¡± Knowing that Bukgong Han-seol had done her best despite the extremely unfavorable match, he was neither angry nor disappointed. Also, it was a misjudgment on her mentor Kim Gap-doo¡¯s part to pair her against Hong Yeon-hwa. From what he knew, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s Aqua Flame had not progressed beyond E-rank, and he expected that Bukgong Han-seol¡¯s internal energy would easily overpower it. However, once the match started, it turned out that Aqua Flame had jumped to C-rank which made it a perfect counter-match. If he had known this, he would have paired Bukgong Han-seol with Kwak Ji-cheol for an easy win and paired Ilgong with Hong Yeon-hwa. He might have had a better chance of winning. Phew... it¡¯s all in the past now. Kim Gap-doo slowly shook his head and dispelled any lingering regrets. It was time to think about what came next. The score was 1 to 2 against them. If they lost one more match, Kim Gap-doo¡¯s team would face defeat. Despite this, Kim Gap-doo¡¯s face wasn¡¯t dark with despair. The reason he had proposed a 4-on-4 match with such risky conditions wasn¡¯t just out of a moment of anger; he had a degree of confidence in their victory. This confidence came from having a powerful trump card. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡± A low and blunt voice came from behind him. When Kim Gap-doo heard that voice, his complexion which had been a little dark brightened up immediately. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± When he turned around, there stood a male student with a bear-like physique and a muscular body. He looked nothing like a first-year student. Usually, he wore the disciplinary committee armband but he had taken it off as he was here for the mentoring session. He was a first-year member of the disciplinary committee and had skills on par with the promising students. He was the successor of the Fist King, Jo Byeok. He was the last member of the martial arts team mentored by Kim Gap-doo. Chapter 130: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (15) Chapter 130: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (15) ¡°You did well.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa returned confidently like a triumphant general. She had dominated Bukgung Han-seol who had a score in the 900s throughout the entire match and proved her skills. Her pride was sky-high. But when our eyes met, ¡°...¡± She quickly regained her humility and gauged my reaction. She had overwhelmed someone in the 900s, but she remembered that the person before her was an opponent she couldn¡¯t even touch. Despite glancing around cautiously, she seemed to expect something from me, probably feedback on her performance in the match. If Hong Yeon-hwa had a tail, it would have been wagging gently. I decided to praise what deserved praise and move on. ¡°You did well. You carried out the match just as we practiced.¡± ¡°...!¡± Her face brightened even more. As if she were pleased to have received recognition. If she had a tail, it would have been wagging furiously like a propeller. Leaving Hong Yeon-hwa alone for now, I turned to Dang Gyu-young and asked, ¡°Now it¡¯s just me left. Who do they have on their side?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask again.¡± The last member of Kim Gap-doo¡¯s team had been delayed for some reason, but no matter how late they were, they should have arrived by now. Sure enough, as soon as Dang Gyu-young sent a message, a reply came back quickly. [Dang Gyu-young: Are you here?] [Kim Gap-doo: Yep, I¡¯m here! >.<] [Dang Gyu-young: Who is it?] [Kim Gap-doo: Then I¡¯ll reveal it! The long-awaited final member is...!] [Kim Gap-doo: Drumroll...!] [Kim Gap-doo: (Drum-playing frog emoji)] [Kim Gap-doo: It¡¯s Jo Byeok!] ¡°What? Jo Byeok?¡± Dang Gyu-young furrowed her eyebrows. She had expected that since Kim Gap-doo kept it hidden until the last moment, the final member would be quite skilled, even among those who had a score in the 900s range. However, she never anticipated that it would be a member of the disciplinary committee. [Dang Gyu-young: Are you kidding me right now?] [Dang Gyu-young: You should have told us from the start] [Dang Gyu-young: (Fox with a bat emoji)] [Kim Gap-doo: Surprised!] [Kim Gap-doo: (Surprised frog emoji)] [Kim Gap-doo: (Winking frog emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: (Serious fox emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: (Fox with a bat emoji)] [Kim Gap-doo: ...... ] [Kim Gap-doo: What handicap should I give you?] From the moment the name ¡°Jo Byeok¡± was mentioned, everyone¡¯s attention turned to me. Although Dang Gyu-young was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a disciplinary committee member, she didn¡¯t seem overly worried since she trusted that I could handle it. Hong Yeon-hwa also seemed to think I would win. On the other hand, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s expression had become noticeably serious. As a fellow disciplinary committee member, she knew better than anyone here how strong Jo Byeok was, but since my abilities were still uncertain, her expectation was that Jo Byeok would win. Moreover, Kwak Ji-cheol not only bet on Jo Byeok but also seemed to secretly hope that I would lose. Though I couldn¡¯t tell whether it was because he didn¡¯t want to be the only one to lose or because he was looking forward to seeing me get beaten by Jo Byeok. Anyway, I found his attitude annoying so I decided to tease him a little. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my eyes?¡± ¡°I sense a rather impure intention.¡± ¡°...it¡¯s your imagination.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol averted his gaze. As if he was admitting to himself that he felt guilty. I continued to stare at him for a bit longer, then turned to Dang Gyu-young and asked, ¡°What happens if I lose?¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s 2-2, there would be one more match point game.¡± In that final match, the strongest players from each team, Song Cheon-hye and Jo Byeok, would face off to determine the winner. Dang Gyu-young asked Song Cheon-hye, ¡°What are your odds of winning against Jo Byeok?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say who has the upper hand.¡± Song Cheon-hye and Jo Byeok had faced each other several times in duel battles or disciplinary committee sparring sessions, and their wins and losses usually depended on their condition on any given day. After that, unlike Kim Ho, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s reputation frequently reached Jo Byeok¡¯s ears and mostly in a positive light. His excellent swordsmanship, handsome appearance, and well-rounded personality easily earned him the affection of other students. Many wanted to befriend him, but Go Hyeon-woo kept a certain distance so no one could fulfill that desire. However, when someone subtly asked about Kim Ho, Go Hyeon-woo responded without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¨C Kim is a friend I truly acknowledge. He is a more than deserving to be my friend. This held a very strong meaning for Jo Byeok. If someone as lofty as Go Hyeon-woo acknowledged Kim Ho, there must have been a good reason. If he underestimated Kim Ho because of his 500-point score or the general opinion of him as a ¡°coward¡±, he might be caught off guard. Kim Gap-doo had advised him to conserve his strength for the match against Song Cheon-hye, but somehow, Jo Byeok felt that he shouldn¡¯t. I will give it my all. The countdown began with Jo Byeok making up his mind. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Surveying the surrounding environment from a high ground was a basic principle. Especially in this week¡¯s duel battle. After all, identifying the location of the crystal was of utmost priority. Jo Byeok quickly climbed the cliff. With an agility that didn¡¯t match his bear-like physique, he swiftly reached the top and scanned the surrounding area. He expected to encounter Kim Ho soon, but, He¡¯s not here. The top of the cliff was empty, devoid of any sign of Kim Ho. He thought perhaps Kim Ho was climbing up a bit later, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. I should focus on the crystal for now. Jo Byeok looked down and started carefully surveying the area below the cliff. Then, as he slowly shifted his gaze sideways, something moving quickly caught his eye. That is... That something was none other than Kim Ho, who hadn¡¯t even cast a shadow on top of the cliff. He had been running aimlessly in one direction and at the end of it was a makeshift altar and a crystal. His movements seemed as if he had already known the location of the crystal. How Kim Ho had figured that out was no longer important. What was important now was, I¡¯m late. He had been beaten to the punch. However, Jo Byeok who was about to follow Kim Ho toward the makeshift altar soon changed his mind. The next destination is already decided anyway. Since the crystal needed to be charged, he would inevitably head towards the sanctuary. So, Jo Byeok started running towards the towering rock in the distance like a lighthouse. Sure enough, just when he was almost near the sanctuary, Wheeing¡ª The sanctuary sent down a pillar of light not far from him. The place indicated by the pillar of light was where the crystal and Kim Ho were. By heading directly to the sanctuary early, he was able to significantly close the gap between them. [Crystal: 2%] [Crystal: 5%] The crystal¡¯s charge level was rising at a frightening pace as if to prove that it was 2.5 times higher. Just like Kim Gap-doo had said, time was tight in this duel battle. Thump! Jo Byeok kicked off the ground with even more force and dashed forward. He climbed up and down the cliff that rose like a hill and passed by strange rock formations, finally catching up to the point where Kim Ho came into view. ¡°...¡± Kim Ho continued running with his back to him, then glanced over his shoulder. There wasn¡¯t a trace of urgency in his eyes. Then, as if he was uninterested in him, he turned his gaze forward again and continued running. ¡°I won¡¯t let you get away.¡± Jo Byeok concentrated his internal energy on his legs and increased his speed. Kim Ho¡¯s speed was fast, but the distance between them gradually narrowed. Jo Byeok who had nearly caught up to Kim Ho¡¯s back clenched his fist tightly. Then just when he thrust his fist forward, Kim Ho suddenly turned around and thrust one palm forward to meet it. Bang¡ª! Their palm and fist collided, and Jo Byeok was pushed back. Chapter 131: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (16) Chapter 131: 7th Week Mentoring and Duel Battle (16) ¡°.........¡± After the clash, Kim Ho glanced over as if he had lost interest, then turned his back and started running again. Jo Byeok immediately resumed the chase and thought. What was that just now? He had fought countless experts until now, but it was very rare for him to be pushed back like that. Usually, this result occurred when he was overwhelmed in a battle of internal energy, but this felt quite different. [Jo Byeok 100% vs Kim Ho 100%] [Crystal: 24%] If there was a gap in their internal energy, he should have taken some damage. However, there was no change in either side¡¯s health. It was a new experience in many ways but, I just need to confirm it again. Jo Byeok increased his speed and quickly caught up to Kim Ho¡¯s back. Then just as he thrust his fist forward, Kim Ho who had been glancing over his shoulder turned around and extended his hand to meet it. Bang¡ª! Jo Byeok¡¯s body was pushed back again. But this time, he observed more carefully with a wider field of vision so he thought he understood what had happened. Wind. The wind gathered and compressed in Kim Ho¡¯s hand. It exploded in a vortex-like form and pushed him away like a spring. Considering that Kim Ho was a caster-type class, it was almost certainly wind magic but if it pushed him back so far, there must have been some physical force added. In that case. As Jo Byeok closed in on Kim Ho for the third time, he drew up his internal energy and enveloped his body like armor. In his duel with Go Hyeon-woo, he had responded similarly to the technique of [Clear Stream]. Soon, when Jo Byeok threw his punch, Kim Ho unleashed his wind magic to counter. Bang¡ª! Jo Byeok was pushed back again, but this time the distance was less than half of what it had been before. Although the internal energy consumption was significant for just one block, it was the correct answer. Kim Ho¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest. ¡°You figured it out quickly.¡± Despite having his technique seen through, there was no sign of alarm on his face. Instead, he seemed pleased with Jo Byeok¡¯s keen perception. Such composure could only be shown by someone with many remaining tricks up their sleeve and absolute confidence in themselves. To think such a person was rumored to be a coward, it just goes to show how unreliable rumors can be. Although Jo Byeok was growing more tense, he didn¡¯t miss the opportunity he gained by answering correctly. Since the distance pushed back wasn¡¯t much, it was enough to continue his attack. He stepped forward and unleashed a rapid series of punches like lightning. Papapapat! Kim Ho leaned and twisted his body to dodge the incoming punches while deflecting a few with his dark spear. At the same time, wind quickly gathered and compressed in his empty hand. When Jo Byeok immediately surrounded himself with internal energy to counter, Bang¡ª! While Jo Byeok remained still, it was Kim Ho the one who cast the spell who flew in an arc and landed gracefully on the layered cliffs before he turned and began to run. Though Jo Byeok was not easily flustered, he couldn¡¯t help but be momentarily stunned by the sight. ...So it can be used that way too. Since the opponent wasn¡¯t being easily pushed back, it seemed he had sent himself flying instead. However, he couldn¡¯t just stand there like a dog chasing chickens, so he immediately kicked off the ground and continued his pursuit. And when he checked the scoreboard, [Jo Byeok 100% vs. Kim Ho 100%] [Crystal: 48%] Jo Byeok¡¯s powerful move shattered and destroyed large and small cliffs and bizarre rock formations. The area became a wasteland that was covered in thick dust. Kim Ho¡¯s figure was obscured by the dust but, [Jo Byeok 100% vs. Kim Ho 100%] [Crystal: 88%] Looking at the scoreboard, it was clear that he hadn¡¯t taken any damage. Jo Byeok silently nodded his head. Impressive. He might have been able to make excuses by saying he lost only because it was a crystal duel battle or due to the handicap. However, now that even his ultimate move had been perfectly neutralized, there was no room for excuses. Jo Byeok spoke to the shadow emerging from the dust. ¡°I acknowledge my defeat. I hope we can have a proper match someday.¡± ¡°Later, if there¡¯s a chance.¡± Kim Ho replied with a nonchalant attitude. It was at that moment that Kim Ho¡¯s name was added to Jo Byeok¡¯s list of strong opponents. [Jo Byeok Lose vs. Kim Ho Win] *** Song Cheon-hye had a hard time believing what she saw. ¡°...You really won.¡± ¡°I told you, I had a plan.¡± Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s strategy was highly successful. As expected, Jo Byeok was quite vulnerable in the chase compared to his actual skills. Still, he was a tough opponent. His keen observation allowed him to understand the connection between Wind Force and Twister in just two moves. Despite his bear-like build, he was surprisingly quick-witted. His subsequent responses were excellent, so the ¡°Jo Byeok Infinite Pushing Strategy¡± I had prepared alongside the ¡°Son Hyeong-taek Strategy¡± had to be quickly abandoned. Of course, there seemed to be no way to counter the technique of propelling myself though. Additionally, the final technique would have fallen on my head whether I responded or not, so I took it head-on. If the shock absorption through the storm cloud had been even slightly off, [Distortion] might have activated. That¡¯s how powerful his ultimate move was. ¡°Well done.¡± Dang Gyu-young approached and offered compliments. Then she lowered her voice and asked me, ¡°...But are you okay with this? It was a perfect game against Jo Byeok.¡± I had won by dodging all the attacks against a promising student of the disciplinary committee. This would naturally draw the attention of those who watched the replay. Moreover, it was even more impressive given the score difference was around 500 points. This raised the question of whether this was the opposite of my intention to stay low-key. I answered casually, ¡°It won¡¯t stand out as much as you think.¡± It was only a crystal duel battle and I had the handicap of a 2.5x charge speed. Plus, I spent the whole time running away with my back turned, so even if I dodged everything, I wouldn¡¯t shake off the label of ¡°coward¡±. If my evaluation were to change, it would probably be something like ¡°a coward but good at dodging¡±. ¡°You can¡¯t hide everything anyway.¡± It was wishful thinking to defeat a strong opponent like Jo Byeok without revealing anything. Therefore, it was much better to show that I was good at running away and dodging rather than revealing my spatial trait of [Distortion]. After listening to that, Dang Gyu-young acknowledged the logic. ¡°Okay, as long as you¡¯re fine with it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go settle the score now.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go, everyone.¡± Next, it was time to extort a handful of elixir from Toad Senior. We left the arena with steps that were as light as a feather. Chapter 132: Toad With a Passionate Heart Chapter 132: Toad With a Passionate Heart Kim Gap-doo had been unbearably petty when placing the bet, but he accepted the outcome gracefully without a word of complaint. ¡°We lost.¡± Eventually, he opened his inventory and took out a bunch of elixirs. Not only was he skilled enough to serve as a mentor to third-year students, but he was also the president of a mid-level martial arts club, so his resources were enormous. Even so, each elixir was precious enough to be reluctant to part with, but a promise was a promise, and he distributed them without hesitation. [Great Blue Pill (B)] [Three-Hundred-Year-Old Ginseng (B-)] I guess I¡¯ll be attending the Mana Cultivation Room for a while. The great blue pill was renowned as one of the top pills in the Elixir series, and the three-hundred-year-old ginseng had accumulated substantial energy over the years so it was quite the high-grade item. To absorb all that massive energy as nutrients for my [Core], I would need to spend many nights in the Mana Cultivation Room. These were just the elixirs I received alone, and our team had four members in total. Even with such a significant outlay of elixirs, Kim Gap-doo didn¡¯t stop there; he also shared elixirs with his mentees. ¡°You all worked hard too.¡± ¡°Th-thank you.¡± ¡°Amitabha...¡± Even after all that, the fact that his inventory wasn¡¯t empty showcased the strength of the martial arts club president, Kim Gap-doo. Next, Kim Gap-doo spoke to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°I¡¯ll also transfer the promised rights immediately.¡± ¡°No need to rush.¡± But Dang Gyu-young slowly shook her head. There was no need to take all the rights at once, as they would eventually come to her anyway. If she took everything now, it would be plentiful for the moment, but Kim Gap-doo¡¯s position in the martial arts club would be severely shaken, and the club president might be replaced by the second semester. There was no guarantee that the new club president would be friendly toward Dang Gyu-young and her Thieves Club. On the other hand, if the rights were transferred gradually, it would be easier for Kim Gap-doo to control the club¡¯s opinion and ensure his position until graduation. Maintaining a good relationship with the club was far more beneficial. I¡¯m not in a hurry either. In return for showing some of my skills, the promised shares were a special training room season pass for the second semester and a Crafting VIP Ticket. Since it was only the middle of the first semester, there was no use in getting the second semester season pass now, and it wasn¡¯t too late to consider the VIP ticket after gathering all the materials. Kim Gap-doo seemed to understand these intentions and expressed his gratitude. ¡°Thank you. Thanks to you, I¡¯ll keep my position.¡± Then he paused for a moment, looked at Dang Gyu-young with a lonely expression, and asked in a sad tone. ¡°...Am I really not good enough?¡± ¡°Yeah, I absolutely hate you.¡± Without a second¡¯s hesitation, Dang Gyu-young drove a metaphorical nail deep into Kim Gap-doo¡¯s heart. Kim Gap-doo¡¯s face rapidly became pitiful, and he was on the verge of bursting into tears but managed to hold back and regain his composure. Seeing this, Dang Gyu-young responded again with a more serious attitude. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just don¡¯t have feelings for you.¡± ¡°...If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s nothing I can do. I understand. Live happily ever after, Dang Gyu-young.¡± ¡°Live happi¡ª¡± After throwing out a phrase ripe for misunderstanding, Kim Gap-doo sighed deeply and then turned his head towards me. ¡°Your name is Kim Ho, right?¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to talk with you for a moment. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fine.¡± As I followed Kim Gap-doo to a corner of the arena, I could hear Dang Gyu-young desperately trying to explain from behind. ¡°We¡¯re not like that. We¡¯re not even close to being like that. Don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°.......¡± Given the peculiar looks she received from Kwak Ji-cheol and Song Cheon-hye, it was questionable whether her explanation had been effective. Still, I trusted Dang Gyu-young to handle the aftermath and followed Kim Gap-doo. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± A silence settled between us for a while. Dang Gyu-young gazed at the arena with a more complicated expression than usual and occasionally turned her head to look at me. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Just, a lot of things are on my mind.¡± This senior was human too, so even if she wasn¡¯t interested in Kim Gap-doo, she wouldn¡¯t be able to forget today¡¯s events right away as if they never happened. ¡°I have a very effective solution for times like this.¡± ¡°...What is it?¡± Dang Gyu-young was intrigued and asked again. And I answered in a rather serious tone. ¡°Sparring. When you move your body vigorously, all distracting thoughts tend to fly away.¡± ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled faintly. Then, she slowly brought her hands to my face and pulled my cheeks. ¡°Your head is always full of sparring, you brat.¡± ¡°Shish jeally jocks joe (This really works though).¡± Dang Gyu-young looked at me with eyes that seemed to find me incredibly annoying and kept pulling my cheeks. She said they were soft and fun to pull, and lately, it has become a complete habit of hers. Then, she burst into a chuckle and stood up from her seat. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go stretch our bodies.¡± We entered the arena through the teleportation magic circle and stood facing each other. Soon, Dang Gyu-young who was holding a shadow hammer as big as her upper body charged at me with terrifying momentum. When I retreated with Thief¡¯s Step, she slammed it into the ground, barely missing me. ¡°You¡¯re especially aggressive today.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re going to relieve stress, we should do it properly. But this really is effective.¡± ¡°I told you so.¡± Dang Gyu-young already seemed noticeably more at ease. As I continued to retreat, Dang Gyu-young threw the hammer she had been pounding the ground with. The shadow hammer, spinning as it flew, broke into numerous small shadow weapons that rained down. In response, I pointed forward with Root which caused the wind to gather and create a strong whirlwind that spread outward. Whirrrrr¡ª The falling shadow weapons scattered in all directions but then transformed again into dozens of fluttering shadow butterflies. I kept stepping back and extending Root, causing another whirlwind to form and draw the shadow butterflies into its center. Whirrrrr¡ª The merged mass of shadows elongated into a shadow longsword, which Dang Gyu-young then slashed wildly with. Her movements were as dynamic as when she wielded the hammer, but her tone remained casual. ¡°By the way, you haven¡¯t forgotten about going out together this weekend with me, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days since you mentioned it. Of course, I remember. It¡¯s for the club, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah, just following me around will be fun. You can look forward to it.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled confidently. The intention behind this field trip was to pique my interest and get me to join the Thieves Club. Unfortunately, I was too tired and experienced to be interested in such things. I had already figured out that the event she was preparing was the black market. Despite that, I couldn¡¯t help but look forward to it. Though it was for reasons slightly different from Dang Gyu-young¡¯s intentions. There¡¯s a lot to pick up there. Even more than in the temporary storage. Chapter 133: Preliminary Field Trip (1) Chapter 133: Preliminary Field Trip (1) The weekend. While I waited at the designated spot near the dormitory, Dang Gyu-young appeared right on time. Though she was in her usual school uniform, she looked even neater and more put together. On top of that, ¡°Did you put on perfume?¡± ¡°I always do.¡± ¡°It smells different today.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the nose. Take a whiff.¡± When Dang Gyu-young brought her wrist to my nose, a fragrance that was somewhere between floral and fruity tickled my nose.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com Then she playfully tapped my nose and smiled. ¡°I put in a bit more effort today.¡± It wasn¡¯t just because of me but considering the people we were about to meet, she wanted to present herself a little better than usual. ¡°Shall we get going then?¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± Taking the shuttle bus would have been convenient, but there was a risk of being tracked. So we decided to walk to our destination. I followed closely behind Dang Gyu-young. The direction we took was slightly away from the downtown area. We walked along the road and occasionally pushed through parts of the forest where there were no paths. As I quietly followed behind her, Dang Gyu-young who was walking a little ahead glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about where we¡¯re going?¡± In truth, I was more informed than curious, but I didn¡¯t spoil the moment. ¡°I figured you¡¯d tell me when the time was right.¡± ¡°Sometimes I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re just uninterested or incredibly patient. Anyway, I¡¯ll tell you now.¡± At least knowing the basic purpose of our trip would be beneficial. Dang Gyu-young finally uttered a single word. ¡°Black market. It¡¯s the black market.¡± It¡¯s an event hosted by the thieves club where numerous prohibited items are actively traded. The biggest reason for holding the black market at this time is because of mentoring. Most of the mentors coming from outside the dungeon island are graduates of the Dragon Slayer Academy. That¡¯s why they understood students¡¯ needs better than anyone else, carefully selected items to meet those needs, and filled their inventories to the brim. ¡°If we sell to the students, the profit margin is quite high.¡± Moreover, since the customers were students, there was no need to worry about their purchasing power. Most of them were backed by prestigious families, guilds, corporations, or magic towers. And so many items were actively traded throughout the four-week mentoring period. ¡°Trading prohibited items is a bit tricky, though.¡± Selling prohibited items could yield much higher profits than regular ones, but if caught, the items would be confiscated, their reputation as mentors would suffer, and the news would reach their respective factions. Even as graduate mentors, they couldn¡¯t help but be wary of the academy¡¯s watchful eyes. Some might ask, ¡°Why not just avoid selling them? Isn¡¯t selling regular items enough?¡± ¡°But the demand for such items is just that big.¡± Another major reason the black market was held at this time was that midterms were just around the corner. With midterms and finals accounting for a significant portion of their grades, resisting the temptation of prohibited items became even harder. The mindset was that even if they had to take some risks, achieving good grades in the midterms would make the rest of the semester much easier. In summary, the mentors aimed to empty their inventories as much as possible before leaving the Dungeon Island after mentoring ended. The students, on the other hand, wanted to secure useful prohibited items to prepare for the midterms. ¡°Quite talented, aren¡¯t you? Or maybe I¡¯m just past my prime.¡± ¡°This one is a bit unusual for a first-year.¡± ¡°Right? It can¡¯t be that I¡¯m outdated. The future of the thieves club looks bright.¡± To this, Dang Gyu-young just smiled instead of replying. After all, I wasn¡¯t actually a club member. She subtly sent me a look asking, ¡°Why don¡¯t you join already?¡± but when I deliberately avoided her gaze, she pouted with her lips. However, with the two graduates in front of us, she couldn¡¯t stay distracted for long so she asked the woman with the tear mole, ¡°Why are you outside? You could be resting.¡± ¡°Just couldn¡¯t stay still, wanted to see if anyone was coming.¡± They had been keeping watch outside to ensure that the Disciplinary Committee wouldn¡¯t discover the meeting location. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Yes, seniors.¡± When we stepped inside the building, those lounging on the sofas and playing cards turned their attention towards us. Among them were the twins I had seen before, Shin Byeong-cheol, and some second and third-year students. Across from them, there were more men who appeared to be graduates and they started exchanging light greetings with Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Hello, Gyu-young.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Including the shrewd man and the woman with the tear mole, there were a total of five graduates. Most of them had previously been associated with Dang Gyu-young or the thieves club or were closely connected with the Thieves Guild which operated outside the Dragon Slayer Academy. Even if they weren¡¯t closely connected, the mentors had their own personal interests, and on the issue of the black market, they tended to side with the thieves¡¯ club over the Disciplinary Committee. It seemed likely that Dang Gyu-young had sought out one or two of them for help. However, it was uncommon for as many as five graduates to help out. While I didn¡¯t know how many graduates or faculty members would side with the Disciplinary Committee, the five in front of us were already a formidable force. For me, it was a stroke of good luck. This should make for a smooth ride. Isn¡¯t it best to just pick up prohibited items without doing any of the work? As we moved deeper into the building, the loud humming sound of machinery struck my ears. The source of the noise was dozens of monitors filling an entire room. Most of the screens were black but a few displayed images of empty rooms. On one side, Chae Da-bin was busy tapping away on a tablet. From time to time, she glanced up at the monitors and then resumed her tapping. Each time she did so, one of the black screens lit up. With this level of setup, it seemed they intended to use this place not just as a temporary gathering spot but as a full-fledged control tower. Dang Gyu-yeong watched Chae Da-bin and seized the moment when she paused. ¡°Da-bin, step out for a moment.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chae Da-bin immediately put down her tablet and followed her out. In the adjacent room, which resembled a conference room, the members of the thieves club and the graduates were all gathered. Surprisingly, the man with the shrewd appearance seemed to have the strongest authority among the five graduates. Seeing him naturally take the head seat and draw everyone¡¯s attention confirmed this. After surveying the room, the shrewd man began to speak. ¡°Let¡¯s start the meeting.¡± Chapter 134: Preliminary Field Trip (2) Chapter 134: Preliminary Field Trip (2) ¡°President? Please speak~.¡± Perhaps the only goal of this shrewd-looking man in the first place was to draw everyone¡¯s attention, and he immediately passed the floor as soon as the meeting started. Dang Gyu-young who was standing in the head seat continued. ¡°As you all may have heard, there were quite a few unpleasant incidents at last year¡¯s black market.¡± Last year¡¯s black market arrest rate reached an all-time high. Despite the operation method being almost the same as before, this result indicated that the capabilities of the opposing disciplinary committee had greatly improved. And at the center of it was Kwak Seung-jae who was a first-year at the time. Although his fighting power was not exceptionally high for a disciplinary committee member, he possessed tracking abilities capable of finding the traces of second and third-year students. His insight was remarkable and he was able to seize even the smallest clues and tenaciously pursue them in an instant. And with his unique magic that connected rooms with wooden doors, he had been incredibly difficult to deal with. Deals had fallen through left and right because wooden doors had suddenly popped up everywhere. ¡°I want to prevent the same thing from happening this year. I understand if our strength is lacking, but if we fall behind even in espionage, the very existence of the thieves¡¯ club loses its meaning.¡± One of the graduates nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. Although we live with people calling us thieves, we have our own pride and dignity. There are moments we can never back down from.¡± The woman with the teardrop mole added her thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s not just about pride. Negative rumors are already spreading among the mentors. They say proper deals might not happen. If these doubts become entrenched, the very foundation of the black market could be shaken. We need to restore our credibility.¡± And the only way to restore credibility was to successfully complete this year¡¯s Black Market. Dang Gyu-young bowed her head slightly. ¡°Both of you are correct. That¡¯s why we invited the seniors here to ensure everything goes perfectly this year.¡± The graduates weren¡¯t just helping because of their connection with Dang Gyu-young or the thieves¡¯ club. Each of them was also promised a considerable reward. The fact that there were five such graduates showed their determination to make this black market a success, even at great cost. Graduates A and B nodded their heads. ¡°That¡¯s a good resolve. Indeed, President Dang has a unique courage. But... are we only supposed to guard this building? Is that really all?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. This place is the core of our plan.¡± Just like I had guessed from seeing the room filled with monitors, this building was the control tower. A space prepared solely for Chae Da-bin. Last year, the former president of the thieves¡¯ club didn¡¯t make full use of Chae Da-bin because she was a first-year. But this year, Dang Gyu-young had finally taken control and was actively supporting Chae Da-bin to fully make use of her abilities. When Dang Gyu-young signaled with her eyes, Chae Da-bin reported in a calm tone. ¡°We are in the process of taking control of the view inside and outside the meeting and trading spots, as well as the surrounding areas.¡± When we briefly stopped by the room full of monitors, what I saw reflected on the screens were streets, secluded alleys, and empty rooms inside buildings. In other words, what Chae Da-bin was controlling were the crime prevention crystal balls installed all over the place, and she intended to secretly use this view for the black market. ¡°What¡¯s the progress?¡± ¡°It¡¯s currently about 17% complete, and we¡¯re planning to secure everything and start the stabilization process by Wednesday.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s fast.¡± One of the graduates uttered an exclamation of admiration. Dang Gyu-young continued the explanation. ¡°Of course, this might confuse the guests as well. To prevent such mishaps in advance...¡± Just then, a member of the thieves club came in while dragging a cart that rattled as it moved. The front of the cart had a large, eye-catching sign that read ¡°Ice Cream!¡± Dang Gyu-young placed her hand on the cart. ¡°Here, we¡¯ll distribute the tickets from this ¡®contact point¡¯.¡± The contact points of the black market sold various foods like ice cream, hot bars, or fish-shaped buns. They disguised themselves as food stalls to distribute the tickets. Dang Gyu-young, as if to demonstrate, slid open the ice cream cart and took out a cone. She wrapped it in a napkin and handed it forward as if saying, ¡°Don¡¯t spill it.¡± But she quickly tossed the ice cream aside as if it didn¡¯t matter and lightly shook the remaining napkin. For a brief moment, densely written spells were visible. The ice cream and other foods were just decoys; the napkin was the real ¡°ticket¡±. ¡°This ticket will serve as a guide for our guests.¡± It would help them navigate through the confusing formations and prevent them from being driven away, and under the influence of the [Throughwalk], it would tell them exactly which walls to pass through even within a maze-like building. To summarize the process in one go. Those who wanted to participate in the black market would first visit a contact point disguised as a street stall, where they would receive a napkin imbued with a special spell. This napkin was essentially a ticket. Following the lead of this ticket, they would move to the exchange and cross the formations and the walls. Finally, at the designated location, buyers and sellers would meet to trade their goods and conclude the transaction. Meanwhile, Cha Da-bin¡¯s team at the control tower would monitor all situations and issue instructions. Suddenly, the shrewd-looking man raised his hand. He did so because, while the roles of the graduates were all clear, there had been no mention of his own. ¡°Manager? What should I do?¡± ¡°You are a reserve force. Stand by and assist if a situation arises.¡± ¡°If nothing happens, can I just relax?¡± ¡°If nothing happens, yes.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled slightly, but somehow that smile seemed to convey the underlying message that such a situation was unlikely to happen. The disciplinary committee was determined to disrupt the black market so it was unlikely that nothing would happen. The shrewd-looking man knew this, so his expression quickly turned weary. No matter how you looked at him, this guy was the handsome version of Shin Byeong-cheol. Dang Gyu-young glanced at the shrewd-looking man and asked Cha Da-bin. ¡°How far have we secured visibility?¡± ¡°Exchange A and Exchange E are safe.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Dang Gyu-young looked around the group and spoke. ¡°Then let¡¯s test if what I mentioned earlier is working properly. Everyone except the control tower team, move to the downtown area.¡± Chapter 135: Preliminary Field Trip (3) Chapter 135: Preliminary Field Trip (3) When dozens of students swarmed through the downtown area, it was impossible to avoid attracting attention. Especially if those dozens of students were all members of the thieves club, it was practically advertising, ¡°Hey, we¡¯re suspicious people~ and we¡¯re here to do suspicious things~!¡± Therefore, we decided to split into smaller groups and meet at the destination and I ended up alone with Dang Gyu-young again. Dang Gyu-young asked me as we walked side by side. ¡°After observing a bit, what do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s interesting. I can see you¡¯ve done a lot of preparation.¡± The participation of five graduate mentors, the thorough security with double and triple safety measures, and so on. Last year¡¯s black market was said to be a failure, but it seemed they had sharpened their skills this year. However, since the student disciplinary committee was no easy opponent, we would have to wait and see who would have the last laugh. Dang Gyu-young smiled happily. She seemed satisfied with my answer. ¡°Huhum, I¡¯m glad I brought you along.¡± Today¡¯s main goal for showing me around was to pique my interest, and seeing that I was intrigued, she seemed to think that she had achieved her objective. Then she subtly made a suggestion to me. ¡°Do you want to get involved?¡± It was a question about whether I was interested in participating as a mercenary like I did during the temporary storage infiltration. Of course, I was interested but I thought it would be better to hear everything before deciding, so I asked back. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°You see that annoying-looking senior? Stick with him.¡± From Dang Gyu-young¡¯s perspective, the annoying-looking senior was definitely that shrewd-looking man among the graduates. It meant that, like his role, I should stand by as a reserve power and help out in case of an unexpected situation. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that too much to ask of me? I can¡¯t handle the second and third-year disciplinary committee members.¡± ¡°Who said anything about fighting? Just create some distraction and then back off. You¡¯re good at that, right?¡± ¡°Alright then. What about the compensation?¡± ¡°You, you¡¯re looking for prohibited items, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Most of the people selling items on the black market were graduates. Therefore, far more items of much higher rank were up for sale compared to the temporary storage we infiltrated at the beginning of the semester. There was no better opportunity to secure prohibited items. Dang Gyu-young smiled as if she knew this would be the case. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re looking for. I¡¯ll let you know as soon as it comes up for sale.¡± The thieves¡¯ club had the advantage of being able to clearly see the prohibited items being traded while connecting sellers and buyers. Making use of this advantage, she promised to secure the items I was looking for and give me priority in transactions. From my perspective, this was exactly what I wanted. Due to the influence of the EX-rank quest, the characters had changed, and naturally, the items they possessed had also changed. Therefore, it was impossible to predict what would appear in this black market. It was a situation where a lot of legwork was needed, but if the thieves¡¯ club could take on that effort, it would save me a great deal of time and effort. And the type of prohibited items I was looking for was, just like in the temporary storage infiltration, Elemental Penalty Items. I had picked up two items at that time. The [Inferno Fist] skill book and two [Heart of Thunder] gems, which were still lying quietly in a corner of my dormitory. Using them would incur a massive elemental penalty, but in my case I could almost completely nullify it with my S-rank [Elemental Resistance]. It was essentially a choice that allowed me to take the benefits without the penalties. It was the best option for now. So I handed Dang Gyu-young a piece of paper. ¡°This is what I¡¯m looking for.¡± ¡°What, you already made a list?¡± ¡°I was going to ask for your help anyway, but I¡¯m just grateful that you suggested it first.¡± ¡°.......¡± I was puzzled but I loosened my grip and she quickly snatched it away. When I turned toward her, I found her eyes filled with mischief so I asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly take my napkin?¡± ¡°Try it without a marker, just once.¡± ¡°Do you mean passing through the formation without a marker?¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm.¡± ¡°What do you gain from this, senior-nim?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious about how you¡¯ll do it.¡± Looking at her again, I saw not only mischief in her eyes but also anticipation. She probably wants to see me wandering around lost and finally getting chased out, but unfortunately for her, that wish won¡¯t come true. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Senior-nim, but I won¡¯t get lost.¡± ¡°Even without a marker?¡± ¡°If I do it well, yes.¡± At that, the graduates who had been watching us with amusement, like they were watching a sitcom, joined the conversation. The woman with the tear mole spoke first. ¡°That¡¯s not something I can just ignore. I put a lot of effort into setting up this formation, you know. It won¡¯t be easily broken through.¡± She wore a soft smile on her face like when we first met, but there was a chilling undertone to it. I guess my words had subtly touched her pride. I responded politely. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to belittle your skills, senior. It¡¯s just that I have a better sense than most people, so I thought I might be able to navigate through this as well.¡± ¡°...¡± The woman with the tear mole stared at me silently, as if deep in thought. Since I had immediately seen through her invisible ghillie suit during our first meeting, she seemed to somewhat agree with my claim about having a good sense. Still, she seemed skeptical about whether my sense was enough to nullify the formation she had confidently set up. Next, the middle-aged graduate spoke. His role in the black market was to apply [Throughwalk] to buildings and create mazes. He pointed at Exchange A which was his creation with a glance. ¡°If your sense is that good, can you navigate through that without a marker?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to try to find out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not saying you can¡¯t do it.¡± The middle-aged graduate laughed as if he found this amusing. The two graduates then put their heads together. They seemed to be discussing something. Judging by their occasional glances in my direction, they were definitely talking about me. After a while, they seemed to reach a conclusion and made me an offer. ¡°Then let¡¯s do this. We will wait for you inside that building. Try to come to us without any markers.¡± ¡°What happens if I succeed?¡± ¡°If you succeed, I¡¯ll get you anything you want from this black market.¡± It was quite a tempting offer. Dang Gyu-young promised me to secure the item and also to arrange the transaction. But buying that prohibited item was another matter. The only valuable item I had for the transaction was the large ruby I got from Hong Yeon-hwa, but I was hesitant to use it since jewelry items have many uses later on. However, if I succeeded now, they would buy that expensive prohibited item for me. Since there was nothing to lose even if I failed, I had no reason to refuse. I bowed respectfully. ¡°I accept your test, seniors.¡± TN: Bruh, stop betting against this mf... Chapter 136: Preliminary Field Trip (4) Chapter 136: Preliminary Field Trip (4) When I accepted the bet, the middle-aged graduate nodded his head. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll go inside and wait.¡± He lightly placed his hand on the shoulder of the woman with the tear mole, and the two walked toward one side of the building. Then they passed through the wall and disappeared inside. Dang Gyu-young watched them go and then asked, ¡°Kim Ho, honestly, this all started as a prank, but... hasn¡¯t this gotten out of hand?¡± Dang Gyu-young had just wanted to see me flustered for a moment and took my napkin, but she hadn¡¯t expected me to claim I could manage without a mark. Before she could respond, the graduates had joined in the conversation, and in just a few exchanges, things escalated rapidly and the bet was made before she could even stop it. It was an understandably troubling situation from Dang Gyu-young¡¯s perspective. I agreed that things had escalated. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t look good if I failed.¡± If I traced back to the start of the bet, it was my unintentional slight to their pride that caused it. So if I failed, the graduates would think of me as a ¡°first-year who got in over his head¡±. Dang Gyu-young who had introduced me as a ¡°junior I value¡± would also take a hit. But I remained nonchalant. ¡°That¡¯s why I just need to succeed.¡± ¡°...You really have confidence. Are you sure your sense is that good? Is it reliable?¡± ¡°At least, I trust it.¡± As for the identity of my ¡°excellent sense¡±? It was the sense of a stagnant water honed through countless experiences. As I kept constantly producing S-rank heroes like a factory, my own skills steadily improved, and I developed an uncanny ability to detect even the slightest oddities. Long ago, I used to scrutinize the reasons behind every little oddity, but now I don¡¯t bother with the trivial ones. The important thing is, I just know at a glance. Like seeing through the invisible ghillie suit in an instant. Dang Gyu-young sighed softly as if to say she didn¡¯t know anymore. ¡°Fine, do as you will. Our 200-time graduate, or rather our great senior, must know best.¡± She then stepped back a little and folded her arms. It seemed she had switched to observer mode. I turned my back on Dang Gyu-young and began to move forward. The distance between me and Exchange A wasn¡¯t far. The building was within sight, and with just a little more walking, I would be inside. As long as I handle the formation well. If I handled it poorly, this short distance could stretch indefinitely. As I moved a bit further, my stagnant water senses kicked in. It meant I had entered the influence of the formation. At the same time, I roughly identified what kind it was. A confusion formation. A formation that disoriented the sense of distance, speed, and direction of anyone within its range. For example, I might perceive myself as running forward but could actually be slowly walking backward. Or I might think I had turned a corner at a 90-degree angle when, in reality, I might be walking in place. In this way, the formation guided unwelcome guests lurking near the exchange in another direction and eventually made them leave the area. And according to the woman with the tear mole, this process was done so naturally that the person involved wouldn¡¯t even notice. Just like now. After taking a few more steps, my stagnant water sensor sent a signal and I immediately made a sharp turn. However, despite the sudden change in direction, the scene before me was exactly the same as it had been a moment ago. The formation tried to lead me away but I saw through it and corrected my path. After going a little further, I suddenly took a sidestep and moved to the side. After completing the cross-verification, the next thing that arose was doubt. Did they not do it properly? Did the seniors set up the formation carelessly? Or did they not set it up at all? Wait? Did they secretly conspire with Kim Ho? To trick me? Is this a hidden camera prank? However, the two graduates were equally baffled. They were watching Kim Ho through the screen shared by the control tower, and they saw the same scene Dang Gyu-young did. They exchanged puzzled looks. The middle-aged graduate asked, ¡°Did you set up the formation properly?¡± ¡°Of course I did. I set it up properly but...¡± The woman with the tear mole tilted her head in confusion. Did I miss something important? For example, what if she had miscalculated or set the range incorrectly and that prevented the formation from functioning as it should? The fact that the [Throughwalk] spell was working properly was demonstrated by Kim Ho who was effortlessly moving from one room to another in the video. On the other hand, the formation¡¯s manifestation wasn¡¯t directly visible. Especially with formations designed to confuse the opponent like this one. One could only guess based on seeing the opponent wander around. However, Kim Ho¡¯s movements were so natural that even the person who set up the formation felt doubtful. ¡°Hmmm...¡± Dang Gyu-young rested her chin on her hand, furrowed her brow, then relaxed it, and frowned again. No matter how much she thought about it from different angles, a clear answer didn¡¯t come to her mind. In that case, there was only one way left. I¡¯ll just have to try it myself. If she wanted to confirm whether the formation was working correctly, she would have to experience it personally. After all, there was no risk of getting hurt, and as the president, she had the right to verify its performance. Dang Gyu-young handed a napkin to a member who was waiting nearby. ¡°Hold this for a moment.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Since she had handed over the marker, she would now be fully affected by the formation. Dang Gyu-young trudged forward and started following in Kim Ho¡¯s footsteps. The entrance to Exchange A was gradually getting closer. ...It really seems like nothing¡¯s happening. She didn¡¯t sense anything strange at all. However, what she didn¡¯t notice was that the speed at which the surroundings moved slowed down imperceptibly each time she took a step. Dang Gyu-young who had been walking forward without any issue suddenly stopped in place when she finally felt something was off. Despite having walked quite a distance, the entrance to the exchange was still at almost the same distance. She quickly gathered her thoughts and looked around before realizing that she was about to enter the downtown area. The sound of people¡¯s chatter and laughter filled the air. Dang Gyu-young let out a wry smile. The formation¡¯s performance is solid. She was kicked out quite naturally and without her realizing it. This meant the formation was working perfectly. And it was also proof that Kim Ho had broken through the formation. ¡°His sense is really sharp, for real.¡± Chapter 137: Graffiti Chapter 137: Graffiti ¡°I can¡¯t believe it...¡± The eyes of the two graduates were filled with disbelief. It was because I had broken through the formation and maze at a speed far beyond their expectations and appeared before them. They must have watched the entire process through the crystal ball so the shock was even greater. The confusing formations inside and outside the building were very responsive but I was able to react quickly and get out of the way whenever they tried to disorient me. And I navigated the rooms intertwined like a maze as if they were my own home using the Throughwalk spell. Without even looking around to see which walls were walls and which paths led to other places, I found the correct answers, so it¡¯s no wonder they were bewildered. At first, it seemed they were thinking, ¡°How dare a first-year student be so arrogant?¡± but the results were so overwhelming that those thoughts disappeared completely. In addition, they seemed to show a hint of awe. The middle-aged graduate calmed himself and asked, ¡°Do you perhaps possess detection or exploration-type skills or traits?¡± Their disbelief was understandable because, by their logic, what I had done would have been impossible without such skills. In reality, I had accomplished it all with my stagnant water sensor, but explaining or convincing them of that was impossible, so I gave a vague answer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t give you a definitive answer. I hope you understand.¡± This seemed to be a sufficient response for the two graduates. They took it as me possessing a powerful detection skill or trait but not wanting to reveal it. In this game world, probing too deeply into someone¡¯s skills or traits could be seen as a significant breach of etiquette. It could easily be interpreted as ¡°I want to analyze your abilities and find your weaknesses to destroy you.¡± So, when I politely declined once, he had no choice but to drop the matter, though he did click his tongue. At that moment, Dang Gyu-young appeared over the wall and he spoke to her. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing this guy didn¡¯t join the disciplinary committee. The thieves¡¯ club would have faced dark times. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Dang Gyu-young did not seem to agree very much. She acknowledged my astonishing sense but couldn¡¯t imagine the owner of ¡°Inferno Fist¡± in the disciplinary committee club. Still, she nodded along, considering it was her senior speaking. ¡°It¡¯s impressive that you recognized such talent early and brought him in. Your eye for talent is remarkable, President Dang.¡± ¡°Haha, eye for talent? Not at all.¡± Dang Gyu-young awkwardly smiled and waved her hand dismissively. She hadn¡¯t anticipated things would turn out this way, and since I wasn¡¯t even a member before, it seemed difficult for her to find an appropriate response. The middle-aged graduate turned his gaze back to me. ¡°As promised, I¡¯ll get you anything listed on the black market. Investing in someone like you is never a waste.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll gratefully accept.¡± ¡°Is there something specific you¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made a list. The president has it.¡± ¡°Really? Let¡¯s take a look.¡± Dang Gyu-young, again with an awkward smile, handed over the paper slip she had received on the way to the downtown area. The two graduates were curious about what kind of items someone with my skills might be looking for and read through the list with intense attention. ¡°......!?¡± Their expressions turned strange as they encountered the array of highly dangerous items. Despite the brief incident, the middle-aged graduate and the woman with the tear mole continued to show great interest in me as they bombarded me with questions. They even put aside their pride as graduates and seriously sought my advice, asking if there were any notable flaws or areas for improvement in the confusion formation and Throughwalk maze they had designed. From my perspective, even though it was a reward for a bet, the quality of the items I was to receive was quite high so I felt I should at least do something in return. Additionally, if this black market deal went smoothly, I would be able to use it without any issues next year and the year after. Therefore, I gave them sincere and thorough feedback to the best of my ability, and based on my advice, the security of the exchange was further strengthened. Around the time the black market matters were somewhat settled, Dang Gyu-young appeared with all sorts of snacks, including skewered grilled meat. It seemed she had swept through the street vendors at the meeting point. She handed me a chicken skewer. Since these were her own words, Dang Gyu-young pouted silently. Normally, she would have coaxed me into answering somehow, but this time she couldn¡¯t. My expression was too serious. I couldn¡¯t help but be serious because the person who etched this graffiti, this cipher, is no ordinary opponent. A secret society. Moreover, they belong to a hostile faction against the Dragon Slayer Academy. To them, the Dragon Slayer Academy where future heroes gather was a thorn in their side. They wouldn¡¯t just leave it alone. They would want to reduce our numbers by any means before we fully grow, And to do that, they would first have to penetrate the tight security and infiltrate Dungeon Island. The optimal time for that is, During the mentoring period. With a huge influx of people from outside, including graduates, the security on Dungeon Island becomes relatively lax. I suspect that the event boss performing a magic show in the downtown area also slipped in around this time. Since they succeeded in infiltrating, that¡¯s why there¡¯s a cipher here. And what this cipher signifies is, Time and place. In other words, they were signaling their presence to someone else and calling for a rendezvous at a specific time and place. It was clear that if those scattered individuals gathered in one place, the problem would become more serious. However, judging by the state of the graffiti, it seemed one side hadn¡¯t seen it yet. If that¡¯s the case... Things would get a bit easier. I took out my magic dagger and scratched the wall, adding a few lines and dots to the graffiti. It looked seamless as if it had been that way from the start. As a result, the time and place for their meeting changed entirely. One side would be stood up, and the other would head to the wrong location. Dang Gyu-young who had been watching my actions from the start raised her eyebrows. ¡°You changed it? The cipher?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°How did you know to do that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°I won¡¯t teach you¡± and ¡°It¡¯s a secret¡± were my consistent responses but Dang Gyu-young no longer pouted her lips. Instead, she asked in a cautious tone. ¡°Is it....by any chance, related to world peace?¡± ¡°.......¡± Keywords like ¡°world peace¡± or ¡°graduated 200 times¡± were usually jokes between us, but sometimes they were used seriously. Like that night when we left the disciplinary room for a walk, and like now. When I silently nodded my head in affirmation, Dang Gyu-young stepped closer and met my gaze. ¡°I know it¡¯s dangerous. But I still want to help. I told you.¡± If my vow that none of my people would die or get hurt was truly sincere, she was willing to become my accomplice. I could see her resolve in her eyes. I slowly nodded my head up and down. However, it wasn¡¯t a complete agreement. ¡°Not now. I¡¯ll tell you everything when the time comes.¡± ¡°......Alright, promise.¡± Dang Gyu-young extended her pinky finger, and I extended mine to link with hers. Chapter 138: What Does This Look Like? Chapter 138: What Does This Look Like? I confirmed that the hostile forces had successfully infiltrated Dungeon Island, but there was no need to be scared prematurely. They should be quiet for now anyway. During the mentoring period, the island was crawling with graduates which significantly restricted the enemy¡¯s activities. Whatever incident they caused would be quickly suppressed and ended, so they would have to wait for the right moment to maximize damage. Until the first mentoring period ended and all the graduates left. They¡¯ll probably make their move around midterms. The date mentioned in the cipher text was also around that time. So, there was only one thing I could do now. Hone my skills. Therefore, I called Dang Gyu-young over for the rest of the weekend and had sparring sessions with her. When I pestered her with, ¡°Senior-nim, let¡¯s spar, let¡¯s spar,¡± she grumbled about how annoying it was but still sparred with me. But no matter what, I couldn¡¯t monopolize the time of a third-year club president indefinitely, so I trained alone during the remaining time. If the top priority was ranking up skills through the mentoring event, the next priority was refining my core in the Mana Cultivation Room. The elixirs I received from Kim Gap-doo were [Great Blue Pil] and [Three-Hundred-Year-Old Ginseng]. I first consumed the relatively weaker Three Hundred-Year-Old Ginseng before starting my energy circulation training. Of course, ¡°relatively¡± weaker still meant that the energy contained in the B-rank elixir was immense. I spent the entire weekend night in the special cultivation room, and by Monday morning, I still hadn¡¯t absorbed it all. It was a pity, but it seemed like I would have to complete my academic schedule first and then continue with the mana cultivation at night. As usual, I intended to wake up Seo Ye-in and have breakfast together. But surprisingly, I received a message from her. [Seo Ye-in: (Peek-a-boo cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (Patting cat emoji)] The sun must be rising in the west... That human sloth actually woke up early and contacted me first. Such a thing was unusual, but it wasn¡¯t totally impossible. [Kim Ho: Did you bake cookies?] [Seo Ye-in: Yes] [Seo Ye-in: (Chef cat emoji 1)] [Seo Ye-in: (Chef cat emoji 2)] [Seo Ye-in: !!] [Kim Ho: (Cat licking lips emoji)] [Kim Ho: Had breakfast?] [Seo Ye-in: Not yet] [Kim Ho: Let¡¯s eat breakfast first] I found a spot in the student cafeteria and sat across from Seo Ye-in. Today¡¯s menu was simple fried rice omelet. The rice was perfectly stir-fried and wrapped in a very thin egg omelet. The kitchen staff¡¯s skills were fully demonstrated, making the food comparable to any popular restaurant. Nevertheless, Seo Ye-in ate a bit more slowly than usual, not because it didn¡¯t taste good but probably because she was already a little full. She must have eaten a few cookies while baking. I didn¡¯t mind as long as she ate well and got the necessary nutrients. Meanwhile, I shifted my gaze behind Seo Ye-in, ¡°...¡± Ahn Jeong-mi sat quietly in an inconspicuous corner a little distance away. Her posture was so composed that it was hard to tell if she was eating, but judging by her plate, the omelet rice was disappearing quickly. Her spoon moved so fast it was almost invisible as she too took one bite after another. While maintaining her poise and eating quickly at the same time, she occasionally glanced over to check if Seo Ye-in was eating well. It was multitasking taken to the extreme. I felt both respect and pity for Ahn Jeong-mi. I must never become a butler. And I should never consider joining Hye-seong Group. After finishing our omelet rice, we moved to a quieter place. We sat side by side on a bench there and Seo Ye-in rustled through a paper bag. Finally, the cookies made their appearance. She baked a lot. When Seo Ye-in turned around, Ahn Jeong-mi quickly switched to a formal stance but her message had been clear. ¡°Elephant.¡± Correct again. Seo Ye-in nodded slightly and placed the brachio-elephant cookie into my mouth. The shape-matching challenge continued. Of course, the essence of the game had long since shifted to a game of guessing words based on Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s hand and foot gestures. Anyway, after I got a few more answers right, Seo Ye-in was satisfied with her aesthetic sense, didn¡¯t ask further, and started munching cookies with me. Meanwhile, Ahn Jeong-mi with her face even redder kept fanning herself with her hands. When our eyes met, I bowed my head slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°...No, it is I who should be thanking you.¡± When I asked what she meant with my eyes, Ahn Jeong-mi continued. ¡°The truth is, when the young Miss and Kim Ho-nim went to the downtown area, there was an opposing opinion that it might be excessive to give you B-rank coupons.¡± Previously, as a gesture of gratitude for helping and motivating Seo Ye-in with her training, Ahn Jeong-mi had given me one B-rank item exchange coupon and another to get an item that Seo Ye-in might cherish. However, it seemed that the opposing faction within the Future Strategy Office didn¡¯t find this very acceptable. There was also the risk of wasting the precious B-rank exchange coupons meaninglessly. ¡°But thanks to Kim Ho-nim¡¯s performance that exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations, I saved face. Thank you.¡± Finding a bracelet that Seo Ye-in liked and giving her an A-rank item in exchange for the B-rank coupon must have silenced the opposition faction. I anticipated that if I continued to achieve meaningful results with Seo Ye-in, the support from the Future Strategy Office would continue even after the mentoring ended. ¡°I heard you also got the same bracelet, Kim Ho-nim.¡± ¡°Yes, it dropped as a set of two.¡± When Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s gaze dropped to my wrist, I summoned a storm cloud as if to show it off. Pop! A cloud that was the size of a fist floated around. Seo Ye-in who had been watching quietly poked the cloud with her finger. The cloud drifted in the direction it was poked, then floated back around. Pop! Seo Ye-in also summoned a white fluffy cloud. The white cloud approached the dark cloud as if in greeting but the dark cloud didn¡¯t seem very pleased. When the fluffy cloud came close, the storm cloud shrank back slightly and then bumped it away. However, the fluffy cloud persistently followed the storm cloud. The fluffy and storm clouds bumped into each other and bounced around. As if they were playing a game of tag. I watched them in silence and then asked Ahn Jeong-mi. ¡°How was last week¡¯s mentoring?¡± ¡°It was very successful.¡± The rank of her [Feather Walk] has been steadily climbing for a few weeks now, and it¡¯s already at C-rank. She had already surpassed the first-year average, and her proficiency had been raised enough to be useful in real-life situations. I¡¯ve heard that with such drastically increased mobility, she was able to dodge and get close enough to Kwak Ji-cheo to fire her shotgun. If she could follow through well for the last week, it would be fine, but... ¡°It¡¯s just...¡± Ahn Jeong-mi looked at Seo Ye-in with worried eyes. I also noticed something as soon as I saw her in the morning. ¡°She seems to have lost a lot of motivation.¡± ¡°... That¡¯s right.¡± The first week of mentoring drew Seo Ye-in¡¯s interest by teaching her the new skill of [Feather Walk], The second week was motivated by a promise to go out with me to the downtown area together on the weekend. With the energy recharged from the downtown outing, she barely made it through the third week, but I don¡¯t know what will get this human sloth moving this week. It¡¯s a problem that Ahn Jeong-mi can¡¯t solve, so she will need my help again. I thought for a moment with a cookie in my mouth and then answered. ¡°I will find a way.¡± If I compared this week¡¯s strategy battle sessions with my training schedule, Perhaps a breakthrough might become clear. Chapter 139: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (1) Chapter 139: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (1) Strategy Battle Class. Teacher Seo Cheong-yong wrote a word on the blackboard. [Guardian] ¡°Okay, let¡¯s start with a quick review. What is the role of a guardian in a dungeon?¡± A model student in the front row raised her hand and said, ¡°To protect.¡± ¡°What do they protect?¡± ¡°Well... it varies from dungeon to dungeon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. In the last strategy battle, you acted as guardians and protected the statue of the goddess. Now, let¡¯s each share what we felt while defending.¡± Several students raised their hands, and Teacher Seo Cheong-yong pointed to them one by one. The first student chosen began to speak. ¡°No matter how well we defended near the statue of the goddess, it still took some damage, so it seemed better to keep the monsters from entering the temple at all.¡± ¡°Exactly. Although the ultimate goal is to protect the statue of the goddess, allowing any intrusion into the temple itself is a loss. It was practically the same as defending the temple. Next?¡± Teacher Seo Cheong-yong then pointed to the second student. ¡°It felt much harder to defend once the side walls were breached.¡± ¡°Why did it feel harder?¡± When Teacher Seo Cheong-yong asked again, the second student briefly recalled and answered. ¡°...I think it was because I got confused about where to block first and which side to prioritize.¡± ¡°You observed correctly. The more defensive points there are, the more choices and distribution become necessary. However, there¡¯s no guarantee that the distributed forces will exactly match the enemy¡¯s strength, so it becomes more difficult than blocking just one place. Next?¡± The third student chosen began to speak. ¡°It was the most difficult when the Beheader Goblin appeared.¡± ¡°Really? Why was it the most difficult?¡± ¡°Because while blocking that, we didn¡¯t have the resources to block other places, so areas that usually didn¡¯t get breached started to get breached.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly right.¡± Teacher Seo Cheong-yong seemed quite pleased, perhaps because the desired answers were coming out smoothly. ¡°Let¡¯s summarize. For the enemies to destroy the end goal, which is the statue of the goddess, they first had to infiltrate the temple. Since the main gate defense was rarely breached, they created a new attack route and breached the side walls to disperse your defenses. Lastly, they used a strong card, the Beheader Goblin, to force your forces to concentrate in one place, making other areas vulnerable. Do you all understand up to this point?¡± Everyone nodded or answered with a small ¡°yes.¡±. Teacher Seo Cheong-yong smiled warmly and said, ¡°Then remember what we just talked about, because this week we will be on the attacking side.¡± The blackboard was wiped clean, and the rules and environment were displayed. MAP: [Cave] RULE: [Crystal] [Strong Enemy] [Double] [Random Rule] ¡°Everyone got the hang of the crystal rules by now, right?¡± When the crystal rules appeared for the second week in a row, half the faces soured while the other half brightened. Naturally, this depended on whether they had suffered losses or wins due to the new rules the previous week. While the former deathmatch rules were based on direct confrontation and always determined the outcome by sheer force, the crystal rules didn¡¯t guarantee victory solely based on fighting power. Even if one¡¯s fighting power was slightly lower, there was a chance of winning by effectively charging the crystal. For example, because Jo Byeok lacked mobility and pursuit skills, he couldn¡¯t fully demonstrate his abilities and ended up losing the match to me. Additionally, it was said that people like Shin Byeong-cheol who excelled at running away managed to recover quite a few points during this opportunity. Even now, he looked excited like a fish in water, probably thinking that he could score high points just by running away well in the attack match. It¡¯s too early to be so happy. It won¡¯t be as easy as he thinks. The main difference was that while the crystal rules involved one-on-one matches, this week¡¯s attack match involved two people. Sure enough, Seo Cheong-yong took out two crystals. One emitted a red glow, and the other a blue glow. ¡°Now, there¡¯s one sanctuary, two people, and two crystals. Only one crystal can be charged at a time. What does this mean?¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°.......!!¡± Most of the students tilted their heads in confusion, but the quick-witted ones caught on to what Seo Cheong-yong was implying. ¡°Is one person supposed to assist while the other charges?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If we apply what we just reviewed, what should we do?¡± To achieve their goal, they had to infiltrate the enemy base, disperse, and concentrate their forces. They would be busy playing cat and mouse with the Black Death clan leader, and the evidence of our activity, marked by the Inferno Fist, would be all over the place. It would be stranger if they didn¡¯t notice. From the perspective of the swordsmanship club, it was infuriating enough that someone had entered and rummaged through the dungeon before them, but the Black Death dungeon was even up for priority bidding. They had used their priority bidding rights to exert influence at the club level, yet someone had ignored this and entered the dungeon. They could never let this slide. Even if they considered the stolen rewards a loss, if they let this pass after their priority bidding rights were disregarded, there would be second and third attempts to challenge the swordsmanship club¡¯s stronghold in the future. So, they would do whatever it took to find me and make an example of me. Honestly, I did do something wrong. I admitted it readily. At that time, given my skills, raiding the Black Death dungeon was the best way to obtain more than a semester¡¯s worth of metal, so I forced my way in, but I also understood that it was wrong and that I would need to make amends later. Moreover, aside from the moral issues, anyone would fear making an enemy of a powerful force like the swordsmanship club. I was no exception to that. I have a few deals to make with them later. If our relationship soured, I wouldn¡¯t be able to trade with them properly and considering the profits I would miss out on, it was natural to worry. For these reasons, it was beneficial to maintain amicable relationships with clubs. However, with the swordsmanship club, I had already made a bad first impression. To fix this, I needed to return the Millennium Iron and other items I had taken or prepare compensation of equal value. And I would need to prepare a ¡°small token of goodwill¡± that could help appease their anger to some extent. So, I have to go down. To retrieve items that the swordsmanship club would appreciate. And to secure my share as well. The second goal was, as always, to grow stronger through the mentoring event and side quests. However, this week was a bit more special than usual. First, let¡¯s review the side quest from the past duel battle week, [Side Quest: 7th Week Duel Battle] (Completed) ?Objective: Win 3 duel matches. (3/3) ?Reward: 1st Mentoring Event ¨C 4th week extra bonus (Large) By winning two matches against Cha Hyeon-joo and one match against Jo Byeok, I completed it with the maximum reward. As a result, [Event: 1st Mentoring] (In Progress.......) [Remaining Duration: 6 days] ? Accelerate your growth with the help of a mentor. ? Increased probability of acquiring skills/traits. ?Increased skill/trait growth rate ?Bonus enhancement (Large) in effect....... ?4th week extra bonus (Large) in effect.......(New!) Thanks to the bonus enhancement (large), the efficiency of my rank upgrades had been significantly high over the past three weeks, and the side quest added even more efficiency. The system was encouraging me to push hard since it was the last week of mentoring. But before running ahead, Finishing this first takes priority. [Side Quest: 8th Week Strategy Battle] ?Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon ?Deadline: ~Sunday midnight ?Reward: Varies based on performance I needed to enter the dungeon as soon as possible, score points, and clear the quest. This was because the reward was a skill book. My plan was to maximize the rank of the skills I learned within this week. And the skill book I would receive if I cleared the side quest with the highest achievement was, The second piece of [Spiral Explosion], following [Twister]. One-point Explosion. TN: The 4th week extra bonus is for the ¡°4th¡± weak of mentoring period. Chapter 140: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (2) Chapter 140: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (2) Dungeon Building. Dang Gyu-young stood in front of her four mentees and began explaining. ¡°You¡¯ve already heard everything else, so let¡¯s just talk about the random rule and start right away.¡± MAP: [Cave] RULE: [Crystal] [Strong Enemy] [Double] [Random Rule] ¡°First, the [Close Combat] rule. We won¡¯t enforce it this time.¡± Originally, it was intended to force the aspiring all-rounder mages into close combat. We were all wizards, so we were already familiar with long-range combat and if we stuck to what we were used to, our close combat skills wouldn¡¯t improve. However, the strong enemy this time was an ogre. Even without enforcing it as a rule, the battle would inevitably involve close combat. With its superior physical abilities, it quickly closed the distance in an instant. Additionally, since we had to charge the crystal, we couldn¡¯t stray too far from the sanctuary¡¯s range. In other words, we were already heavily restricted. ¡°So, I¡¯ll set the random rules in your favor instead.¡± MAP: [Cave] RULE: [Crystal] [Strong Enemy] [Weakened] [Double] As expected, she didn¡¯t use the default ogre specs and instead used the [Weakened] rule to lower its rank by about one level. Thanks to this, instead of being beaten to death without a chance to breathe, we could at least catch our breath. ¡°......!¡± The first-year chicks looked at Dang Gyu-young with new eyes. Based on their previous experiences, Dang Gyu-young had always trained them harshly while pushing them to their limits and making them adapt. So they had worried that this time too she might even put the ogre in full plate armor, but instead she weakened it. Now she looked like an angel in their eyes. Guys, you¡¯re being deceived. Other mentors typically added at least the weakened rule along with two or three more favorable rules. For example, they might increase the crystal charging speed or expand the sanctuary¡¯s range. But we only got the weakened rule. However, since there was no way to compare with other mentors right now, realizing and feeling betrayed by this fact would come later. Dang Gyu-young continued her explanation. ¡°Let¡¯s try different pairings. Kim Ho with Kwak Ji-cheol. Song Cheon-hye with Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°...¡± Uneasy glances were exchanged here and there. Although my relationship with Hong Yeon-hwa had slightly improved during the mentoring period, everything else remained almost the same. Song Cheon-hye and Hong Yeon-hwa were like rivals. Kwak Ji-cheol had a history of being thoroughly beaten by me in a duel. So, no matter who I paired with, it wasn¡¯t very pleasant. Putting aside these emotional aspects, Song Cheon-hye had concerns and asked a question, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this combination throw off the balance?¡± ¡°So what? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re competing against each other.¡± Dang Gyu-young was indifferent. In truth, Dang Gyu-young was just following the manual. Setting up the mentees to experience practical evaluations with various combinations was a requirement of the academy. Following our mentor¡¯s unbeatable logic of ¡°because I feel like it¡± Song Cheon-hye was left with nothing to say. ¡°Then, Kim Ho and Kwak Ji-cheol, come in first.¡± Dang Gyu-young disappeared into the dungeon through the teleportation portal. Kwak Ji-cheol and I exchanged a look that didn¡¯t seem friendly at all. However, since we were paired together, we had no choice but to cooperate. I approached the teleportation portal first. ¡°Let¡¯s go in too.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± [Kim Ho 100%] [Kwak Ji-cheol 100%] The next moment, we were standing in the middle of a forest. And at the edge of our vision, a large cave awaited us with its mouth wide open. Just then, a group of goblins walked out from the cave and spotted us. ¡°Kerr?¡± ¡°Kerk!¡± Startled, some goblins immediately charged at us while others tried to retreat back into the cave. If they got inside, they would alert the others so we couldn¡¯t let them go.Upstodatee from When I cast Wind Force, Whoosh¡ª ¡°Kaek.¡± The goblins tumbled to the ground like fallen leaves under the physical force of the wind. Then they were hit by a barrage of dirt bullets and collapsed. There was hardly any time to take a sip of water before we had finished off all the goblins. ¡°......¡± We silently stared at the cave. There was no doubt that we had to go inside. ¡°Something¡¯s coming, right?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± The owner of those footsteps was, without a doubt, an ogre. Originally, it tended to stay near the sanctuary but it seemed to be heading our way. This was likely due to Kwak Ji-cheol shaking the cave with his earth magic. We entered a brief strategy meeting. ¡°Split up and run?¡± ¡°Which side will draw its attention?¡± ¡°Whoever it chases needs to run well. The other side should keep it in check.¡± ¡°Sounds good. Let¡¯s do it.¡± Thump, thump Even during our strategy meeting, the footsteps continued to get closer. At last, the ogre appeared. ¡°Grrrrrr......¡± It was so large it nearly touched the cave ceiling. It was also holding a club as thick as a human torso in one hand. We exchanged one last glance and immediately split to run in opposite directions. ¡°Grrrr?¡± The ogre looked back and forth, hesitated for a moment, then turned to chase me. ¡°Unlucky.¡± It should have gone after Kwak Ji-cheol. I was running hard when I felt a prickle on the back of my neck and leaped to the side, Thud! The club slammed into the path I had been running on just moments before. The ogre immediately retrieved the club and resumed its pursuit. As expected of a monster specialized in physical abilities, it quickly picked up speed and closed the distance between us. Rumble, Suddenly, a thick earthen wall shot up near the ogre¡¯s legs. Kwak Ji-cheol had cast it to slow the creature down. The ogre kicked the wall with all its momentum and shattered it with a loud crash, but it lost its balance and its speed dropped significantly. ¡°Well done.¡± Tripping a running opponent was a smart move. The more underhanded the tactic, the better the score in keeping it in check. ¡°Grrrr...!¡± The ogre seemed to think I was the one who raised the earthen wall and chased me with even more fury. The thudding footsteps behind me were closing in at a terrifying speed. And just as the whoosh of the club cut through the air, ¡°Jump lightly to avoid it.¡± I leaped into the air, and the club swept across the ground below me. After landing softly, I continued running. ¡°Keruruk.¡± ¡°Kerek!¡± Goblins emerged from every corner of the cave and started thrusting their daggers. I dodged them and grabbed the goblins before throwing them at the ogre. With an annoyed wave of its hands, the ogre flung them away and sent them crashing into the ceiling or walls. ¡°Ugh...¡± On the other hand, Kwak Ji-cheol seemed to have no idea whether to run at the right speed, keep the ogre in check, or deal with the goblins that came out. Even so, he must have felt that he needed to help, so he barely managed to cast a spell in this direction. Rumble... Another earthen wall rose beneath the ogre¡¯s feet. The ogre kicked and shattered the wall again, but this time it seemed to maintain its balance better. Its speed didn¡¯t slow down much either. We¡¯re almost there. Seeing the increasingly bright surroundings ahead confirmed it. Thud! After narrowly dodging the ogre¡¯s swinging club again and continuing to run, the sanctuary finally came into view. The huge stone pillar illuminated the area as brightly as daylight. And as I got closer, Whirr¡ª A beam of light shot out from the stone pillar toward me. Light gradually filled the red crystal. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Crystal: 1%] ¡°Groooo...¡± The ogre appeared behind me. When it saw me under the sanctuary¡¯s spotlight, it showed strong hostility. I stopped briefly and faced the ogre. Now that I have connected with the sanctuary, from now on... ¡°I have to run away more seriously.¡± Chapter 141: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (3) Chapter 141: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (3) The only movement-type skill I had at the moment was Thief¡¯s Step. I copied it from Dang Gyu-young, raised it to B-rank, and received a bonus from Seo Ye-in¡¯s sneakers which brought it to B¡Àrank. However, Thief¡¯s Step was not purely a skill for movement. In addition to increasing movement speed, its performance was also distributed to smooth movements and concealing one¡¯s presence while moving. If movement accounted for 60, the rest was about 40. So it wasn¡¯t particularly fast if only the speed was considered. If Overheat was added, the story would be different, but since Inferno Fist couldn¡¯t be used while the replay was running, I had to rely solely on Thief¡¯s Step. This was why Jo Byeok could catch up to me despite it being a B¡Àrank, and the same was true for the ogre in front of me. Its speed was slightly faster than mine. So how did I avoid getting hit by an opponent faster than me? I have to predict. I analyzed the opponent¡¯s gaze, posture, and the movements of their muscles and joints. I synthesized this information to infer where and how they intended to attack. The ogre¡¯s attacks were quite straightforward and it often moved exactly as I predicted. If it seemed poised to strike to the left, it really struck to the left. Just like now. Thud! As I shifted slightly to the side, the club struck the spot where I had just been. The ogre stepped forward and swung its free hand, but I moved closer into its blind spot. When it tried to push forward with its whole body, I escaped using Thief¡¯s Step. ¡°Grrraaah!¡± It let out a frustrated roar. It had been missing every swing, so its frustration was understandable. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Crystal: 33%] I could keep running around until the crystal was fully charged but, ¡°Ahjussi, a little help here would be appreciated.¡± In a double dungeon, it would make things much easier for me if my partner helped to keep the ogre in check. However, Kwak Ji-cheol was busy dealing with the goblins swarming him. ¡°Hey, Ahjussi.¡± ¡°Grrr...¡± As Kwak Ji-cheol quickly cast spells, the goblins were hit by dirt bullets and collapsed. Since he couldn¡¯t pay attention to me, I shouted at him. ¡°Hey, you said you¡¯d help keep it in check. When are you going to do it? Should I go out there and do it?¡± ¡°Just... wait a moment.¡± ¡°Are we even a good pair~? Aah, it¡¯s so hard doing this alone~. My legs are going numb~. I¡¯m going to get caught at this rate~.¡± ¡°Damn it... I get it!¡± Maybe my nagging worked because Kwak Ji-cheol started chanting faster. Thud! Soon, he raised two thick earthen walls on either side of him, which advanced quickly like bulldozers and started pushing the goblins away. After dealing with the immediate threat, Kwak Ji-cheol quickly came to support me. Ratatattatatata, Dirt bullets fired continuously and struck the ogre, but the latter didn¡¯t even seem to feel them. In a fit of frustration, Kwak Ji-cheol formed the dirt bullets into a large cannonball and fired it. Boom! ¡°Gruaar?¡± The ogre scratched the back of its head where it was hit, glanced back briefly, and then focused on chasing me again. I said while dodging the swinging club, ¡°Attack magic won¡¯t work. Try something else.¡± The creature¡¯s body was so tough that ordinary attacks barely affected it. Even Song Cheon-hye and Hong Yeon-hwa would struggle with their barrage of spells, so it was no surprise that Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s attacks were even less effective. As if he himself was aware of that fact, Kwak Ji-cheol asked while clearing the goblins, ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Use control-type spells.¡± ¡°Control-type... Got it.¡± When Kwak Ji-cheol cast his spell, earthen walls suddenly rose up around the ogre. ¡°Gruuugh...¡± The ogre looked around in annoyance. With a wide swing of its club, the earthen walls crumbled. Kwak Ji-cheol clicked his tongue quietly. ¡°Tch.¡± ¡°Again, next one.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± As he chanted another spell, the ground beneath the ogre¡¯s feet suddenly sank. He was sent flying. He crashed into a wall, bounced off it, and rolled on the floor until he lay sprawled out. Right after that, a club the size of a human body split the air and came crashing down. Crack! ¡°Aaah.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but frown. That must¡¯ve hurt. When the ogre tried to swing the club a second time, Kwak Ji-cheol had already vanished. The safety mechanism of the ground floor dungeon had been activated and it expelled him outside. The next moment, everything turned gray and froze as Dang Gyu-young revealed herself from stealth. She looked down at the Kwak Ji-cheol-shaped crater in the ground and slowly shook her head. ¡°Haaah, he still has a long way to go.¡± Even though it was his first attempt, he couldn¡¯t withstand even a few moves against the ogre. To think he needed to train his skills to endure until the crystal was 100% charged. His skills are lacking, and his compatibility isn¡¯t great either. While some might have used techniques like climbing over the wall or the ¡°hunting cattle across the mountain¡± technique to attack over the wall, The ogre¡¯s style was to smash through the wall head-on. Even after its rank dropped by one level due to the [Weakened] rule, it was still ridiculously strong. So with Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s current defensive ability, it was impossible to block it and other means needed to be found. After finding a solution, he¡¯d need time to adapt to it as well. The path ahead was clearly fraught with hardships. Of course, that¡¯s his problem. Whether Kwak Ji-cheol struggled or not, my goal remained unchanged. I would still push to achieve the side quest reward early. ¡°Senior-nim.¡± ¡°Mhmm?¡± ¡°This week, I¡¯m going to score right away.¡± ¡°Already on the first day?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any reason to delay.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine if you go ahead.¡± Dang Gyu-young always made an exception for me because she had a good grasp of my real abilities. My skills had already surpassed the level where I needed mentoring, and she knew I¡¯d grow well on my own if left alone. Just now, even on the first attempt, I managed to charge the crystal while maintaining 100% health against the ogre. ¡°But if you score alone, what about Kwak Ji-cheol? He¡¯ll be left behind.¡± However, Dang Gyu-young was a mentor after all and she couldn¡¯t let the team members act separately. If she paired us for a week, we had to act together, whether we liked it or not. I answered casually. ¡°I¡¯ll score first, and then I¡¯ll keep pace with the rest.¡± Generally, once the practical evaluation was over, there was no need to continue practicing but my case was an exception. I aimed to score only to achieve the side quest. After that, I would have to engage in mentoring events to rank up, so I planned to continue practicing with Kwak Ji-cheol regardless of my score. Dang Gyu-young pondered for a moment, then nodded her head as if she was convinced by my explanation. ¡°Alright, then. But who are you going with? The handsome guy? The pretty girl with gray hair?¡± ¡°The girl with gray hair.¡± The handsome guy, Go Hyeon-woo, had his own team so I naturally excluded him. On the other hand, the pretty girl with gray hair Seo Ye-in was receiving one-on-one mentoring from Ahn Jeong-mi. So she didn¡¯t have a fixed partner. From Seo Ye-in¡¯s perspective, she would have to do a random pairing for the double practical evaluation anyway, so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem if I stepped in. So I sent a message to Seo Ye-in. [Kim Ho: (peeking cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: (tapping cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: What are you doing?] [Seo Ye-in: (collapsed cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: Sleepy] [Kim Ho: Mentoring?] [Seo Ye-in: Yeah] [Seo Ye-in: (collapsed cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (rolling cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: Pair up?] [Seo Ye-in: ??] [Kim Ho: Pair up?] [Seo Ye-in: (startled cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: Okay] Chapter 142: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (4) Chapter 142: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (4) Seo Ye-in had just finished her first practice strategy battle. Ahn Jeong-mi was sitting in front of her and giving her detailed feedback. ¡°Overall, you did very well.¡± Seo Ye-in had easily avoided the ogre¡¯s attacks. The results of her three weeks of Feather Walk training were clearly showing. For Ahn Jeong-mi who had put in a considerable effort to teach her, it was a very rewarding moment. The result was a successful crystal charge with her remaining health in the mid-80% range. Considering it was her first attempt, it was an excellent score. ¡°But young miss, shouldn¡¯t you pay a little attention to your partner too?¡± The only problem was that Seo Ye-in had no interest in what her partner was doing. Just now, there had been no teamwork at all and her unfortunate partner had been clobbered by the ogre and ended up incapacitated. ¡°...¡± Seo Ye-in opened her mouth slightly and let out a long yawn. Then she responded while struggling to stay awake. ¡°... I didn¡¯t have to care last time.¡± ¡°At that time, it was because the young miss was too strong.¡± ¡°Last time¡± referred to the defense strategy battle two weeks ago. Back then, her partner was almost irrelevant and Seo Ye-in¡¯s own firepower was so overwhelming that teamwork was unnecessary. Goblins and the Beheader Goblin alike were all annihilated, so what did a partner matter? ¡°But for this crystal strategy battle, teamwork is more important.¡± The ogre couldn¡¯t be destroyed by Seo Ye-in¡¯s destructive power alone, and the scoring criteria was based on the remaining health of both team members. If her partner became incapacitated or lost a lot of health, it would result in point deductions for Seo Ye-in as well. Cooperation was almost mandatory to avoid this. ¡°So you need to help your partner at least during dangerous moments... Young miss, you can¡¯t sleep here.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Miss, miss? Wake up. Young miss.¡± She kept calling, but Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyelids only drooped more and more. However, just as Ahn Jeong-mi was about to give up and cover her with a blanket, a miraculous thing happened. ¡°...?¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s half-closed eyelids slowly lifted back up. There was only one person at Dragon Slayer Academy who could create such a miracle. The person Seo Ye-in was messaging with right now. Ahn Jeong-mi asked for confirmation. ¡°Is it Kim Ho-nim?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°May I ask why he contacted you?¡± ¡°He wants to do it together (pair up).¡± ¡°The strategy battle... you mean? But doesn¡¯t Kim Ho already have team members? What happened to them?¡± Ahn Jeong-mi tilted her head in confusion. As far as she remembered, Kim Ho was part of a four-member mentoring team led by the president of the thieves club. In that case, their mentor would have already paired them up in twos, so why was he asking to join Seo Ye-in? Seo Ye-in responded in a detached tone. ¡°Knocked out.¡± ¡°...¡± Kim Ho¡¯s partner, like Seo Ye-in¡¯s randomly matched partner, had apparently been knocked out by the ogre. In that case, it made sense that he wanted to form a new pair until his original partner recovered. Ahn Jeong-mi asked, ¡°Does he want to score points in the actual dungeon?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Does his mentor know about this?¡± ¡°He said he got permission.¡± That meant the only approval left was from Seo Ye-in¡¯s mentor, Ahn Jeong-mi. She wanted to agree eagerly. Life would be easier with Kim Ho managing Seo Ye-in. But she couldn¡¯t let her emotions drive her decision. So she considered the various factors more objectively. Foremost among her concerns was worry. It¡¯s too early for them to score ... Both Seo Ye-in and Kim Ho had just finished their first practice mode. If they entered the actual thing without sufficient experience and faced unexpected variables, it could severely impact their scores. For example, if one of them slipped up and got hit squarely by the ogre, they would be incapacitated immediately. Hundreds of points could be lost in an instant. Each goblin was hit precisely between the eyes and fell. Hearing the gunfire, a few more goblins peeked our way, but Seo Ye-in took them all down as well. It seemed like everything was quiet for a moment but then, ¡°Kererk!¡± ¡°Kekek!¡± A group of goblins swarmed towards us. There were too many to take down one by one with an automatic rifle. Seo Ye-in seemed to have the same thought, as her magic rifle began to disassemble and reassemble itself. Watching the parts come together on their own, I asked, ¡°Shotgun?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± While the magic gun she used before mentoring went back and forth between a dual pistol and a sniper rifle, this one went back and forth between an assault rifle and a shotgun. I had seen it in the replay of her match against Kwak Ji-cheol. Switching to a shotgun now was probably to take out the group of goblins in one shot. However, since it was currently being reassembled, Seo Ye-in was effectively unarmed. ¡°It would be good to have a secondary weapon to use when your hands are tied like now.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head slightly. I think she might pester the butler about it when we got back. In any case, it was my job to buy time until the reassembly was complete, so I lifted Root and pointed forward. Whoosh¡ª The levitation zone imbued in Root created a slight upward current and I cast Wind Force upward. The charging goblins floated up and crashed their heads into the ceiling or stalactites. Whoosh¡ª Just before the floating goblins began to descend, a whirlwind blew towards them and started pulling them together. ¡°Kek, Kekek?¡± ¡°Kieek!¡± They struggled but it was impossible for F-rank monsters to resist a C¡Àrank wind spell. As a result, they ended up clumped together like a rice ball. At that moment, Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic rifle finished reassembling. When Seo Ye-in pointed the shotgun forward and pulled the trigger, Boom¡ª! A burst of magic bullets scattered before obliterating the goblin cluster. Hearing the commotion, more goblins swarmed out from inside but their fate was no different. Boom¡ª! I gathered the goblins with Twister and Seo Ye-in took them out with the shotgun. After we repeated this process a few times as we advanced, the surroundings gradually grew brighter. This meant the sanctuary was near. ¡°A rifle would be better against the ogre.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in obediently switched the shotgun to a rifle at my suggestion. After continuing to advance while occasionally shooting magic bullets at the goblins that popped out, we soon saw a stone pillar glowing with bright light. Nearby, an ogre was crouched with its back to us. In my first attempt, Kwak Ji-cheol had unnecessarily shaken the cave which caused the ogre to come out, but usually, it waited near the sanctuary even if it heard some commotion. Weeing¡ª As we approached a bit closer, the sanctuary and the crystal were connected by a thick beam of light. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Crystal: 1%] ¡°It¡¯s me first again.¡± ¡°...Grr?¡± Soon, the ogre slowly turned its head following the beam of light. When it discovered me, its face twisted and it slowly picked up the club lying next to it and rose from its position. ¡°Grooo...¡± I asked Seo Ye-in while keeping my eyes fixed on the ogre. ¡°You remember when we went to the game center in the downtown area, right?¡± ¡°Gunslinger Adventure.¡± ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do it just like we did there.¡± ¡°Jump?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Jump.¡± Today, we were going to go over what she learned. Chapter 143: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (5) Chapter 143: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (5) Seo Ye-in was in the Marksman class. As a long-range dealer, her destructive power was strong at a single point but she didn¡¯t have any control skills. At least not yet. Therefore, I offered advice that matched Seo Ye-in¡¯s tendencies. ¡°The heart is a weak point, but for now, aim for the legs.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± We watched the ogre thundering toward us. As it got closer, its arm that was wielding the club pulled back and its stance lowered. So the next action we needed to take was, ¡°When I count to three, we jump. 1, 2, 3.¡± ¡°Jump.¡± I grabbed Seo Ye-in¡¯s arm and we leaped into the air at the same time. In the next moment, the thick club swept across the ground where we had stood. While we were in mid-air, I gently pushed Seo Ye-in¡¯s arm and she glided through the air as if riding the wind. The moment she landed a short distance away, her magic gun spewed blue flames. The first targets were the goblins lurking around us who were looking for an opportunity. They had to be dealt with first since they could pose a variable threat. Tutututututututu! ¡°Keerk.¡± ¡°Keek.¡± The goblins were struck by magic bullets and went flying. Of course, there was the minor drawback that I had to run around alone without any help during this time. Seo Ye-in¡¯s random matching partner would have probably been knocked out by the ogre¡¯s attacks by now, but it wasn¡¯t difficult for me. I had managed well even when Kwak Ji-cheol floundered. Tutututututut! Another difference between Seo Ye-in and Kwak Ji-cheol was that her speed in dealing with the goblins was on another level. Thanks to that, the time I had to run around alone was greatly reduced. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Crystal: 28%] Soon after Seo Ye-in had taken down all the goblins within sight, she aimed her gun at the ogre. I had told her to aim for either the heart or the legs, and the ogre was currently showing its back to Seo Ye-in while chasing me. And so the magic bullets concentrated on its legs. Tutututututut! ¡°Groooar...¡± It lifted its leg and shook it as if to say, ¡°Ouch, that hurts.¡± While it hadn¡¯t even flinched at Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s dirt bullets, it clearly showed pain now. Even so, its hide was so thick that inflicting fatal damage or bringing it down was still a long way off. The ogre which had paused briefly to shake its leg resumed its attack. It lunged nimbly and swung its hand to grab me. However, since I had anticipated this and retreated, its hand narrowly missed me. When it raised its club to strike down, magic bullets thudded into it. Tutututututut! ¡°Groooar...¡± While it twisted in pain, I quickly dodged. Great. Unlike Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s earth-type magic, which was crude, Seo Ye-in¡¯s attacks had enough destructive power to cause the ogre pain and often disrupt its movements. Thanks to this, dodging has become much easier for me. [Crystal: 74%] The crystal was quickly charging as well. I continued to dodge the ogre¡¯s club, punches, and kicks before I spoke to Seo Ye-in. ¡°It¡¯ll be your turn soon. Get ready.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tutututututut! Seo Ye-in nodded her head slightly and continued to fire the magic gun in rapid succession. The blue bullets persistently struck the ogre¡¯s leg. ¡°Groooar...¡± It seemed that concentrating our attacks paid off, as the ogre began to limp awkwardly at times. Its movement speed also appeared to be slightly reduced. The victory of persistence. When I looked closely, there were small wounds on its legs. ¡°Sure, go ahead, give it a try.¡± As soon as I gave my permission, the magic gun began disassembling and reassembling itself. ¡°Grooo!!¡± Seeing this sight, the ogre must have instinctively sensed something was amiss and its movements became faster and more intense. The ogre threw away the club it had been using well and attacked with its two arms. When Seo Ye-in dodged one hand reaching out to grab her, the other hand came down as well. Dodging a palm led to a fist swinging, and avoiding a fist resulted in the entire arm sweeping the ground. The attacks were coming relentlessly. But Seo Ye-in danced through the attacks with Feather Walk. I was a bit surprised while watching her. Is her skill improving too quickly? When the charge level was low, there would be moments when she would struggle and I would save her with Wind Force. But now, after a few repetitions, she could dodge well enough without my help. Her skill was improving in real-time. Click, Finally, the shotgun was reassembled. One of Seo Ye-in¡¯s hands glowed blue as she filled it with magic bullets. Seeing this, the ogre seemed to sense it was the final moment and threw its entire body forward with its fist extended. ¡°Groooar!¡± I blocked its path and extended my staff forward. A dark cloud and a fierce whirlwind wrapped around it. When the ogre¡¯s fist collided with my staff, ¡°Groooar!?¡± Instead of turning me into a bloody pulp as expected, the fist¡¯s trajectory veered widely to the side. As a result of this missed blow, the ogre was left with a huge gap, and Seo Ye-in seized the opportunity and leaped lightly into the air. She aimed the shotgun at the ogre¡¯s chest and pulled the trigger. Boom¡ª! A burst of magic bullets poured out. When it took the direct hit, the ogre¡¯s movements stopped for the first time then it staggered back. ¡°Groooan......¡± It regained its bearings and tried to rejoin the battle, but unfortunately, it seemed like the continuation would have to wait for another time. [Crystal: 100%] Seo Ye-in¡¯s crystal was fully charged. Flash! A burst of intense light spread from the sanctuary and covered the entire area. In the next moment, the ogre and goblins vanished without a trace. Soon, a notification window appeared in a corner of my vision and the calculations for our score started. [Kim Ho 100%] [Seo Ye-in 100%] [Average Health 100/100% = 800 points] [Number of goblins defeated: 138 = 34 points][Clear bonus = 200 points] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Total score: 1,034 points] Ground floor dungeon multiplier 0.8 = 827 points Thanks to finishing with a perfect game, the dungeon score exceeded 1,000 points. Naturally, I surpassed the maximum achievement rate of 90% for the side quest. I was very satisfied with the result. ¡°It¡¯s over now. Good job.¡± I was about to raise my hand for a high-five. ¡°......¡± But Seo Ye-in looked at me intently and extended one arm. As I quietly looked down at her arm, she started to shake it slowly. I seriously pondered what this could mean, and then suddenly, something came to my mind so I asked her. ¡°You want me to throw you?¡± ¨C Nod, It seemed she had developed a liking for it after a few throws. It wasn¡¯t a particularly difficult request, so there was no reason to refuse. I grabbed Seo Ye-in¡¯s arm and cast Wind Force and then I threw her as if pushing. Whoosh¡ª Seo Ye-in arced through the air and landed far away. Then she came back and extended her arm again. ¡°...Again?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I was only able to leave the dungeon after I threw Seo Ye-in three more times. TN: So cute Chapter 144: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (6) Chapter 144: 8th Week Mentoring and Strategy Battle (6) After playing the game of throwing Seo Ye-in a few times and coming outside, Ahn Jeong-mi who had been waiting greeted us. ¡°Kim Ho-nim, young miss. You two worked hard.¡± She was polite and businesslike as always, but there was an emotion in her eyes that could not be hidden. A perfect game against an ogre. Not even 1% damage was allowed. Even though the ogre was weakened, this was an encouraging result in her eyes. It could be considered the best record for a first-year student. Of course, the scores were impressive but there was another reason why Ahn Jeong-mi was so moved. ¡°Your teamwork was truly outstanding.¡± Seo Ye-in who had never even glanced at her partners before worked perfectly with me. When I was charging the crystal, she quickly dealt with the goblins that were in the way and focused her attacks on the ogre¡¯s legs to restrain it. And when she was charging, she made full use of my support to evade the ogre¡¯s attacks. ¡°Seems like there was a reason Kim Ho-nim recommended Feather Walk.¡± The synergy between Feather Walk and Wind Force was particularly impressive. This allowed Seo Ye-in to be swiftly moved out of danger so that she could adjust her position for a better shot. Seeing such unexpected efficiency must have made Ahn Jeong-mi who had diligently taught this Feather Walk even more satisfied. In many ways, she must have thought it was a good decision to allow this temporary pairing between us. For now, this much is enough. There was another purpose for the temporary pairing with Seo Ye-in. It was to address the lack of motivation in this lazy girl. I spoke in a casual tone. ¡°But we still couldn¡¯t finish off the ogre. Such a shame.¡± ¡°...¡± Seo Ye-in stared at me intently. She must have been curious. If we had continued fighting after the critical hit with the shotgun at the last moment, would we have been able to bring it down? Soon, Seo Ye-in gently tugged at my sleeve. ¡°Do it again.¡± To elaborate on what was omitted in her words, she meant going back into the dungeon and taking on the ogre properly. However, I slowly shook my head. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day for now.¡± As unfortunate as it was, Seo Ye-in and I were only a temporary pair. Since it was about time for Kwak Ji-cheol to come to his senses, I should continue practicing with him. After all, my agreement with Dang Gyu-young was to just score points and come back. ¡°...¡± The grip on my sleeve gradually weakened. A half disappointed and half sulking emotion could be barely seen in her expressionless face. I let out a bitter smile and said, ¡°Today isn¡¯t the only day. You know this is also part of the midterm scope, right?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The ogre will appear again.¡± ¡°...!¡± And when that happens, the ogre won¡¯t disappear even after the crystal charges. When Seo Ye-in was intrigued and looked at me, I suggested, ¡°Practice a lot in advance. Dodge a lot and hit a lot.¡± The more she practices, the more proficient she will become at evading and that will make it easier to find the right timing to attack. The more she gets used to hitting the weak spots, the faster we can deplete the ogre¡¯s health. Seo Ye-in nodded her head. ¡°Okay.¡± The motivation that had been at rock bottom all along started to swell. And Ahn Jeong-mi who had been watching us couldn¡¯t hide her admiration. She exchanged a look with me. ¨C So there was such a clever trick...! ¨C I told you I¡¯d find a way. ¨C Thank you. ¨C Consider the debt repaid with this. Thanks to Ahn Jung-mi¡¯s performance art, I was able to skillfully finish the cookie-shaping challenge and this was my way of repaying her. Moreover, if Seo Ye-in approached the mentoring with enthusiasm, that would be good for me too and I would be killing two birds with one stone. The results of our training will be confirmed during the midterms. Since we achieved perfect scores in the strategy battle, I easily surpassed the highest side quest achievement of 90%. Side Quest: 8th Week Strategy Battle ?Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon ?Achievement: Average Health: 100/90% ?Rewards will be enhanced. [Please select your reward.] ?Wind Cutter ?Shooting Star ?One Point Explosion Wind Cutter was a wind attribute attack skill that slashed enemies with sharp gusts of wind. One, keep moving out of the sanctuary¡¯s range to reset the crystal charging and extend the time. Two, use a skill with power far exceeding the first-year level, like Inferno Fist. In other words, there was no other way to defeat it. So, what I wanted to say was, ¡°Rather than focusing on something uncertain, wouldn¡¯t it be better to first master the basics?¡± Competing with Hong Yeon-hwa on who was stronger could come later. That could be done after both had avoided well and charged their crystals. Song Cheon-hye cleared her throat, perhaps feeling a little uncomfortable. ¡°Hmm, hmm. That¡¯s true. Thanks for the advice.¡± ¡°Make sure to talk it out with Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Will do. By the way, it must be tough for you too.¡± Our eyes turned to one place at the same time. To Kwak Ji-cheol, who had just managed to stand up. Song Cheon-hye hadn¡¯t yet fully grasped my skills, but she seemed to acknowledge that I was good at dodging and escaping. Since I had easily defeated Jo Byeok, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues against the ogre either. On the other hand, Kwak Ji-cheol was just a burden. Moreover, with the rule of two crystals, even if one person was exceptionally good, it would be hard to succeed if the other couldn¡¯t hold their own. So in Song Cheon-hye¡¯s view, it looked like I would suffer along with him. This was also why Dang Gyu-young had said the pairing wasn¡¯t balanced when she teamed us up. I shrugged as if it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°He¡¯ll improve after taking some hits, right?¡± ¡°Aaaah¡ª!¡± Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s scream echoed. The next moment, a club as big as a person¡¯s body came crashing down at him at a terrifying speed. Smash, [Kwak Ji-cheol: ¨C %] [Crystal: 17%] The second attempt also ended in a miserable failure. Kwak Ji-cheol became unable to fight and was expelled from the dungeon, while Dang Gyu-young revealed herself by releasing her stealth. ¡°No improvement. I wonder if he¡¯ll just keep getting knocked down.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t be down forever.¡± The other team members were exceptionally skilled, but even Kwak Ji-cheol had a score in the 600s. In a place where future hero candidates gathered, having mid-level skills still meant he had basic competence. So, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he realized he couldn¡¯t go on like this. How many more hits he would take from the ogre until then was anyone¡¯s guess. Dang Gyu-young seemed to have a similar thought and she decided to observe for now. Then she asked me, ¡°What about you now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just finish what I was doing.¡± Skill training. In the first attempt, Kwak Ji-cheol was rendered unable to fight and I looked for a new pair, but since the side quest was cleared, that was no longer necessary. Continuing like this would suffice. I flung Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s crystal to the other side of the cave. As the distance between the crystal and the sanctuary increased, the connection was cut off and the charge quickly diminished. [Crystal: 11%] [Crystal: 6%] [Crystal: 1%] Unless the crystal was retrieved and recharged, this strategy session would continue endlessly. In other words, it meant I could play a never-ending game of tag with the ogre. ¡°Grr?¡± The ogre was oblivious to its imminent future and just let out a dumbfounded cry as it stared at the direction the crystal flew. When I pointed at that guy with Root, mana the size of a fist gathered around its waist and started gradually compressing into a smaller and smaller form. The mass of mana compressed into a tiny sky-blue dot and then, Boom! It exploded right there. ¡°Grr...¡± The ogre twisted its waist in apparent pain. On closer inspection, a small wound was left near its waist. A shell that Seo Ye-in had barely pierced with her magic bullets had been punctured with just one use of an F-rank spell. Of course, in terms of sheer power, the one point explosion skill was far inferior to a gunslinger¡¯s shot, but It has armor-piercing ability. ¡°Grr...¡± Thanks to inflicting this wound, the fact that I was the enemy seemed to be firmly imprinted in the ogre¡¯s mind. The creature charged at me while swinging its club wildly. I leisurely stepped aside before pointing directly at it again. Once again, mana gathered, compressed, and exploded. Boom! Chapter 145: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (1) Chapter 145: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (1) [The rank of ¡®One Point Explosion¡¯ has increased. F -> E] This event is really great. It ranked up less than a day after I learned it. My proficiency was already quite high, and with the mentoring event bonus and the final week¡¯s additional bonus, the growth speed of my skill was incredible. And if I were to use the ogre as a punching bag all week, I could expect to reach D-rank, or maybe even C rank. One important goal was now set in motion, I turned my attention to the next goal. That was dealing with the swordsmanship club. The method I chose to calm their anger was to offer rewards. To obtain those rewards, I need to go down to the underground dungeon. So I placed a guide request for Shin Byeong-cheol and handed over a strategy guide to Go Hyeon-woo. Late at night, I met the two of them in front of the dungeon building. Shin Byeong-cheol rubbed his hands together and a businesslike smile was plastered across his face. ¡°Ah, our valued customers have arrived~¡± ¡°Shin-hyung.¡± Go Hyeon-woo replied with his usual smile. Since we had done this several times before, we moved smoothly without needing Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s explanation. We put on the Anonymous badges, swapped our tie pins for the second-year ones, and descended the underground stairs. Shin Byeong-cheol led the way while checking for any dangers ahead. He glanced over his shoulder and asked me, ¡°We¡¯re going into a linked dungeon, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Most dungeons had independent stories and goals. However, some dungeons featured a connected story, like how the connection with the priest at the [Feathered Serpent Altar] continued into the [Feathered Serpent Temple]. The dungeon we were about to enter went a step further; not only was the story connected, but the strategy used in the previous dungeon directly affected the next one. That¡¯s why it was called a ¡°linked dungeon¡±. Shin Byeong-cheol asked again, ¡°You¡¯re entering one today, and the next one?¡± ¡°Wednesday or Thursday night. I¡¯d prefer to tackle it Wednesday night if possible.¡± Since the swordsmanship club could contact us at any time, it was best to secure useful cards quickly. I gave Go Hyeon-woo a look and he responded, ¡°I¡¯ll make time whenever Kim-hyung wants.¡± ¡°Then, should we schedule it for Wednesday?¡± At Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s question, we both nodded at the same time. Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s tone then subtly changed. ¡°But, dear customers, I mean, dear hyung-nims, may I say something?¡± When Shin Byeong-cheol acted in this humble like manner, it meant he wanted something. I decided to hear him out and replied in a haughty tone. ¡°Speak. Let us hear it.¡± ¡°Well, you see, I received a random box as my guide fee last time, right?¡± After the [Feathered Serpent Temple] dungeon, I gave Shin Byeong-cheol a D-rank random box as a reward.Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com However, since it was quite valuable for a single guide job, we had agreed he would take on several more unpaid requests in return. These unpaid requests included the current and the next dungeon. ¡°Didn¡¯t a wooden cup come out of it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it.¡± However, the unfortunate thing was that the random box contained a [Feathered Serpent Tribe Wooden Cup (F)]. As a result, Shin Byeong-cheol would end up doing three dungeons for just one wooden cup. This was a very bad deal for him. And mentioning this meant, ¡°You¡¯re saying you don¡¯t feel motivated to guide for just one wooden cup and you want to quit?¡± ¡°Oh, no, hyung-nim. Quit? I¡¯m not that much of an amateur.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°I was just thinking, maybe a little incentive wouldn¡¯t hurt...¡± Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s voice trailed off. The Great Eagle Escort Agency. The goal of the dungeon was to participate in and achieve success in the events unfolding there. I too needed to arrive at the escort agency without delay but, ¡°I still have some time.¡± Instead of arriving early and waiting around, it was better to use this time productively. So, I quickly changed directions and moved swiftly to another location. The place I arrived at was a very ordinary-looking manor. I leaped over the wall and looked inside, only to find it unusually quiet. There were only a few workers cleaning with bored expressions on their faces. The owner of the manor and those associated with him had coincidentally vacated the premises. In fact, knowing they would be away was the reason I came here. In other words, this is like robbing an empty house. I watched a man sweeping the ground, and the moment he turned his back to me, I quietly dropped into the manor and moved swiftly. My B+ rank Thief¡¯s Step greatly minimized any noise I made, and by staying within blind spots, no one noticed my presence even in broad daylight. So I wandered around the manor as if it were my own home. I eventually discovered a room and stepped inside. It was the lord¡¯s room. At first glance, the room made one suspect the lord might be a scholar. Books were piled up everywhere, and on the walls, famous poems and ink paintings were displayed. Even on the table, the ink hadn¡¯t dried, as if something had been written just moments ago. Of course, it¡¯s all a lie. I looked at the stack of books in one corner. Moving those aside would reveal a secret passage. However, I had no intention of poking around in the secret passage. That way, I would suffer less in the linked dungeon. Instead, I shifted my gaze to the ink painting hanging on the wall. Really, what a terrible drawing. Even if you handed a brush and ink to a novice calligrapher, they would do better than this. However, the main reason I came here was precisely for this ink painting, so I rolled it up and put it in my inventory. Next, I opened the drawer, which revealed a small pouch. Inside, there were quite a few silver coins. I¡¯ll take this too. I was just about to run out of pocket money, so this was perfect timing. If Dang Gyu-young saw this, she would be very pleased and say how I was such a model thief. And she would hurry up with the club application form. Anyway, now that gathered everything I needed, I casually retraced my steps and slowly left the manor. I bought some jerky and a few snacks from the marketplace, put them in my inventory, and returned to the starting point in the alley. Then I chewed the beef jerky and started a fire. Whoosh, When the flames grew large enough, I threw in the ink painting I had taken from the manor. After watching the ink painting quickly turn black and burn away, I extinguished the fire and sifted through the ashes. A piece of paper caught my eye, and after brushing off the ash, I saw it was only slightly scorched at the edge. [Piece of the Treasure Map (A)] A piece of a treasure map was hidden within the ink painting. Another piece of evidence that the Lord was not a scholar. It also indicated that possessing such a valuable item meant he was no ordinary person. And the manor was no ordinary place either. A safe house. And a hideout for some very bad people. And the bad deeds they were planning were undoubtedly deeply connected to the heart of this dungeon, the Great Eagle Escort Agency. The manor being empty a while ago was all part of their preparation. Time to go. As it was about time, I headed towards the Great Eagle Escort Agency. Chapter 146: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (2) Chapter 146: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (2) As I followed the Ronin, I soon arrived in front of a huge building. On the fluttering flag was the image of an eagle spreading its wings in flight. And on the plaque was written ¡°Great Eagle Escort Agency¡± in bold calligraphy. I arrived right on time. After entering through the wide-open front gate, I saw the escorts standing firmly in place. They didn¡¯t speak to guide us, but they blocked the areas where entry was prohibited, so they naturally led the ronin to one place. Following this flow, we arrived at the training hall. Even though the area was quite large, it was teeming with martial artists. At a glance, it seemed there were more than a hundred of them. I also noticed Go Hyron-woo in the distance. Thanks to his unique charisma, he was already conversing with some of the martial artists around him. He too noticed me and his eyes briefly lit up, but we pretended not to know each other according to our strategy. Also, even while he was talking, Go Hyeon-woo was carefully looking around and observing the faces of the people here. The core of this strategy was to identify key or notable individuals. Who used what weapon, who had exceptional skills, who was hiding their identity, and so on. For example, Like the two behind me. ¡°Does a young brat like you even eat Kalbap (sword rice)?¡± When I turned my head toward the voice, I saw two ronin looking at me. One had a sneaky rat-like appearance with whisker-like stubble. So in our strategy guide, we gave him the nickname of ¡°Ratty¡±. The other one had a sturdy build, but his droopy eyes and features gave him a constantly aggrieved look on his face. Following his appearance, we gave him the nickname of ¡°Woeful¡±. These two, Ratty and Woeful, seemed like the typical lackeys who get into trouble with the main character and end up getting a harsh lesson, but contrary to their first impression, they were actually kind-hearted fellows. Their skills were fairly decent for Ronin. And so, despite their somewhat provocative approach, my response was gentle. ¡°What can you do to survive? Even sword rice is better than nothing.¡± ¡°If you want to survive, why not work as a waiter in a guesthouse? Why risk your life at such a young age?¡± Ratty¡¯s question was still blunt and seemed provocative, but it contained a hint of concern. I sighed deeply and my expression turned dark. ¡°Haah... There are circumstances behind this. I can¡¯t go into detail, but I¡¯ve fallen out of favor with some very dangerous people.¡± The swordsmanship club, whose members are essentially sword-wielding brothers and sisters are expected to come after me. Although I caused this situation, the fact remains that I¡¯ve fallen out of favor with them. When they heard this, Ratty and Woeful¡¯s expressions darkened as well. Woeful who already looked aggrieved now looked twice as aggrieved and his face fell. He muttered in that state. ¡°Hmm... You must have gotten entangled in the grudges of the martial world.¡± ¡°How did a young fellow like you... It¡¯s truly unfortunate.¡± The two Ronin exchanged glances. ¡°If they¡¯re very dangerous people, they might be masters beyond our abilities. It¡¯s better not to get involved.¡± ¡°But how can we leave someone in need of help just like that?¡± ¡°Hmm... You have a point.¡± It seemed that within their conversation, I had become a tragic main character. To summarize what they¡¯ve said about me, my family is in ruins, I¡¯m separated from my loved ones, I¡¯m being chased by a gang of villains and I just managed to stumble into this escort agency. After whispering with their heads together, the two soon reached a conclusion, and Ratty opened his mouth.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com ¡°There¡¯s nothing else we can do. We can¡¯t get directly involved since we¡¯re also in a difficult position, but we¡¯ll help as much as we can.¡± At that moment, a man with a goatee standing by the platform spoke up. His appearance clearly said, ¡°I am the chief manager of the Great Eagle Escort Agency.¡± ¡°Head, I have a good idea.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± The chief manager looked at the ronin filling the training hall and began to speak. ¡°It would take more than a day or two to determine the best among those many warriors if we pair them up for duels.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°And most of the battles that occur during the escort missions are not one-on-one but rather group fights and chaotic skirmishes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s usually the case.¡± ¡°So, how about we assume the same situation and determine the best through a chaotic melee?¡± Although his introduction was long to justify his idea, it could be summarized as follows: ¡ªKeep fighting until only the strong ones remain. After thinking for a moment in silence, the head of the agency asked the assembly, ¡°I think it¡¯s not a bad idea at all, but if anyone has objections or another plan, please speak now.¡± ¨C Murmur, murmur... The murmuring in the hall grew louder. As martial artists, fighting like street thugs in a gang brawl was not a pleasant thought. But since similar fights could occur during escort missions, it was hard to dismiss the idea. And what did it matter if they fought like street thugs? They were being paid handsomely. While an ordinary martial artist might have second thoughts about this, a ronin couldn¡¯t afford to miss such a good opportunity. As a result, only a few warriors who found this method unacceptable left while the rest stayed. The head continued, ¡°Then, since there are no further objections, we will proceed. Bring the wooden swords.¡± At his command, the guards brought wooden swords and other training weapons. Then they started distributing them to the ronin. Though they were testing their skills, they couldn¡¯t use real blades, and injuries from stray swords were likely in a chaotic melee. Ratty grabbed dual swords; Woeful took a long wooden sword fitting his large frame, and I took a short wooden sword. Next, the guards drew a large circle in the middle of the training hall and made the ronin step inside. To prevent them from running wildly or leaving the hall, they restricted the area from the start. The head of the agency summarized these preparations, ¡°You may use any method you wish. However, if you become unable to fight or are pushed out of the ring, you will be considered eliminated. This melee will continue until a suitable number of participants remain.¡± ¡°.........¡± ¡°Let me give you one last piece of advice. Our escort agency does not want anyone to get hurt. We also cannot take responsibility for any injuries, so so please voluntarily step down if you feel overwhelmed.¡± Even if you survive, severe injuries will prevent you from joining the escort mission anyway, so it is better to withdraw unscathed if things seem unfavorable. If you get hurt and cannot participate in the mission, you will suffer significant losses. Tension spread among the ronin as they began to exchange fierce looks with each other. Amidst this, Ratty and Woeful took positions on either side of me as if to protect me. ¡°Stay close to us, young brother Kim.¡± ¡°Yes, brothers.¡± We had already become like brothers. Once everyone was in position, the head of the agency gave the order. ¡°Begin.¡± Then a guard sounded the drum with all his might. Bang¡ª! Chapter 147: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (3) Chapter 147: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (3) ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± Even though the drums were pounding, silence lingered in the training hall for a while. Everyone was busy darting their eyes left and right. They were wary of each other. However, the standoff didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Yiaaah¡ª!¡± One Ronin who was unable to hold back swung his wooden sword at the person next to him. The Ronin beside him blocked the attack with his own wooden sword and counterattacked. The sound of wood clashing echoed in the hall. ¨C Thwack, thwack! The one who initiated the attack must have picked someone who seemed easy enough, but once they clashed, the difference in skill was clear. So he ended up flat on the ground after only a few exchanges. And that became the spark for the battle. Whooooosh¡ª! The Ronin began swinging their wooden swords wildly without any particular order. The quiet training hall was quickly filled with shouts, screams, and the sound of wooden swords clashing. Meanwhile, our trio took positions near the edge of the large circle. Though there was the risk of being easily pushed out, there was the advantage of not being surrounded on all sides. Especially since Ratty and Woeful were guarding my sides, I feel reassured. ¡°Hiyah!¡± Several Ronin, thinking they had many places to strike due to Woeful¡¯s large frame, charged at him. In response, the veins on Woeful¡¯s thick arms bulged as he tightened his grip and swung his wooden sword at a terrifying speed. Though the opponents swung their wooden swords first, Woeful¡¯s strikes landed faster. This meant he had incredible speed and destructive power. Crack! Crack! The Ronin fell one by one with each strike. With the chilling sound of something breaking. Ratty also skillfully handled the approaching enemies. He deflected their attacks with one wooden sword, and he jabbed them in the solar plexus with the other. As the attackers were quickly dealt with, the Ronin hesitated for a moment, then one of them thought I looked easy and swung his wooden sword at me. ¡°Oh.¡± I pretended to be surprised and deflected his strike, then I lightly pushed the back of the Ronin who was passing by. Compressed air exploded, Bang, And he was propelled forward a few steps by the force. He spun around to attack me again but, ¨C Out of bounds! The judge¡¯s shout made the guy look down and he found out that he had stepped outside the circle. The judge restrained him and dragged him away as his face contorted with frustration. The other Ronin began to target me more intensely, probably because I appeared to be the weakest. Ratty and Woeful blocked them and said a few words. ¡°Younger brother Kim, be careful. We might not be able to help you all the way.¡± ¡°Stay close.¡± ¡°Yes, brothers. I will stay close.¡± I looked at the two Ronin with a very tense face. To be honest, I was looking at Go Hyeon-woo over their shoulders. Swish! Go Hyeon-woo swung his wooden sword diagonally. The Ronin he was fighting tried to block it with his own wooden sword, but in the next instant, it was cleanly cut in half. Seeing the sharp cut, the Ronin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But it was definitely a wooden sword against a wooden sword...¡± ¡°Do you want more?¡± ¡°No, young hero, I mean great hero.¡± And then after lowering his gaze, he left the circle as if fleeing. ¨C Out of bounds! Go Hyeon-woo swung his wooden sword at the next victim, and once again, it sliced the wooden sword in half. He¡¯s doing well. There were three instructions I gave to Go Hyeon-woo through the strategy guide. Glancing at the bearded man who screamed and clutched his shoulder, Go Hyeon-woo immediately moved to his next target. This time, the wooden sword broke the arm of a sideburned Ronin. ¡°Ugh!¡± Since he had already fully grasped the entire situation, there was not an ounce of mercy in his actions. He relentlessly broke the arms and legs of the fake Ronin, knowing fully well that leaving them would put us in danger. ¡°You!¡± As Go Hyeon-woo blatantly targeted the fake Ronin, some seemed to realize their cover was blown. They revealed their hidden skills and tried to fight back, but even then, Go Hyeon-woo was a step ahead. He deflected their counterattacks and also broke the arm of one of them. However, since the circle was too large for him to handle alone, it made sense for me to lend a hand. Fortunately, I had just learned a skill that was perfect for this situation. [Activate ¡®Amplification¡¯] [The rank of the ¡®One Point Explosion¡¯ increased. (E->C)] When I glanced around, I saw a Ronin with caterpillar-like eyebrows pushing his opponent back. Just as he was about to deliver the final blow, mana gathered around his abdomen and then, Boom, It exploded right there. The Ronin with caterpillar eyebrows clutched his stomach and fell forward. Suddenly, Ratty noticed his figure and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°Maybe he ate something bad.¡± Boom, The next target also got hit directly in the stomach by the One Point Explosion skill. The man who fell on his knees asked his opponent with whom he had just been fighting, ¡°Ugh... What kind of sorcery is this?¡± ¡°I... I don¡¯t know either.¡± Confusion filled the faces of the two Ronin. But I who was hidden between Ratty and Woeful continued casting One Point Explosion. I knew it was cowardly, but This too is for world peace. As Go Hyeon-woo and I dealt with the fake Ronin, the skilled fighters who originally clashed with them moved more freely within the circle. As a result, the number of riffraff dwindled more quickly. After a little more time passed, the once crowded circle became increasingly sparse, leaving only about a dozen people. Those remaining had confirmed each other¡¯s abilities to some extent, so no one moved recklessly. Bang¡ª! At that moment, a drum sounded, signaling the end of the fight. It was safe to say that those still in the circle had all been accepted as temporary guards. ¡°.......¡± The head of the Great Eagle Security Agency stepped down from the platform and slowly walked toward us. Eventually, he stopped in front of Go Hyeon-woo and let out a low exclamation of admiration. ¡°You don¡¯t look more than twenty years old, but your skills are impressive, young man.¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble, may I ask which sect you belong to?¡± ¡°The Heavenly Wind Gate.¡± ¡°Hmm... I haven¡¯t heard of it; my knowledge must be limited.¡± As expected, skill was all that mattered in the martial world. If a person with limited skills mentioned an unfamiliar sect name, they would have asked, ¡°Heavenly Wind Gate? Does such a sect even exist?¡± However, since the opponent was Go Hyeon-woo, the head of the agency blamed his limited knowledge. ¡°I have a proposal for you.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± Then, an expert who appeared to be at the level of a head guard silently took his place next to the head of the agency. The head gestured towards this expert with his eyes and continued speaking. ¡°Would you like to demonstrate a bit more of your skills? I promise you the authority and treatment of a head guard in this escort mission.¡± If he overpowered the head guard, he would be treated as one. Go Hyeon-woo revealed his skills and drew attention precisely to achieve this. It will be much easier to manage a linked dungeon if you have the authority of a head guard rather than just a temporary guard. From Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s perspective, there was no reason to refuse. ¡°I accept your proposal.¡± Chapter 148: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (4) Chapter 148: No.640 Great Eagle Escort Agency (4) When Go Hyeon-woo accepted the proposal without a moment¡¯s hesitation, a satisfied smile appeared on the head of the agency¡¯s lips. He then introduced the expert beside him. ¡°This is head guard Kang, one of the top experts among the head guards of the escort agency. It will be a good match for you.¡± The head of the agency stepped aside, and head guard Kang immediately asked Go Hyeon-woo, ¡°Shall we use wooden swords?¡± ¡°I prefer a weapon I am accustomed to.¡± ¡°A satisfying answer. I feel the same.¡± Head guard Kang took out the thick sword he had slung on his back, and Go Hyeon-woo also gripped his iron sword. Although his main weapon was a magic sword, it shone too conspicuously with a golden glow. It was unusual for a ronin to possess such a valuable item. So, he intended to make do with the iron sword. It shouldn¡¯t break. Since I made the [Durable Pen], the durability of his weapon has greatly improved. The existing effect of [Weapon Damage Protection] had increased from F to C rank. This allowed the iron sword to last quite a while. Also, there was no need to use grand techniques like ¡°Clear Stream¡± in such a duel. The two men faced each other from a certain distance. Head guard Kang spoke first. ¡°I would normally give the first move to my opponent, but against an expert like you, I might not get any chance at all. Here I come.¡± ¡°Please, make your move.¡± Head guard Kang advanced cautiously with his sword held forward. In contrast, Go Hyeon-woo stood still while holding his iron sword in a middle guard position and simply watched him. As the distance between them gradually closed, ¡°Hup!¡± Head guard Kang stepped forward and slashed diagonally with his sword. Go Hyeon-woo also took half a step forward and brought his iron sword to meet the trajectory of head guard Kang¡¯s sword. Contrary to the spectators¡¯ expectations that the two swords would collide, Head guard Kang¡¯s sword slipped past the iron sword and cut through empty air. ¡°......!¡± Head guard Kang¡¯s expression stiffened slightly as he retrieved his sword mid-swing and swung it again. But once again, when Go Hyeon-woo lightly brought his iron sword to meet it, the trajectory changed slightly. Head guard Kang retrieved his sword mid-swing and swung again. Go Hyeon-woo subtly pushed his iron sword forward. Their swords crossed and diverged. As this repeated several times, the spectators showed mixed reactions. ¡°Why does he keep swinging and stopping, swinging and stopping?¡± ¡°Is this a duel or child¡¯s play?¡± Those who said this were amateurs. What they saw was head guard Kang swinging his sword halfway and stopping, and Go Hyeon-woo slowly bringing his iron sword to meet it. All they saw were the weapons swinging in the air, so it seemed like child¡¯s play to them. ¡°.......¡± On the other hand, experts like the head of the agency and those above head guard¡¯s level watched the duel with serious eyes. So did Ratty and Woeful. ¡°Truly impressive.¡± ¡°It seems the young man¡¯s skill is about a move or a move and a half ahead of his opponent.¡± ¡°I agree. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to deflect such fierce sword attacks so easily.¡± Deflecting properly is more difficult than blocking or dodging. It requires reading the enemy¡¯s attack accurately and seizing a very brief moment. Yet Go Hyeon-woo was deflecting each of head guard Kang¡¯s fierce attacks with ease. This only went to show his superior skill. [Pure Flow]. It was Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s third technique that came right after Clear Stream and Rapid Current. During the Black Death dungeon, it hadn¡¯t been properly refined, so he used his sword to withstand White Snake¡¯s techniques. However, Go Hyeon-woo continued to polish this Pure Flow while receiving mentoring and used it decisively to defeat mid-bosses during the Feathered Serpent Temple. Now, he seemed even more proficient than back then. ¡°Hmm......¡± Sweat beaded on head guard Kang¡¯s forehead. Even though he unleashed all his strength in his attacks, he still hadn¡¯t landed a proper hit. In contrast, Go Hyeon-woo maintained the same calm demeanor he had at the start while facing him. The skill difference was so big that continuing the duel seemed pointless. However, head guard Kang didn¡¯t seem ready to give up. He retreated for the first time since the duel began. After widening the distance, he gathered his energy. It promised tremendous honor. ¡°That would definitely tempt them. But what kind of map is it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for later.¡± ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t just stop talking in the middle like that. How mean¡± If the map¡¯s identity leaked too early, a battle for the pieces might erupt. So even though Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol looked at me as if they were going to die from curiosity, I deliberately avoided their gaze. ¡°At least give us a hint.¡± ¡°A hint? It¡¯s one word.¡± ¡°One word? What is it?¡± ¡°Later.¡± The best way to open random boxes was with the lucky charm Seo Ye-in. However, we couldn¡¯t do it without Go Hyeon-woo, the top contributor to our raid on the Great Eagle Escort Agency dungeon. Therefore, we decided to postpone the unboxing until all three of our schedules were aligned. The next day, the strategy battles and mentoring continued as usual. ¡°Aaagh!¡± Crack, [Kwak Ji-cheol ¨C %] As usual, Kwak Ji-cheol was knocked out by the ogre. In the meantime, I worked on increasing my skill ranks alone. Boom! Boom! After I tormented the ogre with one point explosions for a while, He should be waking up soon. I figured it was about time for Kwak Ji-cheol to come around, so I went outside the dungeon. Since it was mentoring, it had to be done together as much as possible. Like I expected, Kwak Ji-cheol opened his eyes. ¡°Ugh...¡± He opened his eyes and started wriggling on the ground. I prodded Kwak Ji-cheol with Root. ¡°Ahjussi (Mister/Uncle), wake up. You¡¯ll catch a cold if you sleep here.¡± ¡°Ugh... shut up.¡± ¡°You should go home, Ahjussi. You should get up.¡± ¡°I told you to shut up...!¡± Even though he was grumbling, Kwak Ji-cheol stubbornly stayed sprawled out. But then he noticed something and his eyes widened as he quickly got up. When I turned to see what had startled him, ¡°Hyung (big brother).¡± ¡°......¡± There stood Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s older brother, Kwak Seung-jae with a stern expression on his face. It seemed he had stumbled upon us while passing by with other second-year students. Kwak Seung-jae soon spoke to his companions. ¡°Something came up. Go on ahead and wait for me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± His companions replied indifferently and left. ¡°......¡± Kwak Ji-cheol lowered his gaze and waited for the inevitable scolding. However, Kwak Seung-jae only glanced at his brother once and that was it. It seemed I was the one he had business with. ¡°I have something to ask you. Is that alright?¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± Kwak Seung-jae was one of the influential figures in the disciplinary committee. Since he initiated a one-on-one conversation with me, it wasn¡¯t something to pass up lightly. I was also curious about what he wanted to ask me. So, I moved to a quiet place with Kwak Seung-jae. According to what I heard from Song Cheon-hye and Dang Gyu-young, Kwak Seung-jae had a very straightforward personality. If he had something to say, he wouldn¡¯t beat around the bush and would just say it directly. I expected a somewhat direct conversation, but what Kwak Seung-jae said was beyond my imagination. ¡°I heard you¡¯re dating senior Dang Gyu-young.¡± ¡°Huh?¡±Upstodatee from Chapter 149: Kwak Ji-cheol in Crisis Chapter 149: Kwak Ji-cheol in Crisis There were already too many sources to guess who might have said that. It could have been hinted at by Song Cheon-hye who was also on the same disciplinary committee. Or it might have been mentioned in passing by his brother Kwak Ji-cheol during conversation. Or perhaps, it could have been someone else, like Son Hyeong-taek or Bukgong Han-seol who participated in the 4-on-4 mentoring battle. Still, the most likely candidate was of course, ¡°Senior Kim Gap-doo must have mentioned it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kwak Seung-jae did not deny it. During the 4-on-4 match, Kwak Ji-cheol said something like this, ¨C I heard something from my big brother before about senior Kim Gap-doo. ¨C Unlike a typical martial artist, Kim Gap-doo is excessively cautious. At first glance, it seemed like a simple evaluation but it also hinted that Kim Gap-doo and Kwak Seung-jae knew each other to some degree. And if they talked about personal matters like romance, they must be even closer. ¡°He kept rambling on for quite a while.¡± Of course, in this case, it was more like a one-sided lament about his situation rather than a conversation. Kim Gap-doo called out Kwak Seung-jae and started his alcohol-free drunken ramblings. ¨C They seemed really close... ¨C Even doing skinship... ¨C They were so sweet, I was envious to death... ¨C But I got rejected again... ¨C I didn¡¯t even plan to be a nuisance... And Kwak Seung-jae had listened to it all with a blank mind. It seems the aftershock has hit him. When Kim Gap-doo was rejected by Dang Gyu-young for the last time, he turned away without any regrets. He even gave me a basic elixir and asked me to take good care of her. I had thought his departing figure was quite admirable, but it seems he hadn¡¯t fully overcome the pain of his broken heart. After all, if feelings could be controlled at will, who would ever suffer? It was perfectly understandable. Of course, that was that, and I had to correct any misunderstandings. ¡°We are close, but I¡¯m not dating senior Dang Gyu-young.¡± ¡°I heard ¡®not yet¡¯. Isn¡¯t it true that you both have mutual feelings for each other?¡± ¡°I respect her like a junior does for his senior.¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re spending quite a bit of time together.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s my mentor, and I¡¯m her mentee.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± When I answered as naturally as flowing water, Kwak Seung-jae looked at me for a moment with calm eyes and then nodded his head. However, perhaps because he had heard a lot from Kim Gap-doo, he didn¡¯t seem to fully believe me. He probably thought I was hiding it out of embarrassment or that it was only a matter of time before our relationship progressed. I didn¡¯t feel the need to correct him that far, and since the future is unpredictable, I didn¡¯t bother adding any unnecessary explanations. Kwak Seung-jae continued speaking. ¡°It would be rude to interfere further in your personal matters. However, whatever you do, make sure it¡¯s within the rules. I don¡¯t want to have to come after you like in the underground of the dungeon building.¡± ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡± Isn¡¯t it fine as long as I don¡¯t get caught? As if he could see right through my thoughts, Kwak Seung-jae stared at me for a moment, then moved on to the next topic. ¡°How is Ji-cheol doing?¡± He¡¯s just a burden. In terms of fighting power, he¡¯s about 0.3 of a person. ¡ªof course, I couldn¡¯t say that in front of his older brother, so I gave a vague answer. ¡°He¡¯s managing about as well as everyone else.¡± ¡°It seemed to me he was struggling just to keep up, wasn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing he can do about that; his teammates are not ordinary people.¡± Objectively speaking, it¡¯s not that Kwak Ji-cheol is lacking, but that his teammates are too exceptional. Even excluding me, Song Cheon-hye was in the disciplinary committee, and Hong Yeon-hwa was a promising student. Trying to keep up with them would naturally tear anyone apart. Of course, neither I, Dang Gyu-young, nor Kwak Seung-jae were inclined to be lenient in our evaluations. Even when considering these points. ¡°He¡¯s a pathetic brother. When will he ever stop being a frog in a well...?¡± ¡°He will improve gradually. Just keep watching.¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± It was a ruby I had received for helping Hong Yeon-hwa and the Ruby Magic Tower during the sticker duel. Compared to Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s emerald, the ruby was exactly twice its size. This was the difference between D-rank and B-rank. ¡°See this? This is the difference in sincerity between you and Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°...!¡± Moreover, Hong Yeon-hwa had also helped me melt the Millennium Iron. Kwak Ji-cheol clearly hadn¡¯t expected such a deal between me and the Ruby Magic Tower, and the bewilderment on his face showed it. ¡°If you¡¯re going to pay, at least match it somewhat.¡± ¡°T-This is the biggest one I have right now.¡± At the moment, not only was additional support from the Emerald Magic Tower out of the question but there was also the risk of him getting expelled. Contacting his family was out of the question as well. It would make even less sense to ask Kwak Seung-jae for help here. Nevertheless, Kwak Ji-cheol seemed desperate to get my help somehow. ¡°I-I¡¯ll definitely repay you later.¡± ¡°With something bigger than this?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± When I pointed at the ruby and asked, Kwak Ji-cheol nodded his head. I knew it would come to this. This was why I hadn¡¯t demanded specific compensation from Kwak Seung-jae. I knew I would get something from Kwak Ji-cheol himself. If the emerald he paid later was as valuable as the ruby I received from Hong Yeon-hwa, it would be worth taking on the task. I could accept the emerald later, or demand an item of similar value. Of course, if Kwak Ji-cheol really ended up being expelled, the support from the Emerald Magic Tower would completely stop, so there was a slight risk that I would receive less compensation or none at all. So for now, I¡¯ll just teach him as much as I get paid for. I¡¯ll see how well he follows along, and if he shows no promise, I can just withdraw. When I silently extended my hand, Kwak Ji-cheol placed the emerald in it. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± We entered the dungeon first. The beginning wouldn¡¯t be difficult, so we could talk while progressing. We each retrieved a crystal and stepped into the cave. As we dealt with the approaching goblins and advanced, I began to speak. ¡°Until now, what were your defensive strategies? You¡¯ve either defended or dodged, but your defense gets pierced by the ogre, and you¡¯re not particularly skilled at dodging.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I was originally going to wait until you figured it out on your own, but since things have come to this, I¡¯ll just give you the answer. Deflect the attack.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that harder?¡± ¡°Generally, yes. But you¡¯re an earth mage.¡± Among all mages, earth mages have the most defensive measures. Naturally, they have countless ways to deflect an opponent¡¯s attack. And among the dozens of spells Kwak Ji-cheol learned at the Emerald Magic Tower, there¡¯s bound to be at least one or two suitable for this situation. ¡°.......¡± Kwak Ji-cheol fell into deep thought. It¡¯s up to him to come up with a concrete method. It¡¯s not like I can see other people¡¯s status windows, nor can I know what he learned at the Magic Tower. I took care of the goblins to let him think in peace for a while. As we continued moving forward, our vision became brighter and a sanctuary appeared. A pillar of light shot out from a large stalactite and pointed at Kwak Ji-cheol. This time, he gets to charge first. [Crystal: 1%] ¡°Grrr?¡± An ogre sitting with its back turned rose and looked at Kwak Ji-cheol. Still lost in thought, Kwak Ji-cheol suddenly had a flash of insight. ¡°Something popped up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯ll work, but... I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± The emerald on his staff emitted a strong green light. Kwak Ji-cheol then planted his staff firmly into the ground, and the area around him turned into fine sand. [Quicksand] Chapter 150: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Worried Chapter 150: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Worried Quicksand. It was a summoning magic that had two main uses. The first was to turn the surrounding environment into a desert, breaking down hard rocks into sand to link with earth-element magic. ¡°Grrr¡ª!¡± As the ogre charged at Kwak Ji-cheol, a large wall of sand rose between them. When the club struck it, it easily crumbled and the sand scattered. However, the scattered sand gathered again to form a new wall. The ogre continued to break through the sand walls, smashing them as it advanced. ¡°Grr?¡±Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com Suddenly, the ogre looked down. Because the area had turned into a sand pit and its legs were sinking deeply. The start is good. Flexible defense and trapping through sand magic. The only downside was, The rank of the skill is too low. Although he had remembered an appropriate spell thanks to his training at the Emerald Magic Tower, he had only learned it and lacked proficiency. The area affected by the spell was small, and the depth at which the ogre¡¯s legs sank was shallow. But sand is still useful. The sand gathered to form a wall in front of the ogre that had escaped from the sand pit. The ogre brushed it aside like swatting a fly and swung its club. Whoosh! ¡°Ugh...¡± Kwak Ji-cheol barely dodged and manipulated the sand again. So I offered advice to him again. ¡°You¡¯re only trying to block it again. You won¡¯t get any leeway that way. Don¡¯t block, deflect.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to do that¡ªugh!¡± Thud! I kicked Kwak Ji-cheol away, and in the next instant, the club smashed into the spot where he had been. Kwak Ji-cheol rolled and scrambled to get back to his feet. The ogre tried to continue its attack, but I intervened. ¡°This is how you deflect.¡± ¡°Goaaaa¡ª!¡± As the ogre swung its arm in annoyance, I combined Wind Force and Twister, Thump¡ª! And its arm veered off course. This was a move I had demonstrated against Mok Jong-hwa¡¯s wood golem. Having done this, I stepped aside to give them time alone again. ¡°Now, try to follow.¡± ¡°No, how am I supposed to do that?¡± Regardless of whether Kwak Ji-cheol thought it was possible, the ogre wouldn¡¯t stop attacking him. Kwak Ji-cheol jumped to avoid the club sweeping the ground and pointed his staff at the ogre. The sand tried to gather in the air to deflect its attack, but it was still too clumsy. Just before Kwak Ji-cheol got hit, I kicked him away again. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Again.¡± ¡°Can you stop kicking me?¡± ¡°Would you rather get hit by the ogre or by me?¡± Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s eyes flicked between the ogre and me. ¡°...Let¡¯s just continue like this.¡± He concluded that getting kicked was better than being struck by the club. I could have gone easy on him, but I intentionally didn¡¯t. If I go easy, how will he ever learn? If it were Seo Ye-in, she would have watched once and followed along, but Kwak Ji-cheol couldn¡¯t get the hang of it even after several attempts. I didn¡¯t know how much more time it would take here if I were to use conventional methods. Even though I had been asked and there was a reward at stake, I didn¡¯t plan to spend a lot of time on Kwak Ji-cheol. So the conclusion I came to was: I¡¯ll teach him through intense training. The traditional and effective method for intense training was to induce pain that twisted the whole body. Thud, ¡°Ugh.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol was kicked again and rolled on the ground. If it hadn¡¯t been C-rank, she wouldn¡¯t have held such an overwhelming advantage against Bukgong Han-seol. In addition, Hong Yeon-hwa had spent the entire last week sparring with me. She improved her mastery of the modified Fire Pillar and became very proficient in the use of magic circles. Her ability to toy with Bukgong Han-seol throughout the match owed much to this. For these reasons, Hong Ye-hwa couldn¡¯t help but express her gratitude to me. ¡°And also... there¡¯s something she wants to discuss.¡± What she wanted to discuss was very obvious. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s Aqua Flame was now stuck at C-rank. For further growth, I hinted that she would need to ¡°enter a dungeon with many ice attribute monsters¡±, which would naturally be an underground dungeon. So she would want to hear the details of that. However, I slowly shook my head. ¡°Sorry, but I won¡¯t have time for a while. Please tell her I¡¯ll visit soon.¡± ¡°Mhmm, got it.¡± Regarding the underground dungeon, I now had to focus on dealing with the swordsmanship club. So even if we discussed Aqua Flame, finding and entering an underground dungeon would have to be postponed. Moreover, Aqua Flame was already strong at C-rank and Hong Yeon-hwa had plenty of other skills and traits to develop. This meant that there was no need for me or them to be in a hurry. ¡°Do you have anything else to say? I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°W-wait!¡± As I was about to turn away, Hong Yeon-hwa called out to me again. ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± ¡°Well... Co!!¡± ¡°Co?¡± I wondered what she meant by ¡°Co,¡± but it seemed she had choked on her words. Hong Yeon-hwa took a deep breath and continued. ¡°Co-Coffee! Do you like it?¡± ¡°I drink it when it¡¯s available; are you offering to buy some?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa quickly nodded her head. Then she added while stammering, ¡°I, I wanted to thank you...¡± No one would be more grateful than Hong Yeon-hwa herself for defeating Bukgong Han-seol. So she wanted to buy me coffee as a thank you. This wasn¡¯t something to refuse, so I nodded readily. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± ¡°......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face brightened up. So we headed to the cafeteria. I chose my usual iced coffee. I didn¡¯t know how many espresso shots Hong Yeon-hwa added to her Americano, but it was very dark and thick... Looks like oil now? It looked like my tongue wouldn¡¯t survive if I tasted that, but Hong Yeon-hwa drank it as naturally as if it were water. I could infer that she enjoyed this combination regularly. It was her preference, so I let it be, We sat on a bench near the cafeteria and sipped our coffee in silence. ¡°...¡± Even then, Hong Yeon-hwa kept glancing at me and checking my reaction out of the corner of her eye. When our eyes met, she quickly looked down and focused on her coffee. However, I could see a hint of worry on her face, so I asked her first again this time. ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± ¡°N-No, why would there be?¡± ¡°It seems like there is.¡± When I gave her a probing look, Hong Yeon-hwa averted her gaze and answered softly. ¡°...A little?¡± ¡°Is the strategy battle not working out?¡± ¡°No, the strategy battle is fine.¡± On the first day, Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye tried to compete to see who could deal more damage, but it became meaningless as the ogre didn¡¯t go down. After that, I advised them to focus on mastering the basics, and the two accepted the advice and were now focusing on charging the crystals as their main strategy. Both Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye had the skill to dodge the ogre¡¯s attacks without their partner¡¯s help, so they should surely get the highest score in the strategy battle. ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa fiddled with her coffee cup for a moment before speaking. Chapter 151: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (1) Chapter 151: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (1) ¡°Do you think it¡¯s right for me to continue as an all-rounder?¡± ¡°You¡¯re worried about your class path, huh?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Whether to continue as an all-rounder or switch to a battery?¡± (TN: Like a stationary DPS I believe.) ¡°Mhmm...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa began to have doubts as the weeks of mentoring went by. She felt she would be more effective in a battery role than as an all-rounder. For example, in the defense strategy battle, she continuously cast fire magic and engulfed the front gate in flames. Even in the crystal battle against Bukgong Han-seol, once she took a position, she barely moved. So, rather than spreading her investment towards all-rounder skills, wouldn¡¯t it be better to focus on battery-type skills and traits? Or should she still push forward as an all-rounder? This was Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s dilemma. ¡°First, let me ask you something. Why did you apply as an all-rounder for the mentoring program? Weren¡¯t you originally more of a battery type?¡± Even during the placement test, she barely moved throughout the fight. And in the 2v2 match, she took a battery position with Baek Jun-seok in the lead. During the sweep campaign, I had no choice but to make her engage in close combat with the twin trolls, but in the end, she finished them off with a Fire Pillar. ¡°We-Well ...¡± However, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes wandered in the air for a moment at my question. As if she had received an embarrassing question. ¡°Why did I apply as an all-rounder... you ask...?¡± I waited silently without urging her. Soon, Hong Yeon-hwa turned her gaze away. She started fidgeting with her coffee cup as she stammered. ¡°I... because I¡¯m good at everything? I thought I¡¯d be good as an all-rounder... too?¡±. And the more she talked, the redder Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face became. To the point that it almost matched the color of her hair. In other words, it was baseless confidence. But if I said that outright, she might turn so red that she would explode. To keep the conversation going, it was better to pretend I didn¡¯t notice this part. ¡°Anyway, you didn¡¯t have a clear reason for choosing to be an all-rounder.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head. First, I gave her a textbook answer. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to focus on your strengths? What are you most confident in?¡± ¡°...Casting speed?¡± Indeed, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s casting speed was incredibly fast. While it usually took other mages dozens of seconds to cast a Fire Pillar, it took at most ten seconds for Hong Yeon-hwa. Moreover, she recently modified the Fire Pillar into a smaller form, which allowed her to set up a magic circle every few seconds. I nodded my head. ¡°Then you should compare whether that casting speed would be more useful as an all-rounder or as a battery type.¡± ¡°Mhmm... What do you think?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa asked me cautiously. This is obviously more useful as a battery type. There was already a precedent of someone being trained up to S-rank as a battery-type mage, like the Ruby Mage Tower Master. Moreover, Hong Yeon-hwa showed even more potential than that. However, since I hadn¡¯t built enough trust to discuss this in depth, I held back my words. ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t it be better to ask others instead of me?¡± She had her sister Hong Ye-hwa, other mage seniors from the magic tower, and her mentor Dang Gyu-young. Their words would hold more weight than those of a first-year student like me. However, it seemed Hong Yeon-hwa had a slightly different opinion. ¡°But... I still want to hear... your thoughts...¡± ¡°Why? You have your seniors.¡± ¡°The feedback you gave me last time....it was really helpful...¡± Apparently, my advice had been the most helpful so far, so she wanted to hear from me first again. If she insisted this much, I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to say a few words. After carefully choosing my words, I began to speak. ¡°Regardless of the choice, casting speed is a major strength of yours. However, I think it¡¯s better used in the battery type.¡± ¡°Why is that...?¡± ¡°An all-rounder has a lot more to focus on than just casting.¡± An all-rounder had to dodge enemy attacks and maintain distance at close and mid-range. So their focus was naturally divided. ¨C Pay up first. Meanwhile, a party that had just cleared a dungeon came out rejoicing. ¨C Wow, we hit the jackpot today. ¨C The rewards are amazing. ¨C Totally agree! We on the other hand acted strictly like second years, trying to match the color of our newly swapped tie pins. Just then, we made eye contact with some third-years coming up from the opposite side and bowed our heads slightly. ¡°Hello, seniors.¡± ¡°Oh, hi.¡± The third-years who received the greetings from their juniors acknowledged us but quickly passed by after realizing they didn¡¯t recognize our faces. The more dangerous encounters were with the second-year parties we met along the way. They stared at the three of us with suspicious eyes, as if trying to recall if there were students like us in their grade. Each time this happened, we followed Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s lead. We either ignored them and passed quickly or changed our direction as soon as we recognized the opposing party as second-years. The second-year parties didn¡¯t bother to chase after us; whether it was because of the better anonymous badges doing their job or simply because they didn¡¯t care enough, it was hard to tell. [No.471] [Great Eagle Escort Mission] Eventually, Shin Byeong-cheol stood in front of the dungeon and asked, ¡°So, when should I come back?¡± It was unreasonable to ask him to wait all day and night in front of a dungeon that took a long time to clear. ¡°We¡¯ll be done by morning. Come then.¡± ¡°Alright, see you in the morning.¡± We stepped through the teleportation portal, leaving Shin Byeong-cheol behind. My vision went black before gradually brightening up. The faint sounds I could barely hear grew louder and clearer. ¨C ...Brother ¨C Kim... ¡°Brother Kim, brother Kim!¡± Ratty and Woeful were calling my name while they were right next to me. I quickly grasped the situation and responded. ¡°Yes, big brothers.¡± ¡°What are you spacing out for?¡± ¡°I was just lost in thought for a moment. I¡¯m sorry, brothers.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, snap out of it.¡± Despite their scolding, the two Ronin turned their gaze with a bit of relief after they confirmed that I wasn¡¯t completely out of it. And including them, the people here didn¡¯t seem to find it too strange that Go Hyeon-woo and I suddenly appeared. Because it wasn¡¯t sudden. A dungeon was like an endlessly repeating puppet show, and we had just replaced some of the puppets in that show. Since it was a linked dungeon, the decision of which doll to replace was based on the previous dungeon. For example, after entering the dungeon, I had effectively replaced ¡°Ronin Guard B¡±. After realizing he had become ¡°Head Guard Go¡±, Go Hyeon-woo slowly looked around the place. Though he seemed a little confused, he seemed to be adapting quickly since I had given him a heads-up through the strategy guide To quickly summarize the current situation, the convoy had already departed and was steadily heading towards its destination. The scale was not very large; there were only a few carriages at most. In contrast, the number of guards was excessively high. In addition to the carefully selected head guards and escort warriors from the Great Eagle Escort Agency, there were also temporary guards made up of Ronin. This meant one thing. There will definitely be an attack. Unless they were almost certain a battle would occur, the Great Eagle Escort Agency wouldn¡¯t have organized the convoy to be big like this. It was a fact that anyone, even the most clueless, could understand so the atmosphere remained heavy and tense. And so as I stood idly in such a situation, Ratty and Woeful scolded me. I leisurely turned my gaze to the front. There were three mountains that the convoy had to cross. We were currently crossing the first one. They should be coming soon. As if reading my mind, a person was standing ahead and waiting for our carriages. A head guard who noticed this narrowed his eyes. ¡°Stop.¡± Chapter 152: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (2) Chapter 152: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (2) The person blocking the path was clearly a mountain bandit. He was a member of the Green Forest bandits. As if to confirm my guess, other Green Forest bandits emerged one by one from the bushes to join him. The presence of rustling sounds and watchful eyes from all directions indicated that they had been lying in wait here for some time. ¡°...¡± The tense gazes of the bandits focused on the head guards. For this escort mission, there were three head guards including Go Hyeon-woo, with head guard Kang being effectively in charge. Although he had lost to Go Hyeon-woo in a martial arts match, he had the most experience in the escort agency, making him second to none in that regard. ¡°Follow me.¡± Head guard Kang took a few escorts and stepped forward. Their unhurried pace as they walked toward the opposing camp seemed almost careless. Then, a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard emerged from the other side to meet them. His aura was much fiercer than the other bandits; he was the leader of the Green Forest bandits stationed at this pass. ¡°Head guard Kang, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Have you been well?¡± ¡°Always the same. No news is good news, right?¡± The bandit leader joked like that. For bandits, ¡°no news¡± meant no one was dying or getting hurt. The group of Ronin escorts was highly tense and they were ready for a fight to break out at any moment. But seeing the two talk like old friends left them feeling somewhat deflated. Ratty asked, ¡°Is that what it is? Paying a toll to pass through?¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it, but this is the first time I¡¯ve seen it in person.¡± The relationship between the escorts and the bandits. An escort mission rarely took the same path only once, and encounters with the Green Forest or the Waterway bandits weren¡¯t uncommon. The first meeting might involve drawn swords, but continued bloodshed was a loss for both sides. So, paying a reasonable toll to pass became customary. Just like the pouch head guard Kang was handing over right now. After taking the pouch, the bandit leader asked, ¡°It looks like the cargo is smaller than usual today. There are too many escorts too...¡± ¡°We¡¯re transporting something very important.¡± ¡°Something important... is this a big score?¡± The bandit leader asked playfully. Even though the Green Forest bandits consistently collected tolls, if the carriages carried enough wealth to live off for a lifetime without ever having to rob again, The delicate balance they¡¯ve maintained so far might collapse. However, head guard Kang remained calm. ¡°Important items aren¡¯t always valuable items.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true. We have no intention of gambling against such numbers.¡± From the bandit leader¡¯s perspective, this escort mission seemed particularly threatening because the number of escorts was twice as many as usual, and each one appeared highly skilled. They might win, but the losses would be too much. Even if the cargo were worth risking their lives for, just like head guard Kang said, it might not be valuable in monetary terms. In that case, the better choice here would be to maintain a friendly relationship and continue to collect tolls. The slightly heavier pouch than usual also likely contributed to that decision. The bandit leader gestured over his shoulder and asked, ¡°Are you planning to cross that pass again today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to stick to familiar paths whenever possible.¡± ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d reconsider.¡± His tone which had been friendly throughout suddenly turned serious, so head guard Kang had no choice but to ask, ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve lost contact with the Go-eung bandits recently. Even the messengers we¡¯ve sent haven¡¯t returned.¡± The Go-eung bandits were stationed at the next pass the escort team was supposed to cross. Since they were like neighbors, there was frequent communication between the two bandit groups, but the sudden silence from the other side meant something unusual had happened. Head guard Kang adopted a serious demeanor and bowed his head respectfully. For head guard Kang, who had traversed this pass countless times, meeting strangers meant the situation would immediately take a turn for the worse. Negotiations would have to start from scratch, and in most such cases, negotiations usually failed. Still, you never know about people until you talk to them. When head guard Kang signaled with his eyes, Go Hyeon-woo and a few temporary escorts followed him as if to guard him. Head guard Kang approached the opposing camp and stopped at a respectful distance before asking his question. ¡°Greetings. I believe this area is under the jurisdiction of the Go-eung bandits.¡± ¡°I am the new leader.¡± The man who appeared to be the leader of the people in black replied in an emotionless tone. As expected, something significant had happened within the Go-eung bandits. Even though head guard Kang already knew the answer, he handed over the toll pouch with a sliver of hope. ¡°I see. This is a small token from our escort agency to the new leader. We hope for your favor in the future and kindly ask you to let us pass for now.¡± The man in black uniform accepted the pouch. Though he barely checked its contents before nodding his head. ¡°Received. Now leave the carriages and get out.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Then you might be able to keep your lives.¡± Head guard Kang was not the least bit flustered. He had already anticipated such a turn of events and had encountered similar situations more than once in his line of work. He responded in a calm tone. ¡°Even if we leave the carriages, it doesn¡¯t seem like you intend to spare us.¡± There was no reason to reveal their killing intent so openly if their only goal was the cargo. From the beginning, they blocked the convoy with the intention of killing them all and silencing them. ¡°...¡± The man in black uniform remained silent for a moment, then suddenly closed the distance at a terrifying speed. And then a bright flash of light seemed to fly, Thud¡ª! Before it was blocked just an inch from head guard Kang¡¯s face. In his hand, a thick dagger had appeared at some point. He had the skills expected of someone in his position. In the next moment, Go Hyeon-woo stepped forward and slashed his sword, causing the man in black uniform to swiftly dodge and retreat back to his original position. It seemed he had perfectly avoided the attack, but several men in black next to him collapsed instead. This was because Go Hyeon-woo had aimed his sword energy at them from the start. ¡°...!¡± Even as they fell, they didn¡¯t utter a single scream which showed just how harshly they had been trained. The man in black uniform spoke without even glancing at them. ¡°Attack.¡± Swish, swish, swish... The men in black uniforms who had been lying in wait began to emerge one by one. And the encirclement tightened. Due to their unique footwork, a sound like snakes slithering across the ground echoed through the place. While watching their movements closely, Ratty and Woeful exchanged words. ¡°Brother Kim, stay sharp.¡± ¡°If you space out like earlier, you¡¯ll lose your head.¡± ¡°Yes, brothers.¡± Naturally, they took positions on either side of me as if to protect me. Swish, swish, swish... The distance between the men in black uniforms and the guards decreased steadily and, ¡°Aaaargh!¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± ¡°Die!¡± Clang, clang, clang! The place was quickly filled with screams, shouts, and the clashing of weapons. Chapter 153: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (3) Chapter 153: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (3) The core rule of the Great Eagle Escort Mission was [Escort]. And success was determined by whether or not the ¡°object to transport¡± could be safely transported to its destination without being stolen by the enemy. Of course, this was the most basic of the basics, and veterans always aimed for more. To earn additional rewards, you had to pay attention to other factors. The next most important thing to consider in the dungeon after the ¡°object to transport¡± was, People. Specifically, the leader of the convoy, the convoy fighters, and the convoy porters who accompanied the object. The number of people you could bring to the destination alive determined the extra rewards. And it goes without saying that the stronger an individual¡¯s strength is, the higher their chance of survival. This was why the Great Eagle Escort Agency made such a fuss about selecting only the most skilled individuals, and now the results were clear. Swoosh! Woeful¡¯s giant sword swung with incredible speed. The man in black who attacked him couldn¡¯t react to the unexpected speed of the weapon and was cut in half. Ratty too relentlessly swung his dual swords at another enemy and finally drove them into his chest. However, the enemies we were facing now were not the riffraff from the Great Eagle Escort Agency but highly trained elites. Their mindset was not as light as it had been during the martial arts competition. The man in black uniform, with his chest pierced, grabbed Ratty¡¯s arm tightly. A fierce determination to take Ratty down with him was visible in his eyes. ¡°Damn it...!¡± As Ratty struggled to free his arm, another man in black aimed his sword at Ratty¡¯s neck. Bang! In the next moment, the attacker was struck by my outstretched palm and was knocked back. I had pretended to use a palm technique while secretly mixing in wind force to strike him. Seizing the opportunity, Ratty freed his arm and crossed his daggers before slashing the man¡¯s neck. ¡°Thank you, Brother Kim. Do you have experience in palm techniques?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only learned a few martial arts moves of my family. Just like you saw, they¡¯re not very effective.¡± ¡°No, thanks to you, I survived.¡± Swoosh! Ratty expressed his gratitude as he cut down the next man in black. This time, he was careful not to let his arm be grabbed. This side seems to be stabilizing to some extent. The three of us have formed a fairly solid defense, so now it was time to focus on other areas. I started to secretly use magic, just like during the chaotic martial arts competition at the Great Eagle Escort Agency. After surveying the battlefield, I saw that the mantis-like Ronin was in a dire situation. His life was in danger. I cast a one point explosion in his direction. Booom! The compressed mana exploded from the attacking enemy¡¯s abdomen. He showed no sign of pain, but he couldn¡¯t help but lose his stance for a moment due to the explosion. ¡°......!¡± The mantis-like Ronin¡¯s eyes gleamed as he seized the small opening and swiftly beheaded the man in black. I immediately targeted my next opponent and cast wind force. Whoosh¡ª The wind imbued with physical power caused another man in black to stagger briefly, making him an easy target for another Ronin. I continued to discreetly cast wind force, twister, and one point explosion like this while looking around. Let¡¯s see how Go Hyeon-woo is doing. Clang! Clang! Clang! The area around Go Hyeon-woo was littered with the torn bodies of men in black. Even the usually fearless men in black were hesitant to approach him. To top it off, Go Hyeon-woo was overwhelmingly pressing against the leader of the men in black. Soon, his iron sword flashed a gray light, and the leader¡¯s head rolled off his stationary body. Whistle¡ª Then, a sharp whistle sounded from somewhere. ¡°This!¡± At someone¡¯s shout, everyone¡¯s heads turned simultaneously in that direction. When the guards gathered there, they saw a Ronin staring down at an arm lying on the ground. It was one of the pieces cut by Go Hyun-woo¡¯s sword energy, apparently left behind by the men in black. Of course, to martial artists who lived by the sword, a severed arm was not a big deal. Nevertheless, since the Ronin had spoken in a startled voice, there had to be a reason. Everyone looked closely at the arm. ¡°......!¡± And soon, everyone¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. On one side of the arm were the characters for ¡°King of Hell¡± branded like a mark. ¡°The King of Hell Squad...!¡± The Heavenly Demon Cult which had been defeated and scattered after being defeated in the Great Demon War. The King of Hell Squad was one of the martial factions of that cult, but it had appeared in this remote mountain. This explained how the men in black had been so ruthlessly trained and able to push back even the skilled Ronins. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± For a while, a heavy silence fell over the scene. Then, Ratty suddenly lifted his head from the severed arm and trudged towards a specific spot. His steps were directed towards the carriages carrying the goods. The Ronins immediately noticed his intention and followed him. They wanted to confirm it. What was the true nature of those goods that the Heavenly Demon Cult pursued so persistently? However, when they approached the carriages, they were blocked by head guard Kang and the other escorts. ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°Let us check the goods.¡± ¡°You cannot.¡± ¡°We are risking our lives to protect these goods. We believe we have the right to know this much.¡± Head guard Kang firmly shook his head. ¡°Your argument is valid. Even so, we cannot tell you, and we ask for your understanding.¡± ¡°Then at least explain why we cannot.¡± ¡°...¡± Gead guard Kang was silent for a moment and his face hardened. He seemed to be contemplating for a while, then sighed as if he had no other choice and answered. ¡°...If what¡¯s inside is revealed, everyone here would have to be killed to keep it a secret, including us.¡± ¡°...Shit.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve really stepped in it this time.¡± The Ronins cursed under their breath. Only then did they realize why they had recruited so many Ronins instead of experts from other martial sects as temporary escorts, and why the reward promised in case of a successful escort was so large that their eyes would pop out. Head guard Kang continued in a calm tone. ¡°Listen to me. What¡¯s important isn¡¯t what the goods are. What¡¯s important is that, regardless of whether we see inside or not, the Heavenly Demon Cult will try to kill us all.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°So, for now, set aside your curiosity and let¡¯s work together.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± ¡°I apologize for deliberately avoiding the topic. However, I assure you there is no lie about the reward.¡± Head guard Kang declared confidently. If the escort safely reached its destination, the promised reward would be paid in full, and the head of the agency Jang had pledged this with his name. At that moment, one of the Ronins keeping watch at the rear shouted. ¡°They¡¯re coming again!¡± From afar, shadows began to close in. They were the men in black uniforms. The King of Hell Squad had quickly regrouped and launched another attack. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly and got ready for battle. However, their expressions were noticeably darker and heavier than before. Chapter 154: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (4) Chapter 154: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (4) -Whistle¡ª! A sharp whistle pierced the air. Immediately, the men in black stopped their attack and retreated before they soon vanished from the scene like the diminishing tide. ¡°Whew...¡± ¡°Damn it...¡± Everyone collapsed onto the ground and let out heavy sighs. Their sighs were a mix of relief for the brief break and lamentation knowing it wouldn¡¯t last long. Ratty wiped the blood off his dual swords and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve lost count of how many times this has happened.¡± After intense battles that risked their lives, the fight would end as soon as Go Hyeon-woo took down a squad leader of the men in black. And just when the escorts and Ronin thought they could catch their breath, the battle would start again. This has been repeated countless times up to now. The attacks which began when the sun was high had continued through the dusk, midnight, and now into the pale blue dawn. No one had eaten or slept properly, so everyone¡¯s condition was terrible. In the midst of this, Woeful may have felt the need to eat something during this break and stuffed jerky into his mouth. Then he asked while chewing aggressively, ¡°Don¡¯t those guys ever sleep?¡± ¡°They probably do, but they are from the Demonic Cult after all.¡± The King of Hell Squad was, after all, a fighting group of the Demonic Cult. The escorts must have been thoroughly trained from the beginning to be able to overcome all kinds of adverse conditions, so what¡¯s the big deal about not being able to sleep or eat for a few days? On the other hand, the Ronins had lived freely and as they pleased, without being tied down by anything. So, the same adverse conditions hit them harder. Moreover, though it wasn¡¯t mentioned to avoid lowering morale, We are undergoing a war of attrition. The defense on our side was unexpectedly solid. Go Hyeon-woo who was a master far beyond the King of Hell Squad¡¯s expectations was here, and each Ronin was also quite skilled. This was because the escort agency had brought only the strongest in this mission. After several clashes, the King of Hell Squad seemed to have concluded that a frontal assault would not lead to victory. Hence, they resorted to a war of attrition with multiple groups taking turns to harass the convoy. This gradual accumulation of small damages, like clothes soaking in a drizzle, was the current situation. A Ronin watching the rear sighed and muttered, ¡°They¡¯re coming again...¡± His voice was low, maybe because he no longer had the strength to shout. Everyone probably felt the same but they couldn¡¯t afford to give up their lives. Although they were struggling, they each held their weapons tightly. And once again, the King of Hell Squad attacked. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Someone¡¯s desperate scream echoed. When I turned my gaze to the source of the scream, I saw a Ronin clutching his arm. His forearm had been deeply pierced by a King of Hell Squad member¡¯s sword. Injuries are starting to appear. Although everyone had accumulated minor injuries from continuous skirmishes, they were only superficial wounds that bled a little. This was the first Ronin to be injured to the point of being nearly unable to fight. ¡°Ahh!¡± In the next attack, another Ronin had a long cut carved into his thigh. Though it didn¡¯t hinder his ability to swing his sword, he now had to limp. With each successive attack, the injured Ronin became three, five, seven... And the number kept increasing like a growing snowball. Everyone¡¯s stamina was already at its limit and with fewer people able to fight, the damage was inevitably getting worse and worse. And there would be more injuries to come. Moreover, there was another big problem, We¡¯re being slowed down. Taking care of the injured had also slowed down the convoy¡¯s speed. Everyone realized this and the injured themselves were no exception. Eventually, the injured people gathered together in a corner and began discussing something with their faces close together. Their faces grew increasingly grim but they eventually seemed to reach some sort of agreement. One of them spoke to head guard Kang as a representative. ¡°Head guard Kang.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It seems this is the end for us. Go on ahead.¡± ¡°It seems there are only a few injured, yet so many of you remain? You have incredible courage.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°In recognition of that courage, I shall grant you a painless death.¡± The vice commander gave his order. ¡°Execute them all.¡± Sssss... A sound like a snake slithering across the ground echoed through the area. The men in black began to pick up speed and closed the distance. As everyone tensed up in extreme anticipation of the clash. Suddenly, I spun around and shouted. ¡°Behind!!¡± ¡°!?¡± Everyone reflexively turned to look behind them. And what they saw were head guard Jo and the escorts who were stationed at the rear swinging their swords towards us. Clang, clang, Ratty hurriedly crossed his dual swords to block head guard Jo¡¯s blade. ¡°What are you doing...?¡± However, no matter how one thought about it, the situation was all too clear. Having been caught trying to launch a surprise attack from behind, there was only one conclusion. ¡°Is this a betrayal!¡± ¡°Betrayal? No.¡± Head guard Jo smirked wickedly. Soon, a sinister energy began to emanate from his entire body. ¡°I was always a demon. I was simply faithful to the role I was given.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°Hehe, what a pity. If it weren¡¯t for that guy, you would have died without even knowing how.¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± Ratty was barely managing to fend off head guard Jo¡¯s continued attacks. At a time when we needed to unite, head guard Jo and the escorts revealed themselves to be members of the Demonic Cult. As we struggled to fend off their attacks, the King of Hell Squad continued to close in on us moment by moment. Was it a coincidence? In the midst of such an urgent battle, Ratty and Woeful¡¯s eyes turned to me at the same time. And at the same time, a puzzled expression appeared on their faces. Probably because I looked too calm for the situation. I bowed deeply to the two of them. ¡°Thank you for trusting and following me, brothers.¡± ¡°Young brother Kim?¡± ¡°From now on, leave it to me.¡± I turned my back on them and walked leisurely toward the approaching King of Hell Squad. Then I pointed forward with Root. [Activate ¡®Amplification¡¯] [The rank of ¡®Twister¡¯ increases. (C¡À>A+)] Whooooosh¡ª The wind imbued with physical force gathered in one place and formed a huge whirlwind. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± The men in black desperately tried to escape the whirlwind, but they were helplessly dragged in by the relentless gusts of wind. The men in black gradually gathered into one place. And now that I was facing them, I clenched my other hand tightly and crimson flames erupted from it. Soon, I pulled back my burning fist as if drawing a bowstring, then thrust it forward with all my might. Boom! The ensuing firestorm engulfed the men in black trapped in the whirlwind. A moment later, when the firestorm subsided, all that remained was a deep crater along its path and flames still burning within it. ¡°What, what is this?¡± ¡°How could this be?¡± Everyone was in utter shock and just stared blankly at the devastation before them. Among them, the most astonished was probably the vice commander of the King of Hell Squad. He had barely escaped the whirlwind with his life and seemed to recognize someone from witnessing my skill. ¡°...Flame Emperor!¡± I blew out the remaining embers on my fingertips and shrugged my shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m not that guy.¡± Chapter 155: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (5) Chapter 155: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (5) The vice commander of the King of Hell Squad looked at the traces left by the Inferno Fist. The flames were still blazing and radiating heat. ¡°How can you master such a technique and claim not to be the Flame Emperor?¡± ¡°Believe what you want, but I¡¯ve said my piece.¡± ¡°...¡± My answer seemed to irk the vice commander, and he frowned. However, he couldn¡¯t act rashly. The Inferno Fist had completely broken their formation, and the remaining members needed time to regroup. Furthermore, it was extremely risky for him to confront me, whom he suspected to be the Flame Emperor. Leaving the vice commander standing there indecisively, I turned and walked back to our camp. As I approached, head guard Jo¡¯s face twitched uncontrollably. His nearly completed plan had been turned upside down with a single inferno fist. The frustration he was feeling must be indescribable. ¡°Since when did you see through our guise?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know, you¡¯re a fool. It¡¯s not like this is a one-time thing.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Not telling you.¡± It¡¯s not the first or second time I¡¯ve tackled this dungeon; I should know exactly how key players like him behave. Especially someone like head guard Jo who would strike a severe blow to the entire team if you let him be. Of course, even before I became a skilled player, I didn¡¯t get blindsided on my first fresh attempt. There were plenty of hints suggesting head guard Jo was suspicious, and thanks to those, I stayed vigilant until the end. For example, at the first pass, despite warnings from the Green Forest bandits, he casually suggested pressing on. It could be seen as simply a reckless or overly confident approach from his side, but it was enough to raise doubts. The next clue becomes clear by continually observing the subsequent ambushes and attacks. The men in black who attacked us mostly focused on the temporary escorts, who are usually Ronin, rather than the regular escorts, who also tend to fight passively and cautiously. As a result, the Ronin accumulate numerous injuries while the regular escorts suffer relatively little. Even those led by head guard Jo remain virtually unscathed. The level of the escorts wasn¡¯t much higher than that of the Ronin, and the fact that only one side got damaged was also suspicious. Lastly, there was head guard Jo saying he would stay with the injured. Until then, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the Ronin but suddenly he started taking care of the injured. Even though he claimed to be taking responsibility for his words, staying behind in a perilous situation seemed excessive. These clues, when considered individually, might have felt like just hunches but when gathered together, they became highly suspicious. Of course, there was no need to explain all the details to head guard Jo. However, I could at least tell him when I had started to notice. I took out a small piece of paper from my pocket and answered. ¡°Since this time.¡± ¡°...!¡± Head guard Jo¡¯s eyes widened as if they would tear apart. The piece of paper I held. Its true nature was a fragment of a map stolen from the manor. The manor had been a hideout for the Demonic Cult, and I had sneaked in while they were busy scheming against the escort agency and had stolen the ink painting. And what this meant was, ¡°You knew everything from the beginning...¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ha, haha.¡± Head guard Jo let out a hollow laugh. A mocking smile appeared on his lips as if he were ridiculing himself. Head guard Jo¡¯s shoulders shook with laughter for a long time before his movements suddenly stopped. When he lifted his head, his eyes glinted with intense killing intent. ¡°Die!¡± In the next instant, head guard Jo swung his sword at Ratty in front of him. It seemed he was determined to take down at least one more enemy to the grave. Following his lead, the other escorts also began to attack the Ronin. Although the battle had suddenly resumed, I calmly stepped forward and cast One Point Explosion twice in succession. Boom, boom! Although one more piece was needed to complete the treasure map, this alone was enough to sit at the negotiation table with the Swordsmanship Club. I spoke in a much softer tone. ¡°Thank you. You may leave now.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll meet again.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s meet again. Next time, bring some elixirs and martial arts manuals, if you have any.¡± His belongings had to be a bit more abundant for him to be satisfying to take down. The vice commander glared at me for a few more seconds before turning his back. Following him, the King of Hell Squad members quickly exited the premises. ¡°Brother Kim, I see now that you were truly an extraordinary master...¡± Even though the situation was now over, Ratty and Woeful still looked surprised. I bowed deeply to them once more. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for deceiving you, brothers.¡± ¡°No, if it weren¡¯t for you, Brother Kim, we wouldn¡¯t be alive right now.¡± ¡°Rather, we should be thanking you.¡± A warm atmosphere settled over us. In the midst of this, Ratty seemed to remember something and his face grew a bit stern. After pointing with his chin at what used to be head guard Jo, he asked, ¡°But if that Jo guy deceived us, wouldn¡¯t there be a problem with the escort mission too?¡± ¡°You saw correctly.¡± I nodded my head. The purpose of the injured and the Ronin staying here was to buy time for the escort mission to proceed, but the fundamental premise was wrong. There¡¯s no rule that says they have to chase the convoy from behind. Just like in our first encounter, the main force of the King of Hell Squad¡¯s men would be lying in wait ahead of the escort. The strongest master, the King of Hell himself, would be there too. When they realized this, the Ronin visibly panicked and stirred. Not only had their efforts been in vain but the escort mission was now in even greater danger. Ratty urgently asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go help them immediately?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Despite everything, I remained completely at ease. And with my next words, the Ronin¡¯s expressions brightened significantly. ¡°Head guard Go is strong.¡± ¡°......!¡± Ratty slapped his knee. ¡°You guys were in cahoots from the start!¡± ¡°Haha, yes, we were.¡± ¡°No wonder you seemed around the same age.¡± Throughout the entire two linked dungeons, Go Hyeon-woo and I pretended not to know each other, to deceive the demonic cult members including head guard Jo. If they had suspected even the slightest connection between Go Hyeon-woo and me, no matter how much I concealed my strength, they would have kept a close watch on my every move. In that case, even when I stayed with the injured people, head guard Jo would have responded differently. However, we did not reveal that fact until the decisive moment and I ended up facing the pursuit team led by head guard Jo and the vice commander, while Go Hyeon-woo faced the King of Hell. ¡°Let¡¯s go; it¡¯s probably all sorted over there.¡± I led the way with a relaxed stride. After walking slowly with the injured, we eventually saw carriages stopped in the distance. Ratty and Woeful were still tense until then, but as we got closer to the convoy and confirmed everyone was safe, their expressions gradually relaxed. Soon, Go Hyeon-woo spotted us from afar and came out to meet us. In one hand, he held a golden magic sword which he had used instead of his iron sword. This meant he had to use his true skills in the last battle. Seeing he was unscathed, it seemed the King of Hell was not a particularly difficult opponent as expected. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°Oh, did you finish things well on your side?¡± Go Hyeon-woo grinned and raised his other hand. There were two small boxes in his hand. [Great Eagle Escort Random Box (D)] *2 ¡°Two of them came out.¡± Chapter 156: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (6) Chapter 156: No.471 Great Eagle Escort Mission (6) After taking a short break, the escort team crossed the third mountain pass and reached their destination. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. Here is the promised payment.¡± Head guard Kang handed a heavy pouch to each of the Ronin lined up. They wore faces filled with joy as they cautiously opened their pouches and found them filled with silver coins. Finally, the line dwindled and it was Go Hyeon-woo and my turn. ¡°Here you go. You really worked hard.¡± But instead of pouches, he handed us four small and faintly glowing boxes. [Great Eagle Escort Random Box (D)] *4 Head guard Kang then naturally moved on to the next Ronin. No one seemed to find this odd. Go Hyeon-woo gave a bitter smile. ¡°Moments like this make me realize that all these things, which seem no different from reality, are actually illusions created by the dungeon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a chilling thought.¡± What would it feel like to become a puppet in an endlessly repeating puppet show? Go Hyeon-woo looked around carefully as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s chilling and a bit sad. Even though they¡¯re comrades we¡¯ve lived and fought with, once the dungeon resets, they¡¯re just forgotten.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true.¡± ¡°......?¡± Even if the dungeons are not directly connected like the Great Eagle Escort ones, our actions can still have huge effects on future dungeons when they are part of a larger storyline. For example, ¡°Younger brother Kim.¡± The bonds built with characters like Ratty and Woeful can continue. I asked them, ¡°Hey, are you leaving?¡± ¡°For now, we plan to focus on training. I thought my skills were sufficient wherever I went, but I learned a lot this time.¡± ¡°I hope you achieve great success in your martial arts.¡± ¡°Thank you. See you again, brother Kim.¡± After exchanging brief farewells, Ratty and Woeful left without looking back. Go Hyeon-woo couldn¡¯t take his eyes off their retreating figures for a long time. ¡°It¡¯s really strange...¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Those two... Their qi doesn¡¯t seem particularly strong, but they look like they have great potential. It¡¯s hard to define.¡± I smiled. ¡°You have a good eye. They will become legends one day.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ratty and Woeful might not be the main characters, but they frequently appear in linked dungeons. They are what you would call super-supporting characters. Moreover, their already considerable skills will improve dramatically as the story progresses. ¡°Later on, they even earn a nickname. The Invincible Ronins.¡± ¡°Ooh...!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see them often, so remember them well.¡± ¡°How could I forget?¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. Rumble... At that moment, the sound of something collapsing echoed in our ears. Since the raid was completed, the dungeon had begun to collapse and reorganize. We needed to leave but there was still something left to do. ¡°Weren¡¯t you curious about what was inside the carriage?¡± ¡°Of course I was curious. But Kim-hyung really has a mischievous side. Why did you leave that detail out of the strategy guide?¡± ¡°This kind of thing should be saved for last. Now, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± The identity of the cargo. At the time we first joined the temporary guard position, the Great Eagle Escort Agency was already on shaky ground, yet they endured further expenses to gather Ronins and were determined to transport the cargo. And what about the Demonic Cult? The Black Snake and White Snake dominated the Black Clan Squad. And they were capturing the young people of the area and training them in the ways of the Demonic Cult. Even with the demonic arts only half-completed, they obtained bodies close to immortality, and the Black Snake himself had taken several direct hits from the Inferno Fist without showing any signs of serious injury. However, their ultimate goal was not to become stronger themselves, ¡°But to cast the grand spell on the master they would create.¡± ¡°Indeed. The picture is becoming clearer.¡± The Demonic Cult was operating covertly across various parts of the central plains. Their desire was also the same. The return of a single absolute master who would reunite the fragmented Demonic Cult. ¡°And by uniting the linked dungeons¡ª¡± The Feathered Serpent altar and temple were tied together into one grand story called ¡°The Descent of the Feathered Serpent Through Human Sacrifice Rituals.¡±. Therefore, the linked dungeons were collectively called the [Descent of the Feathered Serpent] series. Similarly, by combining the dungeons including the Black Death and the corresponding Great Eagle Escort¡ª ¡°¡ªit¡¯s called the [Return of the Heavenly Demon] series.¡± When we came out through the teleportation portal, Shin Byeong-cheol revealed himself from his concealment and greeted us, He yawned with his mouth wide open. ¡°Yaawn¡ª You¡¯re out.¡± ¡°What time is it now?¡± ¡°Half past six.¡± Since the dungeon took longer to clear than usual ones, we had entered yesterday afternoon and only finished by morning. Still, it was a bit earlier than I had anticipated. I exchanged glances with Go Hyeon-woo, and we both nodded almost at the same time. ¡°A bit of meditation and breakfast, then we can head to class just in time.¡± ¡°A single round of the Qi circulation should suffice.¡± ¡°Are you guys really crazy...?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol was astonished by the extreme behavior of us training fanatics. We just had a fierce battle inside the dungeon, yet as soon as we came out, we were already talking about meditation and training. Moreover, we planned to attend classes and mentoring sessions right after. Go Hyeon-woo responded with a serious demeanor. ¡°The path to becoming a master is long and full of hardships. This is merely a part of that journey. Isn¡¯t that right, Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°Go Hyeon-woo is right.¡± When I agreed, Shin Byeong-cheol shook his head. ¡°Of course, you two get along perfectly. You must be very pleased.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t be like that. I also have news that will make you happy, Shin-hyung.¡± ¡°...What is it? I mean, what might it be, customer-nims?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s tone immediately became friendly since the news that could make him happy was almost predictable. As expected, what came out of Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s inventory was an E-rank random box obtained from the recent Escort Mission dungeon. ¡°Thank you for your hard work early this morning, Shin-hyung.¡± ¡°Oh my, customer-nims, you shouldn¡¯t have. Thank you. Thank you.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol rubbed his hands together gleefully with a big smile on his face. And then he swiftly took the random box and grasped the lid before he asked, ¡°...Should I open it now?¡± ¡°Whenever you choose to open it is up to you. But Shin-hyung... Are you sure about this?¡± Last time, he had opened it right away and gotten an F-rank wooden cup. However, Shin Byeong-cheol smiled confidently this time. ¡°Oh, that was just bad luck last time, this time it¡¯s the real deal. Watch closely, I¡¯ll show you... Look, will I get the rainbow-colored gold?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol energetically opened the random box. Click, [Antique Teacup (F)] ¡°......¡± Shin Byeong-cheol blinked as he looked down at the teacup. I gently patted his shoulder. ¡°Your collection is growing.¡± ¡°Why is my life like this?¡± Chapter 157: The Lucky Seo Ye-in Chapter 157: The Lucky Seo Ye-in I brought the rice cracker to Seo Ye-in¡¯s mouth. ¡°Lucky Charm-nim, please try this too.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in took a small bite of the rice cracker and chewed it. She seemed to like it as she started nibbling on the rest bit by bit. I had bought it from a market near the Great Eagle Escort Agency, thinking its mild sweetness and light flavor would suit her taste. ¡°Lucky Charm-nim, how about this one?¡± ¡°Like it.¡± I laid out various other local snacks and offered them to her one by one. The reason was obvious. To prepare for the upcoming random box opening ceremony. I needed to boost Seo Ye-in¡¯s condition as much as possible in advance. Of course, Seo Ye-in¡¯s mood or condition might have nothing to do with actual luck. Nevertheless, the reason for offering these tributes was similar to throwing coins into a fountain. ¡°The rice cracker is tasty, isn¡¯t it, Lucky Charm-nim?¡± ¡°Tasty.¡± ¡°Then I must give you more. Here you go.¡± ¡°You eat some too.¡± Seo Ye-in accepted the rice crackers and then picked one up and popped it into my mouth. ¡°...¡± Meanwhile, Ahn Jeong-mi stood a little distance away and kept watching us with a look of pure contentment on her face. As if she could die without regret. Just as Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to be on the verge of ascending to heaven in that state, ¡°Kim-hyung.¡± Go Hyeon-woo arrived right on time. Having completed all his mentoring sessions and sparring with Han So-mi in between, his days were the longest among the three of us. He waved cheerfully as he approached, then stopped when he saw us feeding each other rice crackers. A pleased smile spread across his face and he turned around with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Come to think of it, I just remembered something urgent.¡± ¡°I know you don¡¯t have anything. Come back.¡± ¡°But seeing the two of you enjoying such a lovely time, I feel like I might be intruding.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi silently nodded her head in agreement. However, regardless of what the two of them thought, it was decided that we would open the random box today. ¡°Enough, sit down.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we do it another time?¡± ¡°Is there really a need to delay? We should get it over with while the three of us are here.¡± ¡°Hmm, if that¡¯s what you wish, Kim-hyung.¡± Go Hyun-woo sat across from me. He eyed the assortment of local snacks and picked a few that were relatively untouched. He had no intention of touching the rice crackers though. Anyway, since all three of us were gathered, I got straight to the point. ¡°It¡¯s time for another unboxing.¡± Then I took out the random boxes from my inventory. [Great Eagle Escort Agency Random Box (E)] *3 We had obtained a total of four E-rank random boxes but we gave one to Shin Byeong-cheol who got a teacup from it. So, three remained. [Great Eagle Escort Mission Random Box (D)] *3 We also gained seven D-rank boxes in total, but we exchanged four of them for the Sealing Demon Box. So we were left with three. ¡°.......¡± Meanwhile, as soon as I took out the random boxes from my inventory, Ahn Jeong-mi quietly stepped back and turned invisible. During the last unboxing of the Feathered Serpent Temple Random Boxes, Seo Ye-in suddenly directed an ¡°arrow¡± at her, and Ahn Jeong-mi had no choice but to open the box in her place, which resulted in an F-rank wooden cup. Fearing the same thing might happen again, she stepped back early this time. It was a display of the skillful tactical maneuvering of the head of the Future Strategy Office and the stealth skills of a veteran Marksman. Somehow, I¡¯m sorry. I handed the D-rank random box to Seo Ye-in first. ¡°Lucky charm-nim, I¡¯m counting on you again today.¡± Through several experiments, we discovered that Seo Ye-in¡¯s luck operated in a rechargeable manner. She would bring extraordinary luck once or twice, and then her luck would gradually become similar to that of an average person. So, it was best to have her open the higher-ranked D-rank boxes first. ¡°.......¡± And as always, Seo Ye-in was about to casually open the lid of the random box, but then she stopped and tilted her head. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll open it later.¡± Then, Seo Ye-in gently shook her head. I wondered if opening it now would yield subpar results. Sensing there was something she couldn¡¯t quite express, I decided to let it go for now. You can¡¯t force a jackpot. In this situation, Seo Ye-in was the ultimate boss. It was much better to let her open it when she felt like it than to not do it at all. ¡°Mhmm.¡± I offered her another rice cracker as a tribute. Now, only one E-rank item remained. ¡°Since we¡¯re at it, do you want to open this one too?¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in quietly looked down at the random box, then turned around and looked behind her. She stared at the empty space for a long time, then slowly shifted her gaze sideways and started staring again. After repeating this a few times, Ahn Jeong-mi finally revealed herself from hiding. She realized that remaining invisible and pretending not to notice would only make things harder for her later on. Looking like a condemned criminal receiving her final sentence, Ahn Jeong-mi accepted the E-rank random box. I gave her an encouraging smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s just E-rank, so even if you pull an F-rank item, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Yes, Kim Ho-nim. ...Then, I¡¯ll open it.¡± Click, [Great Eagle Escort Agency Teacup (F)] Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s complexion became like that of the teacup. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s fine.¡± It wasn¡¯t just the butler who was like this. Unexpectedly, Shin Byeong-cheol found himself a fellow collector. The thieves club room. Dang Gyu-young couldn¡¯t help but sigh as she looked at the mountain of paperwork. ¡°When am I going to finish all this?¡± She had been extremely busy for the past month. As a third-year student, she attended classes and participated in strategy battles and duel battles. As a mentor, she followed the first-year students into dungeons, watched over them, and took care of them. As the president of the thieves club, she also managed the club¡¯s operations. Because of all this, paperwork related to the black market had been pushed aside. Ideally, she should have handled it in advance but she had to deal with it all at the last minute for the reasons above. The second-year twins grinned wickedly and commented. ¡°Want to finish quickly so you can go out with that first-year?¡± ¡°You look so much happier these days. You used to always have a scowl on your face.¡± Dang Gyu-young didn¡¯t react at all to their words. Instead, shadowy arms rose from below and put the twins in joint locks. Crack, ¡°They deserved that.¡± Chae Da-bin who was helping with the paperwork glanced up and looked at them with a not-so-sympathetic expression. Then she lowered her gaze back to the papers and said, ¡°But if you endure just one more week, things will get easier. Mentoring ends this week, after all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± But even when mentoring ended, the hard work would not. That was the life of a club president. Dang Gyu-young still couldn¡¯t understand why she had readily accepted the previous president¡¯s proposal and taken this position. By the time she realized it, it was already too late. And when Chae Da-bin took over the president position next year and regretted it, it would be too late for her as well. At that moment, a strange presence was felt outside the club room. It was most likely a guest coming to request their services, so a second-year member went out to greet them. ¡°Welcome. What brings you here¡ª¡± The usual business greeting was cut short as the club member saw the visitor¡¯s face and hesitated. Other club members who were curiously peeking out also froze in place when they confirmed the identity of the visitor. She was a female student with an intellectual beauty and a neat appearance. The gold pin on her tie indicated she was a third-year student. In one hand, she held a half-open folding fan that covered her mouth slightly. This gave her an intellectual yet mysterious aura. She was a well-known figure among the students at Dragon Slayer Academy. Jegal So-so. She was called the brains of the swordsmanship club and was a key figure among the key figures who sat in the position of commander-in-chief and vice president. Her visit here meant one thing. It signaled that the swordsmanship club was starting to take serious action. Jegal So-so snapped her fan shut. Then she spoke with a faint smile on her lips. ¡°Could you clear the area, please?¡± ¡°.......¡± When Dang Gyu-young signaled with her eyes, the club members stopped what they were doing and quickly left the room. Chae Da-bin was the last to leave. She gave the two a puzzled look, but in the end, the thieves club room became as quiet as a mouse. Soon, Dang Gyu-young also slowly stood up and met Jegal So-so¡¯s gaze. Chapter 158: The Swordsmanship Club (1) Chapter 158: The Swordsmanship Club (1) Jegal So-so and Dang Gyu-young briefly looked at each other. Then their expressions gradually brightened. Soon, they approached each other and grasped hands tightly. ¡°Sho!¡± ¡°Qyu!¡± ¡°Sho Sho!¡± ¡°Qyu Qyu!¡± They started jumping up and down like children. Jegal So-so and Dang Gyu-young. The two had been childhood friends since they were only five years old. Their friendship was widely known, but very few knew that they were close enough to jump with joy upon seeing each other. Moreover, both were in their third year and held positions where they had to display a certain level of leadership. That¡¯s why they cleared the area and remained alone to maintain their image. They also intended to have a private conversation. Dang Gyu-young was the first to stop jumping. She was still holding her hands and she pouted. ¡°Sho, why haven¡¯t you been in touch with me lately?¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been too busy. I¡¯ll message you more often.¡± Jegal So-so replied with a wry smile. This was something that Dang Gyu-young could fully understand as the president of her club. Running a mid-sized club like the thieves club was exhausting enough, so how busy would a vice president of a huge group like the swordsmanship club be? So, she quickly changed the subject. There was too much that she wanted to say to keep pouting like this. For a while, they exchanged updates about their lives. Then with a serious look on her face, Jegal So-so brought up the main topic. ¡°I came because I have something to ask.¡± ¡°Sure, what is it?¡± ¡°A few weeks ago, we prioritized a bid for a dungeon....¡± The dungeon the swordsmanship club had secured with their priority bidding rights. It was the Black Death dungeon. Jegal So-so showed a photo. A picture of the area around the Black Death dungeon The pavilions were completely collapsed and burned; it was a scene of utter chaos. Dang Gyu-young broke into a cold sweat internally. He really left a mess behind. Just like Kim Ho had informed her beforehand, there was undeniable evidence left behind in the dungeon. ¡°Someone must have gone in first. Do you know anything about it?¡± The Black Death dungeon was a B-rank dungeon, meaning it was a depth-level dungeon. To get past the heavy security of the depth levels, a very high level of stealth was required, so it was almost certain that the thieves club was involved here. The swordsmanship club was acting on such a confident assumption. Dang Gyu-young sighed softly and admitted. ¡°Yes, we were involved in this one.¡± ¡°Even though there was a priority bid on it?¡± ¡°Yeah, we were opposed to it too, but the client was very stubborn.¡± ¡°I figured as much. But who is the client?¡± The tone of the question was casual, but Jegal So-so¡¯s eyes were shining sharply. Trouble usually arose at this point when the identity of the client was probed. The thieves club preferred to keep their client¡¯s information confidential, while the swordsmanship club was in a position where they had to catch the rats infringing on their interests. And if the thieves club continued to keep it hidden, they would have no choice but to take action. Jegal So-so who had a close relationship with Dang Gyu-young hoped it wouldn¡¯t come to that. That¡¯s why she had come personally to mediate and make things easier. But contrary to her expectations, Dang Gyu-young immediately revealed the client¡¯s identity. ¡°It¡¯s a first-year. Kim Ho from class 3.¡± ¡°Are you sure you should say it so easily?¡± ¡°He insists on taking all the blame himself. Says he doesn¡¯t want to cause me any trouble. What¡¯s the harm in asking for a little help?¡± Dang Gyu-young pouted her lips again. Then the door swung open and a second-year male student entered the clubroom. He had a sturdy build, his entire body was made up of muscles, and he even had a roughly shaven beard and a grim look. It was as if a mountain bandit had been put in a school uniform. And this second-year ¡°mountain bandit¡± called Mak Dae-wong asked. ¡°Did you call for me, senior-nim?¡± ¡°Yes, I called you because I need a favor.¡± Of course, a favor was essentially a command. How could someone in the swordsmanship club refuse a request from the vice president? Mak Dae-wong shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Tell me what you need.¡± ¡°First-year, Class 3, Kim Ho. I¡¯d like to meet and talk with him.¡± ¡°Should I bring him here?¡± ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t use force.¡± ¡°Well, understood.¡± Mak Dae-wong nodded and left the clubroom before closing the door behind him. Jegal Yeong-yeong watched his back with disapproval. ¡°He¡¯s going to run over there and mess up everything again.¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why the Black Faction can¡¯t be trusted.¡± The swordsmanship club was the largest club at Dragon Slayer Academy, so naturally, there were various factions within it. The most notable factions were the ¡°Black Faction¡± and the ¡°White Faction¡± which were divided by origin, and as the second-year mentioned, these two factions didn¡¯t get along well. Mak Dae-wong was a member of the Black Faction. So, was it really necessary for her to call in a member of the opposing faction and entrust him with the task? Jegal Yeong-yeong¡¯s eyes held that question. Jegal So-so asked with a gentle smile. ¡°What do you think he would do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious he will use ¡®forceful means¡¯, won¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Mak Dae-wong would certainly bring Kim Ho as Jegal So-so had requested, but the reminder not to use force would go in one ear and out the other. As a member of the Black Faction, his temperament was rough and he would try to handle things the way his faction instructed. For example, he might use force and then claim it wasn¡¯t ¡°forceful¡±. But as the vice president of the club, how could Jegal So-so not anticipate that? Jegal Yeong-yeong who was deep in thought asked. ¡°Unnie, do you think Mak Dae-wong will fail?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Jegal So-so actually hoped Mak Dae-wong would disobey the order. And she was confident he would use ¡°forceful means¡± and fail. Then, as a result, the White Faction would have a reason to bite the Black Faction. Mak Dae-wong had disobeyed her orders, acted on his own, and failed. And the Black Faction was the one who instigated him to act like this. Jegal Yeong-yeong understood all of this, but she still seemed a bit skeptical. ¡°But... can that first-year really endure it?¡± What if Kim Ho¡¯s skills were below expectations and the forceful method succeeded? Then the Black Faction could boast, ¡°See, our way works better.¡± Jegal So-so smiled gently again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Her confidence was based on very clear evidence. She recalled an incident that had occurred at the beginning of the semester after seeing the burnt remains inside the Black Death dungeon. It was the incident of the thieves club¡¯s temporary storage break-in. The identity of the masked person who helped with that incident was still unknown. This masked person had mastered the Inferno Fist, defeated the second-year disciplinary committee member Kwak Seung-jae in a direct confrontation, and then escaped the perimeter with ease. And coincidentally, the Black Death dungeon which Kim Ho had joined was entirely burned down. His relationship with the thieves club seemed quite close too. When she connected all these dots together in her head, the conclusion was clear. This kid has the Inferno Fist. Then even a truckload of Mak Dae-wong wouldn¡¯t be a match for him. Chapter 159: The Swordsmanship Club (2) Chapter 159: The Swordsmanship Club (2) Mak Dae-wong left Jegal So-so¡¯s office. He seemed to be exchanging messages with someone, then he soon began to move somewhere. The training center was noisy with students in the midst of practice and sparring. Mak Dae-wong walked straight ahead, and as he went, the crowd thinned out and the noise gradually subsided. He soon entered the special cultivation room area and stopped in front of a firmly closed door. ¡°...¡± Normally, he would have pounded on the door with his fist as big as a cauldron lid, but he knew he had to consider who was inside. The person beyond the door extremely disliked having their concentration disturbed, and Mak Dae-wong didn¡¯t want to upset him at all. Moreover, the person would have already known he was there, even without the need for a vigorous knock. So Mak Dae-wong stood quietly in front of the door and waited. After a while, the door slowly opened on its own. The room inside was so dark that it was hard to distinguish objects. However, Mak Dae-wong approached a corner of the room without hesitation. This was not his first visit here. Indeed, there was a man sitting with his back turned, and from his posture, it seemed he had just opened his eyes after meditating. The man asked a question without turning around. ¡°Why did Jegal call for you?¡± ¡°She wanted me to bring someone.¡± ¡°Is this related to the Black Death dungeon?¡± ¡°It seems that way.¡± The vice president of the swordsmanship club had personally visited the thieves club. There had been no recent contact between the two clubs, so if the vice president went there, it was likely a matter concerning the club¡¯s interests, and most probably it was about the issue of priority bidding rights infringement. And if Jegal So-so wanted to have a private conversation with someone afterward, It was highly likely that it involved the Black Death dungeon. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°A guy named Kim Ho. A first-year.¡± ¡°... A first-year?¡± ¡°I thought I heard it wrong at first.¡± The Black Death dungeon was a B-rank dungeon in name. If Mak Dae-wong himself entered it, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance and even the man in front of him would struggle. But the idea that a mere first-year had entered that terrifying dungeon? It was hard to believe. And so, their thoughts naturally led to, ¡°Did they use him as cannon fodder?¡± ¡°It seems that way to me too.¡± Their thoughts drifted towards the idea that someone was behind Kim Ho. After breaking into the priority bid dungeon, they used this first-year as cannon fodder while secretly dealing with Jegal So-so. It was a plausible story. The fact that Kim Ho was unaffiliated added weight to the cannon fodder hypothesis. ¡°But after investigating a bit, it seems that first-year kid frequently visits the underground floors.¡± For a first-year student who had only been enrolled for two months, it was a bold move. If that was the case, wasn¡¯t he more of an accomplice rather than just cannon fodder in the Black Death incident? The man asked, ¡°What does she plan to do after calling him?¡± ¡°The orders I received were just to bring him. It seems she wants to hear his story first.¡± Mak Dae-wong added a remark, ¡°She also told me not to use forceful means.¡± ¡°......¡± The atmosphere in the special cultivation room grew tense. The man began to show signs of discomfort. ¡°Still living in a fantasy world, Jegal.¡± Allowing an intrusion into the priority bid dungeon was essentially an invasion of the swordsmanship club¡¯s territory. And now she wanted to call him in and hear his side of the story first? It was a method he found extremely displeasing. The matter was still kept within the swordsmanship club, but no one knew when it might leak out. And when it did, Jegal So-so¡¯s utterly foolish handling of it would certainly be exposed as well. ¡°I don¡¯t care how those White Faction bastards handle their affairs, but we can¡¯t afford to become a laughingstock.¡± ¡°You are right.¡± ¡°Bring him to me. And before that...¡± Today, the invincible legend of the beating training method continued. At that moment, Dang Gyu-young suddenly emerged from the shadows to signal the end of the mentoring session. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Good job.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol bowed his head in greeting and then sent a grateful glance my way. Just a little more practice and he should be able to score. Kwak Ji-cheol disappeared through the teleportation portal, and we followed him outside. As we walked side by side, Dang Gyu-young started talking to me. ¡°Hey, did you know that the swordsmanship club came by the club yesterday?¡± ¡°What did they say?¡± ¡°They asked who infiltrated the Black Death dungeon.¡± ¡°You told them it was me, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, you said to pass everything to you.¡± Dang Gyu-young pursed her lips slightly. She wanted to offer more help but I firmly drew the line. Since I had insisted on pushing through with the dungeon, it was only right for me to take responsibility and resolve it. I had no intention of involving the thieves club. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared for the negotiations. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°Got it. Also, I told them to keep all the evidence confidential.¡± This part was agreed upon separately. Since the disciplinary committee was still on high alert, we had to hide as much as possible the fact that we entered the depths area that night. If discovered, we would all face severe punishment. Therefore, it was necessary to keep the replay and photos of the Black Death dungeon raid, which could serve as crucial evidence, confidential. The focus of the swordsmanship club was on ¡°who ignored the right of priority bid and entered the dungeon¡±, so when Dang Gyu-young revealed my identity, they readily accepted the proposal. ¡°The other side asked for one favor in return.¡± ¡°What favor?¡± ¡°They said that they¡¯ll be sending a second-year student to you.¡± It was much more efficient for Dang Gyu-young to convey the message directly as she did now, and it didn¡¯t matter if it was done through messages. Nevertheless, the fact that the other side insisted on sending me a second-year student meant, ¡°Seems like I must not get along with that second-year student?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± It was their intention to use me to get back at them. There were probably significant political interests intertwined as well. Of course, there was no need for me to worry about such complicated matters. My task here was very simple. All I had to do was crush whoever came to find me. Dang Gyu-young asked cautiously, ¡°Just in case, should I send some of our guys with you?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll handle it alone.¡± ¡°Tch, suit yourself.¡± Dang Gyu-young seemed a bit sulky, probably because I kept refusing her offers. Anyway, Dang Gyu-young had to handle club-related duties and I had to focus on my mana training, so our destinations were different. So, it was time for us to part ways. ¡°Take care, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Yeah, see you tomorrow.¡± After exchanging farewells with Dang Gyu-young and parting ways, I walked straight toward the training center. Then, I couldn¡¯t help but laugh as I looked ahead. Speak of the devil. A male student was waiting at the crossroads. As I approached, he predictably blocked my path. He was big, similar in size to Jo Byeok, but he exuded a bandit-like aura for some reason. I checked his tie pin and saw it was silver. This meant he was a second-year student. Moreover, his gaze toward me was filled with blatant hostility. ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Do you know why I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± The second-year student turned his back and led the way. Chapter 160: The Swordsmanship Club (3) Chapter 160: The Swordsmanship Club (3) The second-year senior introduced himself as Mak Dae-wong as he led the way. I had already guessed this when Dang Gyu-young hinted at it, but it seemed Mak Dae-wong had other business other than taking me to the club room. Considering we ended up in a secluded alley that is. I pretended to be naive and looked around as I asked, ¡°This isn¡¯t the swordsmanship club?¡± ¡°Of course not. Taking you to the vice president comes later.¡± ¡°Then what about now?¡± Following those words, Mak Dae-wong began to exude a menacing aura and a chilling smile was playing on his lips. ¡°You have to pay the price for coveting something that isn¡¯t yours. Did the swordsmanship club look easy to you?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look easy, but... shouldn¡¯t we talk about it first before deciding on the price? It seems like that¡¯s what the other side wants too.¡± ¡°Not all of us think the same.¡± ¡°Still, I believe the vice president¡¯s opinion should come first.¡± ¡°Not for me.¡± The discipline in this neighborhood was quite loose. How could they so lightly disregard the orders given by the vice president? It somehow made sense why the vice president was setting the stage like this. They probably wanted to use this opportunity to bring down the faction Mak Dae-wong was part of. For me, it wasn¡¯t a bad situation overall. Getting a private replay of the Black Death dungeon in exchange for one battle was a good deal. ¡°So, are you planning to get involved directly?¡± However, it was against school rules for an upperclassman to lay a hand on a lowerclassman. Even though he knew this, Mak Dae-wong¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Of course, other guys will take care of it.¡± Then he motioned behind me with a nod. At some point, two first-year students started slowly approaching me from both sides. I looked at them one by one but their faces didn¡¯t ring a bell. So I asked, ¡°Friends, how about we introduce ourselves first?¡± ¡°Cheol-soo.¡± ¡°Min-soo.¡± Cheol-soo and Min-soo each gave a brief reply. It was better than not responding at all but they smelled like aliases. So it was all pointless. Just as I was about to ask something else, Mak Dae-wong¡¯s order interrupted the conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± The blades slid out of Cheol-soo and Min-soo¡¯s scabbards as if gliding. A perfectly silent draw. I looked at Cheol-soo and gave him a compliment. ¡°You have good posture.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Cheol-soo accepted the compliment calmly, then walked slowly with his sword hanging down. As the distance between us narrowed, Cheol-soo¡¯s hand blurred for a moment, giving the illusion of a flash splitting my vision in half. It was an incredibly fast slash that was difficult for most people to react to. Of course, I had predicted his move before he even drew his sword so I could sidestep and avoid it by half a step. I immediately turned my body because Min-soo¡¯s attack came from behind. As soon as their first attacks failed, they both retrieved their swords and thrust them again. One aimed to pierce my heart from the front and the other aimed to split my spine from the back. Do they really need to be this ruthless? Each attack targeted a vital point in the body. If they hit, it wouldn¡¯t just sting but would send me straight to the afterlife. Since I still had much to do for world peace, I used Thief¡¯s Step and took careful steps to dodge. The sword strikes narrowly missed me. After repeatedly stabbing and slashing from both front and back without success, Mak Dae-wong who was watching the battle muttered to himself. ¡°He¡¯s definitely good at dodging... Increase the speed.¡± ¡°......¡± At his command, Cheol-soo and Min-soo briefly retreated and exchanged glances. Soon, I felt their momentum change slightly and they launched another attack. Swish, swish, swish, swish! They continued to surround and attack me from the front and back, but their speed kept increasing. I could guess what the person behind them was aiming for. So, they intend to overwhelm me with speed. In reality, it was becoming harder to dodge, so their strategy wasn¡¯t wrong. Of course, this was based on the assumption that I wasn¡¯t using Overheat, so if I wanted to, I could crush them with even more overwhelming speed. However, There¡¯s no need to show everything just yet. There was no way my connection with them would end today. So, I chose the next best option. ¡°If you have nothing to hide, why does it matter where I am?¡± ¡°...¡± Mak Dae-wong who had nothing to say stayed silent for a moment. Kwak Seung-jae calmly surveyed the scene. ¡°Three from the swordsmanship club and one unaffiliated first-year... I have a rough idea, but I¡¯ll give you a chance to explain yourself.¡± Mak Dae-wong was briefly taken aback when the wooden door suddenly appeared, but he quickly regained his composure and began to make excuses. ¡°Our juniors wanted to test their skills, so I was just supervising as their senior.¡± ¡°Testing their skills... in a two-on-one fight?¡± ¡°Is there any reason why it shouldn¡¯t be two-on-one?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason it can¡¯t be, but the location matters, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with this place?¡± Kwak Seung-jae spoke in a blunt tone. ¡°You know the rules, yet you keep dodging. Let me remind the freshmen of the school regulations. Any duel outside the Training Center and Arena is a violation of the rules.¡± ¡°Oh, right, I forgot about that.¡± Mak Dae-wong grinned slyly. Although he had been caught, he hadn¡¯t directly broken any rules. He only bore the ethical responsibility of not stopping the first-year students from fighting outside the arena as their senior. Kwak Seung-jae looked at each first-year and said, ¡°Disperse. Next time, you¡¯ll get penalty points.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± After Jang Sam and Wang Pil bowed their heads and stepped back, Mak Dae-wong also glared at me briefly before turning away. As the trio from the swordsmanship club left, Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s gaze naturally returned to me. He seemed to ask with his eyes, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± so I began packing away my storm cloud and Root while asking, ¡°How did you know to come here?¡± ¡°I received a report.¡± That makes sense. Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s appearance was too timely to be a coincidence. Even though his detection skills were acknowledged by the third-year students, they wouldn¡¯t reach such a remote place. This meant that someone observing the situation had reported it. And that person was likely someone from the swordsmanship club vice president¡¯s side. The timing was perfect. If Kwak Seung-jae had arrived right after the fight began, Mak Dae-wong¡¯s side would have been more suspicious, but the other side waited until I had held my ground for a while and then reported it just in time. As a result, none of the first-year students who fought were injured and Mak Dae-wong and the ones behind him didn¡¯t achieve their goal. Moreover, the vice president¡¯s side now had a pretext to question Mak Dae-wong on why he disobeyed orders, making it a win-win situation. As expected, being a vice president is no easy task. I was quite impressed with the clean handling of the situation. Just when I was about to leave, Kwak Seung-jae called me back for a moment. ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°How is Ji-cheol doing?¡± Another question about his younger brother. Perhaps Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s only interests were the disciplinary committee club and his brother. Since it was a reasonable question, I briefly summarized the events from the past few days of mentoring. I slightly embellished the part about how I kicked him around until he could properly deflect the ogre¡¯s attacks though. ¡°¡ªSo now he¡¯s improved quite a bit.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll probably score well tomorrow. You can expect good results.¡± If he practiced like we did, I expected he would achieve a decent score even if it wasn¡¯t exceptionally high. Kwak Seung-jae looked at me for a moment before speaking. ¡°Honestly, I thought it was nearly impossible, but it seems he can do it. Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°We all help each other.¡± ¡°As I said before, I can¡¯t promise much, but I won¡¯t forget this debt.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± After saying that, Kwak Seung-jae disappeared beyond the wooden door. Rumble... The wooden door sank into the ground, and I moved towards my original destination: the training center. However, not long after, The training center feels farther than usual today. I had to stop again. Up ahead, Jang Sam and Wang Pil were waiting for me. Since I had no reason to avoid them, I walked straight up and asked, ¡°Why again? It¡¯s against the school rules.¡± How long had it been since a member of the disciplinary committee had come, and they were causing trouble again? However, Jang Sam slowly shook his head. ¡°We didn¡¯t come to fight.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°...We have something to ask you.¡± TN: Cheol-soo and Min-soo are common names in martial arts novels. Maybe in most novels, not just martial arts ones. Chapter 161: The Swordsmanship Club (4) Chapter 161: The Swordsmanship Club (4) There was no sign of Mak Dae-wong around. If it was really just the two of them, it was safe to assume they didn¡¯t intend to fight. In that case, answering their questions wouldn¡¯t be difficult. ¡°I¡¯m busy, so let¡¯s talk while we walk.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± We talked as we walked to the training center. Jang Sam and Wang Pil started by apologizing first. ¡°We had no choice but to take action. We didn¡¯t want to handle things this way, but... club activities don¡¯t always go as planned.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± When you belong to a group, you have to move in the direction the group aims for, whether you like it or not. That¡¯s what it means to be tied to a club at the Dragon Slayer Academy. It¡¯s also why I try to remain unaffiliated. For me, other than wasting a bit of time, I didn¡¯t suffer any damage. And since Mak Dae-wong¡¯s side suffered more, I didn¡¯t harbor any ill feelings towards Jang Sam and Wang Pil. ¡°So, what do you want to ask?¡± Jang Sam started to speak but hesitated and exchanged glances with Wang Pil. As if they were about to ask something embarrassing. ¡°Did we stand out a lot this time too?¡± When I first met them in that 2-on-2 match, I immediately recognized that they were from an assassin-type class. After the match, Jang Sam asked how I had figured it out and I pointed out that they looked so ordinary that it was obvious they were trying to fake it. This time after they disguised themselves as Cheol-soo and Min-soo, they were caught again which seemed to bother them. I gave an honest answer. ¡°It was a bit better this time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jang Sam¡¯s expression brightened a bit. The truth was, I had recognized them as Jang Sam and Wang Pil this time not because they looked too ordinary. If it had been our first encounter, I would have just thought they were ¡°ordinary-looking guys who use swords well.¡± They had taken my previous feedback to heart and changed their disguises to be a bit more unique and switched their weapons from cheap iron swords to D-class standard long swords. Now, their ordinary appearances made them look like just another one or two people you might find in any class, which wasn¡¯t bad for hiding their identities. However... ¡°Let¡¯s address just one thing.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°Whose idea was it to name yourselves Cheol-soo and Min-soo? Just tell me.¡± They were doing well until their naming sense ruined everything. Of all the names they could have chosen, why Cheol-soo and Min-soo? ¡°......¡± Jang Sam silently looked at Wang Pil who avoided his gaze and stared into the distance. It wasn¡¯t hard to deduce who the culprit was from this behavior. As the focus remained on him, Wang Pil couldn¡¯t hold it back and pointed at Jang Sam. ¡°This guy is the one who named us ¡®Jang Sam and Wang Pil¡¯!¡± The situation reversed, and now Jang Sam avoided our gaze and looked into the distance. An awkward silence followed, with both of them clearing their throats at the same time. ¡°Ahem, let¡¯s find different aliases.¡± ¡°That would be best. No, you two are hopeless. Just leave it to someone else.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Jang Sam and Wang Pil started to ponder seriously with troubled expressions on their faces. Since I knew they were likely thinking about new aliases, I moved on to the next topic without waiting. ¡°But that¡¯s not why you came to see me, is it?¡± ¡°...Right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the Ghost Dance. Am I correct?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two of them nodded in agreement without hesitation. In the 2-on-2 match, they had concealed their identities and only used the Three Movements Sword Technique against me and Go Hyeon-woo. Meanwhile, my goal was to help Go Hyeon-woo improve, so I wanted them to fight using their full skills. That¡¯s why I had offered as bait, ¡°If you win, I¡¯ll tell you about the Ghost Dance technique.¡± I had defeated Wang Pil using a mix of the Great Hand Seal and Wind Force skills. And the match between Jang Sam and Go Hyeon-woo had ended in a draw with both sides equally wounded. After a few seconds of silence, I asked Wang Pil, or rather Wang Cheon-sam, again. ¡°Do you really need to use an alias?¡± Mak Dae-wong came to see me again the next day. He seemed quite down compared to yesterday. Looks like he got a bit of a scolding. He hadn¡¯t followed the orders of the swordsmanship club¡¯s vice president, and he failed to bring me along, so he must have gotten scolded for that. He also failed in the main objective of ¡°giving me a hard time¡± so he probably got scolded for that too. Additionally, he got on the bad side of the disciplinary committee, so he had to lay low for a while. He brought it all on himself. I greeted Mak Dae-wong with a bright and cheerful face. ¡°Hello, senior-nim! Are you off to pay the price again today?¡± Mak Dae-wong¡¯s face twitched with anger. His expression was already rough, so now he looked even more like a bandit. However, knowing that expressing his anger here would worsen the situation, he suppressed it with difficulty. ¡°...Follow me.¡± Perhaps he wanted to minimize his time near me as Mak Dae-wong walked quickly. But this time, instead of going somewhere random, he headed straight to the swordsmanship club room. But is it right to call this a club room? If they used an entire floor, would it be called a club room or a club floor? The club room¡¯s size was determined by the club¡¯s scale and its achievements in various events. For example, the thieves club was a mid-sized club but it caused so many problems that it received a lot of penalties. At the beginning of the semester, they were caught breaking into a temporary storage room. As a result, despite their size, they were assigned a small room in a quiet corner. In contrast, the swordsmanship club was undoubtedly the largest club at Dragon Slayer Academy and actively engaged with the faculty and student organizations. This allowed them to use an entire floor. Moreover, everything in sight was state-of-the-art and top-quality. I followed Mak Dae-wong while glancing around at various scenes. People sat in circles and talked with each other. Others compared swords neatly laid out. In a room resembling a conference room, a briefing on the next dungeon was underway. As I continued to look around, Mak Dae-wong stopped in front of a luxurious wooden door. It was the vice president¡¯s office. However, instead of knocking immediately, he looked directly at me and declared. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you plan to handle the vice president, but you are certainly out of our favor. You should brace yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. Life has been a bit dull lately.¡± When I replied like that with a smile, Mak Dae-wong¡¯s face twitched once again. However, without further comment, he looked away from me and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. A low voice came from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± Upon entering the office, the first thing I noticed was an intelligent-looking third-year female student. The nameplate on the desk indicated her name was Jegal So-so and she was the vice president of the swordsmanship club. Jegal So-so seemed to be finishing up some paperwork and she neatly organized the documents on her desk. Only then did she look up at Mak Dae-wong who gestured towards me with his eyes. ¡°I brought him.¡± ¡°Good work. You may go and rest.¡± As soon as the dismissal order was given, Mak Dae-wong turned his back and left while slamming the door shut behind him. Jegal So-so stared at the closed door with a mysterious smile before turning her gaze to me. I bowed my head. ¡°I was delayed due to some issues.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. You must have had a hard time getting here.¡± Originally, we were supposed to meet yesterday, but this was delayed by a day due to Mak Dae-wong¡¯s schemes. The ¡°hard time¡± Jegal So-so referred to meant the encounter with Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam. Thanks to this, both Jegal So-so and I had gained something, so it was a win-win situation. ¡°Vice president Dang Gyu-young mentioned you had something prepared. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± The negotiations with the swordsmanship club began in a rather smooth atmosphere. Chapter 162: The Swordsmanship Club (5) Chapter 162: The Swordsmanship Club (5) Jegal So-so poured herself a cup of tea and asked me a question. ¡°Would you like a cup?¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it, thank you.¡± I didn¡¯t refuse and accepted the teacup. A deep and soft fragrance rose from the warm cup. I took a sip of the tea and nodded my head. ¡°This is an excellent tea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Dragon Well tea, grown and blended by our family.¡± ¡°The flavor is indeed profound. But... doesn¡¯t the person over there need some too?¡± ¡°......!¡± When I pointed to the wall with my eyes and asked, Jegal So-so flinched slightly and her soft smile faltered for just a moment. However, it was only for a fleeting instant. Her calm expression was the best among all the people I had met so far. ¡°.... When did you first notice?¡± ¡°I felt a strange sense of discord from the moment I entered the room.¡± Jegal So-so¡¯s formation was at a third-year level and it was likely enhanced by the Jegal family¡¯s secret techniques. However, my senses had previously deciphered formations set up by graduates of the academy. Even though I couldn¡¯t identify the exact type, noticing a slight sense of discord made it easy to deduce that a formation had been set up. At this point, if she were hiding something from me, it could only be a person, so I guessed there was someone beyond the wall. Jegal So-so¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at me. ¡°Impressive. Although President Dang Gyu-young mentioned it, you are indeed formidable.¡± Then Jegal So-so approached the wall and rearranged a few items nearby. As the formation was dispelled, a hidden door was revealed and a female student walked out through it. The girl seemed strong at first glance, and she was carrying a large sword on her back as if to reflect her strong personality. ¡°...¡± The problem was that her gaze toward me was filled not only with displeasure but with outright hostility. This explained why she had been listening in from a hidden space. However, now that we were facing each other, it was like spilled water. Jegal So-so introduced her. ¡°This is Pang Mi-ryeong. She¡¯s also a third-year student like me.¡± ¡°I led the recent raid on the Black Death dungeon as the party leader.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong added and she emphasized the word ¡°party leader¡±. She was the direct victim of the infiltration of the Black Death dungeon. Pang Mi-ryeong looked at me with a mocking gaze and said, ¡°We spent weeks preparing with the team, only to find the dungeon in chaos, with the Black Death Leader running wild. Thanks to that, we had quite a hard time.¡± From the perspective of the swordsmanship club, the priority bidding rights that were important to the group were invaded. However, objectively speaking, the club itself was close to being a third party in this matter. No matter how angry the club members were, their anger couldn¡¯t compare to the fury of those who directly entered the dungeon. Knowing that it was indeed my fault, I bowed deeply. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, senior-nim. I understand why you¡¯re angry.¡± ¡°I want to wreck everything, but for the sake of So-so and Dang Gyu-young, I¡¯ll hold back for now. I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve prepared something good, but if it¡¯s not, you¡¯d better prepare yourself.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong glared at me with disapproval and asked, ¡°So, what did you go into the Black Death dungeon for?¡± ¡°I needed materials.¡± ¡°Materials?¡± I showed my Root weapon instead of answering. A short rod composed of black metallic luster appeared. It was an alloy made of Millennium Iron and Black Mithril. Pang Mi-ryeong examined it closely and her eyes showed a hint of interest. ¡°Cold Iron... no, Millennium Iron?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong and Jegal So-so exchanged glances. ¡°Does an ingot drop in the Black Death dungeon?¡± ¡°This is the first I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°If you look carefully in the far corner, there¡¯s an ingot chest.¡± ¡°......?¡± Pang Mi-ryeong frowned slightly. ¡°Correct.¡± Dungeon No. 88, B-rank. The Gathering of Villains. The keyword was [Boss Rush], with the goal being to eliminate all the villains or demonic martial artists that appeared in the area. However, each of them was a notorious demonic martial artist, and some even cooperated with each other which made them incredibly difficult to deal with. Therefore, it was famous for being a high-difficulty dungeon even among B-rank dungeons. ¡°And the reason why they are gathering in one place,¡± ¡°Is it because of this map?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± The term ¡°demonic martial artist¡± naturally implied being an enemy of the martial arts world. As soon as their whereabouts were revealed, they would be pursued by skilled warriors, so there must be a reason why they gathered in one place to the extent of being described as a ¡°gathering¡±. And the incomplete map in Jegal So-so¡¯s hand proved that fact. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± Jegal So-so and Pang Mi-ryeong fell into thought for a moment. Unlike Jegal So-so, whose expression remained almost the same, Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s face showed significant changes. The annoyance or anger she had towards me almost disappeared. It was replaced by great interest and desire. Since the map of the B-rank dungeon and the hidden piece it pointed to were certainly not ordinary items, the hidden piece inside this [Gathering of Villains] was completely unknown. If one could be the first to claim it. Even the infringement on the bidding rights or the hindrance of the dungeon raid would be nothing, as it would bring immense honor. However, this map was incomplete. It only vaguely suggested the outline of the map, without indicating the exact direction to head. Jegal So-so asked, ¡°Bringing A and C means there must be a way to get the last piece, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Since it was a bit too much to tackle three dungeons in one week, we quickly dealt with the linked dungeons of Great Eagle Escort Agency and Great Eagle Escort Mission. Two pieces were enough to prove the map¡¯s value, so there was no need to overdo it. ¡°When do you plan to get the rest?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it within the next strategy battle week.¡± Then, Jegal So-so asked Pang Mi-ryeong, ¡°What do you think? Can you wait?¡± Next week was midterms, The week after was a duel battle week. And then came the strategy battle week. It would take almost three weeks, so it might be frustrating for those waiting. However, Pang Mi-ryeong nodded her head without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll wait.¡± With just a bit of patience, an incredible opportunity would come into her hands. Jegal So-so also nodded her head in agreement. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s test your skills.¡± I had three weeks to secure the final piece of the map. [Using ¡®Rank Up (D)¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Amplification¡¯ has increased. (D -> C)] The [Rank Up] I got from the Great Eagle Escort random box was used on [Amplification]. It was the most difficult to rank up and the most useful, so I decided on this from the start. Next, I took out the [Sealing Demon Box] from my inventory and attached the [Purification Talisman] drawn by Seo Ye-in. The pure white talisman began to turn black at the edges. As the demonic energy was purified, the purification talisman was gradually consumed. I put the sealing demon box back into my inventory without watching any longer. It would be fine to leave it like this for a while. Of course, it was impossible to purify all the condensed demonic energy inside the sealing demon box with just one purification talisman. However, my goal from the beginning wasn¡¯t ¡°purification¡± but ¡°neutralization¡±. Even a little neutralization would make it manageable for me to use without much trouble. And the neutralized demonic energy, ... is used to train prohibited skills. During my ¡°preliminarily field trip¡± to the black market, I had made a list of prohibited items I wanted to acquire and handed it over to Dang Gyu-young who returned it with these words: -... Why are there so many extreme stuff on here? Kim Ho, why do you always look for such dangerous things? Chapter 163: The End of the First Mentoring Event Chapter 163: The End of the First Mentoring Event The result of kicking Kwak Ji-cheol for a week and tormenting the Ogre with One Point Explosions, [The rank of ¡®One Point Explosion¡¯ has increased. (D->C)] I was able to raise its rank to C. Among the three prerequisite skills for Spiral Explosion, two were now prepared. Additionally, other wind-type skills were also considerably ranked up. [Skills] ?Wind Force (C+) ?Inferno Fist (B) ?Amplification ? ?Twister (C+) ?One Point Explosion ? ?Copy-Skill [2/2] Thief¡¯s Step (B+)Overheat (D) Most of them remained in the stagnant zone of C-rank with no noticeable numerical changes for now. However, If I continued to steadily accumulate proficiency, they would eventually reach B-rank one by one. So I should make full use of the mentoring event until the end. The first mentoring event which had spanned a month was coming to a close. As expected, the Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye duo maintained 100% health and achieved a perfect game against the ogre. Kwak Ji-cheol also sustained some damage but cleared it with a decent score. So, Dang Gyu-young looked us over with a satisfied expression on her face. ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard for a month. You¡¯ve kept up well without anyone falling behind.¡± In fact, Dang Gyu-young had set the difficulty level higher than the other mentors with random rules. For example, in the sticker duel battle, only Hong Yeon-hwa managed to remove one sticker because Dang Gyu-young showed no mercy, and in the recent crystal strategy battle, she placed no restrictions on the ogre except for [Weakness]. Despite this, everyone not only completed the tasks but also achieved good results. ¡°But since this is just the beginning, everyone has to keep moving forward. Let¡¯s keep the goodbyes short here. Rest well over the weekend, and good luck on next week¡¯s midterms.¡± ¡°Thank you for your efforts, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The team members bowed deeply to express their gratitude and left one by one. Dang Gyu-young silently watched their retreating figures for a long time. I asked her, ¡°Why are you looking at them like that?¡± ¡°Just, I wondered if this is what it feels like to have students. I¡¯m feeling a mix of relief, pride, and a bit of sadness.¡± ¡°Seems like this job suited you better than expected.¡± ¡°Yeah, surprisingly.¡± Originally, Dang Gyu-young had no intention of getting involved in mentoring. However, due to multiple disciplinary actions piling up from the temporary storage room intrusion, and with the disciplinary committee offering to dismiss them, she was practically forced into the role. One might expect her to just do the job half-heartedly, but Dang Gyu-young took her mentoring duties seriously until the end. It seems she felt various things while watching her mentees grow as well. That¡¯s the joy of raising people. That sense of pride is why I raised 1,000 S-class heroes. Once the team members were out of sight, Dang Gyu-young stretched and yawned. ¡°Ah, but aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± ¡°I need to, but I just wanted to hear what your plans are for tomorrow.¡± ¡°Right, you said you¡¯d help a bit too.¡± The black market would open tomorrow, that is, starting this weekend. And in exchange for securing prohibited items for me in advance, I agreed to lend a hand. Dang Gyu-young smiled playfully. ¡°You remembered that. Aren¡¯t you practically a member now? Let¡¯s just fill out the application.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± When I firmly refused, Dang Gyu-young clicked her tongue briefly and then answered the earlier question. ¡°We¡¯ll open at noon, but you don¡¯t need to come then. We¡¯ll just be testing the waters at first.¡± The building the thieves¡¯ club would use for the black market exchange had rooms labeled A to F. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°It seems like a good idea. I should do some meditation in advance too. We probably won¡¯t be back until evening tomorrow.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± After Go Hyeon-woo also tidied up and left, Ahn Jeong-mi who had been watching us from a distance approached me. She bowed politely. ¡°Thanks to you Kim Ho-nim, I successfully completed the mentoring program. Once again, I sincerely thank you.¡± Over the past three weeks, I had guided Seo Ye-in to follow Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s training and played a crucial role in boosting her motivation. This week¡¯s crystal strategy battle was no different. After scoring points together, ¨C But we still couldn¡¯t defeat the Ogre. What a pity. ¨C You know this is also part of the midterm, right? The Ogre will appear again. ¨C Make sure to practice a lot in advance. By dropping these hints, I ignited Seo Ye-in¡¯s motivation. Thanks to that, she diligently repeated the practice mode until today even after scoring points together with me. Without me, Ahn Jeong-mi would not have been able to teach even half of what she had prepared as a mentor, which is why she kept expressing her gratitude every time she saw me. Then Ahn Jeong-mi handed me a business card. ¡°If it¡¯s Kim Ho-nim, I think I can trust you with the young miss. If it¡¯s alright with you, I hope we can stay in close contact going forward.¡± Since Ahn Jeong-mi was only temporarily here as a graduate mentor, she had to leave Dungeon Island like other graduates. She couldn¡¯t leave the position of the Future Strategy Office Team Leader vacant forever. Therefore, she handed me a business card with her direct contact information. This way, she could keep hearing updates about Seo Ye-in from me who was closest to her. ¡°If you support the young miss, Hye-seong Group will also promise to provide the best support to you Kim Ho-nim.¡± ¡°I will do my best.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi and I looked at each other and smiled softly. Then I turned serious and spoke. ¡°Though it is quite early, there is something I would like to ask of you, Team Leader.¡± ¡°......!¡± Seeing my serious expression and hearing me use ¡°Team Leader¡± instead of ¡°Butler¡±, Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to sense something unusual. ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± ¡°I would like you to keep an eye on this place tomorrow.¡± I handed her a piece of paper with a time and place written on it. It was the cipher I discovered on the wall of the downtown area during my preliminary field trip to the black market. That was the time and place the cipher indicated. I had cleverly changed the cipher to create a misunderstanding between the two sides. Of course, there was a chance they had figured it out and changed the meeting, but if not, ¡°.... At least one side will show up there, you say?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I believe.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi thought for a moment before asking with a serious expression on her face, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to inform the academy?¡± ¡°For now, I have too many secrets to keep.¡± From Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s perspective, she only knew the time, place, and the fact that a mysterious figure would appear there. Although I claimed they were villains, if I were wrong, I might end up capturing innocent people. Likewise, even if I informed the academy, they would find it difficult to act based on this limited information. To prove that the mysterious figure was a threat to Dragon Slayer Academy, I would have to reveal my hidden secrets and risk the academy¡¯s focus on me. As a result, my range of action would be severely limited. So informing them would be a bad move. And so, the only option was to ask for help personally from Ahn Jeong-mi. ¡°So, please keep an eye on the situation and intervene if needed.¡± In short, this was a kind of insurance. Ahn Jeong-mi did not take long to accept my request. ¡°If what you say is true, I would act even without your request. I¡¯ll keep an eye on things.¡± Chapter 164: Downtown Market (1) Chapter 164: Downtown Market (1) The next morning. In front of the shuttle bus stop heading to the downtown area. Surprisingly, the first person to arrive and wait for everyone was Seo Ye-in. She stood still while staring into space, but her radiant beauty alone drew the attention of those around her. ¡°...¡± When I approached, Seo Ye-in immediately noticed and turned her gaze toward me. She then started waving her hand gently as she walked over. I also waved back and greeted her. ¡°How come you¡¯re the first one here?¡± ¡°Woke up early.¡± ¡°You did go in early yesterday. How much did you sleep?¡± ¡°A lot.¡± ¡°How much battery do you have left?¡± ¡°...80?¡± Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly as she answered. I thought it was quite inefficient to sleep that much and still be at 80%, but since she wasn¡¯t sleepy now, I decided to let it go. ¡°Kim-hyung, Miss Seo.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡± Afterward, Go Hyeon-woo greeted us as he approached. He was smiling as he looked back and forth between us. ¡°Today, you¡¯re the last one to arrive.¡± ¡°Among us, but I¡¯m not actually late.¡± There were still five minutes left until the appointed time. As we exchanged idle chatter, two shuttle buses pulled up one after the other. We boarded the bus along with the other waiting students. ¨C Murmur, murmur... A few weeks ago, there had only been around ten students on the bus and apart from Seo Ye-in and me, they were all second- or third-year years. Now, the bus was so crowded that it was hard to find a seat, and there were quite a few first-year students. Most of them were probably visiting the downtown area for the first time, just like Go Hyeon-woo. The conversation from the next seat drifted over here. ¨C Get ready for the bakery. All the bread¡¯s going to be gone today. ¨C You pig. Are you going just to eat bread? ¨C Of course I¡¯m going to eat. What else is there? ¨C Aren¡¯t you preparing for midterms? ¨C How can I prepare if I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on the test? ¨C You should still try to raise your specs. Half of the students aimed to have fun, eat, and rest, while the other half aimed to improve their strength. Our goal was closer to the latter, but Go Hyeon-woo seemed somewhat tempted by the conversation he overheard. ¡°Indeed, this is also an opportunity to enjoy gourmet food for the first time in a while.¡± Seo Ye-in also tugged at my sleeve. ¡°Game center.¡± ¡°First, both of you calm down.¡± Let¡¯s decide what to do when we get there. When we arrived at the downtown area a little later, it was so crowded that the shuttle bus felt like nothing in comparison. Go Hyeon-woo let out a wry smile. ¡°I had hoped to stroll around leisurely, but that doesn¡¯t seem possible.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no helping it with this many people. Let¡¯s start with the market.¡± ¡°Understood. Let¡¯s go.¡± Go Hyeon-woo led the way while I guided everyone from right behind him. Seo Ye-in followed closely as she held onto the hem of my sleeve near my elbow. ¡°Where should we start?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s begin with the nearest spot.¡± The academy allowed the market to be set up in two places. One was the upperclassmen sales area where second- and third-year students and clubs set up booths, And the other was the graduate sales area where graduates gathered. And the closest one was, ¡°The upperclassmen area.¡± We pushed through the crowd to reach the sales area for second- and third-year students. A large building that resembled a shopping mall came into view. However, just as we were about to reach the front of the building, Go Hyeon-woo who was in the front spotted something and hesitated. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°The line is long, isn¡¯t it?¡± A long winding line stretched out like a worm. With only two places to buy things and hundreds of students, this was already a predictable outcome. As we joined the end of the line, Go Hyeon-woo spoke. ¡°We should have come a bit earlier.¡± ¡°It would have been the same even if we had.¡± Even if we had arrived early and waited before the opening time, there would still have been a line. We weren¡¯t the only ones thinking of this. ¡°And coming early doesn¡¯t always mean it¡¯s better.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your class?¡± I pointed to Seo Ye-in. ¡°She¡¯s a gunslinger.¡± ¡°...Tsk, I see.¡± The male student clicked his tongue in disappointment and returned to his group. The female student chuckled and explained. ¡°He only sells archer items.¡± Since Seo Ye-in was a gunslinger, it didn¡¯t match his items at all, so he quickly backed off. Then the female student asked. ¡°Is there something specific you¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯re just browsing.¡± ¡°Alright, feel free to ask if you have any questions.¡± The female student also stepped back a bit to make us feel more comfortable. I asked Seo Ye-in. ¡°What do you want to look at first?¡± ¡°......¡± I had already figured out Seo Ye-in¡¯s shopping style when we visited the downtown area two weeks ago at the . She doesn¡¯t complicate things. Even if I handed her various items, if she didn¡¯t like them, she would simply pass them by, and if she did like them, she would grab them without hesitation. ¡°......¡± As expected, Seo Ye-in scanned the surroundings carefully; her gaze was then fixed on one spot and she walked straight toward it. There, a variety of long-range skill books were piled up like a mountain. As if she knew exactly where everything was, Seo Ye-in rummaged through them without hesitation and pulled out a skill book buried deep in a corner. [Random Skill Book ¨C Long Range] How did she even spot that? The female student who had been watching from a distance, saw what Seo Ye-in had picked up and approached. When she realized it was a random skill book, her expression turned strange. ¡°Are you planning to buy this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The female student seemed a bit reluctant. ¡°...It¡¯s good for me if you buy it, but since I¡¯m a senior, I¡¯ll be honest with you. I don¡¯t recommend random skill books.¡± Random skill books. When used, they grant a random skill. In this case, the scope was narrowed to ¡°long-range¡± skills but even so, it would grant one out of countless long-range skills. Among those countless skills, the majority would be useless and not suited to Seo Ye-in¡¯s style. This meant there was a very high chance that she would learn a random and useless skill. ¡°I can¡¯t sell it for less than the market price either. We need to at least break even.¡± No matter how random it was, skill books were always valuable. Also, since it was an item dropped in an underground dungeon, it needed to fetch its full price to recoup the resources spent on the raid. Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly and asked, ¡°How much?¡± ¡°8,000 points.¡± Go Hyun-woo flinched in surprise. Even though he had earned a lot of points by having his replays bought by other students, it was still not an amount to be taken lightly. Most first-year students wouldn¡¯t even dream of spending that much. But what if she learned something useless from this random skill book? Those 8,000 points would essentially go up in smoke. The female student had good reason to discourage her. ¡°It¡¯s better to buy something else. Are you really sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy it.¡± ¡°I really tried to stop you. Remember, you bought it.¡± Seo Ye-in pulled out her student ID without hesitation and paid the 8,000 points. She immediately opened the random skill book. The female student still had a troubled expression on her face, but when she saw that, her eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re going to learn it right away?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Flaaaaash¡ª Before anyone could stop her, the skill book began to glow softly. With nothing left to do, the female student sighed deeply with a mix of regret and resignation. Soon, this light would be absorbed by Seo Ye-in and a notification message visible only to her would appear. It would say she had learned a new skill. Flaaaaa¡ªsh¡ª However, instead of being absorbed, the light from the skill book grew increasingly intense and bright. What was once a gentle glow became so dazzling that it was impossible to look at it directly. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The sudden strange phenomenon drew everyone¡¯s attention. Despite this, the light from the skill book kept getting brighter and brighter until it completely filled the room. Flaaaaaaaaash¡ª! TN: Lol. Kim Ho and Go Hyeon-woo would be like, ¡°First time?¡±Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com Chapter 165: Downtown Market (2) Chapter 165: Downtown Market (2) When the dazzling light that filled the room like a flashbang subsided, those who regained their senses rushed over. ¨C What was that? ¨C What kind of effect was that just now? ¨C It looked like a first-year student was using a random skill book. ¨C Does a random skill book produce an effect like that? However, Seo Ye-in who had caused this commotion had already left the scene. To be precise, I anticipated trouble so I had quickly taken her out. I lightly scolded Seo Ye-in. ¡°What were you thinking using the skill book there? It¡¯s still chaotic over there.¡± ¡°I just wanted to use it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just because.¡± She said she just wanted to use it while acting on instinct which left me at a loss for words. The result was good too which left me with nothing more to say. ¡°So, what came out?¡± ¡°I¡¯m also very curious.¡± When Go Hyeon-woo and I sent curious glances her way, Seo Ye-in displayed the notification message that had appeared when she used the skill book. [Using the ¡®Random Skill Book ¨C Long Range¡¯.] [Acquired ¡®Bullet Time (F)¡¯.] ¡°This is unbelievable.¡± No matter how lucky you are, this is just unfair. On the other hand, Go Hyeon-woo who had little knowledge about skills could only tilt his head in confusion. ¡°What kind of skill is this that surprises you so much, Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the best cognitive acceleration skill.¡± ¡°Cognitive acceleration?¡± ¡°Everything you see slows down.¡± ¡°......!¡± Bullet Time. During its duration, it rapidly accelerates the caster¡¯s perception which makes everything appear in slow motion. You could even see the rotation of a flying bullet. For F-rank, the duration was 1 second, With a cooldown of 5 minutes. The cooldown wasn¡¯t very long, but it wasn¡¯t short enough to be used recklessly, and the duration was just a fleeting moment, making it a skill that had to be used very carefully. However, in that moment when Bullet Time activated, one could gain an overwhelming advantage in battle. For example, if a firefight broke out with another long-range class, it would be possible for her to dodge all incoming attacks while landing her own shots. It also became much easier to counter and retaliate against a close-range assassin¡¯s sudden attack. Go Hyeon-woo let out an exclamation of surprise. ¡°Wow, if it¡¯s such a skill, it would be incredibly useful even if I used it myself. Those eight thousand points are well worth it.¡± ¡°Whoever uses it will find it an amazing skill. If you could learn it, it wouldn¡¯t be wasted even at eighty thousand.¡± Bullet Time was as difficult to master as it was powerful. Of course, even Ahn Jeong-mi couldn¡¯t have mastered it, and even among the top-tier marksmen trained up to S-rank, only a handful possessed it. Yet, Seo Ye-in had casually picked up a random skill book after glancing around the archer¡¯s section and mastered it on the spot. The world was undoubtedly full of unfairness.Vissit for updates Seo Ye-in stared at the two of us blankly, then tilted her head. ¡°Am I lucky?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± Where did she learn that from? I shook my head in disbelief. Even though it was a sudden and baffling situation, it was a welcome fact that Seo Ye-in¡¯s fighting power had significantly increased. ¡°With the butler gone, I thought that you should learn something else, but now you have this to master.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Using Bullet Time effectively in combat required a very high level of proficiency. The skill only accelerated the caster¡¯s perception; it didn¡¯t actually change their physical speed. As things appeared slower, the caster¡¯s movements also seemed slower. This required a period of time to adjust to the skill. Additionally, she had to practice capturing the optimal timing, so even though she had just learned it, she had a long way to go. ¡°You also need to work on ranking it up.¡± ¡°By the way, the skill is at F-rank now. What happens when its rank goes up?¡± ¡°The duration increases, and the cooldown decreases.¡± ? Has a chance to trigger ¡®Defense Penetration (D)¡¯ ? Piercing Resistance (E) [Defense Penetration] was a useful skill for piercing the defenses of tough-skinned enemies like ogres. It could even inflict unexpected critical hits on heavily armored warriors. [Piercing Resistance], simply put, made piercing attacks hurt less. Since most ranged attacks like bullets or arrows were considered piercing attacks, it could be seen as resistance to ranged attacks as well. ¡°Hmm...¡± Go Hyeon-woo fell into deep thought. Although it was clear that whatever he chose would be useful, he had to pick just one of the three, so he couldn¡¯t help but worry. Should he increase his endurance through healing, bolster his magic defense, or go for the defense penetration effect and reinforce his ranged defense? ¡°What do you think, Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°This is purely a matter of preference. Each one is for a different field.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a tough choice. They all seem useful to me...¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s gaze shifted back and forth between the three pieces of armor. He was unable to make an easy decision. Then, as if struck by a thought, he asked Seo Ye-in. ¡°What do you think, Miss Seo?¡± It was essentially a lucky chance. He seemed to have decided to leave it to luck. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in stood still for a moment, then raised her hand to point at a completely unexpected spot. It wasn¡¯t at one of the three pieces of armor. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned in that direction. ¡°What¡¯s over there?¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s see, just wait a moment.¡± The senior walked over to the spot Seo Ye-in had pointed to, rummaged through the display, and returned with a suit of armor. It was made of bronze and resembled the shell of a crustacean. [Bronze Carapace (D)] ? Physical Defense (E) ? Upgradeable ¡°Is this what you found?¡± The senior asked. Although Go Hyeon-woo had decided to trust Seo Ye-in¡¯s judgment, he seemed doubtful if this was the right choice. Compared to the previous three pieces of armor, this one didn¡¯t seem to have any outstanding effects, even considering its upgrade slot. Was it possible that Seo Ye-in¡¯s luck had run out for the day? Did she just point at something randomly? At that moment, I nudged Go Hyeon-woo and said one word. ¡°Buy.¡± ¡°......!¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes changed a little. When I, who had previously stayed back with the excuse that it was a matter of preference, told him to buy this unimpressive-looking armor right away, he sensed something unusual. And Go Hyeon-woo always followed my advice without question. ¡°I¡¯ll buy this.¡± ¡°Are you sure? It looks too heavy for a warrior.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get used to it.¡± The third-year senior still seemed doubtful, but when Go Hyeon-woo insisted, he went along with it. From his perspective, it didn¡¯t matter as long as it was sold. ¡°I respect your choice. Just pay me four thousand points.¡± Go Hyeon-woo immediately took out his student ID and completed the transaction. We then moved to our next destination, the mage¡¯s sales area. As he put the bronze carapace into his inventory, Go Hyeon-woo began to speak. ¡°I bought it without hesitation because I trust you, but I still don¡¯t quite understand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good deal.¡± Thanks to the remnants of Seo Ye-in¡¯s luck, Go Hyeon-woo managed to find a gem in the rough. ¡°That armor actually has two upgrade slots.¡± ¡°Does that mean the ¡®bronze¡¯ attribute was added through an upgrade?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± It was an armor made by capturing a very rare crustacean monster. Right after it was made, it was called [Transparent Carapace]. The characteristic of the Transparent Carapace was that it fully reflected the performance of the materials used for upgrades, whether one used metal or parts of a monster. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t know how bronze was used as an upgrade material, you can just remove it.¡± ¡°And then...?¡± ¡°You need to replace it with something else.¡± For example, he could get the two best materials. Chapter 166: Downtown Market (3) Chapter 166: Downtown Market (3) When I entered the mage¡¯s corner, I saw a familiar face. It was Park Na-ri, a promising student of the Guild Union and the Mother Nature Club. On her shoulder sat a mini tiger called Bum. Our eyes met, and I lightly waved my hand. She returned the greeting from the other side. ¡°H-Hello.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Bum also waved its front paw and then leaped from Park Na-ri¡¯s shoulder and started approaching me. Bum began to rub its cheeks and forehead against my knee repeatedly. ¡°Such a cute cat.¡± Go Hyeon-woo who saw this reached out to pet it but, ¡°Hiss¡ª!¡± Bum immediately bristled its fur and revealed its sharp claws. Go Hyeon-woo awkwardly withdrew his hand and stepped back. Come to think of it, they had faced off in a 2-on-2 duel before. There was no way their relationship could be good after battering it with Clear Stream so relentlessly. ¡°B-Bum, come back.¡± Park Na-ri hastily took out the [Cube of Life] and opened it. Bum slipped inside before curling up into a ball. Somehow, I had a feeling it would become Bum¡¯s personal mansion when I traded it, and that¡¯s exactly what happened. It was full of scratches. ¡°Still, it¡¯s good to see you¡¯re using it well.¡± ¡°Y-Yeah, th-thanks... Are you using what you learned from the Blank Skill Book well too...¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m using it perfectly.¡± I used it so perfectly that it became the number one hated skill among many people. Dang Gyu-young would always shudder at the mention of Wind Force, and Hong Yeon-hwa would turn pale at the slightest breeze. ¡°Ah, ha, haha, I see...¡± As Park Na-ri let out a shy laugh, Another familiar face appeared. ¡°Na-ri, who... Oh my, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Long time no see, senior-nim.¡± It was Ha Soo-yeon, the president of the Mother Nature Club. She had followed out of curiosity about whom the timid Park Na-ri was talking to. ¡°Are you looking for something in particular? If so, I can help.¡± Her tone and attitude were filled with kindness. That made sense. Because thanks to the Cube of Life, Park Na-ri was quite ahead in the race among the promising students. ¡°Amplifying the effects of life-type items stored inside it by 1.3 times¡± was enough to create a significant gap. Also, after observing my duel with the Emerald Magic Tower, she seemed determined to maintain the best possible relationship with me. That¡¯s a very commendable attitude. If we do good business in the future, it will be convenient for both of us. Therefore, I decided to accept Ha Soo-yeon¡¯s help without hesitation. ¡°If there¡¯s a skill book available, I¡¯d like to get one.¡± ¡°Which skill book are you looking for?¡± ¡°[Air Burst].¡± Ha Soo-yeon¡¯s face turned a bit puzzled. ¡°Are you planning to learn it yourself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°...I see. The more skills, the better.¡± Ha Soo-yeon seemed to think I had my own reasons and didn¡¯t press further. She called over two second-year seniors who were managing the stalls nearby. ¡°Do we have the [Air Burst] skill book?¡± ¡°......¡± The two of them seemed to recall for a moment. Then one of the second-year students looked through the ledger and replied. ¡°We don¡¯t have it on our side. It might be that the seller hasn¡¯t shown up yet since it¡¯s still morning...¡± They added a rather uncertain remark that there might be a skill book if I came back later. Meanwhile, the other second-year female senior was still deep in thought with her brow furrowed. Then, as if something had come to mind, her face brightened and she clapped her hands. ¡°Ah! Myung-hoon oppa might have it.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a graduate.¡± Ha Soo-yeon added to the explanation. ¡°Game center?¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes which had been growing a bit bored immediately sparkled at the mention of leaving. However, I shook my head for the moment. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. We have plenty of time.¡± Originally, I had calculated that with the usual queue times, it would take until around three or four in the afternoon, but thanks to Jegal So-so and Ha Su-yeon, it was just lunchtime. Since the game center wasn¡¯t going anywhere, we could fill our stomachs first and then head there leisurely. So we strolled through the downtown area while looking at the street vendors lined up everywhere. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to try ¡®Churros¡¯ for a while now.¡± ¡°You mean Churro (fried dough), right?¡± ¡°Beaded ice cream.¡± ¡°Sure, you can eat whatever you want.¡± At the same time. In a three-story building a bit away from the downtown area. The exterior was made to look like an abandoned building, but in reality, it was the control tower of the thieves¡¯ club. When you enter the building and climb up the stairs, you will find a fairly large room and the walls of that room were filled with numerous monitors. And each monitor showed different parts of the downtown area. They were stealing the view of the crime prevention crystal balls installed in the downtown area. A few members of the thieves¡¯ club were watching the monitors in turns, and at the center of the room were Chae Da-bin who held the actual command of this control tower, and Dang Gyu-young standing beside her. Chae Da-bin kept tapping on a tablet and said, ¡°Everything is going smoothly so far.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± The black market started receiving customers around the same time as the marketplace opened. The customers acted very cautiously for fear of being caught, but one by one they entered the A and B exchanges through the meeting point. And little by little, transactions of prohibited items were taking place. ¡°The Disciplinary Committee doesn¡¯t seem interested in us.¡± Some monitors were watching the movements of the Disciplinary Committee members, but no suspicious activity was seen near the meeting points or exchanges. Perhaps they hadn¡¯t figured out how this year¡¯s black market was being held yet, or they were focusing on maintaining order in the downtown area in the beginning. Of course, it was only the beginning. As the number of active exchanges increased, the situation would only get more difficult, so they would have to remain vigilant. While tapping on the tablet and flipping through various screens, Chae Da-bin discovered something. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Kim Ho?¡± ¡°Oh, it is.¡± On the screen appeared Kim Ho who was crossing through the crowd. He was with the handsome warrior he always hung out with and the pretty girl with gray hair. Each one of them was holding a scoop of ice cream in their hands. ¡°Cute.¡± Dang Gyu-young chuckled and took her eyes off the monitor. She¡¯s handling it quite boldly. The relationship between Dang Gyu-young and Kim Ho was much closer than a typical senior-junior relationship. At least, that¡¯s how it appeared to Chae Da-bin and the other members. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if Dang Gyu-young felt uneasy about Kim Ho hanging out with that gray-haired girl. Even from a woman¡¯s perspective, she was beautiful and the distance between them seemed much closer than that of mere classmates. They were worried about how Dang Gyu-young would react to seeing them together, but she seemed to be handling it with the maturity and tolerance befitting her age. Chae Da-bin let out a sigh of relief inwardly. Thank goodness. However... Maybe that was just Chae Da-bin¡¯s misconception. ¨C Glance, As Dang Gyu-young casually scanned the other screens, she sneaked a side glance. Then, she moved on to other screens as if nothing had happened, but before long, ¨C Glance, glance, She kept glancing at one of the monitors repeatedly. Specifically, the one showing Kim Ho. ¡°...¡± The more she did so, the more Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly and her displeasure gauge seemed to rise little by little. When Chae Da-bin secretly exchanged glances with the other members of the club, they also seemed to sense the unusual situation unfolding here. A tense atmosphere began to envelop the control tower. Chapter 167: Weapon Master (1) Chapter 167: Weapon Master (1) We wandered around the street vendors and filled our stomachs with snacks. The next destination was the game center that Seo Ye-in had been looking forward to. Like other places, the game center was extremely crowded with barely any room to step in. Despite that, we persisted, squeezed our way in, and headed to the student-only corner in the back. Because the mini-games required a fair amount of points, the crowd thinned out noticeably in this place, but it was still more crowded than it had been two weeks ago. Then, Seo Ye-in¡¯s steps suddenly halted as she quietly stared at one spot. ¡°Gunslinger Adventure...¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± The arrangement of the arcade machines had changed, and most of the games, including , had been replaced with others. It wasn¡¯t just the prizes that were updated regularly. Especially since was a strong candidate for replacement as we had practically won the highest score and the prize. As Seo Ye-in gradually became more sullen, the ever-positive Go Hyeon-woo consoled her and I added a comment of my own. ¡°Haha, Miss Seo. Don¡¯t be too disheartened. Surely, there are other fun things to enjoy?¡± ¡°Other games might be fun once you try them.¡± ¡°Mhmm ...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check out the prize list first.¡± If we set a new goal, her interest would come back. Invisibility Scroll ¨C AccessoryEquipment Enhancement StoneRank Up (E)Dreadful Teddy Bear ....... The list was similar yet different from two weeks ago. Back then, there was [Random Rank Up] which I picked right away, but it was missing now. It¡¯s not a reward that appears very often. So as a second choice, I should pick Rank Up. The [Air Burst] I bought at the graduate market was relatively easy to rank up, but adding a Rank Up would save me even more time. I asked the two of them, ¡°Is there anything that catches your eye?¡± ¡°Rank Up.¡± Go Hyeon-woo was still pondering, and Seo Ye-in chose the same Rank Up as me. It seemed like she planned to use it after raising [Bullet Time] to E, which wasn¡¯t a bad choice. So, how could we obtain this? [Rank Up (E)] ?Acquisition Condition 1: Achieve 20 kills or 15 assists in ?Acquisition Condition 2: Die fewer than 3 times Go Hyeon-woo who had been peering from the side asked me, ¡°What kind of game is Weapon Master?¡± ¡°That one.¡± Among the newly installed arcade machines, one game took up half of the student corner. The competitive survival game, . The simple rule was that participants wandered around a designated space for a set amount of time and fought when they encountered enemies. If you died, you could continue by inserting another token, but naturally each token cost 300 points, and our target [Rank Up] required us to give up if we died three times. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy to get 20 kills or 15 assists with only 2 deaths. That meant you had to get 10 kills for every death. The good news, however, was that it could be played in teams of two. If one person aimed for 20 kills and the other aimed for 15 assists, it would be perfect. ¡°So we can¡¯t do it together?¡± ¡°No, it has to be in pairs.¡± ¡°I see. Then I¡¯ll proceed alone. I¡¯m very interested.¡± ¡°What will you choose for the prize?¡± Go Hyeon-woo glanced over the prize list again and replied. ¡°There¡¯s nothing that particularly interests me, so I¡¯ll just enjoy the experience this time.¡± ¡°That works too.¡± Just then, a game ended and a lot of spots opened up. The next round of participants who had been waiting nearby filled those spots. The three of us also took seats in a row. Seo Ye-in inserted a token first. A large ¡°?¡± appeared on the screen, then quickly morphed into various silhouettes of different people. There¡¯s a reason the game is titled this way. The class and weapon of the character controlled by the player were randomly assigned. Except for the player¡¯s own class, of course. For example, Seo Ye-in¡¯s class was a gunslinger, so she would never get a long-range character. Instead, she could end up as a Paladin, Mage, or Priest. To win, players needed to master any weapon they were given, which is why it was called . The rapidly changing silhouette soon settled into a fixed shape and Seo Ye-in¡¯s character was revealed. Whoosh! The poison dart slipped through the gap in the knight¡¯s helmet. Then the knight¡¯s movements noticeably slowed down which indicated he was afflicted with a slowing debuff. They were in the middle of exchanging blows. When one side¡¯s movements slowed significantly, it inevitably exposed major openings. Seo Ye-in struck the knight¡¯s shield with all her might and broke his stance. Then she brought her sword down with all her strength. Clang! The iron helmet dented under the barbarian¡¯s brute strength. Despite that, Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t stop her sword from coming down. Bang, bang, bang! [Barbarian-Seo 1K/0D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/1A] ¡°Hey, that one¡¯s running away.¡± The priest immediately turned his back and ran. However, a poison dart struck his nape, and Seo Ye-in quickly approached, grabbed him, and cut his throat. [Barbarian-Seo 2K/0D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/2A] ¡°You¡¯re pretty good for your first time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± ¡°Yes, very strong.¡± The Barbarian was a class that fought purely with physical strength. It was the epitome of a strong man. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± As we continued walking along the passageway of the ruins, we saw two more shadows flickering in the torchlight. Two more warriors appeared. They wore the same leather armor and wielded the same swords and shields. Since classes were assigned randomly, it wasn¡¯t unusual to encounter duplicates. The twin warriors noticed us and charged quickly. I loaded a poison dart and instructed Seo Ye-in as well. ¡°Axe.¡± ¡°Axe.¡± Seo Ye-in pulled out a hand axe from her waist and threw it straight ahead. The spinning hand axe flew through the air and embedded itself in Twin Warrior A¡¯s shoulder. I thought it was likely to miss since it was her first time throwing a hand axe, but as expected, she was good at throwing things since she was originally a long-range class. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the one hit by the axe first.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± The Barbarian character strode forward, ready to clash with the two warriors. Whoosh¡ª! I shot a poison dart. A thin dart embedded itself in Twin Warrior B¡¯s neck. ¡°Ah! What is this?!¡± A confused shout came from somewhere. It was probably the player controlling Twin Warrior B. Judging by the way they were floundering around, it seemed they were hit with the ¡°control reversal¡± status ailment. It must have been disorienting, especially since the player was using a class he wasn¡¯t used to. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in aggressively pressured Twin Warrior A. He was already significantly weakened with a hand axe lodged in his shoulder. Twin Warrior A tried to block with a shield, but Seo Ye-in kicked it away and stepped forward before slashing diagonally with her sword. Crunch! Twin Warrior A was sliced in two, and Seo Ye-in immediately charged at Twin Warrior B. Twin Warrior B who had just recovered from his control reversal status ailment steadied himself and prepared to counter. Whoosh! Until the next poison dart struck. ¡°No! What is this really?!¡± Another confused shout echoed through the student corner. After examining Twin Warrior B¡¯s condition, his movements became as slow as a slug. He was hit with a slow status ailment. An opponent under the slow status ailment was easy prey for the strong Barbarian, Seo Ye-in. Crunch! [Barbarian-Seo 4K/0D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/4A] ¡°Strong.¡± ¡°Strong.¡± We exchanged a light high-five. Clap. Chapter 168: Weapon Master (2) Chapter 168: Weapon Master (2) As we continued moving forward after killing the Twin Warriors, a bright light appeared in the distance. It was the exit leading out of the ruins. The only players inside the ruins were the two of us and the two teams we had just encountered. To properly rack up 20 kills, we had to go outside. I warned Seo Ye-in who was leading the way. ¡°Be careful when we go out.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± The exit of the ruins was the perfect place for enemies to lie in wait. And as always, my ominous premonition was right. The moment Seo Ye-in stepped outside, Swish! A gray beam of light shot toward us with a fierce whistling sound. Seo Ye-in quickly raised her arm to block it. Thud. But the beam of light pierced through Seo Ye-in¡¯s arm and embedded itself in her chest. The opponent then revealed themselves. In his hand was a large crossbow. It was only then that she realized what was stuck in her chest was a steel arrow. A small message appeared on Seo Ye-in¡¯s screen. [Continue?] [10, 9, 8......] [Continue?] ¡°You died. Let¡¯s continue.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Since it was a survival battle, even close-combat characters didn¡¯t have much endurance. I had a reasonable suspicion that the frequent use of continues was to make point collection easier. Seo Ye-in purchased a token with 300 points and inserted it into the arcade machine. [Barbarian-Seo 4K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/4A] The Barbarian reappeared inside the ruins at the starting point. Meanwhile, I was near the exit. ¡°Let¡¯s regroup first. I¡¯ll head your way.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The interior of the ruins was tangled like a maze, but as an experienced player, I had memorized the paths. So I retraced my steps, ¡°They¡¯re still there.¡± I ran into the knight and priest duo we had just defeated. Having lost badly in their first fight, they hesitated and wondered if they would have to fight us again, but when they realized I was alone, they immediately initiated the fight. However, contrary to their expectations, I was not just any easy target; I was a tricky target with poison darts. Swoosh! The knight who was hit by the poison dart started moving sluggishly and I swiftly passed by him. ¡°Excuse me~¡± The two became infuriated and they chased after me with killing intent. While I ran, I occasionally turned around to shoot another poison dart and then resumed running. The chase didn¡¯t last long. Seo Ye-in was rapidly running toward me from the opposite direction.Neew updates at ¡°Axe!¡± ¡°Axe.¡± Whirr! The hand axe spun fiercely over my shoulder and embedded itself in the priest¡¯s chest. Her accuracy was improving. [Barbarian-Seo 5K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/5A] The situation was reversed and the 2v1 became a 1v2. However, the knight decided that he had nothing to lose, so he didn¡¯t flee but fought back. Seo Ye-in dodged the slashing sword by leaning her body. When she swung her sword in response, the knight raised his shield to deflect it. Seo Ye-in struck down with the hand axe in her other hand, while the knight parried with his sword. Clang! Clang! They¡¯re slowly getting used to it. Unlike the clumsy puppet-like first battle, the movements of the two melee characters became much more refined. Everyone was gradually becoming closer to weapon masters. The only unfortunate aspect was, This is a team game, after all. Whoosh! Swoosh! ¡°See? They came.¡± Seo Ye-in jumped to the side to avoid the incoming arrow. She then tried to chase the crossbowman, but a black shadow suddenly appeared nearby and attacked her. It was an assassin dressed entirely in black. He held a black dagger in his hand that matched his outfit. That guy must be paired with the crossbowman. I muttered a low exclamation. ¡°Wow, that guy is really persistent.¡± The fact that he appeared from where we had passed meant he had been hiding there all along. It seemed he missed his timing when the crossbowman was caught by Seo Ye-in, and he only appeared now that the crossbowman returned here. While Seo Ye-in reacted to the ambush, the crossbowman widened the distance again before reloading and firing another arrow. Swoosh! And while Seo Ye-in dodged the arrow, the assassin stepped back briefly, then attacked again to buy time for the crossbowman. The two opponents took turns harassing the Barbarian. However, I was secretly hopeful. Is she going to show it now? The cooldown for Bullet Time should be almost over. Swoosh! Just as the arrow flew and the assassin thrust his dagger, I felt as if Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes flashed. The Barbarian¡¯s body slipped through the narrow gap between the two attacks. The attacks narrowly missed her and the assassin¡¯s arm was severed in the following counterattack. ¡°Too good.¡± I felt like giving a standing ovation. But since the battle was still ongoing, I joined in. Thwack! The assassin who lost one of his arms tried to retreat in a hurry. However, he could no longer retreat because a poison dart was stuck in the back of his head. After slicing through the assassin¡¯s neck, Seo Ye-in immediately pursued the crossbowman. I called out to her. ¡°Try not to kill him. I want to get an assist.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Because assists counted only when I helped defeat the enemy, I had to at least prick him with my poison dart. Seo Ye-in nodded her head, then closed in on the enemy and mercilessly punched him in the face. In reality, that punch would have broken all his teeth, but it didn¡¯t show since it was just a mini-game. I followed and fired a poison dart at the captured crossbowman. Thwack! Seo Ye-in finished him off. That must have felt pretty humiliating. [Barbarian-Seo 9K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/8A] Once the match was decided, the crossbowman-assassin duo no longer targeted us. Although they might have wanted to keep bothering us from a distance, they couldn¡¯t afford to lose 600 points for dying. Therefore, we continued to advance through the forest and rocky terrain and defeated the enemies one after another. [Barbarian-Seo 13K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/12A] It was at this time that a beautiful female mage peeked over the rocky terrain. ¡°Oh, Miss Seo¡ª¡± It was the character controlled by Go Hyeon-woo. It seemed like he was surprised to encounter us in a survival game, so he waved his staff in greeting. ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in¡¯s empty hand slowly moved to her waist. And in the next moment, Whirl¡ªCrack! The hand axe flew while spinning fiercely and split Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s skull. [Barbarian-Seo 14K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/13A] ¡°...¡± Go Hyeon-woo looked at Seo Ye-in and then at me. I could feel the unspoken pressure to say something to him. But since I was always on Seo Ye-in¡¯s side, I adjusted my tone and lightly scolded him. ¡°Weakling. This is what happens when you let personal feelings interfere in battle.¡± ¡°Ugh...!¡± Go Hyeon-woo realized the cruelty of the martial world. Chapter 169: Weapon Master (3) Chapter 169: Weapon Master (3) Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s ice mage had experienced three deaths in total, two of which were caused by Seo Ye-in¡¯s thrown hand axe. Whoosh¡ªcrack! Of course, Go Hyeon-woo wasn¡¯t the type to hold a grudge over something like this. When his skull was split by the first hand axe, he was dumbfounded, but after being defeated in a proper fight, he accepted the outcome and nodded his head. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s my loss. Just like Kim-hyung said, my body is weak.¡± ¡°That character is especially fragile. It¡¯s a complete glass cannon.¡± ¡°It seems so. I¡¯ve come to understand that even mages have their own hardships.¡± After that, Go Hyeon-woo didn¡¯t continue playing. He had already lost 900 points, so he was reluctant to waste more points even in the casual play mode. Additionally, since the game was almost over, he put it down without hesitation and watched what we were doing. And now that the game was nearing its end, Seo Ye-in was, Crushhh! [Barbarian-Seo 25K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/22A] What made this possible was her genius ability to learn and master anything at a frightening speed, the occasional cooldown of bullet time, and my sly support with poison darts. She had nearly transformed into a wrecking machine. She charged through everywhere without hesitation and swept away everything in her path. The other participants were also talented students from the Dragon Slayer Academy, but none could possibly stop Seo Ye-in. While playing the mini-game, the occasional chatter among them eventually turned into constant talk about the Barbarian. ¨C What¡¯s that? ¨C How is his control so good? ¨C Is it a bug? Is this guy playing in his original class? ¨C Hey, he¡¯s coming, run! Even though they each experienced death at Seo Ye-in¡¯s hands several times, instead of getting angry, they were actually in awe. On the other hand, I¡ªthe poison dart shooter next to her¡ª received nothing but complaints. ¨C Ugh, those poison darts are so annoying. ¨C He keeps pestering from the side. ¨C Seriously, I almost had the Barbarian too. ¨C Ah! I can¡¯t see again! I calmly accepted all the ¡°praise¡±. The game was meant to frustrate the opponent. Swoosh! Soon, when the time limit expired and the game ended, [Barbarian-Seo 31K/1D/0A] [PoisonDartShooter-Kim 0K/0D/27A] Seo Ye-in and I had far exceeded our original goal of 20 kills and 15 assists. It¡¯s a shame there¡¯s no bonus for overachievement. After placing the [Rank Up (E)] reward in my inventory, I was about to leave the game center when, ¡°Hey, wait a minute.¡± Some second-year seniors called out to us. No doubt, they were the ones who participated in the game earlier. ¡°...¡± When Seo Ye-in saw the second-years approaching in a group, she quietly hid behind me. It was the so-called Kim Ho shield. Seeing this, the approaching seniors hesitated and then started bickering among themselves. ¨C Hey, you scared her away. ¨C Why are you scaring a first-year? ¨C It¡¯s probably because you¡¯re ugly. ¨C Honestly, I¡¯m better looking than you. A brief ¡°Who¡¯s the Ugliest¡± contest was about to start, but a senior with a handsome face stepped forward as a representative. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s really nothing much, we just wanted to ask something.¡± ¡°Yes, senior.¡± ¡°By any chance, were you two the Barbarian Duo?¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the Barbarian, and I¡¯m the Poison Dart Shooter.¡± When I pointed to Seo Ye-in and then myself in turn, the seniors couldn¡¯t hide their surprise and whispered among themselves. ¨C The girl is... the Barbarian? ¨C And the boy is the Poison Dart Shooter? ¨C Isn¡¯t it the other way around? ¨C The Barbarian was really intense, though. Seo Ye-in¡¯s pretty and quiet appearance didn¡¯t match the image of a Barbarian slicing through enemies on the battlefield. But what could we do? It was the truth. The handsome senior also seemed a bit shocked, but he tried to maintain his composure as he asked the next question. ¡°I see, so what were your original classes...?¡± ¡°Gunslinger and Mage.¡± Once again, the seniors were in an uproar. ¨C She was a Gunslinger, but she played the Barbarian so well? ¨C She really did throw those hand axes accurately. I got hit twice. ¨C Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re a scarecrow? ¡°...¡± ¡°Senior-nim?¡± ¡°Hey, hey, we¡¯re here!¡± Dang Gyu-young pulled me along towards the restaurant in front of us with quick steps. When I identified the restaurant, I was a bit surprised. ¡°You made a reservation here?¡± This restaurant specialized in Western cuisine and was one of the most renowned restaurants in the downtown area, alongside the bakery. Naturally, securing a reservation in this place required overcoming tremendous competition. And she actually made the reservation for this evening, one of the busiest times of the year in the downtown area. Dang Gyu-young looked proud of herself. ¡°You seem to forget, but I¡¯m a club president.¡± ¡°Of course, you are.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s enjoy our meal.¡± Even the reserved table was on the second-floor terrace and it offered us a full view of the night scenery outside. We sat down and it didn¡¯t take long for the food to arrive. We shared chop steak, salad, and pasta, taking small portions onto our plates. As we engaged in small talk, ¡°So¡ª has Jegal So-so talked about me?¡± ¡°Just briefly, a couple of times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange. I told her to take good care of you.¡± ¡°She did treat me well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Occasionally, when the conversation paused, we turned our gaze outside to admire the night view. Even though it was evening and the streetlights were coming on, the downtown area was still bustling with students. We watched the flow of countless crowds, then turned back to face each other. ¡°...¡± Dang Gyu-young wiped her mouth with a napkin and asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Your table manners are perfect.¡± Every small gesture she made with her fork, knife, and napkin exuded elegance. It wasn¡¯t something one could learn in a day or two but rather ingrained from long ago. Though she usually had a rough and free-spirited image when dealing with her fellow club members, now she strongly resembled a noble lady. Dang Gyu-young responded nonchalantly, ¡°This is basic. I learned it back in the clan.¡± ¡°The Dang clan?¡± ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t I tell you? I¡¯m a direct descendant. Though now, I¡¯m somewhat half-disowned.¡± ¡°You never mentioned that. But what do you mean by half-disowned...?¡± ¡°I left the clan.¡± Even though she had the Dang family name, Dang Gyu-young neither used poison nor martial arts. She instead relied on her shadow magic. The organization she belonged to wasn¡¯t the Martial Alliance, which included the Dang family, but rather the Thieves Guild and Thieves Club of the Guild Union. It had always been a point of curiosity for me, but she had left the clan to become a shadow mage. ¡°Why did you decide to leave?¡± ¡°Just because I felt suffocated. I wanted to live the life I desired.¡± A free life that she could create on her own, without being tied down by her family. I asked again, ¡°Are you living that kind of life now?¡± ¡°More or less?¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled as if to acknowledge that she still had a long way to go. Then she saw that I had put down my utensils and asked me, ¡°I¡¯m done eating. How about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m done too.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get up then.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior-nim. The meal was delicious.¡± When I bowed my head, Dang Gyu-young smiled pleasantly. The sulky expression she had shown at our meeting place was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Help out as much as you ate, okay?¡± ¡°Of course. Where should we go?¡± In this black market, the thieves club would secure the prohibited items I wanted, and I promised to lend a hand as a temporary mercenary in exchange for that. ¨C Do you want to get involved? ¨C What do you need me to do? ¨C See that annoying-looking senior? Stick with him. And the graduate student I agreed to team up with was to be a reserve force. We would be standing by to provide assistance in case of emergency. So I asked where that guy was positioned. Dang Gyu-young didn¡¯t answer right away. She folded her arms and went into deep thought. ¡°Hmm... I¡¯ve changed my mind.¡± ¡°Then?¡± Dang Gyu-young looked me straight in the eye and said, ¡°Stay with me.¡± TN: Alright! Chapter 170: Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger Chapter 170: Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger Dang Gyu-young immediately began leading me somewhere. As we were following the flow of people in the downtown area, I asked a question. ¡°Where are we going, senior-nim?¡± ¡°You made a prohibited item list for me, remember?¡± ¡°I did.¡±Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.comething just came up. We¡¯re heading to Exchange E because they¡¯re waiting for us there.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The item that the thieves¡¯ club promised to secure for me had just been listed for sale. Since I had narrowed down the countless prohibited skills to a few that met my criteria, I had considered the possibility that they might not appear in this black market at all. Still, seeing it listed like this, it seems my luck isn¡¯t too bad. As we neared the exchange, we subtly changed direction towards a nearby meeting point. A soft-serve ice cream cart. A familiar member of the thieves¡¯ club greeted us with a familiar sly smile. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°What flavor? Half and half again?¡± When Dang Gyu-young and I chose half chocolate and half vanilla, the member skillfully scooped the ice cream into the cone. ¡°Half and half it is.¡± During my preliminary field trip in the black market, the presentation had been so bad that Dang Gyu-young had said something about it, but it seems they had practiced quite a bit since then, as it was now nearly perfect. ¡°I¡¯ll have the same.¡± ¡°Here you go. Enjoy.¡± The member wrapped two ice cream cones in napkins and handed them over to us. The napkins were the main thing here. They served as our black market tickets and guides. The arrow patterns on the napkins pointed us to our next destination, the Exchange E. After taking a few small licks of her ice cream, Dang Gyu-young asked me, ¡°Don¡¯t you think you can manage without it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to take it easy.¡± If I were to use my stagnant water senses, I could navigate the maze-like path without a guide or a marker. But since there was no bet riding on it this time, why go through the extra trouble? Following the markers for an easy journey seemed like the best plan. As Dang Gyu-young and I leisurely ate our ice cream, we arrived at the Exchange E area. The exterior of Exchange E looked like a store selling various daily necessities, and since it was open for business, students were milling about inside. We went inside and pretended to look around calmly, but we were actually following the direction indicated by the napkins deeper inside. We pushed through a door marked ¡°Authorized Personnel Only¡± without hesitation, and the students passing by didn¡¯t seem to find our actions strange. There¡¯s a barrier in place. The formations that the graduates have installed throughout the store were very cleverly distorting the view. Therefore, everything appeared perfectly normal to those without napkins. They probably didn¡¯t even notice that we disappeared. The napkins¡¯ arrows pointed to a half-sized room used for storing cleaning supplies. We squeezed inside, and as soon as we stepped towards the seemingly empty wall, the [Throughwalk] was automatically activated and we moved to the next room. It was decorated like an office. We continued to move through walls. We emerged into corridors, climbed stairs, and crossed more walls. After an indeterminate number of such rooms, we entered another office-like space where someone was already waiting. A man was sitting calmly in a chair and greeted us. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived? What brings President Dang here in person?¡± ¡°Hello, senior-nim.¡± And Dang Gyu-young respectfully bowed her head. A graduate mentor senior. Judging by the sword and martial arts uniform he had beside him, he exuded a strong martial artist vibe. He then took out an old faded martial arts manual from his clothing. It was inscribed in rough handwriting: ¡°Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger¡± ¡°I heard you were looking for this.¡± ¡°That is the skill book.¡± ¡°......¡± The man¡¯s gaze briefly left Dang Gyu-young and lingered on me. Though, considering how powerful this skill was, it was hard to imagine a situation where I would overuse it. ¡°You always learn such dangerous things. Who are you planning to take down this time?¡± ¡°If they hinder world peace, they need to be eliminated.¡± Wouldn¡¯t peace be achieved if all the annoying ones were taken down? Dang Gyu-young shook her head. ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Let¡¯s get out of here now.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Just like when we entered, the napkin¡¯s markings guided us to the exit. We climbed over a few walls, went down the stairs, climbed over a few more walls, opened the door in front of us, and found ourselves at the back of the Exchange E building. When I looked down at the napkin, the intricate markings that had been engraved on it gradually faded and eventually disappeared as if they had evaporated. It had served its purpose, and it was a device installed in advance to leave no evidence. I threw the napkin which had reverted to being just a napkin into the trash can, circled the building, and entered the downtown area again. I walked along the crowd and asked Dang Gyu-young. ¡°How far along is the black market now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just starting.¡± In the morning, only the A and B Exchanges had been opened. They were testing the waters by receiving customers gradually and increasing the number of open exchanges one by one. And now, in the evening, with the final Exchange F activated, the black market has officially begun. ¡°So, what¡¯s our role?¡± ¡°Right now, not much. We just hang around near the exchanges, kill time, and go immediately when Da-bin contacts us.¡± Chae Da-bin was acting as the control tower. She constantly monitored the downtown area through the crystal balls installed around the exchanges. If any issues arose, she would promptly notify the nearby team members to respond. And so far, no significant issues have occurred. ¡°In the end, we¡¯re just reserve forces, huh?¡± ¡°In a way, yes.¡± ¡°Then, wouldn¡¯t it be the same whether I stick with that slacker senior or with you, senior-nim?¡± ¡°Nope, it¡¯s very different.¡± When I asked with my eyes what was so different, Dang Gyu-young answered confidently. ¡°If you leave, I¡¯ll get bored.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Ah, honestly, you feel the same, don¡¯t you? Do you really want to go over there?¡± ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s more comfortable to be with you, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Right? Fufufu.¡± Dang Gyu-young laughed happily. So, while Chae Da-bin and the other members of the thieves¡¯ club diligently managed the black market, we wandered around the busy streets and killed time. ¡°How about some bead ice cream?¡± ¡°We just had ice cream.¡± ¡°Have more. If there¡¯s too much, we can share.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± For some reason, Dang Gyu-young was obsessed with bead ice cream so we shared it. ¡°Have you been to the game center?¡± ¡°Yes, I went today.¡± ¡°Hey, go with me too.¡± ¡°Next time.¡± I diverted Dang Gyu-young¡¯s interest away from the game center. If we played mini-games, we wouldn¡¯t be able to move right away if Chae Da-bin contacted us. As we diligently killed time, a familiar voice came from behind. ¡°Hello, senior-nim.¡± Dang Gyu-young and I turned our heads at the same time, and Kwak Seung-jae bowed his head. Next to him were Han So-mi who was waving her hand brightly, and Song Cheon-hye who was looking at us with curious eyes. It seemed they had been patrolling the downtown area and stopped when they saw us. Dang Gyu-young quickly understood the situation and casually greeted them. ¡°Seung-jae, how are you doing?¡± Chapter 171: The Black Market (1) I recalled the conversation I had with Kwak Seung-jae a while ago. ¨C I heard you¡¯re dating senior Dang Gyu-young. ¨C We¡¯re close, but we¡¯re not dating. ¨C I¡¯ve also heard you spend a lot of time together. ¨C Because we¡¯re mentor and mentee. And now, the look Kwak Seung-jae was giving me seemed to ask, ¡°Are you going to deny it even now?¡± The misunderstanding seemed to be growing and Song Cheon-hye had the same look of suspicion on her face. Her slightly flushed cheeks suggested that she was writing a romance novel in her head. Han So-mi was just smiling brightly. This girl was just happy with anything. We¡¯re really not dating. Thinking that trying to explain would not clear up the misunderstanding, I decided to remain silent. As I continued to meet his gaze without saying a word, Kwak Seung-jae shifted his focus back to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you two are quite close, but I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be spending time together in the downtown area.¡± ¡°We are pretty close.¡± ¡°May I ask what you were doing?¡± ¡°We were just wandering around, looking for any trouble to get into.¡± Whatever she made of that, Song Cheon-hye covered her mouth with her hand and quickly began whispering something to Han So-mi. Dang Gyu-young placed her hand on my shoulder and grinned playfully. I could almost hear the other side asking, ¡°What kind of trouble?¡± Dang Gyu-young asked back. ¡°And you guys?¡± ¡°These two are still quite inexperienced, so I¡¯m taking them around to teach them, while also patrolling the downtown area.¡± ¡°Yes, I can see that. Keep up the good work.¡± Kwak Seung-jae slightly bowed his head. ¡°I hope you enjoy your time too, senior-nim.¡± ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, Seung-jae, saying such nice things?¡± ¡°I view your relationship positively.¡± ¡°Do you? Thank you.¡± Kwak Seung-jae was about to move forward when, for some reason, Song Cheon-hye stepped up and asked us. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± She held a terminal embedded with a shining crystal ball in her hand. It was an item that played a similar role to the ban wave; if it detected a prohibited item in someone¡¯s possession or inventory, a red warning light would come on. It meant she intended to conduct an inspection right here and now. Both Dang Gyu-young and I often did suspicious things, so there was a chance that one of us might still have a prohibited item. Dang Gyu-young shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly. ¡°Go ahead.¡± With a tense expression on her face, Song Cheon-hye brought the terminal to each of us in turn. Wooong¡ª However, the crystal ball only brightened slightly without any color change. We aren¡¯t that careless. Of course, we had anticipated the possibility of an inspection. Dang Gyu-young had left all prohibited items behind, and I had learned the [Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger] skill book as soon as I obtained it. So, there was nothing to be found. Song Cheon-hye felt a little embarrassed and stepped back, but she quickly regained her composure and bowed her head politely. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation.¡± ¡°Sure, keep up the good work.¡± Kwak Seung-jae who had been watching silently moved forward, and Song Cheon-hye glanced over in this direction before following him. Han So-mi waved her hand cheerfully and joined them. As the three members of the disciplinary committee disappeared into the crowd, Dang Gyu-young began to speak. ¡°Seung-jae left quickly today. Usually, he annoys me a bit more.¡± ¡°Maybe he didn¡¯t want to bother us. Also...¡± ¡°You noticed it too?¡± We had felt eyes on us even before Kwak Seung-jae approached. It was probably the disciplinary committee trying to keep an eye on Dang Gyu-young. As the president of the thieves¡¯ club and a key figure in the black market, she was certainly worth watching. Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s brief conversation was likely intended to lower our guard down. Though those presumed to be from the disciplinary committee were concealing themselves with stealth on par with any skilled thief, they were unaware of one crucial fact. The thieves¡¯ club had eyes planted all over the downtown area. Dang Gyu-young contacted the control tower. ¡°Da-bin, can you see us?¡± ¨C Yes, I can see you. ¡°We think we¡¯re being followed. Can you check our four o¡¯clock?¡± ¡°Keep these with you.¡± ¡°The disciplinary committee uses these, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I swiped a few.¡± Dang Gyu-young grinned. Handing over the committee¡¯s signal flares was obviously a means to create confusion. We gazed toward Exchange B from the rooftop. ¡°They say everyone is gathered there, but...¡± ¡°They¡¯ll scatter soon enough.¡± As soon as the occupation of Exchange B ended, they would disperse in all directions to search for the next exchange. And as a backup force, our job was to disrupt that search. ¡°Should I fire one off now?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Dang Gyu-young shrugged, and I infused the signal flare with magical power. A bright beam of light shot up into the sky. Shuuuu¡ªbang! Immediately, we sensed them approaching quickly. It was obvious it was the disciplinary committee. ¡°Let¡¯s run.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± We leaped to the next building. ¨C We¡¯ve lost them. ¡°Is that so?¡± Upon hearing the news, Kwak Seung-jae nodded his head calmly. To monitor Dang Gyu-young, they had secretly assigned two disciplinary committee members but she had sensed it like a ghost and shaken them off. If she had nothing to hide, there would have been no need to run. What Kim Ho and Dang Gyu-young were up to seemed related to the black market after all. However, pursuing them was not the current priority. Kwak Seung-jae turned his head to look at Han So-mi and Song Cheon-hye. ¡°Hello! We need to conduct a brief inspection!¡± ¡°Please cooperate.¡± The two stopped passing students and inspected them with crystal balls to check for prohibited items. However, when Kwak Seung-jae gestured, they immediately ceased the inspections and approached him. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s return to the room.¡± ¨C Rumble... When he released the spell, a wooden door suddenly rose up. As Song Cheon-hye and Han So-mi followed Kwak Seung-jae through the door, they found themselves standing in the disciplinary committee room the next moment. ¡°Welcome.¡± The president of the disciplinary committee, Oh Se-hoon, greeted them with a friendly smile. Most of the disciplinary committee members including Oh Se-hoon were standing near the wall. They were looking at a large map that was pinned there. Various red marks were scattered on the map, indicating the locations where the disciplinary committee members had confiscated prohibited items through surprise inspections. These red marks were connected to form a red circle, and near the center of this circle stood a single building. A second-year disciplinary committee member reported to Kwak Seung-jae. ¡°We have identified an exchange used by the black market. However, we have not succeeded in entering it.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°A powerful barrier has been set up. We couldn¡¯t get any further.¡± ¡°Did you attempt to dismantle it?¡± A third-year disciplinary committee member answered this question. He was somewhat knowledgeable about barriers, but his frown indicated that he had not succeeded. ¡°My skills were not enough.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± If even the third-year disciplinary committee members couldn¡¯t dismantle it, it meant that someone with higher-level skills was involved. Oh Se-hoon¡¯s eyes gently narrowed. ¡°It seems Dang Gyu-young has prepared a lot.¡± The cost must have been significant to bring in a graduate. There was a clear determination to make this year¡¯s black market a success. However, no matter how determined Dang Gyu-young was, a rule violation was still a rule violation. They couldn¡¯t just leave the scene where prohibited items were openly traded. Moreover, graduates weren¡¯t only on the thieves club¡¯s side. Oh Se-hoon bowed his head to the woman who was sitting comfortably on the sofa. ¡°We would appreciate your help, senior-nim.¡± Chapter 172: The Black Market (2) Chapter 172: The Black Market (2) Following Oh Se-hoon¡¯s request, the graduate rose from her seat without hesitation. She too had once been a member of the disciplinary committee and knew that in situations like this, time was of the essence. She asked while tying her long hair into a ponytail. ¡°Blocked by a formation?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. Seung-jae, open the door.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± Kwak Seung-jae had already been chanting a spell. Their next destination was already decided anyway. When he reopened the previously closed wooden door, the scenery beyond had changed. The ponytail woman showered him with praise. ¡°This is so convenient. Seung-jae, won¡¯t you work with us after graduation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Kwak Seung-jae had already received countless offers due to his unique magic. Eventually, they arrived at their destination beyond the door. It was in front of an empty building on the edge of the downtown area. Several members of the disciplinary committee surrounded the area. They were controlling access for general students and blocking escape routes for those inside the building. The graduate with a ponytail looked at the building and asked, ¡°Is this the place? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely. And what we understand about the formation¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, never mind that.¡± She waved off the explanation from a committee member on the scene and walked toward the building entrance. She intended to experience it firsthand rather than just hear about it. At first, nothing seemed amiss. But as she neared the entrance, she suddenly spun 180 degrees and walked back to the committee member. She had unknowingly moved as the formation guided her. The graduate looked around as if she had just come to her senses. ¡°It¡¯s a confusion formation. No wonder you couldn¡¯t break through it.¡± ¡°I apologize.¡± The third-year student who had attempted to dismantle the formation bowed his head. The woman with the ponytail asked, ¡°There aren¡¯t any civilians inside, are there?¡± ¡°From what we understand, there aren¡¯t. But why do you ask...?¡± ¡°Move back further.¡± ¡°......?¡± The members of the disciplinary committee looked puzzled about why they were being told to move back, but since it was an order from a senior who had already graduated, they complied without a word. The ponytail woman then approached not the entrance of the building but the outer wall. She lightly placed her slender hand on the wall. ¡°No need to play along with these thieves.¡± Her hand began to emit a blue light, and from that point, a large ripple spread out which caused the wall to vibrate strongly. Cracks rapidly spread across the wall and quickly encompassed the entire building. Rumble... The area began to shake violently as if an earthquake had struck the place. The students who were occupying the Exchange B building were startled. ¡°Wh-What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Why is it collapsing?¡± ¡°Get out, quickly!¡± A dozen or so students broke the exchange window and jumped out. They were immediately caught and subdued by the disciplinary committee¡¯s encirclement, but it was the right choice. Being caught by the disciplinary committee was better than being buried under the building¡¯s rubble. Rumble¡ª! Soon the building collapsed completely and sank into the ground. The area was covered in thick dust. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± The watching disciplinary committee members were aghast. They had asked for help because they couldn¡¯t break through the formation, but the other party actually ended up destroying the building where the formation was set up. They looked at Oh Se-hoon with eyes full of doubt while wondering, ¡°Is this really okay?¡± but he still maintained a gentle smile.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com This meant that even the graduate¡¯s sudden actions were within his expectations. In fact, he had half intended this when asking for help. The president of the disciplinary committee wouldn¡¯t have had the authority to take such drastic measures. Bang! ¡°Ugh!¡± A disciplinary committee member slammed a resisting student to the ground. When they brought the device close, the crystal ball glowed red. Booom! ¡°Ah!¡± Compressed air exploded and it sent Geum Jo-han flying sideways into a wall. Before the other senior could react, several discreetly launched butterflies restrained him. ¡°You¡¯re Dang Gyu-young?!¡± There were very few shadow mages in the Dragon Slayer Academy, and among them, Dang Gyu-young was the only one who used [Shadow Butterfly Flight] as her main skill. Of course, Dang Gyu-young had no reason to answer that question. ¡°Hup!¡± The senior with the hell axe immediately released the shadows and drew his axe from his back. Geum Jo-han who had his face pressed against the wall and a nosebleed trickling down quickly regained his posture stance and drew his sword. ¡°...¡± However, we had already left the scene by then. We only made sure our customer safely escaped. Dang Gyu-young stuck out her tongue in the direction of the senior with the hell axe. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m crazy enough to fight you? I¡¯d lose anyway.¡± The main goal for Dang Gyu-young and the thieves¡¯ club at this black market was to minimize the seizure rate of prohibited items. This was to restore their reputation which had plummeted due to last year¡¯s black market failure. And our role as the reserve force was to disrupt the disciplinary committee¡¯s inspections and searches. We had to disrupt them. The way we did it before, by suddenly catching them off guard and running away, was enough. Dang Gyu-young took out another signal flare meant for the disciplinary committee. ¡°Should I fire another one soon?¡± However, I didn¡¯t respond immediately and swallowed my breath. ¡°...Something feels off.¡± ¡°What does?¡± ¡°I feel like a wooden door would pop up if we use the flare this time.¡± Even though we had fired several signal flares, the members of the disciplinary committee kept missing us, so it was time for Kwak Seung-jae to step in instead of the disciplinary committee members. Dang Gyu-young thought about this for a moment and she seemed to reach the same conclusion. ¡°That makes sense. Let¡¯s use it just this one last time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Her Mana was infused into the signal flare. A bright beam of light shot up into the sky. Shooo¡ªBang! And ominous premonitions never fail. The moment I used Wind Force so that we could move to the next building, Rumble, As if anticipating our move, a wooden door suddenly rose and blocked our path. Dang Gyu-young and I looked at each other. ¡°They really came.¡± ¡°I told you something felt off.¡± Kwak Seung-jae immediately stepped through the door. Two other third-year disciplinary committee members followed him. They positioned themselves on either side of him. ¡°Senior-nim, it¡¯s not okay to do such bad things. That flare is only allowed to be used by disciplinary committee members.¡± ¡°Huh? What flare?¡± Dang Gyu-young feigned ignorance. She was pretending not to know anything. In fact, we were just nearby; there is no evidence that we fired the flare. Not yet, at least. This time, Kwak Seung-jae stared at me. ¡°Kim Ho, didn¡¯t I tell you to do everything within the bounds of the school rules?¡± ¡°You did. I¡¯m just out here for a walk with my senior.¡± I didn¡¯t break any rules. I also pretended not to know anything. Of course, both Dang Gyu-young and I were telling lies that would soon be exposed. ¡°Please come with us to the disciplinary committee¡¯s office.¡± If they investigate, everything will come out. For example, I still have a flare in my inventory. And it was obvious what would happen if we refused to comply. The two third-year disciplinary committee members had their weapons drawn, ready to strike at any moment. Dang Gyu-young and I exchanged glances. We might be able to get out of this. And just as the battle was about to begin, Whirr¡ª! Suddenly, a fishing line-like thread flew from somewhere and wrapped around the bodies of Kwak Seung-jae and the two third-year disciplinary committee members. Chapter 173: The Black Market (3) Chapter 173: The Black Market (3) ¡°What the heck is this?¡± ¡°What...?¡± The three members of the disciplinary committee tried to untangle the threads binding them, but it wasn¡¯t as easy as they thought. Even when they drew up their mana, the threads tightened even more instead of breaking. I watched them struggle for a moment, then I made an exaggeratedly surprised face as if I had just remembered something. ¡°Ah! Senior-nim, that thing!¡± ¡°Huh? Aaah, that thing! I almost forgot about it!¡± Though she didn¡¯t know what ¡°that thing¡± was, Dang Gyu-young quickly caught on and played along. She grabbed my hand in a hurry and we bid farewell to Kwak Seung-jae and the others. ¡°Hey, we need to go now. We¡¯ll visit the disciplinary committee office next time! Good luck!¡± ¡°Hey¡ª¡± Before Kwak Seung-jae could say anything, we quickly dashed off to the next building. After running for a while, I checked behind us and couldn¡¯t sense any sign of the disciplinary committee. It seemed they still couldn¡¯t break free from the fishing line. ¡°It¡¯s worth the price, isn¡¯t it?¡± After stopping briefly to catch our breath, Dang Gyu-young spoke to someone in the distance. Soon, a shrewd-looking graduate emerged from the darkness. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± Something thin and shining near him was drawn into his hand. It was probably the fishing line he had just used. I knew it was a graduate. The three members of the disciplinary committee had been subdued without much resistance and hadn¡¯t managed to cut the fishing line even by the time we left. I could say he was even more powerful because two of them were third-years. Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°But how did you know to come here?¡± ¡°I was just passing by when Da-bin told me.¡± The shrewd-looking graduate answered nonchalantly. Dang Gyu-young immediately connected to the control tower. Cha Da-bin¡¯s concerned voice came through. ¨C Did you get out safely? ¡°Yeah. The response was great. We got one over on Seung-jae.¡± ¨C He¡¯s a person of interest, so we¡¯ve been keeping an eye on him. Kwak Seung-jae had been a significant person of interest who had greatly contributed to increasing the arrest rate of the black market last year. From the perspective of the thieves¡¯ club, he was the target that they must pay the most attention to. Because of this, several members of the control tower were focused solely on monitoring Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s movements, and they tracked his next location the moment he summoned the wooden door. When two third-year students joined, they sensed something unusual and requested help from the shrewd-looking graduate. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± ¨C It looks like Exchange C will be exposed soon. A is being searched too. ¡°That¡¯s fast.¡± Originally, the disciplinary committee should have wasted a lot of time at Exchange B, but a graduate from the disciplinary committee demolished the building in one go. As a result, they could immediately deploy personnel to search for the next exchange. ¡°We can¡¯t just sit back and take it. Let¡¯s diligently interfere, Da-bin.¡± ¨C Yes, president. ¡°From now on, you take command.¡± ......! ¡°The disciplinary committee members are probably quite alert by now. We can¡¯t just charge in recklessly anymore.¡± For example, Dang Gyu-young and I ambushed Kim Jo-han and the senior with the hell axe to help the customer escape. However, the same method wouldn¡¯t work twice or thrice. Kim Jo-han might not be cautious, but the senior with the hell axe would be even more vigilant. This would make it much harder to ambush them. If we go in carelessly, we might end up getting caught ourselves. So we needed to be even more cautious, and it would be better if Cha Da-bin secured the area beforehand. To avoid having to get Dang Gyu-young¡¯s permission every time, she handed over command entirely. ¨C But I¡¯m not sure if I can do it well... ¡°You¡¯ll have to do it eventually. You¡¯re the president next year. Can I trust you?¡± ¨C ...I¡¯ll try. Dang Gyu-young smiled brightly after hearing Chae Da-bin¡¯s determined answer. Cha Da-bin didn¡¯t disappoint Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expectations. She made full use of the view provided by the crystal balls of the downtown area and faithfully fulfilled her role as a control tower. Just as one of the customers was about to get caught in a random inspection, Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°Should we go in now?¡± ¨C No, it¡¯s a trap. Eight o¡¯clock direction. ¡°Really? They¡¯ve got some brains.¡± When we checked the direction Cha Da-bin indicated, we saw several members of the disciplinary committee lying in wait. They had set up a trap and waited for the thieves to step in.Visitt (.)co/m for the latest updates We decided it was best to give up since we could get caught trying to save a single customer. After spotting the next customer being chased, Dang Gyu-young asked again. ¡°What about that one?¡± ¨C No issues. You can go in. ¡°Okay. Kim Ho, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± We used wind magic and shadow butterflies to harass the disciplinary committee. ¡°And the altered time is now, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then what about the place?¡± ¡°.......¡± I moved forward in silence for a while, then suddenly stopped. Raising my hand slightly to signal, Dang Gyu-young and the shrewd-looking graduate following behind me also stopped. I glanced downward and mouthed the words. There it is. A shadowy figure stood idly in the distance. The person wore a large bamboo hat, which alone was enough to arouse suspicion. Cha Da-bin had noticed this and sent the message. Bamboo hats were typically used to keep clothes dry in the rain or to shield from the sun, but to wear one in the middle of the night. It leaned more towards the purpose of hiding one¡¯s identity rather than any practical use. The shrewd-looking graduate seemed to have reached the same conclusion but still had many questions. So, what do we need to do? ¨C Please listen to me carefully from now on. When Dang Gyu-young and the shrewd-looking graduate both nodded their heads, I pointed to the person wearing the bamboo hat. ¨C I need you to use a restraint technique on that person. ¨C What? Why? It was understandable that the shrewd-looking graduate was confused. He had agreed to help, thinking it was a matter involving the black market, but it turned out to be something entirely different. Moreover, he was now being asked to restrain a stranger. ¨C What if we capture the wrong person? ¨C That¡¯s why it¡¯s a restraint technique. I would have preferred to ask for a deadly technique, but I had no choice but to opt for a restraint technique. This way, even if that person was innocent, they wouldn¡¯t get hurt. I added one more thing. ¨C I will take full responsibility. ¨C ....... The shrewd-looking graduate gave Dang Gyu-young a look as if to ask her to stop me, but Dang Gyu-young was already preparing the restraint technique as I had instructed. She responded. ¨C I trust him. I¡¯ll do everything I can. ¨C ....... The shrewd-looking graduate¡¯s expression turned strange. He didn¡¯t expect Dang Gyu-young to go this far. With a silent sigh of resignation, he asked me again. ¨C Alright, let¡¯s say you¡¯re right. What about that person¡¯s skills? ¨C If my guess is correct... they¡¯re A-rank. ¨C .......! ¨C .......! Their faces grew even more serious. A-rank was the level reached by only the top-tier graduates. It was an echelon touched by very few elites. ¨C So, you must use your full strength and your strongest skills. I will request support as soon as the battle begins. ¨C ...We¡¯ve really gotten ourselves into a mess.¡¯ The shrewd-looking graduate grimaced. He had intended to lend a bit of help to the black market and earn a nice reward, but now he found himself facing an unexpected A-rank opponent. Despite this, he showed no intention of backing out. Judging by the situation, if he didn¡¯t help, Dang Gyu-young would face the battle alone and there was a high chance he would end up watching his junior die. The shrewd-looking graduate put on a glove on each hand. Shadow butterflies flitted around Dang Gyu-young and gathered around her. With their spirits heightened, the two prepared their restraint techniques. At the same time, they descended from the rooftop and unleashed their skills. Ten thin strands of fishing line extended from the shrewd-looking graduate¡¯s ten fingers. ¡°!!¡± The enemy noticed them at that moment, but before he could react, he was already entangled in the fishing lines. Countless shadow butterflies swarmed over him and they formed a cocoon of shadows around him. At the same time, I used the remaining disciplinary committee flare. A bright streak of light cut across the sky. Shoooooo¡ªBang! Meanwhile, the two were preparing their next attack. If the enemy was indeed an A-rank like I said, our successful surprise attack would only give us a brief advantage. Sure enough, the shadow cocoon began to tremble violently, Crack! Blood-red energy burst out and tore through the cocoon. The energy started to take on a distinct form. It resembled a monster with six arms. Seeing this, the shrewd-looking graduate¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Asura Blood Demon Art!¡± If the enemy had mastered the Asura Blood Demon Art to the point of manifesting energy, there was only one possible affiliation he could think of. The Blood Cult. Chapter 174: Study With a Piece of Mind Chapter 174: Study With a Piece of Mind In the distant past, after they lost in the Great Demonic War, the Heavenly Demon Cult scattered across various regions. They were dreaming of rebuilding their cult in secret. However, that dream ultimately turned to nothing and it seemed the name of the Heavenly Demonic Cult would fade into history. At that time, the Blood Cult emerged as a new focal point. With the overwhelming martial strength of the Blood Cult¡¯s leader, they absorbed all remaining forces of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, and as time passed, the Blood Cult established itself as one of the most powerful groups within the world of the . And the Bamboo Hat elder was an elder of that Blood Cult. In fact, among the elders, he was one of the top in terms of skill. From such a master¡¯s perspective, the abilities of the shrewd-looking graduate and Dang Gyu-young were hardly impressive. The Bamboo Hat elder looked at the two of them with disinterested eyes. ¡°I had a feeling something was off, and it turned out to be a trap. But what a lousy trap, considering they set it up with such weaklings. Surely, they aren¡¯t lacking in talent, are they?¡± ¡°Watch your mouth...!¡± Whirrrrr¡ª! The shrewd-looking graduate unleashed the skill he had prepared. In the first ambush, he used a restraining technique for fear he might catch the wrong person. Now, he was using his ultimate move and pouring everything he had into it. Dang Gyu-young also attacked with all her might. Ten clear lines flew toward the Bamboo Hat elder. And shadows spread out instantly and they formed a square-shaped field. Each was imbued with a sharp energy, ready to cut cleanly when touched rather than just restrain. Butterflies fluttered in the field and dozens of large shadow hands appeared. Each hand wielded a different shadow weapon and struck down. Boooom¡ª! ¡°...¡± The Bamboo Hat elder simply looked at them with indifferent eyes. Just as his body was about to be sliced by the ten lines and pierced by the shadow weapons. Blood-red energy that looked like an Asura moved for the first time. Two of the Asura¡¯s six arms clenched their fists tightly and struck the ground with force. Thud! Red energy waves spread out from the Bamboo Hat elder, scattering the shadows within range. Two of the Asura¡¯s arms extended straight and sliced through the incoming lines with their palms. The ten lines were effortlessly severed one by one. The remaining two arms each sent a wave of energy toward Dang Gyu-young and the shrewd-looking graduate. Bang! ¡°...!¡± ¡°...!¡± The two who got hit by that energy were hurled against the wall at a terrifying speed. This was the overwhelming might of an A-rank. Even though they used their best techniques, they were easily blocked and even countered. The Bamboo Hat elder spoke. ¡°See that? If this isn¡¯t pathetic, then what is¡ª¡± ¡°How about this?¡± Thud, The Bamboo Hat elder widened his eyes and turned his head over his shoulder. ¡°You...!¡± ¡°Was this a bit better?¡± I withdrew my finger which I had stabbed into his shoulder. My finger was frozen solid and gleaming with a jade-like blue light. At the moment when Dang Gyu-young and the shrewd-looking graduate unleashed their ultimate moves, That moment was the first and last opportunity to exploit the Bamboo Hat elder¡¯s weakness. So I had preemptively boosted my physical abilities with Overheat, And amplified the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger¡¯s power to A-rank. Seizing the instant they clashed together, I thrust my forefinger in. Swish! I kicked off the ground to retreat and the Bamboo Hat elder immediately pursued. His speed exceeded even the limits I had reached with Overheat. He was truly no ordinary Blood Cult elder. Six powerful arms targeted only me. I dodged his swinging fists, deflected his slicing hands with a Storm Cloud, and evaded the flying energy. But in the end, one of his energy-charged fists pierced my abdomen with incredible speed¡ª [¡®Distortion¡¯ has been activated.] [Cooldown time 23:59:59] ¡ªbut my body twisted just before it could penetrate. The Bamboo Hat elder was once again astonished. A deafening explosion echoed as the woman with the ponytail was pushed back. Although this meant she had suffered a loss from the clash, she gritted her teeth and charged again. Blood-red energy, thin lines, shadows, and force mingled chaotically. Pop-pop-pop! He certainly lives up to his reputation. The Bamboo Hat Elder who was weakened by the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger could only exert about half of his power and was being attacked by three people at once. Despite these dire conditions, he continuously maintained the upper hand and proved himself to be a Blood Cult elder. All the three could do was keep him from moving away. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Amidst the fierce battle, the Bamboo Hat Elder¡¯s eyes flashed as he noticed something. Kwak Seung-jae who was chanting a spell with the wooden door firmly closed. Since the disciplinary committee members, including the woman with the ponytail, had appeared through that door, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what Kwak Seung-jae was trying to do. He was requesting additional support. This absolutely couldn¡¯t be allowed. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Boom, boom, boom¡ª! Three arms of powerful energy whipped around like lashes, throwing the three people aside. Immediately afterward, the Bamboo Hat Elder kicked off the ground and charged toward the wooden door. A third-year disciplinary committee member raised a shield and blocked his path. A wall formed as mana overflowed from the large shield, but a single punch from the energy fist shattered the sturdy wall instantly. ¡°Ugh.¡± The committee member collapsed and spewed a mouthful of blood. Another committee member quickly filled the gap, but was also struck by the energy arm and got sent flying. Kwak Seung-jae who was fully focused on connecting the wooden door to another space was left defenseless. ¡°No!¡± The woman with the ponytail shouted urgently. She was chasing the Bamboo Hat Elder with all her might, but it seemed she was a step too late to protect Kwak Seung-jae. Just as the blood-red energy fist was about to crush Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s head, A streak of blue light appeared from somewhere. Bang¡ª! A huge mass of magical power struck the Bamboo Hat Elder like a cannonball. The impact was so intense that it briefly disrupted the Asura Blood Demon Art. The Bamboo Hat Elder slid back and stopped, then spat out his words. ¡°Who is it this time!¡± Others were just as bewildered. Everyone turned their heads in the direction the magic bullet had come from, but nothing was visible there. It was too far to see anything with the naked eye. ¡°...A sniper?¡± ¡°Who could it be?¡± It really happened just as Kim Ho said it would. Ahn Jeong-mi marveled inwardly. She had been watching the specified location at the specified time, as Kim Ho had asked her to. Sure enough, the suspicious Bamboo Hat Elder appeared right on time, and his identity as an Elder of the Blood Cult was revealed. How did he know that...? The academy and its graduates were no fools. To eliminate any potential threats, they had searched Dungeon Island thoroughly for a whole month. Yet they found no trace of the Blood Cult, so how did he know the Elder would appear there and give her a warning? And what else might he know? From the first meeting, she sensed that Kim Ho was extraordinary, but even after a month, she still couldn¡¯t fathom his depth. Of course, there was one thing she was certain of. We must make Kim Ho an ally by any means necessary. Both for the sake of the Hye-seong Group and for her young miss. Another thing that was certain was that the Elder of the Blood Cult was an obstacle to all of them. Ahn Jeong-mi grasped the sniper rifle which was taller than her once more. She aimed the muzzle at the Bamboo Hat Elder and placed her index finger on the trigger. Young miss, Kim Ho-nim, please study with a piece of mind. ¡ªI will take care of anything that stands in your way. Bang¡ª! TN: As expected of a butler! Chapter 175: Kim Ho’s Words Are ??? Boom! Once again, a cannonball-like magic bullet struck the Bamboo Hat Elder. This time, he was prepared and blocked it with his arm which was strengthened by energy, so there appeared to be no damage. However, he couldn¡¯t help but be pushed back by the impact. ¡°......!¡± In the meantime, Kwak Seung-jae completed his spell. He knew he would have lost his life if not for the sniper, and it was clear he was visibly shaken. He flung open the wooden door and rushed inside. ¡°Grr......!¡± The Bamboo Hat Elder gritted his teeth. His eyes remained fixed on the wooden door. If he could destroy the door connecting the two spaces, it would buy him time until Kwak Seung-jae who had crossed over created a new door. His blood-red energy arms repeatedly sent out powerful blasts of energy waves. Pa-pa-pa-pat! Immediately, Dang Gyu-young knelt on one knee and touched the floor. Shadows quickly spread from her and began to cover the ground in darkness. Suddenly, a large shadow wall rose up and collided with the energy wave. ¡°......!¡± Bang! A student council member with a shield filled the space where the shadow wall had vanished. Bang! The graduate with the ponytail took the place of the fallen student council member and extended her palms forward. Bang¡ª! When the energy waves were blocked, the Bamboo Hat Elder tried to rush in and break the door himself, but another sniper shot made him hesitate. He glared at those surrounding him and spat out his words. ¡°You damn bastards...!¡± It¡¯s over now. Everyone had bought enough time for Kwak Seung-jae to call for reinforcements. If he had properly connected the faculty office with this space, the teacher on duty would appear any moment now. Sure enough, the half-open wooden door opened a bit more and a flash of light burst forth from it. Then, as if by some unspoken agreement, everyone stopped in their tracks and lowered their gazes. Dang Gyu-young, the shrewd-looking graduate, the ponytail graduate, the disciplinary committee members... and even the Bamboo Hat Elder. At the end of their gaze, one of the Bamboo Hat Elder¡¯s arms lay lifelessly on the ground. Only then did he notice his empty shoulder and let out a scream. ¡°Arghhhh!!¡± ¡°Everyone, step back.¡± At the low command, everyone distanced themselves from the Bamboo Hat Elder. The wooden door opened wider and a man slowly stepped out. The Bamboo Hat Elder¡¯s face twitched incessantly when he confirmed the other party¡¯s identity. ¡°The Human Butcher...!¡± ¡°It is me.¡± The Human Butcher, Lee Soo-dok. In his hand was a large cleaver-shaped sword. With that sword, he had swiftly severed the Bamboo Hat Elder¡¯s arm. The Bamboo Hat Elder sneered and his face twisted in pain. ¡°A sneak attack from the famous Human Butcher. How disgraceful.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what rumors you¡¯ve heard, but I¡¯m not the type to insist on a fair fight. And if there¡¯s anything to blame, it should be your recklessness for crawling into enemy territory alone, rather than my ambush.¡± Did you expect an honorable one-on-one duel after revealing yourself in the heart of Dungeon Island? The Bamboo Hat Elder only gritted his teeth and was unable to respond. Lee Soo-dok casually rested the large cleaver on his shoulder. ¡°I have many questions for you, so I won¡¯t kill you. But it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve tasted the blood of a Blood Cultist.¡± ¡°......¡± For a few seconds, the two men glared at each other. Their figures seemed to blur simultaneously, and in the next instant, they clashed fiercely. Boom! Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young struggled to climb to the rooftop and collapsed next to me. ¡°......¡± Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, and blood continued to flow from her mouth and nose which meant she had suffered internal injuries. I immediately took out a basic elixir from my inventory and opened the cap. ¡°Drink this.¡± ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young who was too weak to lift her hand simply leaned forward. I placed the elixir to her lips, and she gulped it down eagerly.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com As the glass bottle emptied, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s wounds healed rapidly and her expression gradually relaxed. When her body was completely free of scratches, I removed the elixir and placed a candy in her mouth. Dang Gyu-young mumbled with the candy in her mouth. ¡°Thanks. You¡¯re generous, using the whole elixir.¡± ¡°When else would I use it if not now?¡± ¡°...¡± Dang Gyu-young sighed deeply as if she was resigned before she gave an answer mixed with half-truths, just like mine. ¡°It wasn¡¯t something we saw while passing by, we saw it through a crystal ball.¡± ¡°...A crystal ball?¡± In response to Lee Soo-dok¡¯s question, Dang Gyu-young explained the existence of the control tower. She said that the thieves club was using the vision of the crystal balls meant for security in the downtown area and exploiting it for the black market. However, Lee Soo-dok didn¡¯t take issue with that. Right now, the violation of school rules wasn¡¯t important; gathering any information about the Blood Cult was more important. ¡°You used your head well. Gather all the traces of that person recorded in the crystal ball and submit them. Then I¡¯ll make an exception regarding the rule violation.¡± ¡°Understood, thank you.¡± Dang Gyu-young bowed her head. Lee Soo-dok then turned to me with another question. ¡°You followed the person wearing the bamboo hat because they seemed suspicious?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report it?¡± ¡°As I mentioned, we were helping with black market activities, so we weren¡¯t in a position to be forthright. Instead, we sought help from a senior graduate.¡± Then, I explained that as soon as we confirmed it was a member of the Blood Cult, we used the signal flare meant for the disciplinary committee and the rest happened as you saw. Lee Soo-dok seemed to think for a moment before slowly nodding his head. ¡°You may leave now.¡± Lee Soo-dok had a skill. [Truth or Lie (B)] ?Determines the veracity of a response. ?If a lie is detected, extracting the truth becomes easier. ?Usable: (0/3 times) ?Recharges every 3 days When activated, it was a mental skill that determined if the other party was telling the truth or lying. Despite the limitations of recharging every three days and a three-use cap, its effect was undeniable when it manifested. It had significantly contributed to Lee Soo-dok¡¯s investigations up until now. However, ¡°I was wandering around with Senior Dang Gyu-young¡ª¡± [This is a ???] When he used the skill on Kim Ho, a notification message full of question marks that indicated neither true nor false popped up. Since this was the first time such a thing had happened, Lee Soo-dok couldn¡¯t help but feel inwardly flustered. What is this? Of course, even though the skill failed, it wasn¡¯t difficult for him to deduce that Kim Ho was lying. There was the obvious fact that the black market was currently being held, so there was no way the president of the thieves¡¯ club was merely strolling around the downtown area. While listening to the continued explanation, he cast [Truth or Lie] again, ¡°You discovered him while wandering around?¡± ¡°Yes, seeing a bamboo hat in the middle of the night was a bit odd.¡± [This is a ???] Once again, a message full of question marks was displayed. For a moment, Lee Soo-dok wondered if there was a problem with the skill. So he asked Dang Gyu-young, ¡°Is what Kim Ho said true?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± [This is a lie] Judging by how he could immediately see through Dang Gyu-young¡¯s lie, it seemed the skill didn¡¯t work only on Kim Ho. Lee Soo-dok pressed Dang Gyu-young and was able to find out that the thieves¡¯ club was making use of the crystal balls in the downtown area. After hearing the full details of the incident, he sent the two of them out of the faculty office. Lee Soo-dok who was left alone in the office slowly went over everything again. Although he grasped the overall picture, there were still suspicious parts here and there. They discovered an Elder of the Blood Cult by chance? Even if they had a much wider view with the crystal balls, would they have had the leisure to follow a suspicious-looking person in the midst of the busy black market? It was clear they knew something more. Another puzzling point was that the Elder of the Blood Cult was unexpectedly weak when he confronted him. Even considering the combined skills of those present at the scene, they were far from capable of overpowering an A-rank fighter. So why was he so weakened? What increased Lee Soo-dok¡¯s suspicion was what the Elder muttered to himself with his dying breath. ¨C If....only...! If it weren¡¯t for...! And his gaze momentarily shifted to the rooftop. However, it seemed unlikely that he would hear the truth from Kim Ho¡¯s mouth. The skill didn¡¯t work on him and he was only wasting precious charges. It probably wouldn¡¯t work on him in the future either. Seeing how he could lie without blinking an eye in front of him, he had nerves of steel. Threatening him with a knife to his throat would likely yield the same result. But I¡¯ve got the end of the tail. And until he uncovered what Kim Ho was hiding, Lee Soo-dok would keep a close watch on him. Chapter 176: Call Me Noona Chapter 176: Call Me Noona After the interrogation-like questioning ended, we left the faculty office. I walked side by side with Dang Gyu-young and asked her a question. ¡°Are we going back to the downtown area?¡± ¡°Mhmm, we need to finish up there. But we can take our time.¡± She had handed over command to Chae Da-bin and the graduates were still around. Since the urgent times had passed, it didn¡¯t matter if we took it easy. So we walked leisurely as if we were on a stroll. After a moment of silence, Dang Gyu-young suddenly spotted a bench at the corner and spoke up. ¡°My legs hurt. Let¡¯s sit and rest for a while.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡± Although all her injuries had been healed with the basic elixir, the accumulated fatigue was another matter. Dang Gyu-young had spent the entire day running the black market, darting here and there, and had even fought a life-or-death battle with the Blood Cult Elder. Now that the tension had eased, it was only natural that the accumulated fatigue would hit her. Conveniently, there was a vending machine right in front of us, so Dang Gyu-young stood in front of it. ¡°What do you want to drink? Coffee?¡± Clunk, ¡°Coffee sounds good.¡± Dang Gyu-young took out two cans of coffee, handed one to me, and we started sipping them side by side on the bench. Dang Gyu-young who was tilting her can back and forth began to speak. ¡°Judging by the results alone, this year¡¯s black market was a success.¡± ¡°Yes, it was.¡± The thieves club and the disciplinary committee were in a fierce battle of wits and surveillance over the black market, but everything turned upside down when the Blood Cult Elder appeared. The invasion of the dungeon island by hostile forces was a top priority that had to be dealt with immediately. Compared to that, the black market was a minor incident. The disciplinary committee members who were scattered all over the downtown area would have stopped their random inspections and searches of the exchange and focused on this incident. They would have pursued even the smallest traces of the invaders. Now that the downtown area suddenly became a deserted place, the thieves club could run the black market without worry. This year, the black market¡¯s arrest rate might hit an unprecedented low. ¡°... If you just look at the results.¡± Dang Gyu-young muttered this to herself. Her expression wasn¡¯t bright. As if something was bothering her. ¡°Kim Ho, I just remembered something.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim?¡± ¡°That graffiti; you changed the time and place as you wanted, right?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Why did you choose today?¡± ¡°It had to be today.¡± Facing a Blood Cult elder was impossible with a student¡¯s skill level. We needed the help of graduates or higher. So we had to settle things before the graduates left Dungeon Island. That¡¯s why I chose a day when the downtown area would be crowded with graduates and the disciplinary committee members. That was today when the downtown market and the black market were open. ¡°So, you used us?¡± ¡°To be honest, yes.¡± I didn¡¯t deny it. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression darkened further. She swirled her can of coffee with dissatisfaction and asked again. ¡°If I had refused to help, what would you have done?¡± ¡°I would have found another way.¡± I had to defeat the Bamboo Hat Man by any means necessary. Even if it meant revealing some of my cards, I would have sought help from the disciplinary committee or graduates. When she heard this, Dang Gyu-young seemed to realize something. She looked away from her can of coffee and stared at me. ¡°You, by any chance, were you testing me?¡±CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m Her eyes pleaded for a different answer. I remained silent for a moment before responding. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°......That¡¯s mean, really.¡± The time when Chae Dabin discovered Bamboo Hat Elder and gave me a hint, that is, the time when the Blood Cult elder was lured to the designated place, was during the peak of the black market. Therefore, Dang Gyu-young faced a choice. Should she let me go alone and continue running the black market, or should she help me? However, Dang Gyu-young didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment and followed me. She even accepted the huge loss that would come from her and the shrewd-looking graduate¡¯s absence. But in the end, I had tested Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Using people and testing them like that. I have the right to be angry, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°It was my fault.¡± I silently nodded my head. Although it was something I had to do, it was true that I had focused excessively on efficiency in the process. Exploiting these gaps to enter the dungeon was an easy task for these two. The robed woman got to the point. ¡°I heard the news. Elder Choi was taken down, right?¡± ¡°Yes. The human butcher took action, I heard.¡± ¡°Our plan seems a little different from this... What do you think?¡± Her tone was soft, but her eyes held a chilling aura. The man in martial uniform and the robed woman were in a cooperative relationship. Before infiltrating Dungeon Island, they had made several plans together. But the capture of ¡°Elder Choi¡± was not part of those plans, so she was questioning him while also reproaching him. Of course, the man in martial uniform had no idea what was going on either. He cursed inwardly. That idiot. Why did he crawl in there at that time? They had agreed to communicate and act only through coded messages, so why did he suddenly act on his own? However, the man in martial uniform didn¡¯t show his inner turmoil and maintained a calm expression as he replied. ¡°I fully understand your concern, but there will be no setback in the plan. I guarantee it.¡± ¡°Well, I want to believe you since you, Elder, say so, but this incident has slightly cracked my trust.¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°It would be nice if you showed me your cards in advance.¡± The robed woman smiled faintly. Although they had made plans and divided roles, they hadn¡¯t disclosed the details to each other. Most of it contained the secrets of their respective organizations. But now, since the side of the man in martial uniform had unilaterally broken the trust, he had to accommodate her demands to smooth things over. He took out a briefcase from his inventory and opened it. Inside, instead of documents, the briefcase was filled with syringes containing a liquid as red as blood. ¡°These are our sect¡¯s Blood Explosion Elixirs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I heard that name. But isn¡¯t this supposed to be a pill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been processed into liquid form for convenience.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The robed woman nodded her head. A more clear picture of how the Blood Sect intended to carry out their role in the plan formed in her mind. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll trust you and lend a hand. I hope you achieve your desired results in the midterm exam.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to hope. It¡¯s already decided.¡± The man in martial uniform spoke with absolute confidence. Meanwhile, eyes were watching them from a short distance away. A man in a suit with a sword at his waist. He was one of the staff members of Dragon Slayer Academy, and while patrolling the underground floor, he noticed suspicious movements and followed them into this dungeon. As he suspected, the two were members of an enemy faction. It seemed they were planning something for the midterms. I must report this immediately. ¡°What¡¯s so interesting to watch?¡± Swish! The moment the voice echoed from behind him, the man in the suit slashed at the source. His sword moved so swiftly that it was invisible to the eye. However, his blade merely cut through empty air. In the next instant, he felt a soft touch brush across his abdomen. But the result was anything but gentle. Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! The touched area on his abdomen began to rot rapidly while emitting a foul odor. His skin turned black in an instant, and his veins bulged and burst. He had heard of such a skill before. A necromancer¡¯s close-combat technique. Necrograsp...! From this, he could infer the group to which the robed woman belonged. She was far more dangerous than he had anticipated. Despite the excruciating pain, he mustered all his strength and pushed off the ground. He needed to get as far away from them as possible. I must return, no matter what...! ¡°You still have the strength to run? Your spirit is worthy of praise.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Strangely, their voices did not seem to get any closer to him as he kept running. There was no way they had given up the chase. Just as the man was feeling puzzled, he thought he heard the snap of fingers from somewhere. Then, his rotting abdomen began to swell rapidly like a balloon. At that moment, another skill name flashed through his mind. Corruption... Explosion... Boooom. Chapter 177: 9th Week Midterms (1) Chapter 177: 9th Week Midterms (1) On Sunday, most of the graduate mentors, including Ahn Jung-mi and the shrewd-looking graduate, boarded the train to leave Dungeon Island. After seeing them off, I went straight to the training center.ething will definitely happen during the midterms. By eliminating one of the Blood Cult elders in advance, I had partially disrupted their plans but they wouldn¡¯t give up that easily. Rather than scrapping their plan at this point, they would choose to proceed with one screw loose. It was certain they were going to pull something. And now with just a few days left before the midterms, all I could do was... Skill training. To get a little stronger. [Used ¡®Skill Book ¨C Air Burst¡¯.] [Acquired ¡®Air Burst (F+)¡¯.] My top priority was to complete the [Spiral Explosion] skill. To achieve that, I needed to raise all three prerequisite skills¡ªTwister, One Point Explosion, and Air Burst¡ªto C rank. The first two were done so the only one left was Air Burst. Whoosh¡ª When I operated the terminal attached to the training room wall, a wooden dummy appeared and clattered in front of me. A mass of wind gathered and condensed above my hand. I sent it flying straight at the wooden dummy. The speed was comparable to throwing a soccer ball; at best, it was fast but not exceptionally so. When the wind mass hit, Bang¡ª! The wooden dummy shattered and scattered wooden fragments everywhere. Though it was hard to aim, the impact was quite powerful when it connected. And hitting the target frequently was the way to raise Air Burst¡¯s rank. I manipulated the terminal to replace the dummy with a new one. This time, I increased the wood¡¯s durability slightly, Clatter, clatter, And made it scuttle left and right vigorously. I observed the movement of the dummy, predicted its path, and launched another Air Burst. Bang! Bang! I gradually accelerated my training. I changed the material from wood to iron, increased the number of dummies, increased their speed, and enhanced the AI so they could dodge incoming attacks automatically. Bang! Bang! As I relentlessly hit the wildly moving dummies with Air Burst and smashed them all, [¡®Air Burst¡¯ rank has increased. (F+ -> E+)] The rank quickly went up a level. Compared to other skills, it wasn¡¯t of high rank which made it relatively easy to rank up. I immediately used the Rank Up (E) I had obtained from the game center. [Used ¡®Rank Up (E)¡¯] [¡®Air Burst¡¯ grade has increased. (E+ -> D+)] I¡¯ll keep pushing forward. Bang! There was one more skill I needed to rank up. I settled in the Mana Cultivation Room and took out the [Sealing Demon Box] from my inventory. I had left the [Purification Talisman] attached to it, and now the once pure white talisman was burned black, leaving only a black rectangular mark. When I lightly touched it, black ash scattered. The purification talisman gradually consumes itself as it purifies or neutralizes demonic energy. The fact that it had turned to ash meant it had fulfilled its role. The interior of the Sealing Demon Box needed to be checked, but I guessed it had neutralized quite a bit, even if not completely purified. I untangled the gold string wrapped around the Sealing Demon Box and removed each of the talismans stuck to it one by one. When I half-opened the lid, Ssssss... Black energy slowly seeped out. Although it was considerably neutralized, demonic energy was still demonic energy. Its venomous presence was undeniable. I straightened my index finger and cast Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger. Only the red and blue crystals were glowing, while the yellow one was merely held but not lit. ¡°Uncharged crystals are excluded from scoring. In this example, only the red and blue crystals are counted, for a total of 1,000 points.¡± In other words, just holding uncharged crystals meant nothing. However, even with just two charged crystals, like in Example 2, you could earn 1,000 points which multiplied to 4,000 points. At this point, many students might be thinking it was best to aim for a middle ground. But would that be as easy as they think? Example 3 appeared on the blackboard. Four red crystals were charged. ¡°One red crystal is worth 500 points, and each additional red crystal gives 250 points. In this example, the total is 1,250 points.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°You are free to collect points by gathering any type of crystal in any way you choose.¡± For example, you can trade with other students to collect one of each color crystal, Or you can steal them. Having more crystals always means more points, so it¡¯s beneficial. Therefore, it¡¯s not just about charging the crystals but also about keeping them safe for three days without losing them. Even holding onto two will be difficult. At that moment, a student cautiously raised their hand. ¡°Excuse me, teacher.¡± When Lee Soo-dok nodded for them to speak, the student asked their question. ¡°But... how do we get the crystals?¡± ¡°Good question. Crystals can be obtained in various ways on the deserted island. For example,¡± The screen displayed goblins, trolls, ogres, and various other monsters. ¡°If you defeat these creatures, they will ¡®occasionally¡¯ drop crystals.¡± And although Lee Soo-dok didn¡¯t go into detail, the stronger the monster, the higher the drop rate. In other words, it¡¯s better to defeat one ogre than to take down hundreds of goblins. ¡°Of course, like I mentioned earlier, there isn¡¯t just one way to obtain crystals. You will need to use everything you¡¯ve learned since entering this Dragon Slayer Academy.¡± This meant that although it wasn¡¯t explicitly stated in the rules, elements of duel battles and strategy battles we had experienced would be integrated throughout the dungeon. Lee Soo-dok concluded the class by advising us to think carefully and prepare thoroughly. He then stared at me for a while before turning his back and leaving the classroom. He looks scary. He really makes people uncomfortable. He had been glancing at me during class as usual, but it felt more intense after the questioning session the other day. It didn¡¯t seem like he had discovered my Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger or the graffiti, but he must have sensed something. Since it wasn¡¯t an issue I could address immediately, I decided to focus on the task at hand. First, I pulled up the newly arrived side quest. [Side Quest: 9th Week Midterms] ?Goal: Charge the Crystals Red (0/1), Blue (0/1), Yellow (0/1), Green (0/1), ?Reward: Varies based on performance. The side quest rewards were tailored and designed to provide items, skills, or traits necessary for the player¡¯s growth. And since the midterms and finals were more difficult than other side quests, the rewards were also much more generous. If all four types of crystals were fully charged and the side quest cleared with the highest achievement, the reward would be: Fixed Pin. An extraordinary item that allowed a copied skill or trait to become completely one¡¯s own. It was something I absolutely had to get. No matter what. Then, let¡¯s start preparing step by step. The first thing to decide was, of course, who to pair up with. As soon as class ended, two strong candidates approached me. To my right was Go Hyeon-woo with his eyes sparkling. ¡°Kim-hyung, shall we take the midterms together?¡± To my left was Seo Ye-in who was gently tugging at my sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together.¡± Both of them spoke at the same time. And their gazes clashed in mid-air. Chapter 178: 9th Week Midterms (2) Chapter 178: 9th Week Midterms (2) As usual, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s smile and eyes were full of positive energy, while Seo Ye-in had just woken up and still looked sleepy. However, the moment their eyes met, it seemed like sparks flew in the air. Go Hyeon-woo gently suggested. ¡°Haha, Miss Seo. How about yielding this time? You paired up with Kim-hyung just a few days ago.¡± Go Hyeon-woo was referring to when Seo Ye-in and I teamed up at the game center last weekend. He didn¡¯t mind getting his skull split by an axe, but he must have felt bad that he played alone in a two-player game. His opinion was to take turns pairing up fairly. Seo Ye-in who still looked sleepy looked at him and slowly shook her head. Then she casually mentioned, ¡°Underground dungeon.¡± ¡°Hmm...!¡± If I were to stretch out Seo Ye-in¡¯s two words, what she wanted to say was that I had only descended to the underground dungeon with Go Hyeon-woo. Seo Ye-in also wanted to join the underground dungeon raid, but unfortunately, Ahn Jeong-mi had firmly declared, ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t!¡± Additionally, since she had repeatedly asked me to keep her updated, I felt guilty about sneaking her in. Until she received permission from Hye-sung Group, we could only enter dungeons she qualified for together, and for the rest, I would have to go with Go Hyeon-woo. Suggesting they take turns didn¡¯t make sense when Go Hyeon-woo would monopolize the pairing anyway. It was a sharp observation, so I nodded my head. ¡°Miss Seo¡¯s opinion is valid. If we count the number of times, haven¡¯t I paired with Go Hyeon-woo more often?¡± ¡°Hmm... I can¡¯t deny it. I hadn¡¯t considered that. Then, Miss Seo and Kim-hyung¡ª¡± ¡°But I will give you a chance.¡± I raised my hand to stop Go Hyeon-woo who was ready to accept the result and pointed to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Defeat her.¡± The winner takes all. Go Hyeon-woo asked, ¡°How should we compete?¡± ¡°The challenged person decides.¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I looked at the ¡°challenged person¡±. After tilting her head a few times, Seo Ye-in slowly raised her fist. ¡°...Rock, paper, scissors?¡± ¡°Rock, paper, scissors, sounds good. How about best three out of five?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in slightly nodded her head. The first to win three out of five rounds of rock, paper, scissors would team up with me. Their gazes met in midair again and Go Hyeon-woo lightly raised his clenched fist. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± A sharp glint seemed to flash in Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes for a moment. She used Bullet Time. ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± The result, needless to say, was Seo Ye-in¡¯s victory. However, Go Hyeon-woo chuckled as if he had expected it. ¡°I knew Miss Seo would use that skill. But I heard that skill has a five-minute cooldown. From now on, it¡¯s a pure contest of luck.¡± A pure contest of luck... Wouldn¡¯t that make things worse? While I tilted my head in confusion, Go Hyeon-woo confidently raised his fist. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°Scissors.¡± Go Hyeon-woo lost. Seo Ye-in¡¯s second win. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°Scissors.¡± Go Hyeon-woo lost. Seo Ye-in¡¯s third win. The match was decided in a flash, with a score of 3-0. However, Go Hyeon-woo raised his fist again and said, ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± He continued to challenge Seo Ye-in. It was a bit pathetic. On the other hand, Seo Ye-in calmly accepted the challenge. ¡°Scissors.¡± Go Hyeon-woo lost. Seo Ye-in¡¯s fourth win. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°Scissors.¡± Go Hyeon-woo lost. Seo Ye-in¡¯s fifth win. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ... ... ... ¡°Scissors.¡± Go Hyeon-woo lost. Seo Ye-in¡¯s fourteenth win. By this point, even Go Hyeon-woo seemed to realize this was not right. He brought his raised fist to his mouth and began to ponder seriously. Then, when he spotted Shin Byueog-cheol passing by, he gestured for him to come over. I mimicked Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s tone with a stern face. ¡°Young miss, no plush toys. Choose something else.¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°You need to choose something that will help with the exam.¡± Seo Ye-in placed the tiger plush on her lap and hugged it tightly. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep without it.¡± ¡°......¡± It was true; Ahn Jeong-mi had mentioned that. She said that if you take that cushion away, the young miss will wake up right away. However, no matter how much she insisted, I couldn¡¯t let her bring a plush toy that was only used for sleeping when there was good equipment available. If everyone else started at level 2, it would mean Seo Ye-in would be starting at level 1. So I gently persuaded her. ¡°Just endure it for two nights. I¡¯ll get you a sleeping bag.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± In the end, her second item was an invisible ghillie suit that paired well with the sniper rifle. Most of the students spent Monday and Tuesday frantically busy. They were reviewing all the material from the past eight weeks because they didn¡¯t know what might come up in the midterms. In contrast, for me midterms were nothing new, so I didn¡¯t need to review. I could predict what would be on the exam without looking. And so I spent Monday and Tuesday holed up in the training center and focusing on skill ranking. I threw Air Bursts at iron dummies and used Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger on the sealing box. Then, on Tuesday evening... [The rank of ¡®Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger¡¯ has increased. (C->B)] Creak, My index finger now held an even colder chill than before. The force that invaded my hand through my index finger grew even fiercer, but it still couldn¡¯t penetrate the S-rank elemental resistance. This meant I had increased its power to the brink of what my resistance could nullify. I dissolved the demonic energy staining my hand with a few drops of a basic elixir. This used up my second bottle of elixir. It seemed wise to save the last one for emergencies. The sealing demon box was now a useless and empty porcelain jar with not a trace of demonic energy left. Even if I turned it upside down and shook it, nothing came out. I used it all up thoroughly. I had consumed three B-rank items: the sealing box, the purification talisman, and the basic elixir, but I had rapidly increased my rank because of it. With one problem solved, I immediately moved to the training room. Bang! I continued practicing Air Burst alongside the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger and was close to ranking it up. The training room dummies had been reinforced with steel, which made them more durable and incredibly fast. They darted wildly from side to side, kicked the walls and ceiling, and fled frantically. I was hitting each one with blasts of compressed air. Bang! Despite being hit squarely by Air Burst, the iron dummy only paused briefly before resuming its frantic movement. Just as I was about to cast another spell, a note-shaped icon appeared in my peripheral vision. It indicated that I had received a message. When I checked the sender, it was Jang Sam, or rather Jang Moo-geek. The message was a single word. [Jang Moo-geuk: Be careful] [Kim Ho: Thanks] I had made an agreement with Jang Moo-geuk to trade the [Ghost Dance] skill and, in return, get a heads-up if Mak Dae-wong¡¯s side tried anything. Given the timing of the message, it seemed they might be interfering with the midterms. Predictable as always. This was so typical. I sent a non-appreciative appreciation to Mak Dae-wong and continued launching Air Bursts. Bang! Bang! If they do that, it works in my favor. They were probably thinking of sending swordsmen to take me out, and I hoped they would bring plenty of crystals with them. Bang! [The rank of ¡®Air Burst¡¯ has increased. (D¡À>C+)] [Acquired ¡®Spiral Explosion (C+)¡¯] Three prerequisite C-rank skills merged into one to culminate in the long-awaited Spiral Explosion. When I pointed directly at the frantically moving iron dummies, Whoosh¡ª A whirlwind formed and it pulled everything towards it. The dummies tried hard to push off the ground but could only manage to stay in place. Their limbs creaked as if broken. Soon, compressed air exploded at the center of the whirlwind, Booom! Shredded steel fragments scattered everywhere. Chapter 179: 9th Week Midterms (3) Chapter 179: 9th Week Midterms (3) Wednesday morning. We headed to the ground floor of the dungeon building to take our midterm exam. All the first-year students gathered in a large hall the size of an auditorium. In the center, a large teleportation portal was open. Of course, we didn¡¯t need to jump directly into it. Instead, dozens of small magic circles on the floor were flickering gently. The circles were large enough for two people to stand in, so their purpose was easy to guess. Seo Ye-in and I chose one of the magic circles and stepped onto it. She looked less sleepy than usual when I looked closely at her face. It seemed she had rested well the previous night. I held a fist microphone up to her and asked, ¡°Any words? What¡¯s your current energy level?¡± ¡°...70?¡± Seo Ye-in tilted her head as she answered. Although it was a somewhat ambiguous number, 70% was still something. At this level, she should have no problem staying active at least until the evening. When I looked around, I saw some familiar faces. Like the small tiger Bum who was mercilessly biting the hand of Park Na-ri, a student from another class. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Bum, ouch, stop, biting.¡± It seemed that Park Na-ri didn¡¯t bring the [Cube of Life] with her. This was likely because it was an item that had no meaning if you didn¡¯t store life-type items inside of it. From Bum¡¯s perspective, this was equivalent to a ¡°three-day villa confiscation¡± so it was no wonder he was in a bad mood. A little distance away, Shin Byeong-cheol was chatting rapidly with Go Hyeon-woo who was nodding his head along as he listened. We exchanged brief glances and a light greeting. In another corner, Han So-mi was hopping around like a rabbit with her hands on her head, while Song Chun-hye watched her seriously. ¡°I wonder what they¡¯re talking about.¡± In yet another corner, Hong Yeon-hwa was scolding Baek Jun-seok with a very distrustful expression on her face. When she saw me, she paused for a moment and then shyly waved her hand with her eyes shifting nervously. I waved back, and her expression brightened up. If she had a tail, it would be wagging. ¡°......?¡± Baek Jun-seok who never saw Hong Yeon-hwa act like this could only look back and forth between us in confusion. As the scheduled time approached, the homeroom teachers of each class began to appear one by one. As expected, Lee Soo-dok was the last to show up. This guy really doesn¡¯t care about his students. ¡°We¡¯ll start soon. Stand on the magic circles in pairs.¡± The students then stood in pairs in the magic circles. Seo Ye-in moved a little closer and gently held onto my sleeve. Wiiiing¡ª Soon, a mechanical sound resonated from beneath our feet, and the softly flickering magic circles began to shine more intensely. Before long, the ground was filled with light and the magic circles were no longer visible. [5] [4] [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Flaaaash! My vision turned white. When my sight returned to normal, Seo Ye-in and I were standing alone in the middle of a forest. We had entered the midterm dungeon, the deserted island. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Seo Ye-in: 100%] ?Survival Items (None) ?Crystals (None) The scoreboard displayed our health gauges, survival items, crystals in possession, and charging status. Of course, everything was blank at the moment. ¡°Wait here for a moment.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I left Seo Ye-in standing and kicked the ground. I quickly climbed a tall tree and looked around from there. I think I know roughly where we are. I had memorized the geography of this deserted island in the game, and with this knowledge, I quickly determined our current location. Compared to the other students who were merely dropped onto the island without a clue, this was a tremendous advantage. And if you have an advantage, you should make the most of it. I climbed down from the tree and extended my hand to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Take my hand. We¡¯ll be moving quickly.¡± ¡°Jump?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Jump.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Seo Ye-in grasped my hand and we started running through the forest. Trees, bushes, rocks, passing animals, and monsters all quickly blurred past our vision. Whenever we encountered troublesome obstacles like cliffs, large rocks, or clusters of monsters, ¡°Jump.¡± Byeong-cheol¡¯s friends. They were two members of Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s gang and although they were in the same class as me, I barely recognized them. So I had no intention of going easy on them. Especially since they made the first move. Seo Ye-in and I split up as if we had planned it. We each took on one opponent. Ratatatata! Seo Ye-in fired her assault rifle at the approaching thief. Several magic bullets drilled a straight line from his abdomen to his forehead. He collapsed to the ground in the same position he had been attacking from. Whoooosh! As I leaned to the side, a longsword barely grazed my shoulder. Before the swordsman could swing again, I stepped in and grabbed him by the collar before casting Wind Force. He lifted an inch off the ground before I slammed him down. Thud! The swordsman made a wheezing sound as the air escaped his lungs. Seo Ye-in quietly looked down at him and then fired a magic bullet into his forehead. Bang! Soon, the bodies of the two fallen enemies evaporated. Just like with any ground-level dungeon, the safety mechanism transported them outside. Once someone was deemed incapacitated, they dropped all their survival items and crystals and faced a six-hour reentry delay. This penalty could severely impact their midterms, so avoiding injury was crucial here. And survival items were lying around where they disappeared like I expected. They must have come from the third supply crate. [Alarm Trap (D)] [Calorie Bar]*2 The alarm trap was a device that alerted the user when another student approached nearby. The calorie bars, there were two of them. And if we were to combine the items from the three supply crates, ?Survival Items [Space Bag] [Knife] [Sleeping Bag]*2 [Alarm Trap] [Calorie Bar]*4 ¡°This is a good start.¡± ¡°Another jump?¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s stop looting the crates here.¡± By now, most of the supply crates must have been emptied. Running around actively like this would only be a waste of time, and it would increase the chances of encountering other students. So it was better to set a new target. At this point, the goals to consider were either to find and charge crystals or to establish a survival base. I gave Seo Ye-in the choice. ¡°What do you want to do first?¡± ¡°...Crystals?¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go for the crystals.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± We started to move. There was no need to hurry, so we proceeded slowly while staying alert. While we were walking, Seo Ye-in asked me a question. ¡°Where do they come from?¡± ¡°Crystals?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯re going to treasure hunt.¡± Crystals could be obtained in various ways, one of which was treasure hunting. Unearthing crystals cleverly hidden in every corner of the deserted island. According to what we learned in the [Clearance] strategy battle session, the Dragon Slayer Academy instructed us to examine even the smallest details carefully. Then Seo Ye-in pointed ahead and asked. ¡°Do they give them too?¡± ¡°Keureuk.¡± ¡°Keek.¡± A group of goblins blocked our path. They were hardly a threat, so I didn¡¯t bother to step in. While Seo Ye-in fired her magic gun repeatedly, I answered her question. Ratatatatata! ¡°Killing monsters can drop them, but goblins rarely do.¡± I had taken the midterm exam on the deserted island countless times, and the number of monsters I had defeated reached the thousands. Among them, cases of goblins dropping crystals were truly rare. ¡°So you should expect drops from stronger monsters like Beheader Goblins or Trolls, for now...¡± I stopped talking mid-sentence. Seo Ye-in had swept away the goblins with her magic bullets. Amidst them, a red crystal was gleaming. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± ¡°...This is rigged.¡± Chapter 180: 9th Week Midterms (4) Chapter 180: 9th Week Midterms (4) Seo Ye-in¡¯s luck sometimes exploded at the most unexpected moments, leaving me speechless, and now was exactly one of those moments. To actually get a crystal, which might not even drop from beheader goblins or trolls, from goblins we had just encountered for the first time was truly unbelievable. Actually, this is good. Except for the bit about how ridiculous it was, there was nothing bad about it. Especially since, as her partner, I could share the benefits of Seo Ye-in¡¯s luck. ¡°Let¡¯s change the route a little since it¡¯s come to this.¡± ¡°To charge it?¡± ¡°We should.¡± The original goal was to get crystals through treasure hunting, but since we unexpectedly got a lucky break, we had to postpone it a bit. It seemed better to charge what we already had first. So I took Seo Ye-in and moved to the nearest sanctuary. A windmill with a grinder. It was about three stories high. The windmill¡¯s blades were nothing but skeletons, and the building itself was quite worn out which indicated it had been abandoned for a long time. I first gave Seo Ye-in some instructions. Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic gun disassembled and reassembled itself into a sniper rifle. ¡°First, try changing it to a rifle.¡± I pointed to a spot on the roof of the windmill. ¡°Okay.¡± It was a perfect spot for one person to settle in, with a clear view of the surroundings. ¡°I¡¯ll lift you up there, and you can start sniping anything you see.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Whirr¡ª I created an updraft by linking Levitate Zone and Wind Force and Seo Ye-in used Feather Walk to leap up and land on the roof. She glanced at me and then disappeared; her form flickered out of sight. She had put on an invisible ghillie suit and hidden herself. I turned my gaze from the roof and walked into the windmill. The interior was just as unimpressive as the exterior.Follow the latest novels at novelhall.com The only notable feature was a large crystal attached to the ceiling. Whiiiiiin¡ª The crystal on the ceiling began to glow brighter and it started sending a clear beam of light down towards me. As the beam connected with the red crystal in my hand, [Crystal: 1%] [Crystal: 3%] [Crystal: 4%] The charge level began to slowly rise. I moved towards the window while maintaining the connection and looked outside. Let¡¯s see how far they are. We were inevitably advertising to the whole neighborhood. A mill standing three stories tall. It was already eye-catching, and now it was flashing light. This made it impossible not to draw attention. And there was no way anyone wouldn¡¯t realize that the light was from the crystal charging. It hadn¡¯t been long since we landed on a deserted island, so everyone was still in chaos and barely starting to adapt. But already, someone had found a crystal and was charging it? They¡¯d want to check it out. And they¡¯d want to steal the crystal too. Sure enough, two students were approaching through the forest from afar. Not even trying to be discreet, they were just blatant about it. I clicked my tongue inwardly. So careless. As if just coming here would make the crystal theirs. And they were about to pay for their carelessness. There was no way Seo Ye-in on the roof wouldn¡¯t see what was so obvious to me. Bang! A magic bullet hit the forehead of the student leading the way. He fell backward and twitched, then soon disappeared as if he was evaporating. He had been deemed incapacitated and ejected from the dungeon. ¡°......!¡± The other one was terrified. He turned around and fled. [Crystal: 42%] When the crystal was about halfway charged, a second team appeared. Their fate wasn¡¯t much different from the first. Bang! The difference was that the one who survived was relatively calm. He hid behind an obstacle, observed us, and eventually left. At least he¡¯s not completely stupid. One of them had been incapacitated by Seo Ye-in¡¯s sniping shot. Since it would be two against one if he fought now, he decided it was better to maintain the status quo rather than get greedy. What¡¯s up with her all of a sudden? ¡°What are you doing? Come down!¡± ¡°........¡± ¡°Jump down! I¡¯ll catch you!¡± ¡°........¡± Even so, Seo Ye-in remained silent. Having no choice, I started climbing the old tree using Wind Force. Kicking aside branches as I leaped up, I soon reached the top. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you coming down? I said I¡¯d catch you.¡± ¡°........¡± Seo Ye-in looked at me quietly before speaking. ¡°It¡¯s high.¡± ¡°Too high?¡± ¨C Nod. To elaborate on Seo Ye-in¡¯s words, she meant that it was too high and she was scared to jump down. She liked being thrown with Wind Force so much. Still, I understood completely. The height was no joke even from my perspective. No matter how much she trusted me, being told to suddenly jump from this height would make anyone hesitate. However, if we lingered here too long, we might get noticed by other students. Having no other choice, I climbed up to the branch where Seo Ye-in was sitting and turned my back to her. ¡°Get on my back. Let¡¯s go down slowly.¡± ¡°Mhmm ...¡± Seo Ye-in obediently climbed onto my back and wrapped her arms around my neck. I wanted to just bungee jump down like this, but I decided to hold back because I thought it would traumatize her. As I moved down from branch to branch, When we reached a ¡°not-so-scary height¡±, I looked over my shoulder to get her consent. ¡°Is it okay to jump now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± As soon as she agreed, I jumped down. Even after landing, Seo Ye-in clung to my neck for a while. ¡°How about getting down now?¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Are you a sloth, Kim Sloth? Get down. Quickly.¡± Only then did her arms around my neck slowly loosen. I stored a few intact tree fruits that had fallen to the ground in my space bag and neatly peeled one with a knife. Then I cut one into apple-sized pieces and shared them with Seo Ye-in. We then took turns eating them. It tasted like a mix of kiwi and mango. While we were sharing the fruit, I asked her a question. ¡°What¡¯s your battery percentage now?¡± ¡°...35?¡± Already down to half from 70%. As expected, the fuel efficiency isn¡¯t great. I held up the red crystal No. 2. ¡°Then let¡¯s charge just this one and take a break. Deal?¡± ¡°Deal.¡± While Seo Ye-in¡¯s battery was draining, the sky slowly turned orange. Since it would get dark quickly, we needed to secure a place to spend the night. So it made sense to stop after charging the crystal No. 2. At that moment, Seo Ye-in and I stopped at the same time and exchanged glances. ¡°.......?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s coming.¡± We sensed something quickly approaching from afar. It seemed almost certain that it was targeting us. ¡°Go hide.¡± At my command, Seo Ye-in immediately put on her invisible ghillie suit and concealed herself. And in just a few seconds, Swiiiiiiiishh! A familiar, piercing sound echoed in my ears. I quickly dodged and the arrows embedded themselves into the spot where I had just been standing. At this point, I thought I knew who the other party was, so I greeted them cheerfully. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s been a while. How have you been?¡± ¡°.......¡± In response, two figures emerged from the opposite side. One of them as I had guessed was the promising archer of the Guild Union, Cha Hyeon-joo. She glared at me as if she wanted to kill me while grinding her teeth. G Chapter 181: 9th Week Midterms (5) Chapter 181: 9th Week Midterms (5) I saw Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s weapon and asked her a question. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be a dagger rogue? What happened to your daggers? Why are you holding a bow?¡± Cha Hyeon-joo had used dual daggers during duel battles to hide her true abilities and only switched to her main weapon a bow after the replays were made private. But now, during the actual midterm exam, she had shown up with the bow. Cha Hyeon-joo answered through clenched teeth. ¡°I ditched them, because of you.¡± ¡°Because of me?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I felt a little proud. If things had gone as planned, she would have wasted a lot of time on those daggers, but thanks to me, she hadn¡¯t. Sometimes, Wind Force brings about positive changes like this. ¡°Good thinking. Cha Hyeon-joo, the bow suits you much better than daggers.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo kept growling, but I casually continued asking questions. ¡°But how did you know to come here?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯d tell you?¡± ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve got some kind of detector or something, am I right?¡± ¡°.......¡± Judging by her reaction, I was right. In truth, I had already formed a near-certain suspicion. No matter how promising or sharp-eyed a long-range class might be, it would be difficult to spot us from such a far distance and pursue us like this. So the likelihood that she used an item was high, and there were indeed various ¡°detectors¡± among the survival items provided in supply boxes. ¡°I want one of those detectors. You must have come here because you want something too.¡± ¡°The crystal.¡± ¡°I figured. That makes things simple. The winner¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªtakes it all.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo swiftly nocked an arrow on her bowstring and aimed it at me. At that moment, it seemed like a thin blue line targeted the center of her forehead, but she immediately fired the arrow to counter the incoming magic bullet. Thud¡ª! The fragments of the arrow and magic bullet scattered in the air. Her reflexes were impressive, just as expected of someone with her potential. Cha Hyeon-joo jerked her chin toward the direction from which the shot had come and muttered a word. ¡°Get them.¡± Her male partner began to move, but I stepped in front of him. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°A quick introduction before we start?¡± ¡°Kang Hee-chan.¡± ¡°Kim Ho.¡± Kang Hee-chan was a typical warrior class with a longsword. His offense and defense were well-balanced, and I guessed his skill level was somewhere around 600 points range. Without seeing any value in exchanging more than just names, Kang Hee-chan immediately swung his longsword at me. I dodged easily and prepared to counterattack when¡ª Swish-swish-swish! Cha Hyeon-joo suddenly unleashed a barrage of arrows. Seven aimed at me and three to keep Seo Ye-in in check. It was a well-calculated move to disrupt her sniping. Among the flying arrows, I noticed some peculiar ones mixed in. Those are going to explode. When I recognized them as explosive arrows, I decided to widen the gap as I dodged instead of just slipping away. Booom! ¡°Tch.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo clicked her tongue briefly. As if she was frustrated that her ploy had failed. She then unleashed an even more relentless shower of arrows. Swish-swish-swish! Kang Hee-chan who was supported by Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s cover fire relentlessly pressed me with continuous attacks. Judging by how well they coordinated, it seemed they had teamed up several times before. I was busy dodging both the arrows and the longsword, so I had to keep moving. Just as a shot aimed between Kang Hee-chan¡¯s eyebrows flew in¡ª Thud¡ª! Cha Hyeon-joo precisely hit the magic bullet and knocked it down. I couldn¡¯t help but silently admire her skill. ¡°Your personality and your skills don¡¯t really match, do they?¡± ¡°I told you to shut up!¡± Swish-swish-swish! A downpour of arrows rained down, followed by an endless stream of sword strikes. I dodged and weaved while continually retreating. Thud¡ª! And then, Cha Hyeon-joo intercepted the third shot mid-air. It wasn¡¯t just about her reflexes; the skills and traits Cha Hyeon-joo had accumulated over time were simply superior to Seo Ye-in¡¯s. Seo Ye-in stared at her blankly for a moment, then, Ratatatatatata! She fired her assault rifle at Cha Hyeon-joo again. ¡°Hey, why are you shooting at her?¡± ¡°She said a bad word.¡± ¡°...Hmm. Bad words aren¡¯t allowed. Shoot a little more.¡± Ratatatatatata! Cha Hyeon-joo swam to the opposite shore and narrowly avoided the barrage of magic bullets. She turned around to glare at us again, but when Seo Ye-in aimed her gun at her, she quickly retreated. We didn¡¯t bother to chase after her. Kang Hee-chan had been declared incapacitated and wouldn¡¯t be returning for another six hours, plus we had taken all their survival items. Cha Hyeon-joo would have to face the night in that condition. Cold, hungry, and sleepy hours awaited her. Let her suffer a bit. [Crystal Detector] [Calorie Bar] x2 The Crystal Detector was an item that allowed us to detect nearby crystals every 12 hours. Additionally, charged crystals sparkled with a special glow, which was likely why Cha Hyeon-joo had been chasing us so desperately. We only found two calorie bars again this time, but with the other rations we had from supply boxes, it was enough to fill our stomachs for now. ¡°Still, living on calorie bars for three days straight isn¡¯t very good. Let¡¯s cook something tomorrow; maybe grill some fish.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head. We were about to head out to charge Red Crystal No. 2 when, ¡°How much battery do you have left?¡± ¡°Fourteen ...¡± The intense battle just now had drained the sloth battery considerably. There might not be an issue on the way to the sanctuary, but there was a high chance it would run out on the way back. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± So, we decided to find a place to rest. Near the lake, there was a small rocky hill that wasn¡¯t too tall. If you climbed it halfway and looked carefully between the jagged rocks, there was a gap just big enough for a person to squeeze through. The gap led to a small, cozy cave. It seemed like a cave made specifically for resting. Similar shelters were scattered throughout the island. This was also part of the midterm exam, as carefully examining minor details within the dungeon could be beneficial for both obtaining crystals and survival. For dinner, we had some tree fruits and calorie bars. As we took bites of the calorie bars outside, the night quickly fell, and the surroundings grew dark. We laid out two sleeping bags inside and set up an alarm trap outside. Without the trap, we would have had to take turns keeping watch. We used a charged red crystal for light. If the light had been yellow, it might have created a bit of a mood, but since it was red, it felt more like a butcher shop. Nothing I can do about it. ¡°Sleep well.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Leaving Seo Ye-in¡¯s response behind, I closed my eyes inside the sleeping bag. ¡°.......¡± *** Seo Ye-in lay in her sleeping bag and stared at the cave ceiling with half-open eyes. Though sleepiness overwhelmed her, she couldn¡¯t easily fall asleep. The main reason was the absence of the tiger plushie she had slept with every night. Now that it was gone, its absence felt even bigger. ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in who had been tossing and turning turned her head and looked at Kim Ho¡¯s face. He had already fallen into a deep sleep. As she stared at him, Seo Ye-in suddenly recalled what had happened during the day. ¨C Get on my back. Let¡¯s go down slowly. ¨C Are you a sloth, Kim sloth? Get down. Quickly. She had ridden on Kim Ho¡¯s back as they descended from the old tree, and for some reason, the comfort she felt made her stay on his back a little longer even after they reached the ground. ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in tilted her head for a moment, then as if she had some thought, she dragged her sleeping bag closer to Kim Ho. Then she gently leaned her head against his sleeping bag. ¡°........!¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes widened slightly. A sudden sense of comfort! The word flashed through her mind. Seo Ye-in went ahead and moved her sleeping bag right next to Kim Ho¡¯s before leaning her head against him. As soon as she closed her eyes like that, she quickly fell into a deep sleep... *** TN: That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! Chapter 182: 9th Week Midterms (6) Chapter 182: 9th Week Midterms (6) I had a dream. I was lying on the grass and staring blankly at the sky when a gray fluffy cat appeared from somewhere. For some reason, its sleepy expression felt strangely familiar. ¡°.......¡± The cat came right up next to me and tapped my head, cheek, and shoulder with its paw. When I continued to look up at the sky without responding, it hopped onto my chest and curled up into a ball as if it had claimed this spot as its own. I just went along with it and continued to watch the clouds drift by until suddenly I opened my eyes and saw the ceiling of the cave. It was just a dream after all. It didn¡¯t seem to carry any special meaning, so I figured it could be dismissed as a silly dream¡ªno, a cat dream. But when I lowered my gaze a bit, I was met with a scene that looked quite similar to my dream. Seo Ye-in was fast asleep while leaning against my chest. Her sleeping bag was pressed right up against mine. ¡°What is she doing here?¡± The cave was spacious yet she had come all the way over here. I gently shook Seo Ye-in¡¯s sleeping bag. ¡°Hey, Miss Seo. Wake up.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°Miss Seo, it¡¯s morning.¡± ¡°Five minutes....¡± Did she mean she wanted to sleep for just five more minutes? If I left her like this, it would easily turn into fifty minutes. I figured I should get up first, so I gently laid Seo Ye-in who was sleeping against my chest flat and carefully moved her sleeping bag to the side. I had noticed yesterday when I carried her on my back, but she was as light as a feather. ¡°......?¡± But as soon as she was separated from me, Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes fluttered open. She was still half asleep, barely awake, and her eyes were only about 20% open. In that state, she weakly tugged at me. ¡°Let me sleep a little more....¡± ¡°You need to wake up now. Eat.¡± I took the last remaining fruit and cut it into small pieces before I started feeding her one at a time. She slowly chewed and her eyes opened a bit more; she was now about 40% awake. When she finally reached about 60% awake, Seo Ye-in sat up and started helping me tidy up our spot. As we left the cave and walked, each holding a calorie bar, Seo Ye-in asked me a question. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°To resupply.¡± Just like yesterday, we were moving quickly to secure supplies ahead of others. We circled around the lake and kept walking until we reached our destination. I looked up at the sky and spoke. ¡°They should be here soon.¡± ¡°Jets.¡± Whiiirrr¡ª! As if they were waiting for those words, jets appeared in the sky above the deserted island. They circled once in the air and then started scattering supply crates before they went away. One of the crates that was attached to a parachute was descending right in front of us. One is guaranteed for sure. Knowing the time and place, we could secure at least one crate without any conflict with other participants. The others were either still asleep or just now scrambling to move after seeing the jets. This supply crate was smaller, and inside was a crudely carved flute made from an animal skull. [Goblin Flute] An item that summons goblins within a certain range when played. It was a single-use item but its effect was incredibly powerful. I put the flute into my space bag and extended my hand to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to check out the next crate.¡± ¡°Jump.¡± Poof! We quickly moved to the next location while holding hands, As we ran, we occasionally used Wind Force to leap great distances, and soon a supply crate came into view on the horizon. We slowed down as we approached and stopped at the same time. Both of us said the same thing. ¡°It¡¯s a trap.¡± ¡°Trap.¡± The lid was closed but there were faint traces around the crate that suggested someone had been there. Others might have been fooled, but neither I nor Seo Ye-in would miss something like that. If someone went out of their way to make it look untouched, the chances were high it was a trap. Seo Ye-in silently pointed to a spot in front of the crate, and I picked up a large stone and tossed it there. Whoosh! Next, I gave Shin Byeong-cheol a nod. ¡°You go ahead and charge. We¡¯ll stand guard.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you. I¡¯ll take you up on that.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol immediately dashed into the tower. I could hear him climbing the stairs with some effort, Wiiiiiiing¡ª A strong light began to radiate from the top of the tower. Someone was charging the crystal which meant enemies would soon swarm from all directions. Go Hyeon-woo and I hid along the path they were likely to take and waited in ambush. The first to arrive were a male and female pair. The male student was a heavily armored warrior and the female student was a healer. Judging by how cautiously they approached the tower, they seemed to have experienced situations like this before. Just as they suspected, a blue light flashed from the top of the tower, ¡°Hup!¡± Thud! The armored warrior raised his shield to block the incoming sniper shot. Though the impact made him stagger for a moment, he quickly regained his composure as if nothing had happened. He probably wanted to impress the healer girl. ¡°Only one shooter. Let¡¯s go take him out.¡± Slash! However, it was the female student who was taken out first. Go Hyeon-woo who had been lying in wait swiftly cut her down. She collapsed to the ground and was immediately ejected from the dungeon. ¡°There were two more.¡± ¡°This... This can¡¯t be...!¡± Whoooosh¡ª A whirlwind gathered around the stunned armored male student. Reflexively, he raised his shield and activated a defensive skill. His entire body was enveloped in blue mana, which further reinforced his defense. He had a decent reaction speed, and his skill level seemed to be somewhere between D and C rank. But that won¡¯t be enough. Bang! ¡°Ugh!¡± When the compressed air exploded, the armored warrior¡¯s back bent like a shrimp. He looked at me with eyes full of disbelief, as if questioning how I had so easily penetrated his defense. How could he possibly know? That this seemingly simple wind magic had a ¡°defense piercing¡± effect attached to it. Mediocre defensive measures were effortlessly pierced and dealt damage just like this. As he exposed a clear opening, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s magic sword slashed through the air. Slash! Both of them became incapacitated and vanished, leaving nothing behind. They must not have had any items at all. Not even a calorie bar. I exchanged glances with Go Hyeon-woo. ¡°Let¡¯s welcome our next guests.¡± ¡°Ambushes do have their own charm.¡± While we were hiding in the bushes and waiting, our next guests arrived. Two male students. Their faces practically announced, ¡°We are warriors,¡± and each one of them held a sword in hand. They approached cautiously just like the others, but the difference was they quickly realized the ambush. They stared at the bushes where we were hiding and immediately sent a sword energy slash our way. Slash! We had no choice but to dodge and emerge from the bushes. One of the warriors looked at me and his gaze grew intense. ¡°Kim Ho from Class 3.¡± ¡°Do you know me?¡± I didn¡¯t know him though. A smile as intense as his gaze spread across his face. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you, and here we meet in a place like this.¡± ¡°Why were you looking for me?¡± He only smiled without answering. Then four more warriors appeared behind him. Seeing that each one was armed with a sword, I could guess. ¡°You must be from the swordsmanship club.¡± Chapter 183: 9th Week Midterms (7) Chapter 183: 9th Week Midterms (7) My conflict with the swordsmanship club was resolved when I promised to get them another piece of the treasure map. Meanwhile, there were still those who continued to show hostility towards me, particularly the faction that Mak Dae-wong belonged to. It was known as the Black Faction. They tried to subdue me using the promising assassins called Jang Sam and Wang Pil¡ªalso known as Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam¡ªbut due to the timely intervention of the disciplinary committee, they failed to achieve their goal. Just like Jang Moo-geuk had warned the day before the midterms, they were now trying to take me out by sending swordsmen after me. I hadn¡¯t expected to run into them so soon on the morning of the second day, but sooner or later, it was bound to happen. I asked the leader of the swordsmen. ¡°So what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Sa Gong-wook.¡± ¡°406 (Sa Baek-yuk)? Sounds like a hotel room number.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Wook, not Yuk.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Sa Gong-wook glared at me for a moment, then he turned his attention to Go Hyeon-woo. ¡°Go Hyeon-woo, I¡¯ve heard plenty about your impressive sword skills, but if you interfere with the swordsmanship club¡¯s affairs, you won¡¯t escape unscathed either. Stand down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just grateful you think so highly of me.¡± ¡°But it seems you haven¡¯t heard this particular rumor. Here, Kim-hyung is the first close friend I acknowledged. If such a friend is getting caught up in trouble, I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing, even if the opponent is the swordsmanship club.¡± Go Hyeon-woo smiled slightly. ¡°Are you really willing to take such a risk? How foolish.¡± ¡°I hear that a lot. Miss Han even called me a ¡®foolish idiot¡¯.¡± What on earth did you do to make Han So-mi call you that? Curiosity bubbled up inside me, but now wasn¡¯t the time to ask. I directed another question at Sa Gong-wook. ¡°But are you guys confident?¡± What I meant was that if Jang Moo-geuk who was a promising student and Wang Cheon-sam who was at about 0.8 of that level couldn¡¯t do anything to me even when they teamed up, what makes you think you can? Sa Gong-wook scoffed and replied. ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to worry about. There are six of us here.¡± He had reason to be confident; all six of the swordsmen had quite decent skills. Sa Gong-wook and one other seemed to be in the 900-point range, while the rest were likely above 600. Of course, that¡¯s probably why Mak Dae-wong sent them instead of the two assassins again. Bang! Bang! Gunshots continued to ring out from the direction of the tower. In addition to the six swordsmen in front of me, there were many other teams approaching the tower, so Seo Ye-in had to hold them off alone. This meant we couldn¡¯t rely on her concentrated support and had to finish the battle quickly if we wanted to defend the tower. I guess I¡¯ll have to show what I can do here. I raised my hand and pointed sharply at the two swordsmen positioned in the back. ¡°You two.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too close.¡± ¡°What do you¡ª¡± Whoosh¡ª A whirlwind suddenly formed between the two swordsmen and pulled them together. They were flustered by the sudden whirlwind and tried their best to escape, but their bodies were being pulled and twisted, making it difficult for them to even stand upright. Then just as they tangled together, the compressed air exploded. Booom! ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Argh.¡± One collapsed to the ground and started groaning, while the other fell to his knees. Both of them were in a groggy state. So much for not being outnumbered with six men. I looked at Sa Gong-wook and grinned. ¡°Now there are four, huh?¡± ¡°......Attack!¡± Led by Sa Gong-wook, the swordsmen charged at once. However, as soon as they reached me, they were forced to hastily retreat. Whoosh¡ª Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s Clear Stream swept past in front of me. At that moment, I pointed at the third swordsman with my hand, and a whirlwind began to gather around him. Whoosh¡ª ¡°Ugh...!¡± He struggled to break free, but it was a futile effort. Even Dang Gyu-young who was a third-year could barely move under its influence, so there was no way a first-year could escape. Boom! Slash! He was struck by Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s sword and disappeared after being deemed unable to continue fighting. All that remained in the spot where the six swordsmen had fallen were two crystals. I handed one of them to Go Hyeon-woo. ¡°We can each take one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I deserve it. I didn¡¯t do much this time.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t do much? You held them off, didn¡¯t you?¡± If Go Hyeon-woo hadn¡¯t stood firm as a wall in front of me, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to unleash Spiral Explosions as freely as I did. And we couldn¡¯t overlook the fact that Shin Byeong-cheol handled the crystal charging. Thanks to him, the three of us were able to focus entirely on defense. If it had been just Seo Ye-in and me facing the six swordsmen, we would have struggled much more. ¡°So, it¡¯s only right for each team to take one.¡± ¡°Hmm, if you put it that way, I¡¯ll gladly accept.¡± ¡°Are you done, hyungs?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol who arrived just in time chimed into the conversation. In his hand was a green crystal that had just finished charging. When we showed him the spoils we had just obtained, Shin Byeong-cheol grinned from ear to ear. ¡°An extra crystal for each of us.¡± ¡°Oh my~! You guys are the best. Is it really okay for me to just ride along like this?¡± ¡°Your role is important too.¡± I took the charged crystals from Shin Byeong-cheol and handed him the ones that needed charging. ¡°Go ahead and charge these.¡± ¡°Oh my, of course, I¡¯ll handle it. Leave it to me.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol took the crystals while bowing repeatedly. Since his fighting power was far below mine or Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s, it made more sense for him to keep charging our crystals rather than switching out. It was easier on him too. Shin Byeong-cheol quickly darted back into the tower, Bang! Bang! From the top of the tower, Seo Ye-in was still taking sniper shots here and there. Go Hyeon-woo and I also rushed to assist with the defense. *** After finishing the crystal charges, we took a break and tallied our resources a short distance from the sanctuary. As a result, Seo Ye-in and I ended up with three crystals. While Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol had two crystals. ?Crystals [Red Crystal 100%] [Blue Crystal 100%] [Green Crystal 100%] Red Crystal No. 2 was exchanged for a Green Crystal. And we took a blue crystal from Sa Gong-wook and charged it as well. Now, we just needed to find a yellow one to complete the midterm¡¯s side quest. Of course, the more crystals we could gather, the better, so we planned to collect as many as possible. I suggested to Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol, ¡°Let¡¯s split up here.¡± ¡°I agree; it seems like the best approach.¡± It was more efficient to search for crystals in pairs rather than all four of us moving together. While our combined strength would be greater, the crystals we found would have to be split between the two teams. So we agreed to meet up again after resupplying tomorrow. Since we could track each other¡¯s locations using the twin GPS, meeting again wouldn¡¯t be difficult. ¡°Before we go, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± I pulled out the crystal detector that I had taken from Cha Hyeon-joo yesterday. It was an item that displayed the location of the nearest crystals. The cooldown time for reuse was 12 hours. When I activated the detector, three diamond-shaped icons appeared around us. The three icons pointed in different directions, so I decided to leave the decision to the lucky charm. ¡°Choose one.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in stared intently at the detector before slowly raising her hand to point in one direction. I nodded my head and turned to Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°We¡¯ll head to the place Lucky Charm-nim chose.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll try the other direction. Good luck to you.¡± Chapter 184: 9th Week Midterms (8) Chapter 184: 9th Week Midterms (8) As we continued walking in the direction chosen by Lucky Charm, we eventually encountered a group of goblins. We had run into and taken down goblins several times on the first day, but today, there was a noticeable difference. ¡°Grrrr...¡± ¡°Grrrr...¡± Two Beheader Goblins were mixed in with the group. The midterm exam¡¯s deserted island kept throwing stronger monsters at us as the days went on. Stronger monsters appeared on the second day compared to the first, and even stronger ones showed up on the third day. This was intended to accelerate the participants¡¯ collection of crystals. ¡°Graaaah¡ª!¡± One of the Beheader Goblins let out a roar and hurled a cleaver from its hand. I knocked the spinning cleaver aside with a flick of my wrist, and Seo Ye-in immediately aimed her assault rifle at the creature. Ratatatatatata! ¡°Grrk. Gack. Gahk.¡± Every single one of the dozens of magic bullets slammed into the creature. The Beheader Goblin collapsed to the ground without putting up much of a fight. I glanced over at Seo Ye-in. She really has improved a lot. The first time we faced a Beheader Goblin in the Timed Attack strategy battle, it took five sniper rifle shots just to bring it down. But now, just a burst from the assault rifle was enough. That was the power of C-rank [Magic Bullets] and [Ejection]. The fate of the second Beheader Goblin wasn¡¯t much different. Ratatatata! ¡°Grrrk. Grrrk. Gahk.¡± It swung its cleaver wildly through the air and tried desperately to deflect the magic bullets, but it was like trying to block the sun with your hand. More bullets hit the monster than it could deflect, and it eventually couldn¡¯t hold out any longer and collapsed. ¡°Keruk?¡± ¡°Kekek?¡± The other goblins who now had lost their focal point so quickly after the battle started were in complete disarray. A whirlwind swept them up. It gathered them together like rice balls, Boom! And then exploded. The area was soon cleared. Seo Ye-in walked forward before picking up the crystals that had fallen to the ground. One red crystal in one hand, one green crystal in the other. ¡°Two of them dropped.¡± ¡°What? Why do you keep cheating like this?¡± In truth, the crystal drop rate for Beheader Goblins wasn¡¯t very high. It usually hovered between 5% and 10%. Yet, two crystals dropped in succession. Although it was less shocking than the one that dropped from the ordinary goblin yesterday, it was still a ridiculous outcome. ¡°......?¡± As I stared intently at her, Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly to the side. I can¡¯t quite grasp what this trait is. It was almost certain that Seo Ye-in possessed a luck-type trait. I had conducted several experiments to identify it, but aside from the fact that it worked on a rechargeable basis, I couldn¡¯t narrow it down. I wonder if there was a luck trait that was so powerful, had such a wide application from random boxes to monster drops, and had such a high activation rate. For something so strong, it didn¡¯t seem to have any restrictions. It might be a unique trait. There was a good chance it was a trait I had never encountered before. For the time being, all I knew was that it existed which left many unknowns, including the mysterious EX-rank. I decided to keep observing it for the time being. Having obtained two crystals already, there was no need to debate the next destination. ¡°Should we go charge?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± After visiting the sanctuary, it seemed we could wrap up today¡¯s schedule. The nearest sanctuary from our current location was the mill. It was the same place where we had recharged the crystals yesterday. So, Seo Ye-in and I leisurely walked toward the mill. Fzzzzzzzt, Boom! From the direction of the mill, the sound of lightning and explosive blasts echoed. Since it meant a battle was underway, we slowed our pace further and carefully scanned our surroundings as we advanced. Before long, the mill and the general situation came into view. ¡°What a mess.¡± At the mill, someone was continuously charging crystals with bright flashes of light, while several teams were frantically tangled in a chaotic skirmish nearby. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave them like that, can we?¡± ¡°She said something bad.¡± [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Ejection¡¯ has increased. (C->A)] Seo Ye-in¡¯s Ejection skill was amplified to an A-rank and she quickly demonstrated its new power. Baaang¡ª! The blue beam of light that shot out from the muzzle of Seo Ye-in¡¯s gun seemed to connect with Kang Hee-chan¡¯s abdomen, Boom¡ª! Kang Hee-chan was sent flying and bounced across the ground like a leaf caught in the wind or a skipping stone on water. Truly a work of art. I¡¯d give it a 12 out of 10. ¡°.......!¡± Cha Hyeon-joo who had just witnessed Kang Hee-chan¡¯s dramatic fall with her eyes wide in shock, quickly snapped her head in the direction of the sniper. And as soon as she spotted me, her face twisted in fury. ¡°Kim¡ªHo¡ª!¡± ¡°Hello again. And goodbye.¡± I waved cheerfully, then grabbed Seo Ye-in¡¯s hand and started running in the opposite direction. There was no need for us to take her down ourselves. Because, Fzzzzzzt, Song Cheon-hye and Han So-mi had already approached and blocked her path. With Cha Hyeon-joo being a promising student who kept firing arrows, they probably found her more annoying than the others and wanted to take her out first. ¡°Get¡ªback¡ªhere¡ª!¡± Cha Hyeon-joo screamed at the top of her lungs from behind us, but we paid no attention and kicked off the ground using Wind Force. ¡°Jump.¡± ¡°Jump.¡± Bang! *** There were plenty of places to rest if we looked around. Nevertheless, Seo Ye-in and I returned to the rocky hill where we had rested the night before. This was mainly because there was a lake nearby. More precisely, it was convenient for catching dinner. I stood by the lakeside and spoke up. ¡°Then let¡¯s catch some fish.¡± ¡°Fishing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an easier and faster way.¡± I pointed at the lake with Root. A faint whirlpool appeared on the surface, and then a deep thudding sound echoed from the depths of the lake. I had cast Spiral Explosion. Moments later, dozens of fish as big as my forearm floated to the surface with their bellies up. All we had to do was happily scoop them out. This was a forbidden explosive fishing method that could only be used in an artificial dungeon. Back at the rocky hill, I skillfully cleaned the fish with a knife, removed their guts, and skewered them one by one on branches. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in had gone into the forest and returned with an armful of dry branches. ¡°You picked ones that are perfect for starting a fire.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Now all that¡¯s left is to light the fire...¡± Unfortunately, among all the survival items, there wasn¡¯t a single one for starting a fire. If only we had a lighter, a simple flick of the finger would have solved the problem. With no other choice, I had to make a makeshift flint and start rubbing it diligently. Just as I was about to begin my battle with frictional heat, ¡ªa sharp sound whizzed past my ear, and Seo Ye-in and I simultaneously focused on the same spot. The alarm trap we had set nearby had been triggered. This meant someone was approaching, so we quickly stood up and got ready. ¡°Of all times, they had to mess with us right before dinner. Let¡¯s deal with this quickly and then eat.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s deal with this.¡± We descended the rocky hill and swiftly moved toward the intruder¡¯s location. Surprisingly, the intruder remained stationary, and I could sense the flow of mana which meant they were casting a spell. They must have realized that they had triggered the alarm trap; so they must have decided to make a stand on the spot. Knowing that time was against us, I sped up and soon the intruder came into view. ¡°......!¡± It was Hong Yeon-hwa who was just about to activate a series of Fire Pillar magic circles. Our eyes met, and her eyes widened in surprise before she hastily canceled her spells. Like a child caught doing something naughty. Perfect timing. A ¡°campfire¡± had walked right up to us. Chapter 185: 9th Week Midterms (9) Chapter 185: 9th Week Midterms (9) Hong Yeon-hwa walked along slowly. She was all by herself. Baek Jun-seok had been rendered incapacitated and was forced out of the dungeon. Unfortunately, they encountered two teams at once and had to fight in a two-versus-four battle. Though Baek Jun-seok was a skilled sword and shield warrior with considerable defensive skills, he couldn¡¯t withstand the concentrated attacks from all four opponents and eventually fell. In return, Hong Yeon-hwa wiped out all the enemies with overwhelming firepower, so in the end, it was a decisive victory. The crystals and survival items they took from the enemies were quite worthwhile as well. However, the real problem came after. Any participant expelled from the midterm dungeon had to wait six hours before entering again. And now, darkness was already settling in around her. In other words, she would have to endure the night alone. There goes my sleep for tonight... Yesterday, she and Baek Jun-seok had taken turns standing watch, but now that she was alone, it seemed she¡¯d have to stay awake through the night. If she happened to fall asleep and got ambushed, she wouldn¡¯t have even the slightest chance of survival. Still, at the very least, it would have been nice to find somewhere comfortable to sit or lean against. That was why Hong Yeon-hwa kept wandering aimlessly even as the night deepened. ¡°!!¡± Rustle. The sound of leaves being stepped on echoed from not far away. Hong Yeon-hwa tensed up and gripped her staff tightly. She immediately began chanting a spell and got ready to unleash a fireball at any moment. ¡°!!¡± The sound of leaves rustling came again from a short distance away. Rustle. And she saw a squirrel climbing up a tree. When she saw this, Hong Yeon-hwa let out a deep sigh before she canceled her spell as a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She felt pitiful and let out a deep sigh. What a mess I¡¯m in. To actually get startled by nothing more than a squirrel¡¯s noise. The fatigue and hunger creeping in only added to her sense of dejection. As she trudged along again, Hong Yeon-hwa suddenly stopped in her tracks. Ah. She felt as if she had brushed against something magical. It seemed to be some kind of alarm spell. Hong Yeon-hwa immediately turned to flee but she hesitated. It¡¯s already too late. The presence approaching from the other side was moving much faster than she had anticipated. In that case, rather than being caught while trying to escape, it would be slightly more advantageous to prepare herself and face the opponent. Hong Yeon-hwa immediately began casting a spell. Several red magic circles appeared on the ground. Her plan was to activate them all at once as soon as the enemy revealed themselves. However, when she actually saw who it was, Hong Yeon-hwa froze like a statue. ¡°......¡± Kim Ho stood silently there as he stared at her. Hong Yeon-hwa lamented her misfortune. Why always me...? If it had been anyone else, she would have at least tried to resist, but why did it have to be that monstrous man? Now, her fate was entirely in Kim Ho¡¯s hands. Kim Ho averted his gaze from Hong Yeon-hwa and carefully scanned the surroundings before asking. ¡°Where is Baek Jun-seok?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone...¡± He must have understood what ¡°gone¡± meant. Hong Yeon-hwa decided to ask a similar question. ¡°Um... what about Seo Ye-in...?¡± ¡°......¡± Kim Ho turned his head over his shoulder without answering.V/\Issi?T for the b/est novel reading experi/en/ce Then the space flickered at the end of his gaze and Seo Ye-in appeared. She had been hiding with the help of an invisible ghillie suit. Her indifferent gray eyes and the rifle in her hand were aimed directly at Hong Yeon-hwa. At this point, Hong Yeon-hwa resigned herself completely. She realized that running away or resisting was pointless. ¡°......¡± Kim Ho looked at her and slowly gestured with his hand. It seemed like he was telling her to come closer, so Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously and hesitantly approached him. I raised my hand to stop her. She kept trying to give me things, which made me feel like I was coming across as the bad guy. Instead, I pulled out my uncharged red and green crystals. ¡°Here, let¡¯s trade.¡± ¡°R-Really...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. By exchanging and charging my crystals, she could complete a set neatly. I nodded my head casually. ¡°We¡¯ve already finished, so whatever we get now will just be duplicates.¡± ¡°T-Then... thank you.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa who was now beaming quickly exchanged the crystals. For me, it wasn¡¯t a gain or a loss, but for Hong Yeon-hwa who could now pick and choose her desired colors the gratitude she felt was far greater. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to treat her well. After all, the Ruby Magic Tower would repay the favor. ¨C Unnie says thank you and she asked if you could stop by the clubroom whenever you have time... Just because I helped her get good scores during the mentoring week, they asked me to stop by the club. With people who don¡¯t forget their gratitude like this, they¡¯ll surely express their thanks for the help given during the midterm exams as well. I made another suggestion to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Let¡¯s stick together tomorrow. There are two more people besides us.¡± ¡°Six of us?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve probably noticed too.¡± On the first day, almost everyone moved around in pairs, but on the second day, you could see teams moving in groups of four and even as many as six. Originally, moving in a single team was intended to make the crystal hunt more efficient. However, on the second day, the quantity and quality of monsters had increased and gathering crystals had become relatively easier. ¡°But now, there¡¯s competition for charging.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± For example, the last stop today was at the mill where the fierce competition turned the place into utter chaos. It wasn¡¯t about charging crystals anymore; it was about being lucky if you didn¡¯t get yours taken. Hong Yeon-hwa herself had faced a four-man team today and had fought her way through while Baek Jun-seok got ejected. And tomorrow, the competition was expected to be even more intense. As stronger monsters appear, the crystal drop rate will also increase. So, to charge the crystals safely and protect them securely, it was good to move in groups of six. Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head in agreement. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll talk to Baek Jun-seok about it.¡± ¡°When is he coming back?¡± ¡°Hmm... probably in about five hours...?¡± ¡°Okay, let me know when he arrives.¡± Suddenly, I glanced over at Seo Ye-in who was dozing off by the campfire. The night had grown late, so we decided it was time to go inside and rest. When we were tidying up the area, Hong Yeon-hwa spoke cautiously. ¡°Um... I can take the watch.¡± ¡°Thanks for offering, but there¡¯s no need.¡± I gestured toward the forest. ¡°There¡¯s an alarm trap set up. The one you stepped on earlier.¡± ¡°Oh...!¡± ¡°So just get some rest. We even have an extra sleeping bag.¡± ¡°.......!¡± When I handed her the sleeping bag, Hong Yeon-hwa looked like she was on the verge of tears. She had volunteered to take the night watch, but now that she could rest comfortably and even had a sleeping bag provided, she seemed deeply moved. After we finished tidying up, we headed toward the cave nestled between the rocky hills. Hong Yeon-hwa who was amazed by how well the entrance was concealed kept looking around curiously until she noticed the darkness inside the cave and began murmuring a spell. Whoosh! Suddenly, several sparks the size of fireflies began to float in the air and move around. Despite their small size, the sparks of fire filled the cave with a comforting warmth, and the light they cast was neither too dim nor too bright which created a cozy atmosphere. Compared to the butcher shop vibe created by the red crystals yesterday, this was a completely different scene. After setting the fireflies aloft, Hong Yeon-hwa laid out her sleeping bag with an expression that suggested she still couldn¡¯t believe her good fortune. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in clutched her sleeping bag and scooted closer to me before staring up at me intently. I had to ask. ¡°Why are you coming so close?¡± ¡°Sleep with me.¡± ¡°??????¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s gaze darted around. Her eyes couldn¡¯t find a place to settle. Chapter 186: 9th Week Midterms (10) Chapter 186: 9th Week Midterms (10) Seo Ye-in had a habit of cutting to the chase and only throwing out key words, so this wasn¡¯t the first time. So I calmly asked her again. ¡°You want to sleep together?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, we slept close together last night too.¡± ¡°I sleep better that way.¡± Based on Seo Ye-in¡¯s words, this is what she meant: Since I sleep better when I¡¯m close to you, I want to sleep close again tonight. Seo Ye-in moved a little closer and added one more thing.Vi?Sit no(v)3lb/!n(.)com for new novels ¡°Take responsibility.¡± ¡°Responsibility? What responsibility?¡± ¡°The tiger plushie.¡± Meaning: You left the tiger plushie behind for too long, and without it, I¡¯m not sleeping well. So tonight, take responsibility and be the tiger plushie. Fair enough. Bringing in the invisible ghillie suit instead of the tiger plushie for the midterms was a highly efficiency-focused decision, and indeed, the invisible ghillie suit was put to good use over the course of two days. However, it was also true that this sloth didn¡¯t sleep well because of that, and I had some responsibility for that too. So I decided to accept Seo Ye-in¡¯s request. ¡°Just this once. And don¡¯t climb on top of me. It gets a bit stuffy.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head slightly, then pressed her sleeping bag against mine and rested her head. And in less than five seconds, she was sound asleep. ¡°...She really sleeps well.¡± Did my body have this kind of effect? I discovered that I had a talent for being a pillow. Meanwhile, when I glanced over at Hong Yeon-hwa, ¡°Sleep together...? Sleep well...? Take responsibility...? Climb on top...?¡± She was muttering the conversation we had just had while covering her mouth. It seemed her mind had short-circuited and she couldn¡¯t process the flood of incoming information. *** It was a night full of misunderstandings, but everyone still managed to sleep well. The exhaustion from a day of intense activity had piled up, and Hong Yeon-hwa hadn¡¯t been able to rest properly even on the first night. I was in the middle of a snowball fight with a gray cat in my dreams when I opened my eyes to find that light was already seeping into the cave from outside. It was the third and final day of the midterms. Knowing we needed to get an early start, I gently shook Seo Ye-in¡¯s sleeping bag. ¡°Young miss, it¡¯s time to wake up. It¡¯s morning.¡± ¡°Five minutes...¡± The same response as yesterday. So, I figured I should wake her up the same way as before. I slowly created some distance between Seo Ye-in¡¯s sleeping bag and mine. Then a pale hand slipped out of her sleeping bag and began to pull mine closer. ¡°Don¡¯t go...¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time to get up. Today¡¯s the last day.¡± You can sleep in on the weekend after the midterms are over. But for now, no more resting. When I brought the half-awake Seo Ye-in out to the front of the cave, Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Jun-seok were already preparing grilled fish. ¡°You¡¯re, you¡¯re up...?¡± ¡°Yeah. Good morning.¡± ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa who still harbored various misunderstandings couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet my eyes. Feeling there was no need to go into a lengthy explanation, I simply accepted her greeting with a casual nod. Then, when I faced Baek Jun-seok, he handed me a well-grilled fish and said, ¡°I heard a bit from Hong Yeon-hwa. First, I want to thank you.¡± While he had been waiting outside the dungeon, I had offered Hong Yeon-hwa who was left alone food and a place to rest. Not only that, but I had even traded to help her complete a set of crystals. As her childhood friend and teammate, he felt it was only right to express his gratitude to me. I nodded my head calmly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal for us. There¡¯s nothing wrong with helping each other out. You don¡¯t mind sticking together?¡± ¡°Of course not. In fact, it was something I was going to suggest.¡± ¡°This time, just dodge.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Grrr...¡± Soon, the ogre spotted us. When I quickly moved to the side, the ogre targeted Seo Ye-in who was left alone and charged at her. Bang! Bang! Seo Ye-in fired two short bursts from her magic gun. Of course, that wasn¡¯t enough to even scratch the ogre¡¯s thick hide, and all it did was make it angrier. ¡°Grrr¡ª!¡± But drawing its attention was exactly what Seo Ye-in intended. She lightly dodged the club it swung at her, causing it to break two innocent trees instead. Then the ogre stretched out its free hand straight toward her. However, Seo Ye-in smoothly sidestepped with her Feather Walk skill and managed to evade the attack. While Seo Ye-in skillfully dodged and kept the ogre¡¯s focus on her, I quietly approached from its blind spot. Then I drove my finger into its thigh. [Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger] Squelch, My index finger transformed into a sharp ice pick and it easily pierced through the ogre¡¯s thick hide. A chilling cold immediately followed, penetrating deep into its body. Crunch, crunch, crunch, There was a terrifying sound of something freezing rapidly from inside the ogre. The ogre looked around in a rare panic and finally noticed me with my finger embedded in its flesh. ¡°Grrr...?¡± But it was already too late for it to react. By now, the cold would have already reached its heart. ¡°.......¡± Thud, In the end, the ogre collapsed right there after one final glance at me. Even after its life had ended, the cold continued to make a crackling sound, as if it was determined to freeze everything remaining. When Seo Ye-in approached, I pointed to the chain wrapped around the ogre¡¯s ankle. ¡°Shoot this.¡± Ratatatatatatata! As Seo Ye-in focused her shots, the chain couldn¡¯t withstand the barrage of magic bullets and broke. This allowed me to cleanly tear off the piece attached to the ankle. When I examined it closely, it was a syringe-like container filled with a red liquid. Of course. As expected, it seemed ¡°they¡± had tampered with the midterm exam. One of their tricks was attaching this syringe to the ogre. At that moment, two presences rapidly approached us. Since I had a good idea who it was, we didn¡¯t bother being on guard and simply looked in their direction. Sure enough, the ones approaching were Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Jun-seok who returned after retrieving one of the supply boxes. They both flinched in surprise upon seeing the fallen ogre. ¡°Did you... take this thing down?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°......¡± Judging by Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s shocked expression, I could roughly guess what was going through her head. Something along the lines of, ¡°This monstrous human has done something monstrous again.¡± Like Seo Ye-in, the pair of Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye hadn¡¯t been able to take down the ogre during the Crystal strategy battle. But how much time could have passed since we split up and then regrouped, and yet in that short time, we had managed to take down the ogre? However, there was a more pressing issue at hand. I hardened my expression and pointed at the chain fragments near the ogre¡¯s ankle and the syringe in turn. ¡°This was attached to the ogre¡¯s ankle.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Jun-seok also stared intently at the red liquid inside the syringe. Baek Jun-seok asked, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like an ordinary item at first glance. Do you know what it is?¡± ¡°I can make a guess.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± I paused for a few seconds before answering. ¡°Blood Fury Pill.¡± Chapter 188: 9th Week Midterms (12) Chapter 188: 9th Week Midterms (12) The Blood Fury Pill forcibly drew out potential and inevitably led the user to death with its severe side effects. As a result, it was always at the top of the list of prohibited items, and the Prefect Team could never fail to recognize it, even when it was in liquid form. The son of the Golden Lotus master, Geum Jo-han. He approached me with long strides and threatened me as if he was going to swing his golden sword at any moment. ¡°Where did you get the Blood Fury Pill? You¡¯d better spill everything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re as hasty as ever. Didn¡¯t I tell you to think carefully before acting?¡± But Go Hyeon-woo stepped in front of him. Geum Jo-han narrowed his eyes as he stared at him. ¡°You¡¯re that guy from the train.¡± ¡°It seems you remember.¡± ¡°Of course, I do. I was planning to give you a taste of something spicy someday. Looks like now¡¯s the time.¡± On the train, the four members of the Prefect Team had been chasing after the wig thief, Shin Byeong-cheol, and eventually stormed into our compartment. At that time, there had been a minor clash between Go Hyeon-woo and Geum Jo-han, and it seemed neither of them had forgotten about it. However, there was a more pressing matter now than settling an old score. The Prefect Team seemed to think so too, as a deep and commanding voice came from behind. ¡°Geum Jo-han, stand down.¡± ¡°Are you planning to interfere with me too?¡± ¡°I told you to stand down.¡± Although Geum Jo-han¡¯s face twitched with irritation, he stepped back a few paces. It wasn¡¯t common for Jo Byeok to emphasize something twice, and this wasn¡¯t a situation where Geum Jo-han could simply insist on his way. However, he still maintained his pride to the end and left a final comment to Go Hyeon-woo. ¡°You¡¯re lucky again this time. But there won¡¯t be a next.¡± ¡°That goes both ways.¡± Song Cheon-hye glanced between them, let out a small sigh, and then steered the conversation back on track after it had momentarily veered off course. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t intend to be forceful, but considering the gravity of the matter, I¡¯d appreciate it if you could provide as much detail as possible.¡± ¡°I was planning to. What do you want to know?¡± Song Cheon-hye held up the Blood Fury Syringe. ¡°This syringe, did you find it inside the dungeon?¡± As soon as Geum Jo-han saw the syringe, he started putting pressure on us, because he thought we had brought it in ourselves, but when you think about it, that doesn¡¯t make sense. Each participant could only bring two items into the midterm dungeon. So, would anyone choose to bring in the Blood Fury Syringe over other and better equipment? It made far more sense that we had discovered the syringe somewhere in the dungeon. I nodded my head casually. ¡°It was attached to an ogre¡¯s ankle.¡± ¡°An ogre¡¯s... ankle?¡± Song Cheon-hye¡¯s expression turned strange at the unexpected response. As I continued explaining what had happened earlier, the expressions of the four-member disciplinary committee grew increasingly serious. ¡°No way.¡± Then, as if something had suddenly crossed her mind, Song Cheon-hye pulled out an emergency flare. It was the special flare used exclusively by the disciplinary committee members. It was the same one Dang Gyu-young had stolen from the black market. She had taken it out to alert those outside the dungeon of an emergency. A bright beam of light shot up into the sky. Whoosh¡ªCrackle, But the beam vanished as if it had hit something in midair. ¡°...It¡¯s blocked.¡± The fact that communication with the outside was cut off meant that the other mechanisms of the artificial dungeon had also been neutralized. Safety devices, forced exits, and replays wouldn¡¯t function properly either. ¡°To be honest, I was half-doubtful, but now I have no choice but to believe it. What are you going to do next?¡± ¡°For now, let¡¯s try to reduce the number of ogres.¡± Since we had to face the ogres anyway, it was better to take down as many as possible before the Blood Fury Syringe was injected. The fewer ogres there were, the fewer casualties the students would suffer. ¡°And in the end, we¡¯ll have to take down the Alpha.¡± ¡°The Alpha appears in the midterms?¡± ¡°I told you it would. You were dozing off during class, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...I wasn¡¯t dozing off.¡± Song Cheon-hye immediately denied it, but from her startled reaction, it was highly likely she had indeed dozed off. In fact, she had been caught nodding off during the Monster Ecology class. Sensing that the conversation was turning against her, Song Cheon-hye quickly moved things along. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re planning to take down the Alpha Ogre with us, right?¡± How long had we walked in that silence when Shin Byeong-cheol came running toward us from the other side of the forest, panting heavily? ¡°Hey, it¡¯s there. It¡¯s there.¡± Thud, thud, Judging by the heavy footsteps, it was obvious what we would find ¡°there¡±. As we slowly approached, sure enough, the ogre revealed itself. ¡°Grrrr......¡± It held a club in one hand and strapped to its ankle was, as expected, a Blood Fury Pill syringe. As soon as it saw us, it started to show hostility. It took a step forward, then another. I gave a short command. ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the plan.¡± Everyone gave a small nod at those words. We had already discussed our positions. Go Hyeon-woo and Baek Jun-seok would be at the front, Shin Byeong-cheol and I would take the middle, and Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa would cover the rear. ¡°Grrrr¡ª!¡± Thud, thud, the ogre took a few steps forward. Then it suddenly picked up speed and charged. The first to step forward was Go Hyeon-woo. A soft breeze swirled around his golden magic sword as he swung it, aiming at the club coming his way. [Pure Flow] Swish¡ª The club slipped past as if it was gliding smoothly to the side. As a result, the ogre¡¯s stance faltered, but even then, it tried to swipe at Go Hyeon-woo with its hand that was as large as a cauldron lid. At that moment, Baek Jun-seok intervened and swung his shield to meet the blow, Thud¡ª! The ogre¡¯s arm was deflected as well. Meanwhile, wind gathered and compressed near the creature¡¯s chest, Boom! before exploding with force. The armor-piercing effect of the Spiral Explosion tore through the ogre¡¯s thick hide and exposed its flesh beneath. And in that now vulnerable spot, Bang, bang, bang! Seo Ye-in¡¯s sniper shot, Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s thrown chopsticks, and Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s fire arrow all struck home. ¡°Grrrr......¡± The ogre was overwhelmed by the seamless chain of attacks and couldn¡¯t regain its composure. ¡°Keep up the pressure.¡± The two at the front pinned the struggling ogre in place, while the rest of us unleashed relentless attacks from behind. Finally, the creature slumped to the ground and stopped moving. ¡°We got one.¡± ¡°Well done, everyone. Let¡¯s keep this up.¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I each spoke a word of encouragement. We had taken down an ogre far more easily than expected. In the Crystal strategy battle, two people had faced off against a single ogre, but with six of us now, it was bound to be easier. The swift neutralization of its defenses with Spiral Explosion also played an important role. As a result, everyone¡¯s expressions brightened a little but it didn¡¯t last long. Thud, thud. The heavy footsteps drew closer once again. Another ogre that had been roaming nearby heard the noise and came searching. ¡°Grrrrr...¡± However, this one looked different from the previous one we had faced. Its skin was red, its muscles were swollen like balloons, and its veins bulged out like wriggling worms. When I checked its ankle, I saw the syringe was empty. ¡°It¡¯s on Blood Fury state.¡± ¡°.......!¡± ¡°.......!¡± ¡°Grrrrr...¡± The ogre bared its teeth and glared at us. Everyone tensed up but didn¡¯t take their eyes off it as we moved into position. At the same time, a notification message appeared in the corner of my vision. [Main Quest 1] Chapter 189: 9th Week Midterms (13) Chapter 189: 9th Week Midterms (13) [Main Quest 1] ?Objective: Dispel the darkness looming over the midterms. ?Reward: Varies based on completion level. Quests are typically labeled with descriptors like ¡°Side¡± or ¡°Event¡± depending on their importance or nature, and it¡¯s very rare for a quest to be labeled as ¡°Main¡±. So when does this rare occurrence happen? When it is directly related to the EX-rank quest. More specifically, a Main Quest occurs when the outcome of the event directly impacts the fate of the world. Currently, the students were trapped within this midterm dungeon and they would be forced to fight ogres injected with Blood Fury. With the safety mechanisms disabled, the risk of death or injury was very high. If the number of future heroes were reduced, the world would be much closer to destruction. So what exactly needs to be done to clear the Main Quest? The most straightforward solution was to ¡°endure¡±. If we continued to endure, the academy would eventually regain control of the dungeon and we¡¯d all be expelled naturally. However, for higher achievement, I knew we needed to do more than just endure; we had to take it a step further. We needed to reduce the number of ogres as much as possible and stop the Alpha. That was why I had laid the groundwork before the Main Quest even began, And why we had to keep moving so busily now, I need to take down that one too. ¡°Growrrrr...¡± The ogre glared at us with bloodshot eyes. Then, suddenly, it pulled back the arm holding the club and hurled it forward with all its strength. Whoosh ¡ª The thick club which was as thick as a log came hurtling toward us at a terrifying speed. ¡°!!¡± We were momentarily startled by the unexpected move, but Go Hyeon-woo quickly stepped forward. He used [Pure Flow] which he had prepared in advance while tilting his sword at an angle. Whizz¡ª The deflected club continued flying, snapping several trees behind us like matchsticks. Yet none of us even glanced at the fallen trees; our attention was solely fixed on the ogre¡¯s every move. ¡°Raaaargh¡ª!¡± Perhaps due to losing what little reason it had left, the ogre charged forward on all fours like a beast. As soon as Go Hyeon-woo and Baek Jun-seok came within range, it lunged at them and stretched out both hands. ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Argh!¡± Thud¡ª! The two managed to deflect the attacks in their own ways. However, unlike before when they had more composure, Go Hyeon-woo was forced to step back a few paces while Baek Jun-seok dropped to one knee. Even though they deflected the attacks, part of the shock was still transmitted due to the enhanced destructive power from the ogre¡¯s Blood Fury. But before they could even regain their stances, the ogre¡¯s limbs swung at them again. Though they barely managed to deflect the next strike, Go Hyeon-woo was pushed back even further, and Baek Jun-seok¡¯s leg was nearly buried into the ground. ¡°Ugh...!¡± ¡°Ugh...!¡± Without giving them any break, the ogre¡¯s relentless attacks continued. Crack, crack, The sound of stretching tendons and grinding bones emanated from its body. Its muscles and joints were likely screaming from movements beyond their limits. Boom! Boom! Even as Spiral Explosions erupted on its chest and fireballs and magic bullets struck it, the ogre showed no sign of feeling any pain. It didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment. It just madly swung its limbs with the intent of crushing Go Hyeon-woo and Baek Jun-seok in front of it. This isn¡¯t good. The two in the vanguard were gradually being pushed back. At this rate, Go Hyeon-woo might hold out but Baek Jun-seok wouldn¡¯t last much longer before collapsing. So I quickly gave a short command and stepped forward. ¡°Trap.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Leaving Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s response behind, I swiftly approached the ogre. Thud, thud! ¡°Ugh...!¡± Baek Jun-seok was staggering more and more. Cracks appeared on the mana shield surrounding his shield. Just as the ogre was about to slam its fist down again, I intervened. Thud¡ª!Th.e? most uptod/ate novels a/re published on n(0)velbj)n(.)c/o/m I added Wind Force and Storm Cloud to Root and struck, causing its fist to deflect sideways. Baek Jun-seok and I exchanged a glance. The distance seemed fairly close as well. My companions focused their attention on me and waited for instructions. It was an obvious decision. ¡°We¡¯re going to help.¡± To increase the completion rate of the main quest, I needed to prevent even one more person from getting hurt. If their skills were up to standard, they might be able to join forces with us when we face the Alpha. So we picked up speed and headed toward the source of the booming noise. As expected, what we found there was, ¡°Kraaaah¡ª!¡± An ogre that was driven mad by the injected Blood Fury Pill. Opposite it stood Kwak Ji-cheol, Jung Soo-ji, Park Na-ri, and the tiger Bum, along with an unidentified female student. It seemed like the Emerald and Mother Nature clubs had paired off into teams of two. I quickly assessed the situation. A full-on defense team. They had left the offense to Bum, while the other four focused on buffs, healing magic, and suppressing the enemy. This strategy might have been somewhat effective against other participants, but their current opponent was an ogre. Their attack power is sorely lacking. Bum darted nimbly around the ogre and kept clawing at it. As a spirit beast, Bum possessed combat abilities comparable to a typical first-year student, but its attack power was nothing extraordinary. And yet, the four of them were relying solely on Bum¡¯s attacks. This made it impossible to land a significant blow on the ogre. To make matters worse, the Blood Fury Pill had made the ogre even more powerful. And we arrived just as they were barely managing to hold their ground, ¡°Kraaagh!¡± ¡°Kwak Ji-cheol!¡± To be more precise, it was the moment when Kwak Ji-cheol was struck by the ogre and sent rolling across the ground. I¡¯m a bit late. When I pointed at the ogre with Root, wind gathered at its chest and then exploded. Boom! ¡°Kraaagh!¡± The ogre immediately whipped its head towards us and charged at a terrifying speed. But then the nearby trees began to tilt and stretch as if they were made of rubber. Then they wrapped themselves around its limbs and held it in place. Park Na-ri¡¯s team had cast a wood-type spell. Park Na-ri shouted. ¡°N-Now!¡± We abandoned our formation and focused solely on attacking. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s Clear Stream, Baek Jun-seok¡¯s sword strikes, Shin Byung-cheol¡¯s chopsticks, and Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets... The relentless attacks crushed the ogre¡¯s chest inward. ¡°Grrr...¡± Thud, Leaving the ogre behind as it fell with a death rattle, we hurriedly rushed to Kwak Ji-cheol. And at that moment, our expressions turned grim. ¡°Ugh...¡± Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s body had been partially crushed by the berserk ogre¡¯s arm. His limbs were twisted at odd angles, and blood streamed from his nose and mouth. Despite suffering such serious injuries, there was no sign that the dungeon¡¯s escape mechanism was going to activate. ¡°J-Just wait a little longer! We¡¯ll h-heal you!¡± Park Na-ri¡¯s group poured recovery magic into him, but their magic was only point heals. While it had excellent sustain, its effect was far from strong. It wasn¡¯t enough to bring someone back from the brink of death. ¡°......¡± Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s gaze moved over each of the people watching and his eyes finally settled on me. He reached out his hand and squeezed out the last of his strength to speak. ¡°Tell... my brother... that I¡¯m... sorry...¡± ¡°What are you saying, you idiot.¡± I pulled out a [Recovery Scroll] and tore it apart. A bright light flooded my vision. Flaaash¡ª! When the light faded away, Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s injuries had healed completely. Not a single scratch remained on his body. I blinked and gave the lying Kwak Ji-cheol a few kicks. ¡°Get up, you idiot.¡± ¡°......¡± Kwak Ji-cheol stood up. He looked quite embarrassed. *** TN: Bro can¡¯t even act cool in death Chapter 190: 9th Week Midterms (14) Chapter 190: 9th Week Midterms (14) I extended one hand forward with a pained expression. ¡°Tell my brother! That I¡¯m sorrrryyyyy...!¡± ¡°...Stop it.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol writhed in shame. He had just created the most humiliating moment of his life. And it had happened right in front of his classmates. One way to move past this kind of situation would be to get angry, but he couldn¡¯t do that with his lifesaver. If we hadn¡¯t shown up to help in time, or if I hadn¡¯t had a recovery scroll, or if I had chosen to save it instead of using it... Kwak Ji-cheol would¡¯ve been as good as dead. So he had no choice but to endure whatever his lifesaver dished out. ¡°Why stop when it¡¯s so much fun? I plan to milk this until graduation. We¡¯ve still got two and a half years to go.¡± ¡°...Just kill me already.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that. Then I¡¯d have to say sorry to your brother.¡± ¡°Pffft!¡± Finally, Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. She turned away and her shoulders started shaking. The others were barely holding back their own laughter as well. Kwak Ji-cheol looked at them with somewhat gloomy eyes. Perhaps he foresaw that a difficult future was waiting ahead for him. Then he let out a deep sigh and spoke. ¡°Anyway, I owe you a huge debt. I¡¯ll make sure to repay it, no matter when.¡± ¡°Go ahead. I won¡¯t turn it down.¡± I¡¯m the kind of person who gladly accepts anything given. And isn¡¯t the heaviest debt the one owed for your life? Neither the Emerald Magic Tower nor the Kwak family would let this matter slide, so I expect both tangible and intangible rewards to come my way. Since we didn¡¯t have time to just joke around, I decided to stop teasing Kwak Ji-cheol here. I then got to the point and explained the current situation and our objective to Park Na-ri and the others ¡°We¡¯re about to go hunt the Alpha Ogre.¡± ¡°We, we¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate the help, but are you sure?¡± The Alpha Ogre was the most dangerous being on this deserted island. Facing it means risking your life. I didn¡¯t want anyone offering to help just because they were caught up in the moment. However, the four members of Park Na-ri¡¯s group seemed to have made up their minds. ¡°Y-Yes, I¡¯m sure. I want to help. I don¡¯t want the others... to get hurt like Kwak Ji-cheol.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Though she spoke hesitantly, Park Na-ri clearly expressed her intentions. Bum who had transformed into a cat chimed in with a sound of agreement. I nodded my head. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s go.¡± Our group, which had been six, grew to ten members and a cat. As I led the way, I listed key information about the Alpha Ogre. ¡°Keep at least twice the usual distance when you fight.¡± ¡°The formation will break down immediately anyway, so think of it as a free-for-all.¡± ¡°Until the reinforcements arrive, we need to¡ª¡± ¡°From the second phase onwards¡ª¡± We continued our briefing and strategy meeting as we pushed through the forest under the pouring rain. At some point, I subtly raised one hand. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± Everyone tensed up, and those with keen senses seemed to realize that something was ahead of us. First, I signaled to Shin Byeong-cheol with a glance and he quickly started setting up traps and tossing chopsticks with precision. The Emerald and Mother Nature¡¯s group added earth magic to enhance the traps¡¯ effect. Meanwhile, as I had instructed earlier, Hong Yeon-hwa was carving a Fire Pillar magic circle in another spot. But before we could finish our preparations completely, Thud, thud, thud, A heavy rhythmic stomping sound grew closer. A low growl echoed. Soon, it revealed itself. It stood taller by two or three heads than a typical ogre and its large frame matched its height. In its hand was not a club, but a large tree it had uprooted from somewhere. Around its ankles were two Blood Fury syringes wrapped in chains. And both of them were empty of course. Finally, we were face-to-face with the final boss monster of the midterm deserted island, the Alpha Ogre. [Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger] Thud, I jabbed the demon finger into the creature¡¯s calf and quickly retreated. Even if it gets noticed, I have no choice but to use it. Having already used the only recovery scroll I had on Kwak Ji-cheol, there would be no solution if anyone got hurt. It was better to risk the demon finger being discovered than to have one of our party members fall. And the chances of it being noticed are slim anyway. The battle was in full swing and everyone was too distracted to notice. Besides, with Overheat activated, my speed accelerated tremendously. Because of this, no one else would have seen me cast the demon finger technique. They would simply think I had dodged the Alpha Ogre¡¯s attack and retreated. And since the replay was also dead, the chances of getting caught later were low as well. ¡°Graaaah¡ª!¡± The Alpha Ogre spun like a windmill and started swinging the log in its hand wide. However, its speed was a bit slower than before. This allowed Go Hyun-woo to leap into the air and unleash a sword strike. A few long wounds were etched across the creature¡¯s chest. Its legs have stiffened. Two Blood Fury Pills were already inside the Alpha Ogre. With the blood in its body rampaging, the freezing process was slower. Still, it seemed like one of its legs was immobilized. At the very least, it wouldn¡¯t be able to leap around like a grasshopper anymore. Boom! I moved in close, unleashed a Spiral Explosion on its chest, and quickly withdrew again. ¡°Graaaah!¡± The Alpha Ogre seemed to have decided to target someone easier than me. It set its sights on Hong Yeon-hwa who was maintaining the Fire Pillar. The fire magic made her an obvious target. Even with its legs half-frozen, the creature charged at her with terrifying speed. But I was able to aim my Wind Force at Hong Yeon-hwa and send her flying away long before the creature could reach her. Whoosh¡ª Hong Yeon-hwa soared through the air before landing gracefully far from danger thanks to Wind Force. She shot me a grateful look before reigniting the fading Fire Pillar. ¡°Grroar.¡± The Alpha Ogre immediately whipped around. Its next target was Shin Byeong-cheol who was the closest to it. When their eyes met, Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Graaaah!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Blow me out of here too! Quickly!¡± He frantically called for Wind Force support, but I didn¡¯t need to intervene. Bum quickly jumped in, grabbed Shin Byeong-cheol by the scruff of his neck, and yanked him out of the Alpha¡¯s reach. After carrying him a short distance away, Bum spat him out onto the ground with a disgusted snort, as if Shin Byeong-cheol tasted awful. Even as he rolled in the mud, Shin Byeong-cheol was all smiles. He was relieved to be alive. ¡°Oh my, our Bum is really¡ª¡± Thud. Bum silenced him by pressing a paw over his mouth. Seems like Bum didn¡¯t want to hear it. ¡°Graaaah!¡± The game of cat and mouse with the Alpha Ogre continued. Everyone was focused on playing it safe and gradually accumulated damage on the creature. Because the initial goal was just to pin the creature in place. At least until reinforcements arrive. And finally, it happened. The area near the pillar of fire that Hong Yeon-hwa had conjured began to ripple and mana gathered on its own to form a large door. The teleportation portal opened wide and students rushed out from inside it. The first to be seen were Song Cheon-hye and the four members of the disciplinary committee. As soon as Song Cheon-hye stepped out of the portal, she hurled a powerful lightning bolt. Fzzzzzzt! Just as planned, they used the Twin GPS and the pillar of fire Hong Yeon-hwa had created to locate this spot and then opened the portal using the [Twin Portal Scroll]. ¡°We¡¯re here. We¡¯re not too late, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right on time.¡± I quickly scanned the group that had poured out. Including the four from the disciplinary committee and the other first-year members, there were ten in total. It seemed they had brought everyone they could find. ¡°A lot of you have come.¡± Chapter 191: 9th Week Midterms (15) Chapter 191: 9th Week Midterms (15) ¡°Guaaaargh¡ª!¡± The Alpha Ogre charged straight at the disciplinary committee members the moment they appeared through the portal. It seemed the lightning bolt Song Cheon-hye had thrown had effectively drawn its attention. The ground trembled as the Alpha Ogre approached at a terrifying speed. But even though they saw the creature, the disciplinary committee remained calm and acted swiftly. The melee class members quickly formed a line to confront it. Jo Byeok met the Alpha¡¯s swinging log with a powerful fist, Boom! With a deafening crash, the log shattered into pieces. Though Jo Byeok was thrown back by the impact, he effortlessly regained his stance and continued the fight. Fzzzzzt! Song Cheon-hye kept hurling lightning bolts as she began directing the committee members. ¡°We¡¯ll chip away at it slowly without taking unnecessary risks.¡± ¡°This is a boss-level ogre, and it has the Blood Fury Pill. Be extra cautious.¡± With that, I naturally handed over the command to Song Cheon-hye. My reputation still wasn¡¯t the best after all. From their perspective, I was just some unknown guy with a score in the 600-point range. So at that moment, rather than stepping forward and provoking any unnecessary resistance, it was better to leave things to Song Cheon-hye who was one of the most skilled members of the disciplinary committee. Of course, I had already informed her of exactly what needed to be done against the Alpha Ogre. In short, I was playing the role of a shadow strategist. ¡°Raaaargh!¡± After the log was destroyed, the Alpha Ogre swung its arms and legs wildly. It was trying to strike and kick the humans around it. The melee class members dodged and neutralized its attacks, while Han So-mi, Go Hyeon-woo, Geum Jo-han, and other swordsmen leaped forward and started slashing at the creature. Slash, slash! Shallow sword wounds continued to accumulate on its upper body. The ranged classes attacked from the rear while also supporting the melee members. Park Na-ri continuously cast wide-range healing spells, While Kwak Ji-cheol and Jung Soo-ji used vines and mud to keep the creature restrained. With twenty people working together, the Alpha Ogre which had been rampaging like a raging bull was finally held in place. Of course, the earlier strike from my Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger was likely playing a significant role as well. In addition, the cold air was gradually spreading throughout the creature¡¯s body, so we would have the advantage as time went on. However, it was still too early to be optimistic. The second phase is still ahead. The difficulty of a boss raid changed drastically at a certain point, which was referred to as moving on to the next ¡°phase¡±. In the case of the Alpha Ogre, when its health dropped below a certain threshold, it let out a tremendous roar and that would signal the start of its second phase. Since this second phase was particularly tricky, we needed as much support as possible. Once the second phase started, it was important to finish off the Alpha Ogre as quickly as possible. Because the longer it dragged on, the worse it would get for us. So how could we take it down quickly? The key was to deal as much damage as possible before moving on to the next phase, or in other words, before it could let out that roar. I pulled out a [Paralysis Scroll]. At that moment, Song Cheon-hye quickly exchanged glances with me and gave the order. ¡°Using the Paralysis Scroll! Everyone, get ready.¡± Then she subtly asked me, ¡°...How long will it freeze it for?¡± The effect of the Paralysis Scroll was to freeze the target for a certain period of time. The duration varied depending on the target¡¯s stats. For example, it would last between 15 to 20 seconds on a Beheader Goblin. For an Ogre, it was around 5 seconds. So for a berserk Alpha Ogre, ¡°Just under two seconds.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± A time that could be long or short, depending on how we used it. We had to make the most of those 2 seconds. ¡°Graaa!¡± Jo Byuk met the Alpha Ogre¡¯s incoming fist with a fist of his own. With a thunderous crash, Jo Byuk was pushed back. However, before the Alpha Ogre could make its next move, I stepped forward and ripped the Paralysis Scroll. Fwaaash¡ª! A bright light burst forth and enveloped the creature. The Alpha that was bathed in flickering light froze in place. Immediately, the twenty people surrounding it unleashed their most powerful skills. Bum slashing its claws in a flash of light, I used the storm clouds to lessen the impact on Jo Byeok and Go Hyun-woo, And whenever the Alpha Ogre tried to step forward, I pushed it back with Wind Force. Boom! Boom! ¡°Graaaah!¡± As this pattern repeated, the creature seemed to realize who was the most troublesome. The punches and kicks that had been evenly distributed among the three of us began targeting me exclusively. Well, that¡¯s convenient. But I wasn¡¯t about to be an easy target. Using the Thief¡¯s Step, I easily circled around the creature. As I continued playing cat and mouse with the Alpha Ogre, the dark clouds above became crackling masses of lightning, and the red magic circle on the ground was finally complete. Song Cheon-hye shouted from behind me, ¡°It¡¯s ready! Fall back!¡± The three of us unleashed our attacks and then quickly withdrew. In the next moment, a pillar of lightning struck down from the sky, And a pillar of fire surged up from the ground to meet it. [Heaven¡¯s Retribution] [Fire Pillar] Fzzzzzzzzzzzzt¡ª!! Whoooooooosh¡ª!! We distanced ourselves and watched it from afar. We prepared the next skill so that we could resume the battle with the creature at any time. But fortunately, it seemed there was no need for that. The magic of Song Cheon-hye and Hong Yeon-hwa faded away and the area that was scorched as if bombarded lay in ruins. In the midst of it all, the Alpha Ogre stood frozen in place. ¡°Grrrrrr...¡± Its body barely twitched as if it was clinging desperately to life, Bang¨C! Before Seo Ye-in¡¯s final shot pierced its heart. With that last strike, the Alpha Ogre¡¯s body slowly tilted backward before collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± Everyone stared at it in silence. It seemed they could hardly believe the creature had finally fallen. But as reality began to sink in, they let out sighs of relief. Hong Yeon-hwa and Song Cheon-hye each spoke. ¡°We got it...!¡± ¡°We did it...!¡± Rumble, Just then, a distant roar echoed, snapping everyone back to attention. Though the strongest Alpha Ogre had been defeated, the ogres it had summoned still remained. To ensure our safety, we had to take them down as well. Song Cheon-hye suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s split into pairs again.¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± We split into three pairs and rushed forward. But while the other two teams quickly took off, Seo Ye-in and I couldn¡¯t move. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°0%...¡± It seemed that her battery had drained completely after the series of intense battles. With no other choice, I turned my back to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Let¡¯s take down just one or two more ogres, then we¡¯ll rest. Hop on.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in climbed onto my back and wrapped her arms around my neck. I then launched myself forward with her on my back. *** ¡°Grrrrrr...¡± The ogre couldn¡¯t withstand the onslaught and collapsed onto the ground. Sssssshhhh¨C There were no more loud roars or heavy footsteps to be heard, only the continuous sound of pouring rain. The one we had just defeated was the last. As if to confirm this, a notification message appeared in the corner of my vision. [Main Quest 1] (Completed) [Starting calculation.] Chapter 192: The End of the Midterms Chapter 192: The End of the Midterms When I looked back on what I had done, It started with apprehending the Blood Cult elder to reduce the danger level of the main quest. [Successfully secured a Blood Fury Pill.] [Rewards have been enhanced.] I swiftly secured a Blood Fury Pill in advance and handed it over to the disciplinary committee members. [Ogres defeated: 9] [Rewards have been enhanced.] [Alpha Ogre defeated.] [Rewards have been greatly enhanced.] By defeating the Alpha Ogre and multiple Ogres, I was able to drastically reduce the casualties among the other students. [Injured: 72] [Casualties: 0] [Rewards have been greatly enhanced.] And so, while injuries were inevitable, there were no deaths at all. As a result, the reward level shot up several tiers. [You have acquired ¡®Enchantment (F)¡¯.] One of the powerful abilities that once stood shoulder to shoulder with Copy, Amplification, and Monarch had returned. It was also a skill that greatly contributed to my nickname, ¡°The S-Rank Factory¡±. I¡¯ll take my time to thoroughly inspect everything once I exit the dungeon. Even though a storm had swept through, the midterm exam was still ongoing. In that case, wasn¡¯t it the duty of a seasoned player to make sure to grab all the benefits available? ?Crystals Red 100% x2 Blue 100% x3 Green 100% x2 Yellow 100% x1 Red 0% x1 Green 0% x1 Blue 0% x2 I had already completed one set of crystals, charged the extras at the sanctuary, and even got more from the Ogres¡¯ drops. I had more than enough, even to the point of overflowing. So first, I sought Seo Ye-in¡¯s permission. ¡°Is it okay if I use the extra crystals?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head casually. I asked for permission since we shared points as teammates, but I knew she¡¯d easily agree because she wasn¡¯t really interested in the practical evaluation. Next, I approached the duo of Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Soo-ji. The two were utterly exhausted and sitting haphazardly on the muddy ground. ¡°How many crystals did you collect?¡± ¡°...Only two yellow ones.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol replied with a bitter expression on his face. As expected, they hadn¡¯t gathered much, and to make matters worse, both were the same color. Typically, on the third day of the midterms, the most crystals are dropped and recharged. However, the Blood Fury Pill incident erupted on that critical third day, and they had spent all their energy dealing with the Ogres. Now, even if they rushed to the sanctuary, it would be too late, and if they clashed with other teams, they¡¯d be guaranteed to lose. It seemed they had no choice but to settle with the two yellow crystals. I threw them a casual remark. ¡°You guys are in luck. I happen to have two of each color except yellow.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± ¡°Why would I lie? If you don¡¯t want to believe me, then don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I believe you. What do you want in return?¡± Of course, the concept of ¡°free¡± didn¡¯t exist in my vocabulary. Especially now, when the value of crystals was even higher. If I were to hand over three, they¡¯d have to pay an appropriate price. Knowing this, Kwak Ji-cheol immediately asked what I wanted. I smiled and answered. ¡°An emerald. B-rank would be ideal.¡± ¡°...Are you telling us to get it outside?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I mean.¡± ¡°...Hmm.¡± Besides, there was no rule saying they had to pay immediately. They could settle the payment after the midterms, once they were outside the dungeon. The two exchanged glances with each other. Judging by their interested expressions, they were almost convinced. ¡°How much do you have left now?¡± ¡°-5...¡± Wait, it could drop below 0%? With the exam over, there was no reason for her to stay, so I told Seo Ye-in to go get some rest. ¡°Get plenty of sleep over the weekend, and I¡¯ll see you on Monday.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Seo Ye-in responded to my goodbye with a slow wave of her hand before trudging out of the dungeon building. Next, Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Soo-ji came over from another class. As promised, Jeong Soo-ji handed me a large emerald. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No, we should be the ones thanking you.¡± I quickly accepted it and stored it in my inventory. Although my business with the two of them was now concluded, Kwak Ji-cheol hesitated as he was about to leave and looked at me. His mouth was slightly moving as if to say something. Then, after looking away, he finally spoke. ¡°...I, uh, I also wanted to thank you. For everything. I¡¯ll make sure to repay this debt.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be expecting it.¡± I¡¯m not the type to turn down something if it¡¯s offered. Kwak Ji-cheol then fully turned his back on me and walked away. He was even faster than Jeong Soo-ji. Watching him go, I thought it was about time for me to leave as well, so I started to move. ¡°Hey.¡± But Song Cheon-hye and Han So-mi called out and stopped me for a moment. It seemed they had just returned after reporting to Lee Soo-dok. Han So-mi cheerfully raised a hand and extended it toward me. ¡°You did great! High five!¡± ¡°Yeah, you too. Good job.¡± I raised my hand to meet hers, and we exchanged two quick high fives, smack, smack. Song Cheon-hye also gave me a slight nod. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Thanks to your early warning, we were able to handle the situation before it got worse.¡± ¡°You too. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect you to gather up ten people.¡± It¡¯s only right to acknowledge each other¡¯s efforts. From Song Cheon-hye¡¯s perspective, she was grateful that I quickly informed her of the emergency and helped plan a response. From my perspective, things were made easier because she had brought along the disciplinary committee members in droves. If it had been just a group of four instead of ten, the damage inflicted on Alpha when I used the [Paralysis Scroll] would have been less, and we would have had to fight off at least one or two ogres after the second phase began. Perhaps she felt awkward after the rare exchange of compliments between us, Song Cheon-hye looked around nervously and said, ¡°Well... have a good weekend.¡± ¡°Bye!¡± ¡°Yeah, you too.¡± Even after the two of them left the dungeon building, I still had to exchange a few more farewells. Hong Yeon-hwa waved hesitantly before leaving, Park Na-ri shyly expressed her thanks, and Bum rubbed his forehead against my knee a few times before retreating into his cube of life which was his personal hideaway. Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol kept me back and eagerly went over the battle against the ogres and Alpha Ogre in detail. When these two get together, they can be surprisingly chatty. Only after that did I finally find myself alone. I guess it¡¯s time to head out. I needed to organize what I gained today and plan my next steps. So, once again, my final destination would be the training center. The midterms had just ended, but for a stagnant water player like me, there was no such thing as rest. *** Back at the dormitory, Seo Ye-in efficiently got ready for bed. She was always lazy and sluggish, but in moments like this, she showed a bit of diligence. Before she knew it, Seo Ye-in was dressed in her pajamas and had burrowed into her bed. She clung tightly to a large tiger plushie. It was their first reunion in three days. Seo Ye-in was about to close her eyes when, ¡°......?¡± She slowly reopened them and looked at the tiger plushie. Then she tilted her head. She felt as if something had changed. It was hard to pinpoint, but it felt less comfortable than before. The tiger plushie was right there as always, so what had changed? However, Seo Ye-in was far too sleepy to figure out the reason. So, she hugged the tiger plushie again and closed her eyes. Soon, the soft sound of her breathing filled the room. *** TN: She got a favorite human Chapter 193: They Slept Close Together? Chapter 193: They Slept Close Together? Underground Floor of Dungeon Building. In some dungeon. This place, with towering castle walls, was a [Defensive Battle] themed dungeon where the goal was to work with the soldiers stationed in the fortress to repel the attacking monsters. However, everything was now submerged in black puddles and rotting away. ¡°.......¡± A woman in a black robe stood on the castle walls while looking down at the scene. Her demeanor was as natural as if she were looking out the window and thinking, ¡°The weather is nice today.¡± At that moment, the sound of someone¡¯s heavy footsteps came up the castle wall stairs. When the footsteps finally stopped behind her, the robed woman spoke. ¡°Elder.¡± ¡°Commander.¡± The identity of the footsteps was a man in a martial arts uniform, a Blood Cult elder. The robed woman kept her gaze fixed beyond the castle walls as she spoke. ¡°As I recall, you mentioned that the results of the midterm exams had already been decided.¡± ¡°An unexpected variable has intervened. I didn¡¯t expect those rookies to be so strong.¡± If things had gone according to plan, there would have been a tremendous number of casualties caused by the berserk ogres. The plan was to crush the promising young heroes and undermine public trust in the Dragon Slayer Academy. There were quite a few injuries, but there were no deaths. Even the Alpha Ogre, who had two Blood Fury Pills injected into it, was subdued by the first-year students. It would be hard to understand how even second-year students would manage to subdue such a strong foe without taking any damage. However, could a single phrase like ¡°an unexpected variable intervened¡± cover up this mistake? The robed woman¡¯s side had also taken many risks to seize control of the dungeon, but they had gained nothing in return. ¡°It¡¯s quite disappointing. We may need to reconsider our alliance with the Blood Cult.¡± ¡°I understand that the Commander is upset. The fault lies with my inadequate preparations, so I apologize. But wouldn¡¯t it be a pity to dismantle the alliance already?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Naturally, the two had prepared several things besides the Blood Fury Pill. It was disappointing to discard all of them just because the initial plan had gone awry. ¡°So, let¡¯s set aside the responsibility for now and discuss the next plan. This time¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but we¡¯ll have to talk about that later.¡± The robed woman interrupted. The man in the martial arts uniform also sensed something and turned his gaze beyond the castle walls. Two figures were walking towards them through the black puddles as if taking a stroll. One of them was a well-known figure that could be recognized even at a glance by the man. ¡°......the Human Butcher.¡± Lee Soo-dok with a fierce glint in his eyes, Beside him was Seo Cheong-yong who was smiling warmly. *** They¡¯re probably going to have a fight. There had been an incident where control over the midterm dungeon was seized, but the academy wasn¡¯t going to just sit back and let it happen. Among the many skills available, there was one that could track the previous owner of an item. If they used that skill on the Blood Fury Syringe, it would likely pinpoint their location. Therefore, it was expected that a significant battle would break out somewhere in the underground levels. They¡¯ll manage to pull themselves out of it somehow. They were too strong to fall in one place. Still, after facing some intense heat, they would be considerably weakened, so things would be quiet at least for a while. During that time, I had to keep getting stronger and prepare for their next move. So it was time to solidify my foundation. I first checked the [Enchantment] I had received as a reward for completing the main quest. [Enchantment (F)] ?Grants a skill/trait possessed by the caster to the target. ?Rank of the granted skill/trait: -3 ?Duration: 3 minutes ?Cooldown: 1 hour It was a powerful skill but it came with several restrictions. While it allowed the caster to transfer a skill, the power of the skill would be greatly reduced in the process. For example, when a C-rank skill was granted, the recipient would receive an F-rank skill which was three ranks lower. Of course, as the rank of [Enchantment] increased, the degree of rank reduction would be mitigated. The short duration and long cooldown were similar to Amplification, and this too would improve as the skill rank increased. There was also another restriction that wasn¡¯t mentioned in the skill description: You have to match it somewhat to the class. For example, giving a magic-type skill to a warrior like Go Hyeon-woo would be pointless, and giving a marksman skill to Hong Yeon-hwa would just make it better for her to keep using magic instead. Despite these restrictions, the fact that you could temporarily add an additional skill or trait to someone was an incredible advantage. Next, I looked at the Fixed Pins. Currently, the items registered in the Copy Slots were as follows: ?Copy ¨C Skills [2/2] ¡°Ugh.¡± The thought alone made her shudder. Hong Yeon-hwa grimaced and moved twice as far away from Baek Jun-seok. ¡°?? What is it now?¡± Baek Jun-seok asked in confusion, but she didn¡¯t respond. As Hong Yeon-hwa continued to wrestle with her thoughts, a question arose. Could it be that her understanding was wrong? Is it possible for close friends to sleep together like that? However, she wasn¡¯t comfortable asking just anyone about this. There was only one person at the Dragon Slayer Academy she could pose such a deep question to. So Hong Yeon-hwa bought a cup of coffee at the cafeteria. As usual, it was the kind she always drank¡ªan espresso with endless shots, a coffee that tasted like oil. Then she arrived at the Ruby Tower club room and handed the coffee to her older sister, Hong Ye-hwa. ¡°Unnie, coffee.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the occasion? Anyway, thanks.¡± Since the two sisters had almost identical tastes, Hong Ye-hwa had no trouble drinking the oily coffee. When Hong Ye-hwa sipped her coffee, Hong Yeon-hwa who had been hesitating finally spoke up. ¡°Unnie, I have something I¡¯m curious about...¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone I know....¡± ¡°Someone you know, huh. And?¡± Hong Ye-hwa nodded her head slowly. Of course, she was already guessing that this ¡°someone¡± Hong Yeon-hwa knew was probably Hong Yeon-hwa herself. It was quite common for someone to say, ¡°This is about my friend...¡± when they were embarrassed to talk about themselves. ¡°So, this person... they paired up with someone of the opposite sex.¡± ¡°For the midterms?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Keep going.¡± Hong Ye-hwa continued sipping her coffee and started reminiscing. She went to that deserted island too when she was a first-year. It was pretty fun for her. It felt like camping. Hong Yeon-hwa continued her explanation. ¡°So, on that deserted island... they slept at night...¡± ¡°Mhmm, and?¡± ¡°Well, at night... they slept close together.¡± Whoosh¡ª! The coffee in the cup burst into flames and evaporated. Hong Ye-hwa then stood up and slowly approached her sister with her palm engulfed in a blazing flame. And she questioned her with a stern expression on her face. ¡°Hey, Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Huh? Huh?¡± ¡°Tell me straight. Who¡¯s the guy?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa blinked in confusion. She was startled by her sister¡¯s sudden change in demeanor. ¡°Is that... really important?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s important! Why wouldn¡¯t it be? Who is it, Baek Jun-seok?¡± This time, Hong Yeon-hwa jumped in surprise. ¡°Why would Baek Jun-seok even come up?¡± ¡°Then who is it? Tell me! Quickly!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t understand. Was this really something to get so upset about? It was someone else¡¯s story anyway, wasn¡¯t it? Still, seeing her sister¡¯s fierce expression, she felt she had to answer. ¡°Kim Ho. But why is this so important?¡± ¡°Kim...!¡± Hong Ye-hwa felt a wave of dizziness and clutched her forehead. She told her to get along with Kim Ho, and now they¡¯re dating? And they slept together during midterms? Soon, the dizziness turned into a burning fury and a fiery smack to the back erupted mercilessly. Smack! Smack! With each smack, Hong Ye-hwa spat out her words. ¡°You little! Already! Acting! So shamelessly!¡± ¡°Ouch! Why? What for? Why are you hitting me?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa who didn¡¯t understand a thing got her back scorched by the fiery smacks. It was quite some time before she got a chance to explain herself. Chapter 194: 10th Week Duel Battle (1) Chapter 194: 10th Week Duel Battle (1) On Monday, When I entered class, I heard that both Teacher Lee Soo-dok and Teacher Seo Cheong-yong had been absent for a few days. I guess they went to confront the hostile forces inside the Academy. My hope was that Teacher Lee Soo-dok and the other staff members would take care of them on their own, but that seemed unlikely. The opposite is true as well. If the ones I knew were involved, they would likely choose to retreat rather than fight to the death. So I dismissed any worries about the teachers getting into trouble. The duel battle class was taken over by the Monster Ecology teacher, Ms. Cho Ok-soon. Even though it wasn¡¯t her area of expertise, there was no issue in teaching the first-year students. However, if I had to point out one problem outside of the lesson itself, it was that whatever she taught, the students couldn¡¯t help but doze off. Teacher Cho Ok-soon casually looked around the devastated classroom and said, ¡°This week¡¯s topic for the duel battle class is closely related to ecology.¡± Then she wrote one large word on the blackboard and three smaller ones underneath it. [Environment] [Friendly], [Neutral], [Hostile] ¡°The environment can be classified as friendly, neutral, or hostile depending on the situation. So, what would be considered a friendly environment?¡± Song Cheon-hye who was barely managing to stay awake raised her hand. ¡°Would a fortress be considered a friendly environment?¡± ¡°That depends on the perspective. Of course, from the standpoint of the defenders, a fortress is indeed a friendly environment.¡± The defending side fights from a stronghold. They were protected by sturdy walls and positioned on advantageous terrain. If an environment provides even a small advantage to your side, it can be considered friendly. Teacher Cho Ok-soon continued her explanation. ¡°The environments you¡¯ve encountered in duel battles and strategy battles so far mostly fall under ¡®neutral environments¡¯. The circular arena, the deserted island, the forests, the caves¡ªthey don¡¯t favor either side. But what about hostile environments?¡± What if the deserted island gradually floods or the cave keeps collapsing? Survival would become the priority over fighting. ¡°Unfortunately, some dungeons you will face in the future do contain these hostile environments.¡± From the perspective of a boss monster that designs or defends a dungeon, it¡¯s more efficient to make the dungeon environment itself disadvantageous to intruders rather than just placing average monsters or traps. The cunning ones use everything at their disposal. ¡°Therefore, for the remainder of this semester, we will focus on adapting to these hostile environments.¡± The blackboard was wiped clean, and the rules and environment for the upcoming duel appeared. MAP: [Volcanic Zone] RULE: [Deathmatch] [Three-Way Battle] ¡°I don¡¯t need to explain further about [Deathmatch], do I?¡± The match continued until one participant was rendered unable to fight or until a declaration of surrender was received. Considering that the volcanic zone was a hostile environment, The one who lasts the longest wins. ¡°[Three-Way Battle] is literally a rule where three participants are divided into three teams and compete against each other.¡± 1 vs. 1 vs. 1. If a traditional one-on-one duel ended with a winner and a loser, A three-way battle resulted in a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The first participant to fall was ranked 3rd, the next 2nd, and the final survivor claimed 1st place. Points were lost or gained accordingly. ¡°I¡¯ll now take questions. Is there anything you¡¯re curious about?¡± ¡°.......¡± Teacher Cho Ok-soon looked around the room, but no one raised their hand. The rules weren¡¯t difficult enough to warrant any questions. After a brief pause, Teacher Cho Ok-soon continued in a gentle tone. ¡°The good news is that this week, you only need to participate in two matches.¡± Since midterms had just taken place last week, some students might still have been feeling dead tired. The human sloth sprawled across the desk was a prime example. Therefore, with just two matches assigned this week, they were being given a slightly easier schedule. When Teacher Cho Ok-soon wrapped up the class, I just checked the newly arrived side quest. [Sub Quest: 10th Week Duel Battle] ? Objective: Complete 2 duel matches. (0/2) ? Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. ? Reward: Varies based on rank. In previous duel battle side quests, better rewards were given for more victories, and in the three-way battles, the more first-place wins, the better the rewards. So my goal was obvious: ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to face you again if I ever got the chance; looks like I¡¯m in luck.¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s luck?¡± ¡°Of course, this time it¡¯s not a pair match but a duel battle.¡± He must have thought our victory during the midterms was all thanks to Seo Ye-in. Well, it¡¯s true that Spiral Burst isn¡¯t very noticeable. On the other hand, Magic Bullets are highly visible and definitely painful. ¡°.......¡± Son Hyeong-taek kept his eyes locked on me, then made a suggestion to Kang Hee-chan. ¡°Kim Ho bothers me more than you do. What do you think?¡± ¡°I agree.¡± After exchanging glances, both of them stared at me simultaneously. It looked like an unspoken alliance had formed. Their plan was to take me out first and then decide who would be first and second. ¡°How dirty of you.¡± At this point, I had no choice either. I had to play dirty too. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Boom! As soon as the match started, a volcano erupted and the ground shook violently. Fiery projectiles shot up into the sky, while streams of lava began to flow downward. It wouldn¡¯t be long before either one reached this place. And then, Son Hyeong-taek and Kang Hee-chan, ¡°Got you!¡± Simultaneously kicked off the ground and charged at me. Their unspoken agreement was clear; they intended to take me out first. Kang Hee-chan who reached me first swung his longsword horizontally, then diagonally, and then horizontally again. I evaded by stepping back, twisting my body, and retreating further. Then I quickly moved a few more steps to the side, Bang-bang-bang-bang! Because Son Hyeong-taek who had just arrived unleashed a barrage of wind fists. ¡°That guy was always a sneaky one.¡± In the Crystal duel battle, it was understandable since his opponent was Song Cheon-hye, but even in this 2-on-1 situation, he was still throwing in those annoying little attacks. It seemed like this wasn¡¯t his first time doing it either. Bang-bang-bang-bang! He sent out the wind fists with perfect precision. Though he was careful not to interfere with Kang Hee-chan¡¯s attacks. It was the mark of a seasoned expert at this kind of dirty play. Their coordinated attack was quite tricky, so I had to quickly retreat with cautious steps. However, there was only so far I could retreat. The battlefield was completely surrounded by a river of lava. Bang-bang-bang-bang! As I continued to dodge Kang Hee-chan¡¯s sword strikes and Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s wind fists, I felt a burning heat on my back. A quick glance over my shoulder revealed that the bubbling lava was just a few steps behind me. Thinking they had finally cornered me, Kang Hee-chan wore a triumphant smile on his face. ¡°This is the end!¡± ¡°W-Wait a second!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a wait in a fight!¡± I urgently raised one hand, but he was so excited that he slashed his longsword even more fiercely. Just when a long wound was about to be carved into my upper body, I slid past Kang Hee-chan and moved swiftly using Thief¡¯s Step. In an instant, our positions were reversed and I lightly placed my hand on his back. Sensing the imminent danger, Kang Hee-chan¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°W-Wait a second!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a wait in a fight!¡± Booom! Compressed wind exploded and Kang Hee-chan¡¯s body was hurled forward. He plunged into the river of lava with a splash. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± Chapter 195: 10th Week Duel Battle (2) Chapter 195: 10th Week Duel Battle (2) Kang Hee-chan¡¯s health was rapidly depleting. [Kang Hee-chan: 89%] [Kang Hee-chan: 83%] [Kang Hee-chan: 78%] ¡°Kraaaah!¡± Kang Hee-chan desperately swam to escape the river of lava. You can guess how hot the lava river was when you see his swimming speed that surpassed human limits. However, just as he was about to reach the shore, Thwack! A powerful strike hit him squarely on the chin. Kang Hee-chan paused in place, his head twisted diagonally, then he began to bubble and sank beneath the surface. [Kim Ho: 100%] vs [Kang Hee-chan ¨C %] vs I turned my gaze away from Kang Hee-chan who had disappeared into the lava, and looked at Son Hyeong-taek who had delivered the last blow. [Son Hyeong-taek: 100%] ¡°Hyeong-taek, you¡¯re really a bad guy. If you make an alliance, you should stick to it until the end. But you just had to take this chance to stab him in the back, huh?¡± ¡°An alliance can break at any time. I¡¯d rather go solo than team up with a weakling like that.¡± ¡°From where I¡¯m standing, you¡¯re all the same.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you check and see for yourself if we¡¯re really all the same.¡± Boom! The volcano erupted once again, shaking the ground. Fireballs larger than a person¡¯s body fell down like corn. We kept our eyes locked on each other while stepping around to avoid the falling fireballs. Perhaps because he was a martial artist, Son Hyeong-taek moved his body skillfully. Soon, he drew both fists to his chest, then extended them forward in quick succession like a boxer throwing a one-two punch. Pah-pah-pah-pah! I dodged the barrage of wind blasts, then threw out a question. ¡°Planning to finish this from a distance?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of getting close?¡± For Son Hyeong-taek, approaching me would only result in him being pushed back by Wind Force, and he could end up like Kang Hee-chan. Looking back, it seemed he had formed the temporary alliance just to send Kang Hee-chan in first and observe my techniques. It was a cowardly move, but I had to give him credit for using his head. So, even while dodging the wind blasts and fireballs, I nodded my head in acknowledgment. ¡°You analyzed it well. I was planning to push you away if you got close.¡± ¡°At least during this match, our distance isn¡¯t going to close.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s something you¡¯ve overlooked.¡± ¡°......?¡± Wind Force isn¡¯t my only skill. I pointed directly at Son Hyeong-taek with my finger. Whiiing¡ª Wind gathered from all directions to form a whirlwind that bound him in place. He struggled desperately, but it wasn¡¯t enough to break free from the C+ rank Twister. Then one of the large fireballs launched by the volcanic eruption struck him directly on the crown of his head. Boom! ¡°!!¡± [Son Hyeong-taek: 93%] Son Hyeong-taek grew flustered and flailed his arms wildly as he wandered around. His entire body was engulfed in flames and he staggered in confusion. But soon enough, he regained his composure, took a deep breath, and with a loud shout, ¡°Hup!¡± the flames scattered in all directions. It seemed to be a form of protective aura. However, of course I wasn¡¯t just going to stand by and watch after giving him so much time. By the time Son Hyeong-taek was flailing around, I had already closed the distance. His pupils dilated as he noticed me. ¡°W-Wait a second.¡± ¡°Just now, Kang Hee-chan said something like that.¡± He said that there¡¯s no such thing as a wait in a fight. The compressed wind exploded. Boom! Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s body was sent flying in an arc before plunging into the river of lava. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± ¡°See? You¡¯re all the same.¡± [Son Hyeong-taek: 86%] [Son Hyeong-taek: 80%] [Son Hyeong-taek: 73%] His reaction to falling into the lava was identical to Kang Hee-chan¡¯s. I waved to Wang Min-soo. ¡°Hey, Cheon-sam. How¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s Wang Min-soo now.¡± ¡°Still using that alias?¡± ¡°For the time being, yes.¡± Wang Cheon-sam didn¡¯t seem too keen on the topic and quickly changed the subject. ¡°I heard you took down Sa Gong-wook.¡± ¡°More or less.¡± The Black faction of the swordsmanship club still wasn¡¯t fond of me, so Sa Gong-wook and five other swordsmen had been hired to take me out during the midterms. However, thanks to my enthusiastic use of the Spiral Explosion, their attempt failed miserably. I asked about the current state of Sa Gong-wook¡¯s gang. ¡°How are they doing?¡± ¡°Of course, they got thoroughly beaten by Senior Mak Dae-woong. I heard they lost 6 to 3. Is that true?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I, along with three from Seo Ye-in¡¯s group, had faced the six swordsmen, but since Seo Ye-in couldn¡¯t offer much support, it was more like 6 against 2. Despite having the numerical advantage, they were overwhelmingly defeated so Mak Dae-woong must have been furious. Maybe if they had at least brought back some useful information about my Spiral Explosion, it could have been different, but with the Blood Fury Pill incident, the replay probably didn¡¯t even get saved. That seemed to be enough about Sa Gong-wook and his gang¡¯s current situation, so I decided to focus on the duel battle ahead. ¡°I need to ask you a favor.¡± ¡°What now?¡± When Wang Cheon-sam asked, I gestured toward Hong Yeon-hwa with my eyes. ¡°Have a match with her using your full strength. Make sure the replay is set to private.¡± ¡°Wi-With me... ?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected suggestion. It would be shocking for her to suddenly be told to duel without much discussion. I spoke to her as well. ¡°Give it a try. It¡¯ll be a good experience.¡± Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam were in the assassin class, which was practically the natural enemy of a battery-type mage like Hong Yeon-hwa. If Hong Yeon-hwa who was a promising student were to face Jang Moo-geuk, she¡¯d likely be taken down in an instant, but Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s skill level was closer to 0.8 of a promising student. With that in mind, it should at least be a decent fight even if her class put her at a disadvantage. However, Wang Cheon-sam frowned. He was clearly not thrilled by the idea. ¡°I don¡¯t see why I should do that. Wouldn¡¯t it just be helping you out?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how you feel, then fight me instead.¡± ¡°........¡± Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s complaints immediately died down. In the previous 2-on-2 duel, he had charged at me but was taken out in a single blow after being hit by a Wind Force combo. Even when he teamed up with Jang Moo-geuk under Mak Dae-woong¡¯s orders, he was struck by Wind Force and flung far away. The result this time wouldn¡¯t be much different. In fact, there was a high chance the outcome would be even worse. After all, rivers of lava were flowing everywhere. I gently persuaded him, ¡°Just think of it as doing me a favor.¡± ¡°...Hmm, alright.¡± Wang Cheon-sam reluctantly nodded his head. The three of us then reviewed our agreement. First, Hong Yeon-hwa and Wang Cheon-sam would face off to determine who would take second place. Wang Cheon-sam would reveal his hidden skills and fight as an assassin, and the replay would remain private. Meanwhile, I would take a step back and merely observe. Once everyone was ready, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Boooom! As soon as the battle commenced, the volcano unleashed a barrage of fireballs. A huge fireball that was as large as a house flew directly toward me, but I didn¡¯t even think about moving. I just stood still in place. Boooooom! The area where I stood became engulfed in flames. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Kim Ho: 100%] However, there was no way a mere fireball could penetrate an S-rank elemental resistance. I could probably take a full-body bath in lava and still maintain 100% health. ¡°.......?¡± ¡°.......?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa and Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s faces were filled with disbelief. They checked the scoreboard, looked at me burning brightly, then checked the scoreboard again. I politely extended my hand to the speechless pair. ¡°Please finish what you were doing.¡± Chapter 196: 10th Week Duel Battle (3) Chapter 196: 10th Week Duel Battle (3) Hong Yeon-hwa trembled slightly as she watched Kim Ho burn brightly. I-I knew it would turn out like this... This was why she had wanted to avoid the match. Not even the enhanced Fire Pillar had left a mark on him, so how could mere flames or lava have any effect? She wondered if there was any way to deal damage to that man. Wang Cheon-sam was having similar thoughts. His endurance is incredible... From the moment he first encountered Kim Ho until now, he had never once managed to land a hit. Seeing Kim Ho maintain 100% health even in the midst of the raging flames, it was clear that his endurance was extraordinary as well. Even if by some stroke of luck an attack did land, it wouldn¡¯t even leave a scratch. He would likely be sent flying into the lava before that could happen. So, Hong Yeon-hwa and Wang Cheon-sam reached the same conclusion. Against Kim Ho, there was no chance of victory at all, so, This is ultimately a fight for second place. In truth, Wang Cheon-sam didn¡¯t mind this outcome. It wasn¡¯t often he got the chance to compete against someone of this caliber. If he could secure a victory against Hong Yeon-hwa, he might finally gain some recognition in the swordsmanship club. Besides, didn¡¯t Kim Ho even ensure the replay wouldn¡¯t be shared so that Wang Cheon-sam could fully showcase his abilities? The sword at his waist slid smoothly into his hand. His eyes gleamed with a chilling intensity. ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa met his gaze and grew a bit more tense. She instinctively knew he wasn¡¯t an opponent to be taken lightly. She also suspected there was a reason Kim Ho had suggested she take him on. If Wang Cheon-sam were someone who could be turned to ashes with a single fireball, Kim Ho wouldn¡¯t have bothered proposing the match, nor would he have encouraged him to show his true abilities. As Hong Yeon-hwa and Wang Cheon-sam silently locked eyes, Boooooom! The volcano erupted once more, shaking the ground beneath them. In the split second that Hong Yeon-hwa took a half-step to the side to steady herself, Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s figure shot forward with terrifying speed. In a single breath, he closed the distance and thrust his sword toward her. Hong Yeon-hwa quickly leaned to the side and narrowly dodged the thrust. An assassin! Technically, he was from the martial artist class. But specifically, he was an assassin type. He was her complete opposite. Hong Yeon-hwa stepped back to create some distance, but Wang Cheon-sam pressed even closer and continued his relentless sword attacks. Since she couldn¡¯t dodge them all perfectly, small cuts began to accumulate on her arms, waist, and thighs. [Hong Yeon-hwa: 97%] [Hong Yeon-hwa: 95%] [Hong Yeon-hwa: 91%] However, just as Wang Cheon-sam was persistently closing in, he suddenly gave some space. Boom! A fireball had fallen between them. If he had continued his pursuit out of greed, he would have suffered significant losses. Thanks to this, Hong Yeon-hwa had a moment to catch her breath. She quickly activated the spells she had been preparing while dodging. [Flame Orb] [Overheat] Whoosh, A large orb of flame formed at the tip of her wand, which was immediately absorbed into her body. To keep up with the speed of the assassin class, enhancing her physical abilities was the top priority. Wang Cheon-sam closed in again. He aimed three quick thrusts at three key pressure points on her body. Hong Yeon-hwa twisted her body desperately to avoid them. And she surprised herself. Is this... working? Am I really dodging this? All the beatings she had endured during her training with Dang Gyu-young and Kim Ho were finally paying off. She instinctively dodged the sword strikes that she could barely see. Yet, despite this, the situation hadn¡¯t improved much. The class advantage remained unchanged, and she was still on the defensive. Even though evading had become somewhat easier thanks to Overheat, the damage was slowly accumulating. [Hong Yeon-hwa: 87%] [Hong Yeon-hwa: 86%] If this keeps up, I¡¯m going to lose. Her health was steadily draining over time, while she hadn¡¯t inflicted any damage on her opponent. She needed to find a breakthrough. As Hong Yeon-hwa clenched the hand not holding her wand, her fist burst into flames. She thrust it forward. [Fire Punch] She intended to see how her opponent would react to the flaming fist, hoping to devise her next move based on that, but Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s response was unexpected. He thrust his sword directly at her with his blade in front. Swoosh! But then, from the numerous magic circles on the ground, pillars of fire erupted at the same time. When Hong Yeon-hwa waved her wand once, the pillars of fire connected into one and formed a huge wall of flames. [Fire Wall] Whoooooooooooosh¡ª! However, Wang Cheon-sam was as tenacious as they come. [Wang Min-soo: 85%] [Wang Min-soo: 72%] [Wang Min-soo: 61%] He should have faltered when he hit the wall of flames, but instead, he charged straight through. He didn¡¯t care that his health was rapidly draining. But just as he was about to break through the wall of flames, [Fire Punch] Boom! A flaming fist struck him square in the abdomen. Wang Cheon-sam staggered and was pushed back before disappearing into the flames. [Kim Ho: 100%] vs [Hong Yeon-hwa: 61%] vs [Wang Min-soo ¨C %] It¡¯s, it¡¯s over...! Hong Yeon-hwa cheered inwardly as she looked at the scoreboard. Just then, Kim Ho who had been in spectator mode the whole time spoke up. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up. But the next words made her go pale. ¡°Shall we decide who¡¯s first now?¡± ¡°.......¡± Whoosh¡ª A gust of wind blew from somewhere. Lava bubbled right next to her, but Hong Yeon-hwa shivered as she felt a chill. Kim Ho looked at the lava river and said. ¡°Shall we go in together?¡± ¡°N-No, I-I-I¡¯m fine.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa took a step back and her face grew even paler. Even for a fire mage, diving into a river of lava was crossing the line. Before Kim Ho could say anything further, she quickly declared her forfeit. [Kim Ho 1st] [Hong Yeon-hwa 2nd] [Wang Min-soo 3rd] *** After leaving the arena, Hong Yeon-hwa let out a long sigh. At least I held my position.... Second place in a three-way match. She hadn¡¯t gained many points, but at least she hadn¡¯t lost any either. Considering she had competed against a monster and a master assassin, it was a decent performance. However, she had exhausted so much energy that she felt it would be difficult to continue with the second match right away. I¡¯ll just rest for today.... With only one match left to complete her quota and a whole week to do it, it seemed wiser to finish when she regained her strength. When Hong Yeon-hwa started to leave the arena, ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± She once again ran into Kim Ho. Unlike her, it seemed he had already completed his two assigned matches. As Hong Yeon-hwa gave a small nod in greeting and tried to walk past him, ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°M-Me?¡± Kim Ho¡¯s voice grabbed her attention and stopped her in her tracks. When she slowly turned her head with a creak, he casually threw out a suggestion. ¡°Coffee?¡± ¡°C-Coffee? You want to... drink coffee?¡± ¡°When you have time.¡± During the mentoring week, Hong Yeon-hwa had bought Kim Ho a cup of coffee as a thank-you gesture and now he was offering to return the favor. His unexpected offer caught her off guard. Though she still harbored a strange sense of fear towards Kim Ho, there was also a part of her that wanted to get to know him better. In that sense, having a light conversation over coffee didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. There were also a couple of things she was curious about. Two big questions, to be exact. Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Chapter 197: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Unjustly Accused Chapter 197: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Unjustly Accused Hong Yeon-hwa and Kim Ho each bought a cup of coffee at the convenience store and sat side by side on a nearby bench. Perhaps because they had talked over coffee here before, the atmosphere felt a bit less tense. Hong Yeon-hwa fiddled with her paper cup before speaking. ¡°Th-Thank you. For setting up that one-on-one match...¡± Judging from the conversation between Wang Cheon-sam and Kim Ho, it seemed that Wang Cheon-sam not only used a fake name but also hid much of his true abilities. If Kim Ho hadn¡¯t made the request, Wang Cheon-sam would have continued to conceal his strength during the match. In that case, while winning and gaining points might have been easier, she would have remained a frog in the well. On the other hand, even though she had gone through some difficulties this time, she had gained quite a bit. Kim Ho nodded his head slightly. ¡°It was nothing. How was it, facing an assassin?¡± ¡°...It was difficult.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa answered honestly. As someone who always attacked relentlessly during combat, it was almost the first time she had been forced into a defensive position for so long. If the duel battle hadn¡¯t been in a volcanic area that favored her... Although she managed to turn the game around with her strategy in the latter half, it was actually possible because she had been quite lucky in several ways. And if the fireball hadn¡¯t fallen at just the right moment... She likely would have been overwhelmed and lost the match. Curious about how such a skilled opponent had gone unnoticed until now, Hong Yeon-hwa asked. ¡°Uh, Wang Min-soo? Or was it Wang Cheon-sam? What¡¯s his real skill level?¡± ¡°He¡¯s slightly below the level of a promising student. About a half-step to a full step lower.¡± ¡°...He¡¯s not a ¡®promising student¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± This information shocked Hong Yeon-hwa. If she struggled this much against an assassin who was a step below the promising level, then against a true promising student-level assassin, she might not just be pushed into a defensive position but could lose the match the moment it began. To avoid such an absurd defeat, she needed to start preparing and improving her skills now. So, Hong Yeon-hwa sought advice from Kim Ho. ¡°How do you deal with an assassin...?¡± ¡°You just have to watch carefully and dodge.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s a bit much.¡± Kim Ho made an absurd suggestion without batting an eye. Of course, for him, dodging a barrage of attacks would be a simple task. Still, wouldn¡¯t it be better to give advice that matched her level so she could at least attempt it? Perhaps realizing this, Kim Ho took a sip of his coffee before speaking. ¡°I noticed you weren¡¯t using any defensive magic.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because...¡± Up until now, she hadn¡¯t just neglected defensive magic; she hadn¡¯t even been interested in it. She thought it was more advantageous to throw another fireball rather than waste time setting up a shield. But now, the situation changed. She had faced various opponents in both duel battles and strategy battles and in some cases, she had realized that attacking alone wasn¡¯t always the best strategy. It was time to address the areas she neglected. ¡°If you have any skill recommendations...¡± ¡°Try learning something from the armor or barrier categories, whichever suits your style.¡± ¡°Which one is better...?¡± ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d learn both.¡± Now that she thought about it, there didn¡¯t seem to be a need to choose just one. She had heard that it was quite common to layer barriers on top of armor. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll look into it.¡± ¡°One more thing. Go for the ones with long casting times.¡± ¡°...Ah!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyebrows shot up at Kim Ho¡¯s added remark. These were powerful spells with the drawback of long casting times. In a battle where every second counted, a lengthy casting time could be fatal. However, for someone like Hong Yeon-hwa who had an exceptionally fast casting speed, it wasn¡¯t much of a problem. She could use powerful magic with relatively few drawbacks. Defensive magic with long casting times. I should look into spellbooks when I get back. With that, her path for the near future was decided. But there was one more thing Hong Yeon-hwa wanted to ask. In some ways, this question was even more important than the previous one. It was about the relationship between Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in. However, she hesitated for a moment before speaking. Is this... something I should even ask? The other party was Kim Ho, and even if the other party wasn¡¯t Kim Ho, it seemed like a tricky question to ask directly. But she couldn¡¯t keep this to herself forever. The curiosity that had started during the midterms was still lingering in a corner of her mind and tormenting her. ¡°How do you plan to check if it¡¯s really that comfortable?¡± Was he actually agreeing to this?? It was a development she hadn¡¯t anticipated at all. But by now, the conversation had gone too far to stop. Hong Yeon-hwa averted her gaze. She started looking around as she spoke. ¡°Maybe... if I lean on your... shoulder...?¡± Kim Ho seemed to think for a few seconds before nodding slightly. ¡°Go ahead, lean on me.¡± ¡°Huh, huh?¡± ¡°Lean on me.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious too.¡± This was the first time Seo Ye-in and Kim Ho had slept together like that. And it was also the first time Kim Ho had discovered he had such an effect(?). But it wasn¡¯t clear if it only worked on Seo Ye-in or if it would work on others too, so he figured it was a good opportunity to experiment. ¡°Well, then...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa hesitated for a moment. She was wondering if this was the right thing to do, but it was too late to back out now. Besides, she was just a step away from satisfying her curiosity. She just had to set her embarrassment aside for a moment and try leaning on him. Hong Yeon-hwa who was still sitting on the bench slowly inched closer to Kim Ho. And when she was almost right next to him, she cautiously tilted her head to the side. Her head touched his firm shoulder. Oh, this...? It was surprisingly comfortable. It was hard to put into words, but it was unexpectedly comfortable. Considering that she was in a somewhat awkward position, it was even more surprising. J-Just a little more... Hong Yeon-hwa decided to revise her initial plan of just lightly resting her head. She moved even closer to Kim Ho, then leaned her head against him in a much more comfortable position. And when she closed her eyes, This is really comfortable, isn¡¯t it? Was this why Seo Ye-in fell asleep in just five seconds? If she stayed like this any longer, she felt she might doze off as well. But unfortunately, that moment didn¡¯t last. Kim Ho suddenly got up from the bench. Because of that, Hong Yeon-hwa almost toppled over to the side. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Mhmm, hello.¡± Judging from the conversation, it seemed he was exchanging greetings with someone. And that someone¡¯s voice was very familiar. Hong Yeon-hwa quickly opened her eyes and her face immediately turned pale. Someone who should never have been there was standing before her. It was none other than her older sister, Hong Ye-hwa. It seemed she had just stopped by the convenience store to buy something and was on her way out when she spotted Kim Ho and Hong Yeon-hwa. The two of them were cuddled up close together. ¡°.......¡± There was a gentle smile on Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s lips, but her eyes were anything but warm. She fixed her gaze on Hong Yeon-hwa and slowly gestured for her to come over. Despite breaking out in a nervous sweat, Hong Yeon-hwa obediently approached her sister. As soon as she did, Hong Ye-hwa placed a hand on her shoulder like a sister showing affection and spoke softly to Kim Ho. ¡°Sorry, I need to have a little chat with her. I¡¯ll be taking her with me.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± When Kim Ho bowed his head, Hong Ye-hwa lightly waved her hand before starting to walk away. Hong Yeon-hwa who was being practically dragged along kept glancing back and silently pleading for help. But Kim Ho only stood there and watched them grow distant. After all, this wasn¡¯t something he could interfere with. Soon, a cold voice whispered in Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s ear. ¡°.... Someone you know?¡± ¡°N-No, Unnie, it¡¯s not like that...¡± ¡°Mhmm, enough. Just follow me.¡± Any explanation could wait until they got home. Dark clouds loomed over Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s future. *** TN: Loll. Well, this could be from a skill he has, like Monarch or something. But it also could be just because they like him. Chapter 198: Butler’s Chance Chapter 198: Butler¡¯s Chance I just stood there blankly and watched the Hong sisters grow distant. Judging by the cold look Hong Ye-hwa had given her younger sister, it was clear that a full-blown sibling quarrel would break out once they returned to the club room. ¡°......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa kept looking over her shoulder with pitiful eyes, but I had no reason to get involved in the fight between sisters. I didn¡¯t even know exactly why they were arguing. So this was something Hong Yeon-hwa had to resolve on her own. But was it comfortable or not in the end? I had offered up my shoulder to test the comfort of Kim Ho¡¯s pillow, but with Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s sudden appearance, I didn¡¯t get to hear her review. She did bury her head into it quite comfortably, but I would have to hear from her directly to know for sure. For now, I decided to put that matter on hold. I recalled the notification message I had just received. [Side Quest: 10th Week Duel Battles] (Completed) ? Objective: Complete 2 duel matches (2/2) ? Reward: Rank Up (E) I finished both matches in first place and thus achieved the highest completion of this side quest. I already had a plan for how to use the E Rank Up I earned. I¡¯ll use it for [Enchantment]. Copy, Amplification, Monarch, Enchantment. These were skills and traits that were very difficult to rank up since they were powerful. In fact, the effort to obtain a Rank Up was less taxing than trying to raise the rank of these skills and traits directly. So, using it here was the best option. But I can¡¯t use it yet. The Rank Up (E) I had just received was an item that raises an ¡°E-rank¡± skill to D. In other words, I would first need to raise the current F-rank of Enchantment before I could use it. Come to think of it, Miss Seo is in a similar situation. Seo Ye-in also acquired [Bullet Time] in the downtown area, putting her at F-rank, and then earned an E-rank Rank Up at the game center. Likewise, she needed to break out of F-rank before using her Rank Up. This works out perfectly. Since we both had similar conditions, it seemed like a good idea to train together. We¡¯d need a ¡°special device¡± for the training, but I could go get that now. Maybe it¡¯s time to use the butler card again. *** I met Seo Ye-in again after the sun had set. She looked disheveled overall, with a stray lock of hair sticking out like an antenna. ¡°Did you sleep at the dorm?¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Seo Ye-in replied with a small yawn. I had wondered if she¡¯d slept in the classroom all this time, but it seemed she had at least made it to the dorm. ¡°Have you rested enough now?¡± ¡°Not enough ...¡± ¡°Still? What percent are you at?¡± ¡°Forty...¡± Even though she had been sleeping since the weekend, she still hadn¡¯t recharged halfway. It seemed Seo Ye-in¡¯s sloth battery was seriously low on efficiency. Seo Ye-in slowly tugged at my sleeve. ¡°Pillow...¡± ¡°You can finish sleeping later. Let¡¯s go see the butler together.¡± ¡°Butler?¡± ¡°Yeah, for our skill training. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s head slowly nodded up and down. We moved to a quiet place. As soon as we sat down side by side, Seo Ye-in quietly leaned her head on my shoulder. I watched her eyelids gradually droop and then I spoke in a firm tone. ¡°You can lean on me, but if you fall asleep, you get up right away.¡± ¡°No...¡± ¡°A week should be enough.¡± In about a week, reaching E-rank would be more than possible. This week, I had extra time since my duel battles had ended on the first day. Besides, both Seo Ye-in and I weren¡¯t exactly lacking in talent. Ahn Jeong-mi immediately took action. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone right away. Please tell me your current location.¡± ¡°Right here.¡± As soon as I shared the location, Ahn Jeong-mi contacted someone without delay. And with a soft smile on her lips, she bowed politely. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the young miss in your care.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll contact you again soon.¡± Not long after the communication ended, a female student came to see us. Judging by the tie pin, she was a third-year senior. ¡°Kim Ho?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± She really came right away. I looked at the senior and was impressed by Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s efficiency. Although there wasn¡¯t a club directly associated with the Hye-seong Group at Dragon Slayer Academy, students known as ¡°scholarship students¡± who received support from the Hye-seong Group, were spread across various clubs. Even if they avoided acting against the interests of their affiliated clubs, handing over favors like this temporarily was no issue. Any losses incurred would be fully compensated by the Hye-seong Group. With that, the scholarship senior casually handed me the special training room pass. ¡°Return it by next week.¡± ¡°Yes, senior.¡± I bowed my head as I accepted the card. Once her task was complete, the senior gave us a brief glance before turning and leaving. I showed the card to Seo Ye-in and said, ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°Special magic bullet lecture?¡± ¡°No.¡± I lightly shook my head and corrected Seo Ye-in¡¯s words. ¡°Kim Ho¡¯s special Bullet Time lecture.¡± *** The training center. At first glance, the special training room didn¡¯t seem much different from the regular one where I used to beat up wooden and iron dummies. However, after operating the terminal, features that weren¡¯t available in the regular training rooms appeared. Among them, the one I was looking for was: [Cooldown Reduction %] It was the cooldown reduction function. Depending on the setting, the cooldown time for the skills and traits that Seo Ye-in and I possessed would decrease. Without hesitation, I set it to the maximum. [Cooldown Reduction 5%] [Cooldown Reduction 20%] ...... [Cooldown Reduction 90%] The cooldown for an F-rank Bullet Time was five minutes. With a 90% reduction, she could use it again every 30 seconds. On top of that, with occasional amplification boosts, it could be reduced even further. With this, we had all the conditions necessary for our training. ¡°Now, let¡¯s begin the ¡®Return¡¯ of Kim Ho¡¯s special Bullet Time lecture.¡± Clap, clap, clap¡ª Seo Ye-in gave a silent round of applause with her fingers. I took out the items I had prepared one by one. Then I set up a small folding table in the middle of the training room and placed a pot on top of it. Pop! I picked up a toy hammer. ¡°This time, the training event will be a toy hammer game.¡± Chapter 199: Hammer vs. Pot Chapter 199: Hammer vs. Pot I first explained the rules of the toy hammer game. ¡°Let¡¯s play rock-paper-scissors. Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± I chose paper, and Seo Ye-in chose rock. Kim Ho wins. I picked up the toy hammer from the small folding table and lightly tapped it on Seo Ye-in¡¯s head. ¡°The winner gets to attack with the toy hammer. Again, rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± This time, I chose scissors, and Seo Ye-in chose rock. Seo Ye-in wins. Seo Ye-in slowly brought the toy hammer toward my head, as if asking, ¡°Is this how you do it?¡± I nodded and flipped a pot over to place it on my head. Then, the toy hammer lightly tapped the small pot. ¡°The loser defends with the pot. Got it so far?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°And if you grab the wrong thing, it¡¯s a foul. Like if you win rock-paper-scissors but pick up the pot, or if you lose but pick up the toy hammer.¡± ¡°Foul, okay.¡± In summary, when you win or lose at rock-paper-scissors, you have to quickly grab the right tool from the table and succeed in either attacking or defending. It was a game that required a decent amount of quick reflexes. Seo Ye-in seemed a little interested, but mere curiosity wasn¡¯t enough. If I wanted to keep this up all week, I needed stronger motivation. So I decided to offer a light reward. ¡°If you win 10 times, you get a wish ticket. How about that?¡± ¡°...A pillow?¡± Seo Ye-in was always true to her desires. She has been strangely obsessed with me since she slept soundly on Kim Ho pillow during the midterm exam. She even leaned on me the entire time while talking to Ahn Jeong-mi. Since it wasn¡¯t something I couldn¡¯t grant with a wish ticket, I nodded without hesitation. ¡°A pillow¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°10 wins...!¡± Seo Ye-in became even more fired up with my approval. It seemed she was determined to quickly rack up 10 wins and claim me as a pillow. It won¡¯t be that easy. Whether she could even manage one win, let alone ten, against me remained to be seen. Before starting, I raised the rank of [Enchantment] by two levels using Amplification. [Used ¡°Amplification¡±.] [The rank of ¡°Enchantment¡± has increased. (F -> D)] Next, I passed a skill to Seo Ye-in using [Enchantment]. [Used ¡°Enchantment¡±.] [You have granted the skill ¡°Wind Force (C+)¡± to the target.] [The rank of the granted ¡°Wind Force¡±: E] [Cooldown time: 00:03:58] When passing a skill with F-rank Enchantment to someone else, the rank drops by three levels, but with D-rank Enchantment, it only drops by two. Additionally, as the rank increased, the cooldown time significantly decreased, and the 90% reduction effect of the special training room further cut down the time. As a result, she could use this powerful skill once every four minutes. During training, if she just kept using it each time the cooldown finished, escaping from F-rank in her skill was practically guaranteed. Whirrr¡ª Seo Ye-in who was curious about Wind Force summoned gusts of wind here and there. However, since it didn¡¯t match her class, it only made her hair flutter a little. I stepped half a step closer to the table and spoke. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± I chose rock, and Seo Ye-in chose scissors. Seo Ye-in lost. However, by the time she reached for the pot, the toy hammer had already landed on her head. Thwack! ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± I chose scissors, and Seo Ye-in chose rock. Seo Ye-in won. But before she could swing the toy hammer halfway, it was blocked mid-air by the pot. Clang¡ª! A clear sound echoed through the room. Both of us calmly put down what we were holding back on the table and continued our game of rock-paper-scissors like nothing had happened. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± This time, I won again. Because Seo Ye-in had focused her Bullet Time on the toy hammer battle, I regained the upper hand in rock-paper-scissors. So once again, I won. Flash! Just like before, Seo Ye-in immediately used Bullet Time but I had already anticipated it. I just stood still with the toy hammer in hand and waited as the short duration of Bullet Time quickly passed. And in the next moment, Thump!! I struck her gray hair with the toy hammer like lightning. ¡°Don¡¯t use it too hastily. You need to time it better.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod. Her already few words seemed to grow even fewer. The game of rock-paper-scissors continued, along with the back-and-forth of the toy hammer and pot. I kept adjusting my speed, swung the toy hammer, then paused, then swung again, and repeated the rhythm over and over. I wanted to help Seo Ye-in find the perfect timing without using Bullet Time too early or too late. Though she still got hit more often than she blocked, Thump, thump, thump! Clang! Thump, thump, thump! Clang! She¡¯s keeping up well. The number of successful blocks was noticeably increasing. As a result, my hit rate was noticeably decreasing. It meant her skill was improving rapidly. As always, her talent was monstrous. At this rate, she would probably reach E-rank even before using the full week I had expected. ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± I threw scissors, and Seo Ye-in threw rock. I lost. I instinctively reached for the table to defend myself. But the spot where the pot should have been was completely empty. Seo Ye-in had already taken it. Why¡¯d she grab the pot when she won? I lifted my head with that question in mind, and immediately had to widen my eyes in shock. ¡°Hey, you¡ª¡± I saw Seo Ye-in swinging the pot at me with a full swing. Clang¡ª!! *** Due to an unfortunate accident, the toy hammer game and Bullet Time lesson were temporarily halted. ¡°Hold your hands up properly.¡± ¡°...Sorry.¡± The offender, Seo Ye-in, stood with her hands raised above her head as a punishment. When I glared at her, she slowly averted her gaze. I approached her and asked in a questioning tone, ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡ªShake head¡ª ¡°No, that pot swing was full of emotion. You were angry, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...A little?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s okay to get angry. But does that mean it¡¯s okay to hit someone with a pot?¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡± I held the pot¡ªthe weapon and evidence of her crime¡ªright in front of her eyes. ¡°Do you see this? Do you see what you¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°A Kim Ho-shaped pot.¡± She had hit me so hard the pot was deeply dented in the shape of my head. Seo Ye-in was curious and poked at it with her fingertips, but quickly raised her hands again when I glared at her. I questioned her again while pressing for answers. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°I regret it.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t hit me with a pot again, right?¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± ¡°Put your hands down.¡± When Seo Ye-in lowered her hands and stepped closer, I stuck my hand inside the pot and pushed hard. The Kim Ho-shaped pot was flattened with a creaking sound, but the dents remained, leaving it uneven. Looks like I can¡¯t use this for cooking anymore. I borrowed it from the kitchen. Still, there shouldn¡¯t be any problem using it to block the toy hammer. I placed the pot on the table and said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± The toy hammer game went on late into the night. However, the once-clear ¡°Clang!¡± sound from the now-dented pot could no longer be heard. Chapter 200: I’ve Had Some Free Time Lately Chapter 200: I¡¯ve Had Some Free Time Lately Kim Ho¡¯s special Bullet Time lecture continued, but at the same time, I needed to prepare for the following week. Next week was a strategy battle week. As usual, we were set to head for the underground floors. So I sent a message to Shin Byeong-cheol. [Kim Ho: Errand] It took quite a while for Shin Byeong-cheol to reply. It was strange considering that he usually answers sharply in seconds. [Shin Byeong-cheol: Store] Even his tone wasn¡¯t the usual cheerful ¡°Where are you, customer-nim~¡± but instead felt strangely stiff. I brushed it off, thinking maybe he was having a rough day. Who knows, maybe he got another wooden cup from a random box. When I arrived at the convenience store, Shin Byeong-cheol didn¡¯t show up yet. Instead, a familiar face caught my eye. Dang Gyu-young smiled broadly and waved her hand. I gave a polite bow. ¡°Hello, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Noona.¡± ¡°Hello, noona.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± After exchanging light greetings, I stood in front of the store and gazed off into the distance. Dang Gyu-young came up beside me and asked, ¡°Waiting for someone?¡± ¡°I was supposed to meet Shin Byeong-cheol here.¡± ¡°Byeong-cheol¡¯s not coming.¡± ¡°?¡± When I gave her a puzzled look, Dang Gyu-young smiled and repeated, ¡°Byeong-cheol¡¯s not coming.¡± ¡°...Did he get purged?¡± ¡°Purge? Why would I purge him? I¡¯m here in his place. You were going to ask him to run an errand, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the kind of request that requires someone of your rank to show up in person.¡± ¡°Of course I know that.¡± It seemed like she had a pretty good idea of what kind of errand I had in mind. Actually, I have never asked for any other requests besides asking for a guide for the underground floors of the dungeon. Dang Gyu-young grabbed my hand and pulled me along. ¡°Let¡¯s sit and talk. What do you want to drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good with anything.¡± I wasn¡¯t the type to refuse anything offered to me for free. So I ordered a coffee as usual, while Dang Gyu-young went for a latte loaded with syrup and cream. I noticed before that she seemed to have a preference for sweet and creamy drinks. With our drinks in hand, we headed to the terrace on the second floor and took a seat. After exchanging a few trivial remarks, Dang Gyu-young brought up the main topic. ¡°You¡¯re heading down next week, right?¡± ¡°I have to.¡± Currently, the map fragments in my possession were A and C. The map was still incomplete. I needed to find the final piece to complete the map and resolve the conflict with the swordsmanship club. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Dungeon 410.¡± Dang Gyu-young flipped through her notebook for a moment to check the dungeon information. ¡°[Sealing Demon Chests], D-rank. How long will it take? Last time, it took you all night.¡± ¡°This one¡¯s short.¡± Story-wise, it was connected to the previously cleared Great Eagle Escort Agency or Great Eagle Escort Mission, but the major difference was that the rule wasn¡¯t [Escort]. So, as long as I get in and clear it quickly, I can get out without any issues. Dang Gyu-young nodded her head coolly and took a sip of her latte. ¡°Then I¡¯ll assign Byeong-cheol as your guide for that one. Anything else? Is that all?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll probably enter one more.¡± ¡°With that handsome guy again?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯ll go.¡± I always explored the underground floors with Go Hyeon-woo, and this time was no different. However, Dang Gyu-young seemed to have a question pop into her mind as she tilted her head slightly to the side. ¡°Kim Ho, I¡¯ve been wondering about something.¡± ¡°Yes, noona?¡± ¡°Why do you always go with that handsome guy and not bring the pretty one with the gray hair? You¡¯re always hanging out with her otherwise.¡± Why did I keep tackling the underground floors with Go Hyeon-woo and leave Seo Ye-in behind? To be honest, there was no downside to bringing Seo Ye-in along from my perspective. Among the many dungeons in the underground floors, not only were there story dungeons we¡¯d already cleared, but there were also plenty that heavily relied on luck. Bringing someone like her, who was practically a lucky charm, would make clearing those dungeons easier and bring better rewards. ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Call me noona.¡± ¡°Yes, noona.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled happily, but then another question seemed to pop into her head. ¡°But Kim Ho, how did you even figure all that out?¡± ¡°Well, after graduating more than 200 times, you kind of pick up on things.¡± ¡°Flawless logic.¡± Dang Gyu-young pouted her lips. It seemed she thought I was using the ¡°200 graduations¡± excuse whenever I didn¡¯t feel like explaining. But it¡¯s true. *** ¡°Rock, paper¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªscissors.¡± Flash! Seo Ye-in¡¯s gray eyes gleamed sharply. She narrowly blocked the toy hammer I swung at her. A dull sound echoed from the dented pan. In the next round of rock-paper-scissors, Seo Ye-in won. Just as I lifted the dented pan, Flash! Seo Ye-in entered bullet time once again. The toy hammer swung slightly off course and brushed past the side of my head as it veered beside the pan. Seo Ye-in stared at me intently. ¡°......?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll count that as a win.¡± Though it only grazed me and wasn¡¯t a direct hit, I gave her credit for using bullet time at such a precise moment. After playing the toy hammer game for days on end, Seo Ye-in¡¯s bullet time skill had improved significantly compared to before. My 100% hit rate had dropped to nearly half, and Seo Ye-in¡¯s attacks occasionally landed. And so, her accumulated win count was now eight. But after a few more rounds of rock-paper-scissors, ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in turned her gaze to the side and just stared into empty space. It seemed a notification message had appeared. I asked to confirm. ¡°Did your rank go up?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Good work. Use the Rank Up right away.¡± As soon as Seo Ye-in pulled out and used Rank-Up (E), a bright light filled the special training room. Fwoooosh! Bullet Time, Rank D achieved. Thanks to using Enchantment here and there, I also managed to raise my rank. I recalled the notification message that had popped up a while ago. [The rank of ¡®Enchantment¡¯ has increased. (F -> E)] [Used ¡®Rank-Up (E)¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Enchantment¡¯ has increased. (E -> D)] We didn¡¯t even reach the halfway point of the week, yet both Seo Ye-in and I had already met our goals. That meant the next step was, ¡°Let¡¯s go do a duel match now.¡± We needed to test out her upgraded Bullet Time in real combat. But Seo Ye-in slowly shook her head before pointing at the toy hammer and pot on the table. ¡°......Still only eight wins.¡± The wish ticket required ten wins, so she meant to get the last two wins before heading out. Now that Bullet Time had reached Rank D, this kind of repetitive training no longer served much purpose. I had already honed her proficiency to the level I intended. Still, I couldn¡¯t just declare, ¡°No wish ticket for you!¡± and leave it at that. If it were just 2 or 3 wins, maybe, but to let all her hard work getting to 8 wins go to waste would likely crush her motivation completely. Maintaining trust was important too. After some thought, I proposed a compromise. ¡°Then, since the next match is a three-way battle, how about we count each first-place finish as a win?¡± ¡°......!¡± Click, Seo Ye-in loaded her magic gun. The fire in her eyes already showed her burning determination. ¡°I¡¯ll take them down.¡± Chapter 201: Bullet Time Chapter 201: Bullet Time Hong Yeon-hwa was dragged to the Ruby Magic Tower where she endured harsh trials. She tried her best to explain herself, but being caught leaning comfortably against Kim Ho made it impossible for her to talk her way out of it. On top of that, her explanation had plenty of issues. ¨C No, seriously, when you lean on him, you sleep really well! ¨C Hey! Hong Yeon-hwa! Are you out of your mind!? ¨C You should try it too! ¨C Yaaaaah!! Thinking about it rationally, no one would believe a person had the properties of a perfect pillow for a good night¡¯s sleep. It would only sound like, ¡°I like him.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa realized this fact long after the argument with her sister had ended, just before going to bed. That night, her mind was unusually clear... Because of these overlapping misunderstandings, it seemed Hong Yeon-hwa would have to endure her sister¡¯s suspicious glances for a while. On the other hand, there had been some noticeable improvement in her skills. Defensive magic. Hong Yeon-hwa who had always focused solely on attack after attack had finally turned her attention to defense. This made Hong Ye-hwa overjoyed. Though she wasn¡¯t too thrilled that it was Kim Ho who had given her that advice. The Ruby Magic Tower had no reason to withhold support for a promising student of their own, so they immediately provided Hong Yeon-hwa with everything she requested. Two spellbooks from the [Barrier] series and one from the [Armor] series. One of the [Barrier] books had arrived first, so Hong Yeon-hwa spent the last few days learning and practicing it. And now. She was in the arena, preparing for a match. It was to test her new magic in a real battle and to finish the one remaining match. ¡°Hmph.¡± A relaxed smile played on Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s lips. She had gained a lot of confidence from mastering such powerful magic. If she were to face Wang Cheon-sam again, she felt she could easily overwhelm him. In truth, Kim Ho and Wang Cheon-sam were only exceptionally strong compared to their scores; any other opponent in the 600-point range would be no match for her. Even if they ganged up on her, she was confident she could burn them all down. However... When the match was set and the names appeared on the scoreboard, the smile on Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face slowly faded. [Hong Yeon-hwa 714 points] vs [Seo Ye-in 730 points] vs [Kang Hee-chan 658 points] Why...? Why is my match luck always so miserable? In the first match, an assassin and a monster appeared, and in the second, a marksman showed up. Considering that mages were inherently weak against marksmen, this match was bound to be extremely difficult. Hong Yeon-hwa glanced around and her eyes caught sight of someone with gray hair. Seo Ye-in, and in front of her, Kim Ho. Those two are always together. They claimed they weren¡¯t dating, but it was hard not to wonder when you see them like this. Seo Ye-in occasionally nodded slightly while listening to whatever Kim Ho was saying. Normally, she gave off a strong impression of wanting to quit everything and go to sleep, but today, she was brimming with energy for some reason. It was clear she had the mindset of someone determined to win at all costs. Having that gunslinger girl as her opponent was already bad luck, but on top of that, she was full of motivation. For Hong Yeon-hwa, this was bad news. Haah, such is my fate... She let out a small sigh before stepping into the teleportation magic circle and entering the arena. A volcanic zone surrounded by rivers of lava. A volcano in one corner of her field of view seemed ready to erupt at any moment. Across from her, two opponents appeared one after another. For Hong Yeon-hwa, Kang Hee-chan was a stranger. Judging by his longsword, he seemed to be a warrior type. His cautious gaze was something Hong Yeon-hwa was used to receiving. After all, it was widely known that she was a promising student. Kang Hee-chan then glanced at Seo Ye-in and his brows furrowed slightly. It seemed there was some bad blood between them. Even so, he occasionally snuck side glances at her. While Kang Hee-chan tried to act as if nothing was happening, it was painfully obvious to Hong Yeon-hwa. She is pretty, after all. Even as a fellow woman, Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t help but admire Seo Ye-in¡¯s beauty, so she could only imagine how the men must feel. The information she could gather from these subtle exchanges of glances was limited; the rest would have to be assessed once the match began. Once everyone was ready, the countdown quickly started. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Fireball] Dozens of fireballs and flame arrows, each the size of a fist, rained down on him. ¡°Kuaaah¡ª!¡± Kang Hee-chan slashed through some with his longsword and took others with his body as he desperately pushed forward, but there were far too many. Even after enduring the barrage, dozens more were conjured. She was linking multiple spells with frighteningly quick casting. In the end, Kang Hee-chan never reached Hong Yeon-hwa. He fell into an incapacitated state and vanished from the arena. [Hong Yeon-hwa: 100%] vs [Seo Ye-in: 100%] vs [Kang Hee-chan ¨C %] Despite defeating one opponent with ease, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression remained far from bright. In fact, she began casting spells in rapid succession with a more serious demeanor. I need to be prepared. That¡¯s because the remaining opponent, Seo Ye-in, was much more powerful than Kang Hee-chan. She covered the ground with magic circles and replenished her fireballs and flame arrows in abundance. But Seo Ye-in wasn¡¯t going to just stand by and watch. Ratatatatatatata! From somewhere, a barrage of magical bullets broke through the barrier and struck Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Gah.¡± [Hong Yeon-hwa: 100%] [Hong Yeon-hwa: 83%] In an instant, her health had taken a significant hit. There was no way she could block the magic bullets of a gunslinger with a barrier she had barely mastered in just a few days. Moreover, the Reverse Curtain was actually a close-range defensive spell. Flames erupted from the destroyed part, but the distance between them was too far for it to reach the enemy. One way or another, she was at a disadvantage against a gunslinger. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in soon revealed herself after deactivating her invisibility. Her emotionless gray eyes were fixed on Hong Yeon-hwa. Hong Yeon-hwa shouted in protest. ¡°That¡¯s too unfair!¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking you down.¡± With a brief remark, Seo Ye-in charged forward. At the same time, the assault rifle in her hands continuously spewed blue flames. Ratatatatatata! ¡°Ugh.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa felt tears welling up in her eyes as the magic bullets struck her again. The chances of victory had already swung heavily in the enemy¡¯s favor. However, she wasn¡¯t planning to go down easily. She activated all the spells she had prepared in advance. [Fire Pillar] [Flame Arrow] [Fireball] Kwooooom! Dozens of fireballs and flame arrows rained down, all aimed solely at Seo Ye-in. The pillars of fire erupting everywhere further reduced the space to evade. ¡°......¡± Yet Seo Ye-in simply stared at them with her still expression and slightly vacant eyes. Just as the flames were about to engulf her body, Flash! Her gray eyes gleamed with a chilling light. Everything in her sight seemed to slow down as if frozen in time. She could even see each flaming fireball in vivid detail as they blazed toward her. Soon, she spotted a tiny, almost imperceptible gap between the incoming fire spells and the towering pillars of flame. And she calmly slipped through it using Feather Step. In the next instant, her slowed perception returned to normal speed, and behind her, the fireballs crashed down, creating a massive explosion of flames. Boom! Boom! Boom! Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mouth fell slightly open. She dodged all of that...? Despite concentrating so much firepower, she hadn¡¯t expected not to land even a single Fireball. Hong Yeon-hwa pouted as she found herself staring down the barrel of Seo Ye-in¡¯s gun. Why... Why...? Why can¡¯t I ever be happy...? The magic rifle roared again and started spewing blue flames. Ratatatatatata!! Chapter 202: Kim Ho Pillow Chapter 202: Kim Ho Pillow Seo Ye-in walked out of the arena in nearly the same condition as when she had entered. Just from that, I could already guess the outcome, but I asked to confirm. ¡°What place?¡± ¡°First place.¡± ¡°Very good.¡± On the other hand, Hong Yeon-hwa looked completely different from when she had gone in. She had entered with a fair amount of confidence, but now she trudged out with a gloomy expression. Since they had entered and exited at the same time, I asked, ¡°Did you two fight?¡± ¡°She¡¯s finished.¡± Since the distance was not far, Hong Yeon-hwa must have heard this. And her sad gaze turned towards us. Seo Ye-in stared at Hong Yeon-hwa for a moment, then slowly extended her fingers to make a V-sign. ¡°......¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡± ¡°Not good?¡± I gently folded Seo Ye-in¡¯s fingers back. ¡°Mhmm, it¡¯s not polite.¡± Even I, who had grown accustomed to all sorts of unsportsmanlike behavior, tended to hold back right after a match and usually offered encouragement to my opponent. Provoking anger for no gain went against my principles. At the same time, I grew curious about the match. How did they fight for her to end up looking so dejected again? ¡°Let me see the replay.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± When Seo Ye-in handed me the replay, I began to fast-forward through it. Perhaps curious about my thoughts, Seo Ye-in peered into the crystal ball with me, and even Hong Yeon-hwa who had been about to walk away hesitated and glanced over. I gave my thoughts without taking my eyes off the replay. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Reverse Curtain. You¡¯ve learned that well.¡± ¡°Good decision after taking down Kang Hee-chan.¡± With each comment, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression brightened ever so slightly. Once the replay ended, I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and said, ¡°You did well. Don¡¯t be too down about the loss.¡± ¡°...Thanks.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa slowly nodded her head, then turned and walked out of the arena. I thought I heard a faint sniffle from somewhere. As I watched her retreating figure for a while, Seo Ye-in gently tugged on my sleeve. ¡°Praise me too.¡± ¡°Yes, you handled it wonderfully.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s strategy wasn¡¯t bad at all. The fact that she had trained enough to use the Reverse Curtain in a real battle after only a few days was certainly commendable. The unfortunate part was that her opponent was a marksman, and that marksman happened to be Seo Ye-in, who possessed overwhelming talent. If it had been any other long-range fighter, they might have been defeated when Hong Yeon-hwa concentrated her fire magic in the final moment. But Seo Ye-in calmly observed the barrage from all directions and waited for the perfect moment to activate Bullet Time. She found the tiniest gap in what seemed like an impenetrable attack and slipped through it. It was flawless, with no room for criticism. A perfect execution of her skill. Seo Ye-in who was now tugging at my sleeve more insistently leaned in closer. Her gray eyes sparkled. ¡°I came in first place twice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Wish ticket.¡± We had agreed that after she won ten games in the hammer game, I would grant her a wish. However, since Bullet Time had ranked up during the competition, she ended with eight wins. We decided that coming in first place in two matches would count for the remaining wins. Seo Ye-in had effortlessly secured first place in both matches. I nodded my head. ¡°Yes, you did so well, I have to keep my promise. A pillow?¡± ¡°Pillow...!¡± *** Seo Ye-in and I returned to the special training room. I asked one last time. ¡°Are you sure your wish is to sleep using me as a pillow?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Each time, the crystal orb showed me bustling city streets with cars moving swiftly, or a high-altitude mountainous region where the clouds seemed within reach. But nowhere could I find any trace of the dimensional crow. The points I spent 100 at a time accumulated and eventually reached around 2,000 points. ¡°I found it.¡± I peered intently into the crystal orb with gleaming eyes. The scene inside was an arena where a fierce match was underway. A student participating in the dungeon raid was locked in a life-and-death struggle with their opponent. The spectators erupted in cheers with their voices shaking the stadium. In the midst of the commotion, I glanced at the highest point of the stands where a crow was watching the match. However, this crow¡¯s appearance was far from ordinary. It was much larger than a typical bird, and it wore a tall top hat on its head. Adding to its peculiar look, it was dressed in an aristocratic suit and even held a bag in one hand. The Crow Tailor. It was exactly the dimensional crow I had been searching for. After analyzing where the tailor would appear next, I sent a message to Dang Gyu-young. [Kim Ho: Found the crow.] [Dang Gyu-young: Where??] [Kim Ho: Go to No. 294.] [Dang Gyu-young: Okay. I¡¯ll get it ready.] [Dang Gyu-young: (Round Fox Emoji)] With this, the preparations for next week were complete. While progressing through the dungeon raid, I would take a brief detour and meet the Crow Tailor. Whatever I asked of the creature, it wouldn¡¯t be free, but I had already prepared the payment. Crows like shiny things, after all. For example, something like a jewel. Even better if it was imbued with magic. Fortunately, I had a large ruby that I had received from Hong Yeon-hwa, A relatively small emerald from Kwak Ji-cheol, And a large emerald I had exchanged for several midterm crystals from Jeong Soo-ji. This should be more than enough to cover the cost of the request. After calculating everything, I subtly turned my head to the side. Seo Ye-in who was fast asleep came into view. ¡°She¡¯s really sleeping soundly.¡± Quite some time must have passed while I was checking through all the replays, but she showed no sign of waking up. She had finally gotten her hands on the ¡°Kim Ho pillow¡± so of course, she¡¯d want to sleep as deeply as possible. However, I couldn¡¯t let her sleep forever, so I decided it was time to wake her up. As proven by Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s research, the method for waking this human sloth is quite simple. You just take away the pillow. And right now, I was the pillow. So with a swift motion, I pulled away from Seo Ye-in. When the shoulder pillow she had been leaning on disappeared, Seo Ye-in¡¯s body tilted to the side and she slowly slumped onto the floor. ¡°......?¡± In that position, Seo Ye-in barely lifted her eyelids. She rolled around, then reached out and groped the air. ¡°Where are you...?¡± ¡°I¡¯m right here, young miss.¡± Of course, ¡°here¡± was quite far from where Seo Ye-in currently lay. Seo Ye-in weakly gestured in my direction. ¡°Come back...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day for your nap. It¡¯s time to get up.¡± Or she could just finish her nap back at the dorm. However, Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t seem convinced. She voiced her complaint while still lying on the floor, ¡°You... promised...¡± ¡°I did promise. But...¡± What Seo Ye-in had wished for with her request was to use me as a pillow. However. We never agreed on ¡°how long¡± she could use me. In other words, whether she could use the Kim Ho pillow for an entire day or just an hour was entirely up to me. ¡°These days, premium items come with time limits.¡± ¡°How could this be...?¡± Seo Ye-in had just experienced the bitter reality of time-limited items. Chapter 203: 11th Week Strategy Battle (1) Chapter 203: 11th Week Strategy Battle (1) When I told her that the usage period for the Kim Ho pillow had expired, Seo Ye-in returned to the dormitory with a very dissatisfied expression on her face. The remaining weekdays and weekend of the duel battle week were spent adjusting and fine-tuning the skills I had. Monday. Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong returned to class as if nothing had happened. Judging by the lack of noticeable injuries, it seemed that a full-scale battle hadn¡¯t occurred, just as expected. The fact that it took them quite a while to return probably meant they had chased after the enemies but ultimately lost track of them. Perhaps because of this, Lee Soo-dok openly displayed his frustration, and the students had to endure class in a state of extreme tension. On the other hand, Seo Cheong-yong showed no change at all from his usual self. As always, he carried on the lesson with his characteristic friendly smile. ¡°We have a very important announcement this week,¡± Seo Cheong-yong raised his hand slightly and continued. ¡°Alright, how about raising your hands? Who here has a score of over 5,000 points in the strategy battle?¡± ¡°......¡± Those ranked at least mid-tier in the strategy battle should have already surpassed 5,000 points, and even those below that likely had around 4,000. The students slowly raised their hands while glancing at each other. More than half of the class had their hands up. I passed that a while ago. Before the midterms, my accumulated strategy battle score was already 5,040 points. Adding the 2,250 points from the midterms brought the total to a staggering 7,290 points. In terms of the strategy battle alone, I was ranked near the top. Even before the midterms, my accumulated strategy battle score was already 5,040 points. Seo Cheong-yong glanced lightly around the room before he spoke. ¡°Students who have surpassed 5,000 points will now be allowed to access the underground floor starting today, during each strategy battle week.¡± ¡°.......!¡± At those words, the faces of the students who had raised their hands lit up, and they exchanged excited glances. Those who hadn¡¯t reached the required points looked on enviously. It was understandable. Up until now, the underground level of the dungeon building had been a restricted area for first-year students, and anyone caught there, even by accident, would be penalized. But now, they had earned the right to confidently go down there. Seo Cheong-yong patiently waited for the excitement to die down. Soon, one by one, the students focused their attention back on him and he continued his explanation with a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s your first time going down to the underground floor, so it¡¯s natural to feel excited. But that doesn¡¯t mean you should let your guard down, right?¡± Dungeon strategy battles aren¡¯t a walk in the park. Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s usual gentle demeanor turned serious. Since situations like this were rare, the students listened to him seriously. ¡°First, the most important thing to be aware of. There are no safety mechanisms in the underground dungeons.¡± The dungeons on the ground floor, which we had entered for practice, were all artificial with various safety devices installed in layers. For example, there was a practice mode allowing multiple attempts, devices that reduced damage and pain, and an emergency escape mechanism that would teleport participants out of the dungeon if their lives were in danger. In contrast, the underground dungeons were all naturally occurring. There were no safety mechanisms at all. If the raid went wrong, one might not only suffer severe injuries but could even lose their lives. ¡°So, if you want to tackle the underground floors, it¡¯s best to thoroughly research and prepare, review how your seniors cleared it, and watch their replays before you go in. Of course, the more dangerous and difficult it is, the greater the rewards will be.¡± Unlike the ground floor dungeons, the underground dungeons provided rewards upon being cleared. For example, Go Hyeon-woo was still making good use of the magic sword he obtained from the Feathered Serpent Altar. I also obtained the priest¡¯s dagger from the Feathered Serpent Temple and attached it to Root, and I secured the Sealing Demon Box from the Great Eagle Escort Agency, which allowed me to rapidly raise the rank of the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger. The random boxes were pretty useful, too. As such, the risks of conquering the underground dungeons were high, but the returns were just as rewarding. If you could continue to clear them steadily, it would be like endlessly mining a gold vein. ¡°Next point, first-year students are only allowed up to the F-floor. You¡¯re not permitted to go any lower yet.¡± At present, we were only authorized to challenge F-rank dungeons, and higher-level dungeons still remained restricted. ¡°I¡¯m of the same mind. You can¡¯t grow if you only seek personal safety.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, let¡¯s head down tonight.¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°If you¡¯re insisting on tonight, we must be going lower.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The deal with the swordsmanship club was to complete the treasure map within this week. However, it was better to secure and deliver this quickly rather than drag it out until the weekend. Go Hyeon-woo nodded and asked. ¡°So what¡¯s your plan for this week¡¯s strategy battle?¡± ¡°I¡¯m planning to finish it right away with her.¡± I pointed to ¡°her¡± lying face-down in the seat next to me. Seo Ye-in who was half-awake by now slowly lifted her head and peeked out with barely open eyes. But before I could say anything, she let her head fall back down. She¡¯s still mad.¡¯ Go Hyeon-woo felt that something was off and asked us. ¡°Did something happen between you two?¡± ¡°I got tricked...¡± Seo Ye-in mumbled while she was still lying down. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s curiosity deepened. ¡°Tricked? By Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°Pillow... limited-time ...¡± ¡°?¡± Go Hyeon-woo looked completely baffled. Well, there was no way he could understand what ¡°limited-time pillow¡± meant without knowing the backstory. Realizing it wasn¡¯t something he should get involved in, he quickly backed off. ¡°Well, I hope you two can resolve things peacefully.¡± ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly perceptive.¡± ¡°Haha, you flatter me.¡± Go Hyeon-woo left the classroom first, saying we¡¯d meet again in the evening. I moved to the seat in front of Seo Ye-in and called to the sloth lying face down nearby. ¡°Excuse me, could you get up for a moment?¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Are you asking for an extension?¡± ¡°Extension...!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s decide based on how you do.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish it...¡± *** The underground level of the dungeon building was still quiet. Even though it had been opened for first-year students, there was still hesitation about going in recklessly. They likely wanted to gather at least minimal information before entering. Of course, this didn¡¯t apply to us. Everything from start to finish was already in my head. If it were a D-rank, we would¡¯ve had to walk down quite a bit, but for F-rank, we only had to take a few steps down the spiral staircase. It was fortunate since it meant less hassle for Seo Ye-in. Soon, Seo Ye-in and I reached the entrance of the designated dungeon. [No. 979] [Lightning Canyon] ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly and get some rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish it.¡± Chapter 204: 11th Week Strategy Battle (2) Chapter 204: 11th Week Strategy Battle (2) Rumble. The sound of thunder echoed as soon as we entered the dungeon. When I looked up, the sky was covered in dark clouds; it was pitch black. Between the clouds, electrical currents surged, with a frequency so high it seemed excessive. It felt like lightning could strike at any moment. Looking down to survey the area, we stood in the middle of a canyon. The width wasn¡¯t very broad, and steep cliffs rose on both sides. A lone statue of a goddess stood nearby. I pointed at it and spoke to Seo Ye-in. ¡°We¡¯re going to protect this. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± If this had been an above-ground dungeon, it would have kindly waited until we were ready before starting with a countdown. But underground dungeons don¡¯t do that. The attack had effectively started the moment we entered the dungeon. The enemies would soon rush in, so there was no time to hesitate. First, the replay. To earn points in the underground dungeon raid, saving the replay was essential. So I took out the replay crystal orb and infused it with mana. As the orb activated, fragmented information appeared. [Kim Ho_Seo Ye-in_979_Lightning Canyon.replay] [Goddess Statue: 100%] [Kim Ho: 100%] [Seo Ye-in: 100%] Next, I called up the week¡¯s side quest and checked it again. [Sub Quest: 11th Week Strategy Battle] ?Objective: Protect the Goddess Statue. ?Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. ?Reward: Varies based on performance. The ¡°performance¡± in this raid wasn¡¯t just based on the remaining health of the Goddess Statue, but also on the average health of Seo Ye-in and myself. How well we endured the hostile environment would also be a part of the evaluation. And the maximum achievement for the side quest? Everything at 100%. We needed to finish with a perfect game to get the best rewards. However, this dungeon, as its name implied, was a hostile environment with a lightning attribute. Even a slight graze could shave off 1%. Lightning was harder to avoid than fire, and the chances of getting hit were much higher. So why had I chosen this place over the other dungeons? Because I won¡¯t lose any points, even if I get grazed. I cast the enchantment on Seo Ye-in. [Used ¡°Enchantment¡±.] [You have granted the skill ¡°Elemental Resistance (S)¡± to the target.] [The rank of the granted ¡°Elemental Resistance¡±: B.] [Duration: 00:09:58.] [Cooldown: 00:39:58.] With an F-rank enchantment, the rank usually dropped by three levels when transferred, but with D-rank, the decrease was reduced to two levels. Even so, two ranks down was still quite a significant drop. But if it starts at S-rank, it doesn¡¯t matter. Even after the two-rank decrease, it was still a solid B-rank. Plus, the duration was a full ten minutes. More than enough time to clear the dungeon. ¡°.......?¡± Seo Ye-in stared at the empty space in front of her. She was probably seeing notification messages about acquiring a new trait and the remaining duration. Soon, her gaze shifted to me, and I spoke in an impossibly arrogant tone. ¡°Do you feel the power?¡± ¡°Strong.¡± I raised my hand and pointed across the canyon. ¡°Go, show them your strength.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish them off.¡± Seo Ye-in confidently moved forward with her magic gun. Since it was an F-rank dungeon, there wasn¡¯t a complex storyline. All we had to do was protect the goddess statue from the enemies swarming in from both ends of the canyon. Just as I thought that, the enemies appeared. Large floating orbs of electricity started drifting toward us. Lightning Spirits. They were literally spirits made of lightning. The attack pattern of the Lightning Spirits was simple. If the enemy got within a certain range, they would shoot electrical currents. If they got any closer, they would self-destruct and cause a burst of electrical explosions. As expected of spirits, their magic resistance was quite high, making it difficult to inflict significant damage with magic. The best method was to apply a certain amount of shock or physical force. ¡°Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in aimed her gun forward. Ratatatata! *** The swarming lightning spirits vanished without a trace. The sky which was once black with storm clouds began to clear, and sunlight started to break through. Bright rays of sunshine shone down like a spotlight on the goddess statue. And naturally, both the statue¡¯s health and our health remained intact. [Statue of the Goddess: 100%] [Seo Ye-in: 100%] A perfect game. Seo Ye-in trudged toward me. ¡°We finished them off.¡± ¡°Good job again. High five.¡± We raised our hands for a light high five, Crackle! But static electricity shocked us, so we quickly pulled our hands away. Seo Ye-in had been struck by lightning so many times that she¡¯d practically become a static-charged sloth. I stayed silent for a few seconds. ¡°Hmm.¡± Then I lifted Root and held it over Seo Ye-in¡¯s head. Her gray hair slowly lifted from the static and clung to my Root weapon. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in slowly raised her head to look up. She reached out and tried to push Root away, but I dodged her hand. After a while, I had a feeling she might throw a pot shot at me, so I decided to stop. When I turned my gaze back toward the goddess statue, I noticed a small box lying there. [Lightning Canyon Random Box (F)] Just a single F-rank box. The dungeon level was low, so it couldn¡¯t be helped. I asked Seo Ye-in. ¡°Want to open it?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I still have the side quest rewards left anyway. Moreover, I still had to rely on her good luck for random boxes dropping in other underground dungeons, so I could generously let an F-rank box slide. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in picked up the random box and stared at it silently for a moment, then casually opened the lid. Flash! In the next instant, instead of the box, Seo Ye-in was holding a piece of parchment with a question mark on it. [Random Rank Up] ¡°Not bad.¡± Even just one of these was a pretty decent item for something that dropped from an F-rank box. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in glanced at the Random Rank Up for a moment, then gave me a questioning look. It seemed like she was asking if she could use it now, so I nodded easily. ¡°Yeah, go ahead and use it.¡± Random Rank Up. An item that allows the user to randomly select one skill or trait they possess and, with a certain probability, upgrade its rank. You had to beat the odds twice, and it wasn¡¯t influenced by any luck-related bonuses. Even when I had gotten Random Rank Ups from the arcade in the city, only one out of three managed to rank up my Inferno Fist skill, which in hindsight was a miracle. In other words, No matter how lucky she is, this one¡¯s bound to fail. I secretly hoped that Seo Ye-in would fail this time. For the sake of her mental growth, shouldn¡¯t even someone blessed with luck taste the bitterness of failure once in a while? Like Shin Byeong-cheol, the woodcup collector. Whether she sensed my thoughts or not, Seo Ye-in used the Random Rank Up with a blank expression on her face. Flash! The parchment slowly began to glow brightly, Fwoosh¡ª! A wave of light seeped into Seo Ye-in¡¯s body. She actually succeeded. She raised her rank with just one scroll. It seems that the bitterness of failure and mental growth would have to wait for another time. Still, it was something to be happy about that Seo Ye-in¡¯s stats had improved. ¡°What did you level up?¡± ¡°Bullet Time.¡± ¡°From D to C?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I blinked in surprise. ¡°What the hell, why do you keep pulling off impossible things?¡± Chapter 205: 11th Week Strategy Battle (3) Chapter 205: 11th Week Strategy Battle (3) It was early evening, just after sunset. Although it was far from bedtime, Song Cheon-hye was already dressed in her pajamas and standing in front of her bed. A soft smile spread across her lips and she dived onto the bed. She rubbed her face against the pillow repeatedly. ¡°Ah~ This is so nice~¡± A small, contented happiness appeared on her face. Today, she was off duty from the disciplinary committee. She was free from the suffocating workload. On top of that, her usual partner Han So-mi was absent due to personal matters, so their strategy battle had been postponed for a few days. As a result, Song Cheon-hye had stumbled upon one of those rare days¡ªmaybe once or twice a year¡ªwhere she had absolutely nothing to do. That was why she had already changed into her pajamas early in the evening. Of course, she didn¡¯t intend to just laze around doing nothing. ¡°Even if I rest, I should rest productively.¡± After rolling around on the bed for a bit, Song Cheon-hye opened the student shop and started browsing through the replay list at a relaxed pace. Even while resting, she figured she could learn something by watching various students¡¯ replays. ¡°Hmm?¡± Her eyes suddenly widened. Something had caught her attention. [Kim Ho_Seo Ye-in_Entry 979_Lightning Canyon.replay] Song Cheon-hye had never admitted it to anyone, but she was actually an unofficial fan of Kim Ho. Ever since she learned how to use the Hummingbird technique from one of his replays, she had purchased and watched almost every single one. It did strike her as odd that Kim Ho hadn¡¯t used the Hummingbird at all recently though. Seo Ye-in also left a strong impression on Song Cheon-hye. Ever since they clashed during the placement exams, she felt a subtle sense of rivalry with her. The fact that Seo Ye-in was showing incredible growth and rising fast only fueled that feeling. Just seeing both of their names was enough to make her buy the replay, but to top it off, the dungeon was called ¡°Lightning Canyon¡±. A lightning-type dungeon. She couldn¡¯t resist the curiosity about how the two had navigated through it. After paying 100 points, a crystal orb dropped into her hand. The replay began to play. The sky was overcast as if lightning could strike at any moment. A narrow canyon, with a statue of a goddess standing at its center. When Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in took their positions at the front and back of the canyon, enemies began to appear. Lightning spirits. They were creatures very familiar to Song Cheon-hye. She had often seen them near the Topaz Magic Tower. This was an F-rank dungeon, so only the weakest creatures appeared, but letting your guard down could be a big mistake. Song Cheon-hye focused a little more on the replay. How would the two of them respond? Whoosh¡ª Kim Ho raised his short spear and pointed it sharply at the lightning spirits. A large whirlwind gathered them into one spot, and the tangled spirits caused a chain of explosions. None of them could break through the whirlwind. Perfect. The whirlwind completely engulfed the narrow canyon. It was as if the magic had been prepared specifically for this dungeon. No, it was likely the opposite. Kim Ho had probably understood the traits of his whirlwind and smartly chosen this dungeon. And Song Cheon-hye had to admit that his choice was an excellent one. However, the battle was so one-sided that there wasn¡¯t much to see, so Song Cheon-hye quickly shifted her gaze to Seo Ye-in. Ratatatatatatata! Seo Ye-in fired her magic gun in rapid bursts. As expected, her skills have improved significantly since the beginning of the semester. Though the lightning spirits fell one by one, Song Cheon-hye couldn¡¯t help but wonder. What will she do next? As the lightning spirits dissipated, they released static electricity, which slowly built up in the narrow canyon and formed lightning rods one by one. And then, just as Song Cheon-hye had predicted, Boom! A bolt of lightning struck down, and waves of electricity spread wide. Seo Ye-in couldn¡¯t avoid it in time and ended up being electrocuted. Fizzzzzzz! They noticed me approaching and each greeted me. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here, customer-nim.¡± ¡°Hello, Kim-hyung.¡± With the three of us gathered, there was no need to mention our next destination. We naturally made our way down to the underground floor. First-year students were now allowed to access up to the F-floor. So we confidently descended the spiral staircase. Unlike before, when Shin Byeong-cheol had been overly cautious, he now led the way and was chatting non-stop. ¡°Hey, I heard you already cleared your strategy battle? And on the underground floor, too.¡± ¡°There was no reason to drag it out. It wasn¡¯t even that difficult.¡± ¡°Hehe, well, you¡¯ve been going in and out of D-rank dungeons like it¡¯s nothing, so F-rank must be a piece of cake.¡± Go Hyeon-woo also had a faint smile on his face, though for slightly different reasons than Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°Judging by your success in the strategy battle, it seems you¡¯ve also made up with Miss Seo.¡± ¡°We never really fought to begin with. Anyway, it¡¯s all sorted now.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s good to hear.¡± I asked Go Hyeon-woo, ¡°Did you bring it? The Dharma Statue.¡± ¡°Of course, I always carry it with me.¡± Go Hyeon-woo pulled the Dharma Statue out of his inventory. It was a hidden piece we had found at an inn near the Black Snake¡¯s hideout, and it possessed two effects. The first was that the statue contained the enlightenment of the swordsman who had carved it. This made it valuable for research on its own. ¡°How has it been lately?¡± ¡°Hmm, the more I look at it, the more there is to learn. But I still can¡¯t grasp its full depth.¡± Go Hyeon-woo said with a faint bitter smile. I casually nodded my head in response. It was only natural for it to be difficult, given that it was carved by a master several levels above us. ¡°Keep studying it, but let¡¯s just use it for today.¡± ¡°Of course. I only borrowed it from you in the first place, so it¡¯s right to return it whenever you need it.¡± Go Hyeon-woo tried to hand me the Dharma Statue, but I raised my hand to stop him. ¡°Hold onto it for now. I¡¯ll tell you when we need it.¡± ¡°Very well. I believe you mentioned it was for a formation, right?¡± ¡°You remember correctly. That¡¯s right.¡± The second effect of the Dharma Statue. It can break through a ¡°specific formation¡±. In a way, it serves as a type of key. And that ¡°specific formation¡± could likely be found in the dungeon we were about to enter. Meanwhile, Shin Byeong-cheol who was leading the way suddenly brightened up as if he had discovered something and shouted with excitement. ¡°Wow, finally!¡± There, an elevator had been installed. Both Go Hyeon-woo and I brightened at the sight. ¡°Finally free from walking, at least for F-rank.¡± ¡°Haha, still, it¡¯s a good thing for us, isn¡¯t it?¡± Up until now, we had to trudge all the way down from the entrance of the underground floor to the D-floor and then trudge back up again. We had passed by elevators and teleportation magic circles, but since we were sneaking in, we had to pretend they didn¡¯t exist. However, now that we had been granted access to the F-floor, we could use the elevator freely. Considering how large the area F-floor covered in the underground levels, the walking distance was significantly reduced. The three of us scanned our student IDs at the terminal in front of the elevator. As soon as we stepped inside, there was a clunking sound and our bodies were rapidly pulled downward at an incredible speed. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s comfortable.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± We all wore satisfied smiles on our faces. The elevator dropped us off at the very bottom of the F-floor, right before entering the E-floor. Since first-year students were still prohibited from entering the E-floor, we put on our anonymous badges and switched our tie pins. As usual, Shin Byeong-cheol took on the role of guide. Though he usually liked to slack off, at this moment he was more serious than ever. He had improved his skills over time, and when he sensed any presence nearby, he quickly led us through this passage and that passage while skillfully avoiding detection. Thanks to that, we entered the D-floor without any issues and reached our target destination. [No.410] [Sealing Demon Chests] Shin Byeong-cheol glanced at the teleportation portal and asked us. ¡°Do I just wait here?¡± ¡°Yeah, just wait for a bit.¡± I¡¯ll be back soon after I finish. Chapter 206: No.410 Sealing Demon Chests (1) Chapter 206: No.410 Sealing Demon Chests (1) It was already late at night, and the surroundings were shrouded in darkness. The only sources of light in the area were the scattered torches burning here and there. In a wide open space that resembled a training ground or arena, hundreds of martial artists stood in formation. Despite their black uniforms and masked faces, they looked to be strangely familiar. It was because we had fought them countless times while escorting the Great Eagle Escort Agency¡¯s caravan. King of Hell Squad One of the powerful military groups of the Demonic Cult. The King of Hell Squad And there, both Go Hyeon-woo and I stood at one corner of their formation. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± We looked at each other at the same time, then lowered our gazes to check our attire. Black uniforms and masks. We were unmistakably members of the King of Hell Squad, warrior A and warrior B. Go Hyeon-woo lowered his voice as much as possible, so no one nearby could hear. ¡°Interesting. This time, we¡¯re proceeding from the Demonic Cult¡¯s perspective?¡± Recover the Sealing Demon Chests. ¡°Yeah. Just following the title.¡± Even the dungeon¡¯s name revealed the objective. This time, I didn¡¯t show Go Hyeon-woo any strategy guidebook since we were going to act together anyway. I could handle the finer details myself. Still, I needed to give him a brief explanation of the current situation. ¡°We transported the Sealing Demon Chests from the Great Eagle Escort Agency to the branch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°But some of them ended up in the wrong hands.¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes flashed with interest. ¡°They were stolen?¡± ¡°It would be more accurate to say they were diverted.¡± ¡°I see. Corruption exists everywhere, after all.¡± Items like the Sealing Demon Chests, which contain powerful demonic energy, often attract those who covet them despite the danger. And there are always those willing to satisfy that greed to fill their own pockets. Go Hyeon-woo clicked his tongue in disapproval. ¡°Foolish. Swallowing something like that is bound to cause serious problems.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s human greed for you. They¡¯re on the verge of a disaster as we speak.¡± The Demonic Cult had been on high alert and following the whereabouts of the Sealing Demon Chests. They had inevitably discovered that a portion had been secretly relocated, and the current situation was that the King of Hell Squad was about to be deployed. ¡°So, all we need to do is follow these guys.¡± ¡°Basically.¡± Like in any dungeon, merely doing the basics would only yield basic rewards. If you wanted more than that, ¡°We have to take the initiative.¡± ¡°I figured you¡¯d have something in mind, Kim-hyung. Am I right?¡± ¡°Of course I do. Let¡¯s go.¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I left the formation and walked forward with slow deliberate steps. Immediately, all eyes were on us. Some looked at us in disbelief, while others sent glares filled with killing intent. We brushed off those stares lightly and continued walking. Standing in the direction we headed was a familiar man in black. He was a middle-aged man. The Vice Commander of the King of Hell Squad. In the escort mission, I had stayed with the injured in the rear and there I fought with the King of Hell Squad led by that vice commander. As a result, they suffered devastating damage from the Inferno Fist and were forced to retreat. Now, he must be the commander. Go Hyeon-woo had taken down the commander back then, so this guy¡¯s rank would have risen by now. Both in terms of the storyline and reality. When his gaze locked onto us, I spoke in the most solemn tone. ¡°The Demon Brain sent us.¡± ¡°.......!¡± The new King of Hell¡¯s eyes blazed with intensity. *** When two members of the group suddenly broke formation, the King of Hell had initially wondered if they¡¯d gone mad and fell victim to demonic energy. But his expression quickly hardened. The aura emanating from these two wasn¡¯t something ordinary. Experts. None of his subordinates had such a powerful presence. Which meant they had infiltrated from the outside. The man in black, who had been approaching slightly ahead, opened his mouth. ¡°The Demon Brain sent us.¡± ¡°.......!¡± His body trembled once more, this time with uncontrollable fear. Even that faint breeze carried an overwhelming sense of pressure. Just how powerful are his martial arts...? A master whose sheer presence caused such pressure. Having offended someone of this caliber, death was only fitting. All the King of Hell could do was keep his head pressed against the ground and wait for his fate. After a moment of thought, the man in black slowly spoke. ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to kill you all on the spot...¡± ¡°.......!¡± ¡°But for the sake of rebuilding the cult, I suppose I¡¯ll have to restrain myself. You¡¯ve survived for today.¡± ¡°...Thank you for your mercy.¡± The man in black waved his hand slowly, and only then did the King of Hell dare to rise from the ground. ¡°I hear there are rats who¡¯ve stolen precious artifacts from the cult.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Golden Elephant Merchants.¡± The King of Hell answered through clenched teeth. While they were locked in a fierce bloodbath with the orthodox sects, these scum had been satisfying their greed in the shadows. Even if what they had taken wasn¡¯t the Sealing Demon Chest, they couldn¡¯t be left alone. It seemed the man in black shared the same sentiment. ¡°By tomorrow, the name ¡®Golden Elephant Merchants¡¯ will no longer exist in the martial world.¡± ¡°.......!¡± ¡°But the Demon Brain is concerned about unforeseen variables.¡± The Demon Brain¡¯s plans were always meticulous. He preferred to eliminate even the slightest chance of failure, no matter the cost. That¡¯s why a master who mastered the demon finger had come here in the first place. The man in black continued. ¡°If an unexpected master is found guarding the Golden Elephant Merchants, we¡¯ll handle them. Once everything is ready, we¡¯ll launch a night raid.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The King of Hell immediately began organizing his forces with precision. As he observed the preparations, the man in black spoke once more. ¡°Do you have a fragment of the Treasure Map?¡± ¡°.....! That¡¯s right.¡± The King of Hell felt a chill deep inside; he wondered how they had figured it out, but if the Demon Brain had given a hint, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. So he obediently took out the fragment and handed it over, though he cautiously added, ¡°I apologize... but what I have is only a portion.¡± The other piece had been stolen by some brat, who was possibly related to Flame Emperor or maybe Flame Emperor himself. The man in black casually accepted the fragment and replied indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± ¡°Are you planning to meet him in person?¡± ¡°.......¡± The man in black silently stared at him. Whoosh¡ª Once again, a gust of wind swept around him and tightened its grip. The man in black had raised his aura once more. The King of Hell felt an even heavier pressure weighing down on him than before. A cold voice whispered in his ear, ¡°Are you curious about what I¡¯ll do?¡± ¡°.......!¡± In that instant, the King of Hell understood. He realized he was daring to gaze into a realm he should not. He bowed his head once again. ¡°I overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me...¡± ¡°Do not question me.¡± ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡± Fortunately, the man in black seemed willing to let the matter pass without making a big issue of it. The King of Hell let out a sigh of relief inwardly, yet couldn¡¯t shake off a lingering sense of unease. ¡°No matter how I think about it... they look familiar....¡± The eyes behind that mask were familiar for some reason. *** Once preparations were complete, the King of Hell Squad began moving stealthily through the darkness. Even though there were over a hundred of them on the move, not a single sound was made, which showed just how thoroughly they had been trained. I followed them at a leisurely pace and maintained an air of arrogance as I walked. Meanwhile, Go Hyeon-woo had remained silently by my side all the while, but after quickly scanning the surroundings, he leaned in closer. Then he expressed his admiration in a whisper. ¡°That was truly an impressive performance. There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Honestly, I thought so too. Chapter 207: No.410 Sealing Demon Chests (2) Chapter 207: No.410 Sealing Demon Chests (2) Looks like I got some help from the Demon Finger. Among the demonic arts, the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger is known to be one of the most powerful. The fact that it makes your index finger freeze is also a prominent feature, which makes it easy to identify. Thanks to that, I was able to convincingly act as a master of the Demonic Cult and swiftly secure the top priority objective in this dungeon. [Fragment of the Treasure Map B] Now it was time to turn my attention to the main objectives of the dungeon. I showed Go Hyeon-woo two fingers. ¡°We have two main tasks.¡± The first is securing the Sealing Demon Chest, which has been repeatedly mentioned from the start. To be precise, it¡¯s to help the King of Hell Squad secure the Sealing Demon Chest. ¡°Of course, they won¡¯t just stand there and let it happen.¡± ¡°I have a feeling there will be a master present.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± When I was talking with the King of Hell, I used vague terms like ¡°unforeseen variables¡± or ¡°unexpected masters¡±. But in reality, a battle with a master is inevitable. It seems that the Golden Elephant Merchants felt uneasy about having stolen the Sealing Demon Chest, as they¡¯ve enlisted a fairly skilled master. They will be a major obstacle in taking down the merchant guild, so how quickly we can neutralize them will be crucial. ¡°The other task is finding the head of this merchant guild.¡± ¡°Since he¡¯s the mastermind behind this whole incident.¡± ¡°Yeah. Actually, it¡¯s fine as long as we find the Sealing Demon Chest, but the head of the merchant guild is offering extra rewards.¡± ¡°Indeed, extra rewards make it even harder to pass up.¡± Go Hyeon-woo, who had been traveling with me, was beginning to adopt the mindset of a stagnant water. The stealthy movement of the King of Hell Squad slowed down and eventually stopped. Ahead of us stood a manor. It was neither too big nor too small and was made up of a few pavilions. The manor was surrounded by fairly high walls for its size, and the signboard at the main gate read: Soon, the King of Hell Squad exchanged signals among themselves and approached the building with a terrifying speed. There were guards stationed all around, but by the time they noticed the King of Hell Squad charging in, it was already too late. ¡°Enemy att¡ª¡± Slash! The guards were taken down in an instant. The King of Hell Squad surrounded the Golden Elephant Merchant Guild and made sure not even a rat could escape. Swish The only sound was the faint rustling of clothes. As I watched the scene unfold with Go Hyeon-woo, the King of Hell commander approached and respectfully reported. ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°Begin.¡± I nodded slightly as I spoke, and the commander signaled with a hand gesture. A sharp whistle echoed through the air, Fweeeeeet¡ª! The King of Hell Squad surrounded the merchant guild and leaped over the high walls all at once. From this point, there was no need for stealth. ¡°Cut them all down!¡± ¡°Sweep them away, leave no one alive!¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I exchanged glances before we too jumped over the wall. Standing atop the wall, we looked down to see the startled faces of the Golden Elephant Merchants¡¯ guards. One of them shouted frantically. ¡°It¡¯s an enemy atta¡ª!¡± That was the last word he ever uttered. Slash! The next moment, his head flew off. The battle erupted, with the sounds of clashing weapons and cries of pain echoing everywhere. Clang! ¡°Guh...!¡± A Golden Elephant Merchant warrior crossed blades to block the attack from a King of Hell Squad member. The two locked swords, trying to push each other back, but the merchant warrior gradually gave way, and soon his sword snapped with a dull crack. The King of Hell Squad member swung his blade again and finished him off. Slash! ¡°Aaaargh!¡± He tossed the fallen opponent aside like garbage and moved on to the next. The Golden Elephant Merchants had apparently spent a lot of money hiring and inviting warriors, but their individual skills were far too lacking to face the forces of the Demonic Cult. Slash! And so they fell quickly before they could even exchange even a few moves. In an instant, their numbers dwindled. As I approached, an axe swung reflexively. Whoosh¡ª I narrowly dodged and closed in even further. Then I jabbed my index finger into a Jeong brother¡¯s swinging arm. ¡°Grrrk...!¡± The Jeong brothers glared at us while trembling violently. Their eyes were filled with a mix of rage and fear. I met their gaze briefly before giving the order. ¡°Finish them.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± The King of Hell Squad members closed in around them and tightened the circle. At this point, there was no need for us to finish them ourselves. The Jeong brothers, who were struggling against the cold of the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, were no match for the King of Hell Squad. ¡°Arghhh!¡± With the Jeong brothers¡¯ screams echoing behind us, we stepped into the manor. The King of Hell Squad members, who had entered earlier, were cutting down everything in sight and overturning every room in their search for the Sealing Demon Chest. We paid them no mind and kept moving forward. Go Hyeon-woo matched his pace with mine and spoke. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve dealt with the masters, only one remains.¡± ¡°Yes, we need to find him.¡± The Golden Merchant Guild Leader. We continued walking until we reached the end of the hallway. The building¡¯s wall blocked our path. Go Hyeon-woo turned his head and quietly asked me what we should do next. I pointed at the wall. ¡°Try cutting this.¡± Without hesitation, Go Hyeon-woo swiftly swung his iron sword twice. Two sword strikes crossed each other in an X shape across the wall. Slash-crack! The wall bore two long scars, but that was all. Go Hyeon-woo asked as he retrieved his iron sword. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a reason for Kim-hyung¡¯s command... isn¡¯t there?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded and placed my hand on the wall. ¡°This, it¡¯s a formation.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Go Hyeon-woo examined the wall closely again and his eyes were newly alert. He traced the scars on the wall with his hand and lightly sent out his energy, but soon his eyes deepened. ¡°I can definitely feel something off. However, I don¡¯t think I can break it on my own.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for today.¡± Breaking a formation begins with recognizing that the formation is there in the first place. Today, Go Hyeon-woo had taken that first step. As he continued to encounter various formations and learn to sense the oddities, he would eventually be able to recognize them at a glance, just like I could. So what do we do about the one in front of us? We already had a very simple solution. ¡°Take out the Dharma Statue.¡± ¡°Ah, of course...!¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes lit up. He finally realized why I had told him to bring the Dharma Statue for this mission. After he pulled the statue from his robes, he asked. ¡°What should I do with it now?¡± ¡°Put it here.¡± I pointed to a corner of the wall. And as soon as the Dharma Statue was placed there¡ª Ssssss¡ª The wall rippled and parted on its own, revealing a short hallway and a hidden room at the end. It had been cleverly disguised as a wall using a formation. We walked down the hallway and stopped in front of the room. Go Hyeon-woo immediately drew his iron sword and swung it. Swish! The door shattered to reveal a middle-aged man hiding inside. From his luxurious attire and greasy sweat-soaked face, it was obvious that this was the Golden Merchant Guild Leader. His face was filled with shock; he clearly never expected anyone to break through the formation and reach him. ¡°H-How did you!¡± ¡°Peekaboo.¡± Chapter 208: No.410 Sealing Demon Chests (3) Chapter 208: No.410 Sealing Demon Chests (3) Go Hyeon-woo and I looked at the Golden Merchant Guild Leader with disdain. ¡°While others are fighting for their lives, you hide here all by yourself.¡± ¡°How can a man be so cowardly?¡± ¡°D-Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± When we took a step forward, the Guild Leader hastily drew his sword and pointed it at us. But there was no need for me to lift a finger. ¡°Drag him out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°At your command.¡± With the formation broken, the King of Hell Squad had already swarmed the place. Since the mastermind behind this whole affair was none other than the Golden Merchant Guild Leader, their gazes were filled with killing intent. ¡°I-I told you not to come any closer!¡± The merchant guild leader swung his sword wildly in the air in a desperate attempt to resist. But the King of Hell Squad rushed in and subdued him in an instant. And soon, what we had been looking for was found. After seeing the merchant guild leader being dragged out in a bloody mess, dragged out as a bloody mess, I searched the room thoroughly. ¡°Here it is, the extra reward.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Inside the small wooden box, a few golden pellets sparkled. [Golden Spirit Pill (C)] The more elixirs, the better. That¡¯s how you can quickly raise the rank of a [Core] that¡¯s stuck in a stagnant zone. If you keep raising the rank of magic while the rank of the core is low, you will struggle with a shortage of mana. Moreover, learning higher-level magic would be impossible if the core¡¯s level was insufficient. So, even if a C-rank core was sufficient for the time being, there would be a need for continuous investment. When we moved outside the manor, the battle had already ended. Needless to say, it was an overwhelming victory for the King of Hell Squad. A few members were moving jars covered with numerous talismans. They had secured the Sealing Demon Chests. Now, neither we nor the King of Hell Squad had any further business with the Golden Merchant Guild. And so, the commander gave the order. ¡°Set it ablaze.¡± Whoosh! Flames erupted from various parts of the manor and quickly engulfed the entire place. Go Hyeon-woo and I stood there watching the fire for a while. ¡°Burns pretty well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Rumble. Just then, the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck, and a teleportation portal suddenly opened nearby. Right in front of it were some chests. [Sealing Demon Random Box (D)] *3 Go Hyeon-woo handed them to me and said. ¡°Judging by the open exit, it seems this is the end.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go.¡± I glanced back briefly, but the King of Hell Squad members were just bustling around as if they were unaware of the portal that just opened. We took one last look at them and crossed through the teleportation portal. *** We exited the dungeon and looked around, but there was no sign of Shin Byeong-cheol. Instead, I noticed a lone bamboo straw standing upright on the ground. ¡°.......¡± I squatted down in front of it before placing my finger on the tip of the straw. After a few seconds, the ground flipped open and Shin Byeong-cheol popped out. ¡°Puhak! Damn it! Are you trying to kill me? Why¡¯d you block that?¡± ¡°Why are you even in there?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask. There was an inspection just now.¡± ¡°When was ¡®just now¡¯?¡± ¡°Uh... about ten minutes ago? Anyway, just now.¡± Faculty members or disciplinary committee members regularly patrolled various spots in the underground floors, and it had happened just moments earlier. If we had cleared the dungeon even a little sooner, we might have run right into the patrolling members. We were lucky to avoid them. I handed a random box to Shin Byeong-cheol and said, ¡°You managed to avoid getting caught too. Here¡¯s your reward.¡± ¡°I was hiding as quiet as a mouse. Thanks.¡± ¡°Are you going to open it right away?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol held the random box in his hand and hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°No, if I open this now, it¡¯ll be 100% a something-cup. I¡¯ll open it later.¡± ¡°You¡¯re holding back, huh.¡± Thanks to getting ¡°burned¡± multiple times, Shin Byeong-cheol had grown more patient. Humans truly grow through failure. ¡°And the odds aren¡¯t that bad for me. Even if you¡¯re not a man, this is the kind of bet you take.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true too.¡± Since it¡¯s a D-rank random box, the probability of a D-rank reward appearing was fairly high. It was a risk worth taking. Shin Byeong-cheol took another deep breath and grasped the lid of the box. ¡°Watch closely... as I hit the jackpot!¡± Flash! The box shone brightly. When we saw the results that followed, Go Hyeon-woo and I looked a bit surprised. ¡°Well, at least you escaped F-rank.¡± ¡°Looks like Shin-hyung¡¯s luck is gradually improving.¡± Despite this, Shin Byeong-cheol didn¡¯t seem pleased at all. ¡°No, why this? No way, seriously?¡± [Golden Elephant Merchant Guild Teacup Set (E)] *** The next day. I contacted Jegal So-so, the vice president of the Swordsmanship Club. It was to finalize the negotiation regarding the completed Treasure Map. When I asked her when I could visit, she told me to come right away. So I headed to the Swordsmanship Club room as soon as class ended. When I stepped onto the floor where the Swordsmanship Club was, I immediately encountered a familiar face. Pang Mi-ryeong. She was the party leader who led the raid for the Black Death dungeon, the victim in this whole situation, and the person I was going to trade the Treasure Map with. Seeing her waiting there, it seemed she had come out to greet me. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± When I bowed my head slightly, Pang Mi-ryeong returned the greeting with a light nod. Because she suffered considerable losses because of me, she initially showed hostility when we first met, but over time, it seemed much of the animosity had faded. Now, her eyes were glowing with anticipation, likely because she had heard that I had completed the Treasure Map. ¡°Follow me.¡± As Pang Mi-ryeong led the way, even a hint of impatience could be seen in her steps. She stopped in front of the vice president¡¯s office and knocked lightly. A soft voice flowed from inside. ¡°Come in.¡± When we entered the office, Jegal So-so greeted us. She handed over the Dragon Well tea she had previously recommended. ¡°You resolved it on the first day of the strategy battle week. I thought it would take a bit longer.¡± ¡°No point in dragging it out.¡± ¡°This is great. Thanks to you, we have more time to prepare.¡± After sipping the tea briefly, we got to the main point. ¡°May I see the pieces?¡± ¡°Here they are.¡± I handed the Treasure Map pieces A, B, and C to Jegal So-so. Pang Mi-ryeong stared intently at them while swallowing nervously. She must have been both excited and nervous. The method to combine the Treasure Maps was quite simple. Align the pieces correctly to ignite the True Fire of Samadhi. Whoosh, Golden flames rose from Jegal So-so¡¯s hand. Moments later, she held a completed Treasure Map in her hand. ¡°This is...!¡± Jegal So-so and Pang Mi-ryeong stared at the Treasure Map in a daze. The front side showed the location of the ¡°secret treasure room¡± inside Dungeon No. 88, [Gathering of Villains]. While the back side had a map of the inside of the secret treasure room. Pang Mi-ryeong let out a low exclamation. ¡°It was real....¡± However, perhaps thinking she shouldn¡¯t appear overly excited in front of me, Jegal So-so opened her fan to cover her face. She then spoke while trying hard to maintain her composure. ¡°You¡¯ve really worked hard. With this, we¡¯ll consider the bidding rights dispute settled.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no longer any bad blood between us. You¡¯ve done well.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong added a word of her own. With this, the conflict I had with the Swordsmanship Club was resolved. But it wouldn¡¯t be fitting for a stagnant water to end things like this. ¡°Now, let¡¯s move on to the next deal.¡± ¡°......?¡± A thick stack of papers appeared from my inventory. It was a detailed strategy guide documenting everything about the dungeon Pang Mi-ryeong was about to enter. The [Gathering of Villains] strategy guide. Chapter 209: The Value of a Strategy Guide Chapter 209: The Value of a Strategy Guide If you have a really important and difficult exam coming up and someone were to wave the exact answer sheet right in front of you. Who wouldn¡¯t want that? And in a dungeon, a strategy guide is like the answer sheet. The value of a strategy guide skyrocketed as the dungeon¡¯s difficulty increased. The biggest reason was that higher-level dungeons required the involvement of more skilled individuals. For example, an F-ranked dungeon might be easily completed by a couple of first-year students, while a B-ranked dungeon might require a swarm of third-year students to fight their way through it just to get out in one piece. The resources you need to enter aren¡¯t light either. Potions and scrolls for healing or buffs, repairs on various equipment. These material resources were just the basics. Clubs had to gather people amidst various conflicting interests, secure a spot in the dungeon, devise a strategy, and put in tremendous time and effort to achieve a successful run. And in all of this, the strategy guide played a crucial role. It boosts efficiency. A dungeon that would normally require an investment of 100 resources could be cleared with just 70 using a guide. From the perspective of the one tackling the dungeon, saving resources meant earning that difference, so it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to value the guide at 30. In addition, Pang Mi-ryeong was the one leading her party. So there was even more value to it. A stable clear of a high-difficulty dungeon would boost her reputation and standing within the club. For these reasons, she was staring at me with burning eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no room for choice here. Name your terms. I¡¯ll meet them as best I can.¡± ¡°That dungeon, its capacity was twenty people, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dungeons had a maximum number of participants allowed to enter. The [Feathered Serpent Altar] that I had cleared with Go Hyeon-woo was a four-person dungeon. Meanwhile, the [Gathering of Villains] that Pang Mi-ryeong was about to conquer was a huge dungeon that allowed up to twenty participants. ¡°Still, I doubt you¡¯ll fill the full capacity¡±. ¡°......¡± ¡°Considering the distribution of rewards... wouldn¡¯t about fifteen people be ideal?¡± ¡°...You¡¯re spot on.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong clearly didn¡¯t want to reveal her plans, but when my guess hit the mark, she had no choice but to acknowledge it. Even in a 20-person dungeon, it was rare to fill all twenty slots. Increasing the number of participants meant that the rewards each person received would diminish accordingly. If ten people shared the rewards meant for twenty, each person would get double. So, it was natural for everyone to want to minimize the headcount as much as possible. Even I had only entered the four-person dungeon with Go Hyeon-woo, just the two of us. However, if you reduce the number of participants too much, clearing the dungeon might become impossible. Failure would lead to big losses and potentially severe injuries for someone involved. Therefore, as a party leader, one needed to strike a balance between stability and rewards. In this case, the optimal number was fifteen. Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s expression hardened. She seemed to realize why I was asking these questions. ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t mean....¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re thinking, Senior-nim.¡± I smiled slightly before continuing. ¡°I¡¯d like you to give me some spots.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°All five remaining spots.¡± ¡°...Ha.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong opened and closed her mouth. She touched the back of her neck and then her forehead. She looked as if she was moments away from shouting, ¡°What? Five spots? You brazen bastard!¡± ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, Jegal So-so who didn¡¯t seem directly involved in the raid stepped back and watched the situation unfold. She hid her face behind her fan, so her lips were hidden, but her eyes curved softly as if she was thoroughly amused. Eventually, Pang Mi-ryeong took a deep breath. She was trying hard to suppress her anger before she spoke. ¡°Hoo... Sorry, but that¡¯s difficult. It¡¯s not something I can decide on my own, and even if I could, I¡¯d oppose it.¡± With fifteen participants, the interests of various factions were already intertwined, so the party leader couldn¡¯t just add five more people at will. If among those five, a first-year student like me who couldn¡¯t even access the depth floors was included, it would be even more troublesome. ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± *** After Kim Ho left the office. For a while, there was silence between Pang Mi-ryeong and Jegal So-so. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± Jegal So-so stared at the closed door as if she could see what was beyond it, while Pang Mi-ryeong was busy verifying the authenticity of the strategy guide. Although there was no reason for Kim Ho to tell a lie that would be caught quickly, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be thorough. So she checked the replays and strategy guides of previous Dragon Slayer Academy students and cross-checked them. After staring at the crystal orb for a long time, Pang Mi-ryeong spoke as if talking to herself. ¡°He¡¯s something else, that guy.¡± ¡°He sure is.¡± ¡°Think we can¡¯t pull him over to our side?¡± Each strategy guide for a high-level dungeon holds immense value. Then, how valuable would a walking strategy guide be? How valuable would someone who had all those guides memorized in his head be? If other factions found out about this, they¡¯d be desperate to recruit Kim Ho with their eyes burning with determination. Securing the strategy guides alone would have been immensely profitable. Even Pang Mi-ryeong had been dragged around during negotiations with Kim Ho. So Pang Mi-ryeong asked the question, thinking they might as well try to recruit him, but Jegal So-so shook her head with a bitter smile. ¡°That would be difficult. He doesn¡¯t use a sword.¡± The first requirement for joining the swordsmanship club was to use a blade as your main weapon. Unfortunately, Kim Ho¡¯s class was a mage and a support mage at that. He seemed to carry a weapon resembling a short spear, but that alone wasn¡¯t enough to make a compromise. And even if Kim Ho switched to a bladed weapon, ¡°He¡¯s not the type to work under anyone.¡± ¡°Yeah, he does seem that way.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong clicked her tongue and acknowledged the truth in her words. From what she had heard, Kim Ho had already received offers from both the Magic Engineering Club and the Thieves¡¯ Club. These were established, mid-to-high-ranking clubs with solid footing inside Dragon Slayer Academy, but Kim Ho had rejected both offers outright. It seemed he intended to remain unaffiliated for the time being. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily bad for us.¡± Jegal So-so snapped her fan shut. A soft smile appeared on her lips. Even if they couldn¡¯t recruit him, the current relationship between Kim Ho and the Swordsmanship Club was quite good. The first contact between them was a bit off, but that was because Kim Ho ignored the priority bidding rights, and even that had been smoothly resolved by now. As long as they maintained this relationship and continued to exchange what they each wanted, they could stay far ahead of other clubs. ¡°And besides, we¡¯re the Swordsmanship Club.¡± ¡°The Swordsmanship Club, indeed.¡± The Swordsmanship Club was undoubtedly the most powerful faction inside Dragon Slayer Academy. They would always offer Kim Ho the best possible conditions. The two of them smiled at each other. Their smiles revealed the pride they felt in their affiliation. Pang Mi-ryeong maintained her smile and began to examine the replay crystal orb again. Likewise, Jegal So-so fell into deep thought while gazing at the office door just as she had moments before. A minor hidden piece, huh... When Kim Ho handed over the treasure map and immediately pulled out a strategy guide, Jegal So-so was convinced. It was clear that securing the five open slots in the party had also been part of his plan. He had probably been planning it ever since he ignored the priority bidding rights and entered the Black Death dungeon. Even from their first meeting, when he brought two pieces of the treasure map. If that were the case, was the hidden piece he was so meticulously planning to obtain really something ¡°minor¡±? Jegal Soso¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I¡¯ll have to subtly ask Qyu about it.¡± Somehow, she had a feeling Dang Gyu-young might know something. Chapter 210: Minor Hidden Piece (or Not) Chapter 210: Minor Hidden Piece (or Not) Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°So, did things end well with the swordsmanship club?¡± ¡°They ended well, but something new has come up.¡± ¡°Something new?¡± I explained the deal I had made with Pang Mi-ryeong. In exchange for handing over the strategy guide, I was allowed to form a party of up to five members and enter [Gathering of Villains]. Once we were all inside the dungeon, Pang Mi-ryeong would focus on the main raid and the treasure map, while I would concentrate on the other hidden pieces. And both sides would refrain from encroaching on each other¡¯s territory. Dang Gyu-young nodded her head as if she got the gist of it, but she still seemed to have many questions. ¡°But isn¡¯t dungeon 88 part of the depths? Did you find a guide?¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll help us.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes narrowed. She showed a faint hint of displeasure. ¡°Kim Ho, of course I¡¯ll help if you ask, but shouldn¡¯t you discuss things like this with me first?¡± The depths part of the dungeon building had a security that was far more stringent than lower levels, so sneaking in would require high-ranking members from the Thieves¡¯ Club. For example, when we entered the Black Death dungeon, Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin helped us. However, if I asked for her to guide us to the depths without any prior discussion, there was a risk it could clash with Dang Gyu-young or Chae Da-bin¡¯s schedules on the day. It wouldn¡¯t feel great for them to receive a request like a notification either. So, it was the right approach to consult with the thieves¡¯ club first. I readily agreed. ¡°You¡¯re right, but this time it was worth skipping that step.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I was sure both of you would agree no matter what.¡± ¡°...Really? What¡¯s inside?¡± ¡°There is something.¡± The fact that I was speaking so confidently meant that something inside the dungeon was enticing enough for Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin to accept my proposal without hesitation. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes sparkled as she waited for my next words. ¡°The first hint lies in the dungeon¡¯s name, [Gathering of Villains].¡± Just as the title suggested, it was a dungeon where famous demonic martial artists gathered to fight like wild beasts. Naturally, there had to be an enticing lure strong enough to draw them all to one place. And whether righteous or evil, there are things that all martial artists go crazy for. ¡°Relics, elixirs, or a fortuitous encounter.¡± ¡°Yes, in this case, it¡¯s a fortuitous encounter.¡± And the better it suits your disposition, the more useful it becomes. As a demonic practitioner, using the fortuitous encounters of Taoism or Buddhism would have been somewhat awkward in many ways. On the other hand, a fortuitous encounter left behind by a master of the Demonic Cult would suit them perfectly. ¡°So what do you get if you follow the treasure map? Let¡¯s reveal the answer first.¡± ¡°Oh! I was curious about that too. What¡¯s the answer?¡± ¡°There is a martial art left behind by the Blood Ghost Blade Demon.¡± ¡°The Blood Ghost Blade Demon from the Four Supreme Demons Under Heaven?¡± Dang Gyu-young was stunned. The Four Supreme Demons Under Heaven were the four strongest masters of the demonic path in their time. Their fame was so great that even though they were from a distant past, Dang Gyu-young still remembered their titles. ¡°Wow... If it¡¯s the Blood Ghost Blade Demon, that¡¯s amazing. Lucky for Pang Mi-ryeong. We should make her treat us.¡± Since the number of members in the swordsmanship club who used swords was relatively small, the odds were high that the Blade Demon¡¯s legacy would go to Pang Mi-ryeong. Being the leader of the party increased her chances even further. Then Dang Gyu-young seemed to have realized something and asked me. . ¡°You¡¯re not just telling me this to make me jealous, right? So, what do we get?¡± ¡°We have something similar. One of the Four Demons¡¯ legacy.¡± ¡°That dungeon is a total goldmine. Another legacy from the Four Demons? Who is it this time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Illusion Demon.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Then, in a subtle voice, she asked me for confirmation. ¡°Kim Ho, is it... what I think it is?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s exactly what you think.¡± The secret of the fortuitous encounter left behind by the Illusion Demon. It was something that anyone with even a slight connection to the thief class, including Dang Gyu-young, desperately wanted. ¡°Ghost Dance.¡± ¡°...Ghost Dance? That¡¯s definitely worth the leap. It¡¯s a definite yes.¡± In exchange for helping me infiltrate the Black Death dungeon, I had promised Dang Gyu-young, Chae Da-bin, and Shin Byeong-cheol a chance to acquire Ghost Dance, and now, that opportunity has finally arrived. It was uncertain when another chance like this would come if they missed it now, so there was no way they could refuse. Lately, the sloth battery seemed to be draining faster than usual for some reason. It was probably the Kim Ho pillow that was causing it. At the same time, this was an opportunity to test a hypothesis I had in mind. Is there really a connection between the sloth battery and luck? ¡°......¡± As I watched with those thoughts in mind, Seo Ye-in who was still half-slumped slowly pulled the random boxes closer. She placed her hand lightly on the lid and then flipped it open in one swift motion. Flash! What appeared next was a luxurious piece of parchment. [Rank Up (D)] This was considered fairly decent among D-rank items. Considering how sleepy she looked but still managed to pull a rank-up right away, it seemed there might not be any real link between the sloth battery and luck. Though a few more experiments would be needed to be certain. Before using the rank-up, I sought Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s consent. It was the right step as a teammate. ¡°Mind if I use this?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± And as always, Go Hyeon-woo readily agreed. Soon, the light emanating from the parchment was absorbed into my body. Flash! [Used ¡®Rank Up (D)¡¯] [The rank of ¡®Enchantment¡¯ has increased. (D -> C)] ? Rank of ¡®granted¡¯ skills/traits: -2 ? Duration: 10 minutes -> 15 minutes ? Cooldown: 40 minutes -> 35 minutes I¡¯ve got this on track, too. Except for the newly learned [Wind Barrier], everything was now C-rank. I offered the last random box to Lucky Charm-nim. Twice as polite as before. ¡°Please take care of this one, too.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Seo Ye-in who was still lacking enthusiasm as always didn¡¯t refuse the request. Half-lying down, she gave a slight shake of her head from side to side. It seemed that nodding was uncomfortable in her reclined state, so she chose to roll back and forth instead. Soon, Seo Ye-in slowly dragged the random box in front of her, just as before. And as she lazily grabbed the lid and lifted it¡ª A bright light burst out like an explosion. Flash¡ª! ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I exclaimed in admiration at the same time. The light was even brighter than before. Since the previous item had been D-rank, this indicated that a higher-ranked item had appeared. However, what lay in the place where the light had faded didn¡¯t quite match the brilliant glow. A strange black lump. It looked like wet clay soaked in ink and haphazardly mashed together. The smell was not pleasant either. It resembled medicinal herbs with a hint of a fishy stench mixed in. Go Hyeon-woo who was carefully examining it showed a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Do you know what it is?¡± ¡°I suspect it might be an inner core.¡± ¡°You got it right away.¡± Go Hyeon-woo who was a warrior had a knack for instantly recognizing anything beneficial for the body, almost as if by instinct. [Inner Core of the Venomous Horned Black Blood Serpent (C)] The Venomous Horned Black Blood Serpent was known as a snake with a long, sharp horn on its forehead that resembled a poisonous stinger. It was said that even the strongest of warriors, if pierced by this horn, would instantly dissolve into a mere puddle of blood. Furthermore, if wounded, the serpent would bleed pitch-black blood which was known to be a poison among poisons. For many reasons, it was best to keep a safe distance from it. Of course, the Venomous Horned Black Blood Serpent was not only a venomous creature but also a mystical one. Though it was difficult to capture, if one could just obtain its inner core, ¡°It¡¯s very beneficial for the body.¡± ¡°It must have the effect of increasing internal energy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about internal energy; it¡¯s a poisonous creature after all.¡± Eating it would increase one¡¯s poison resistance. Chapter 211: A Bitter Black Lump Chapter 211: A Bitter Black Lump When consuming the inner core of the Venomous Horned Black Blood Serpent, two effects could be expected. The first was an increase in mana, similar to the inner cores of other mystical creatures. The second was a poison-type trait that you acquire with a certain probability. There was a 90% chance of acquiring the C-rank trait [Hundred Poisons Immunity]. This trait prevented the user from being poisoned by various poisons, which was extremely useful against poisonous monsters. The remaining 10% chance was to acquire the D-rank trait [Poison Resistance]. While it didn¡¯t prevent poisoning like Hundred Poisons Immunity, it reduced the rate at which health would decrease while poisoned. Hundred Poisons Immunity was superior in both rank and effect, but either trait was good. So then, who would be the best candidate to consume this inner core? There was no need for difficult deliberation. ¡°We can just split it.¡± I precisely divided the pitch-black inner core into three parts and looked at Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. ¡°You may each take one.¡± ¡°I am grateful for this opportunity, though I do worry if the effect might lessen.¡± ¡°It does drop a little, but not to a concerning degree.¡± When consumed alone, the chances were 90% for Hundred Poisons Immunity and 10% for Poison Resistance. When divided into three, the chances shifted to 50% for Hundred Poisons Immunity, 30% for Poison Resistance, and a 20% chance of gaining no trait at all. Go Hyeon-woo swallowed hard. ¡°Hmm... if the opportunity is given to many, dividing it into three parts does seem like the best choice.¡± ¡°The probabilities are still quite decent.¡± ¡°But if by any chance we fail, the loss would be considerable. Are you sure about this?¡± It seemed that Go Hyeon-woo wanted to give the entire inner core to me. It was indeed the safer choice. I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but I was determined to go with the three-way split. I continued with a knowing smile on my lips, ¡°Just hear me out. I¡¯ve got a trick up my sleeve.¡± ¡°.......!¡± When the inner core was consumed alongside another elixir, the success rate could be further increased. It was what you¡¯d call a synergy effect. And as luck would have it, we recently acquired an elixir. An elixir we obtained after finding the Golden Spirit Pill hidden inside the formation. I retrieved a small wooden box from my inventory and opened it to reveal the gleaming golden pellets inside. [Golden Spirit Pill (C)] Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s face brightened instantly. He looked as if he was about to slap his knee in excitement. ¡°Haha, I was worrying for nothing. There was a plan all along this time as well.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t split it into three without a solid plan.¡± Although I¡¯ve been consistently paying attention to the growth of Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in, if the efficiency had been excessively low, I would¡¯ve asked for their understanding and taken it all for myself. This time, sharing was beneficial for everyone. Go Hyeon-woo asked. ¡°What are the odds if we add the elixir?¡± ¡°With the elixir, the Hundred Poisons Immunity goes up to 60%, poison resistance to 35%, and the failure rate drastically drops to 5%.¡± ¡°Seems worth a try.¡± The probability of achieving the best outcome is more than half, and the failure rate is only 5%, which is extremely low. However, Go Hyeon-woo and I couldn¡¯t help but hesitate for a moment. We both thought of the ¡°future teahouse owner¡± who always hit rock bottom whenever challenging any odds. ¡°Let¡¯s not think about him for now.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Dwelling on it might bring us bad luck. *** To efficiently absorb the elixir¡¯s energy, proper energy circulation right after consumption was important. And the best environment for energy circulation was, without a doubt, the Mana Cultivation Room. So we made our way to the training center. ¡°Kim-hyung, Miss Seo. I wish you good fortune.¡± ¡°Come back with the Hundred Poisons Immunity.¡± Since Go Hyeon-woo held a season pass, he went to the special cultivation room while Seo Ye-in and I headed to the regular cultivation room. I spoke to Seo Ye-in while we were standing at the entrance of the cultivation room. ¡°Eat it and do your mana circulation. Contact me when you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in looked down at the pitch-black inner core fragment in her hand, then poked it with her fingertip and brought it to her tongue. Her pupils slightly dilated. ¡°...Bitter.¡± ¡°Something sweet.¡± We went down to the first floor of the training center and each got a sweet drink from the vending machine. I gulped it down and let some linger in my mouth; the sweetness gradually pushed away the remaining bitterness. Seo Ye-in too pulled her slightly sticking tongue back in and stared directly at me. ¡°One hour pillow.¡± ¡°Yeah, a deal¡¯s a deal.¡± I nodded readily. The bitterness of the inner core was beyond imagination. Even for someone like me who rarely complained about food, it was unbearably bitter, so I couldn¡¯t even imagine how much worse it was for Seo Ye-in. Since she had absorbed it all just as instructed, an hour of Kim Ho pillow was a small price to pay. Around the time I finished off the vending machine drink, Go Hyeon-woo sent a message. [Go Hyeon-woo: It¡¯s done.] [Kim Ho: Hundred Poisons Immunity?] [Go Hyeon-woo: Luck was on my side.] [Kim Ho: Congrats, congrats.] I had expected at least one of us to get poison resistance, but fortunately, all three of us managed to acquire Hundred Poisons Immunity. [Go Hyeon-woo: But it¡¯s more bitter than I thought.] [Go Hyeon-woo: I need something sweet to drink.] [Go Hyeon-woo: (licking cat emoji)] ¡°.......¡± I replied with a straight face. [Kim Ho: (scolding monk emoji)] [Kim Ho: You weakling!] [Go Hyeon-woo: !?] *** Seo Ye-in wrapped herself up in a blanket and was dozing off with her head resting on my shoulder. I let her be and decided to take the opportunity to check a few of the items I had on hand. They would be used in the next dungeon. The [Rainbow Lake] we were about to enter was a multi-element dungeon. Fire, lightning, ice... The more elements you could handle, the better. Usually, the best approach would be to enter with a party of various elemental mages, but since we were sneaking in, such a luxury was out of the question. It¡¯s not like I could drag Song Cheon-hye into the underground just because we needed lightning attribute. Still, there was a way to borrow a bit of the lightning attribute. [Heart of Thunder (E)] *2 Two jagged orbs that looked like they were forcibly packed with lightning. These were forbidden items I had acquired during the temporary storage infiltration. Heart of Thunder embeds lightning into the heart, or [Core], for a limited time, which turns all spells the user casts during that period into lightning-type magic. If I used Heart of Thunder and then cast Inferno Fist, my fire fist would turn into a lightning fist. Hearing this far, it might seem pretty useful, but there was a reason Heart of Thunder was designated as a prohibited item. When continuous electric shocks are applied to the heart, there¡¯s a risk of an accident occurring. Even at a low probability, Your heart could just stop. A temporary attribute switch wasn¡¯t worth gambling your life for, given the risk. But of course, I was an exception. I¡¯ve got solid elemental resistance. I could use Heart of Thunder without worrying about elemental penalties. That was the reason I grabbed it from the temporary storage in the first place. As a result, I secured fire, lightning, ice, and wind attributes. Next were the items to be used in the deal with the Crow Tailor. Jewels like rubies and emeralds for the tailoring fee were a given. On top of that, I planned to add one more item. [Material Selection (C)] ?Acquire your desired C-rank material. It was a reward I got from a side quest after successfully completing the defense strategy battle with Song Cheon-hye. It¡¯s about time I put this to use. The material rank was fixed at a maximum of C-rank, so it was a bit lacking for selecting main materials like ingots or fabrics. Even if I made equipment with it, I would have to replace it before long. So what I aimed to obtain with my choice was something secondary. A consumable material. A material that doesn¡¯t go directly into item crafting but provides a sort of bonus. I quickly scrolled down the list and soon selected an item. [Acquired ¡®Mutant Reagent (C)¡¯.] Chapter 212: No.294 Rainbow Lake (1) Chapter 212: No.294 Rainbow Lake (1) It was Friday evening. Like we planned, Dang Gyu-young and I set foot in the basement level of the dungeon building. We boldly took the elevator down to the lowest floor, and from there, Dang Gyu-young took the lead as our guide toward the destination. It¡¯s definitely more comfortable. The difference was obvious when our first-year guide was replaced by a third-year club president. For example, Shin Byeong-cheol would cautiously scout ahead, and if he sensed any presence, he would take a detour to another passageway while keeping his distance. In contrast, Dang Gyu-young hardly bothered to look ahead. She just confidently took the lead as she briskly descended the spiral staircase. She was moving at almost a running pace. Whenever something was detected, ¡°Come here for a second.¡± She would grab my hand and pull me into a shaded spot, hiding us together. Right afterward, a third-year disciplinary committee member would come trudging up the spiral stairs. This time, it was the Hell Axe senior we had crossed paths with a few times before. Despite us hiding so close, he didn¡¯t have the slightest clue we were there. It was proof of just how good Dang Gyu-young¡¯s shadow-hiding technique was. ¡°.......¡± We watched the back of the Hell Axe senior¡¯s head, and once he disappeared, we stepped out from the shadows. Dang Gyu-young was feeling a bit smug and she spoke up. ¡°Did you see that? He couldn¡¯t find us. That¡¯s my skill.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, noona.¡± ¡°Huhum, let¡¯s keep going.¡± We picked up the pace again and moved deeper into the underground level. Before long, a wide-open teleportation portal appeared before us. [No.294] [Rainbow Lake] After confirming with a glance that we were both ready, Dang Gyu-young and I stepped into the dungeon at the same time. Our vision momentarily went pitch black, then suddenly cleared. The first thing that caught our eye was the sky which was filled with a deep red sunset glow. It was clear that evening was approaching. As we lowered our gaze slightly, a vast lake stretched out before us. Its surface reflected shades of red from the sunset, mixed with other mysterious colors. Just like a rainbow. This was the main stage of the dungeon, Rainbow Lake. ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young carefully scanned the surroundings, then summoned a few Shadow Butterflies and sent them flying in all directions. It was to scout a little farther ahead. However, as if nothing notable had been detected, she tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Kim Ho, isn¡¯t it too peaceful here?¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s pretty quiet.¡± The main rule of Rainbow Lake was [Raid]. However, aside from the battle with the boss monster, there were no special events. There wouldn¡¯t be hordes of other monsters rushing out or fireballs raining down from the sky. ¡°So, when does the boss appear?¡± ¡°Soon.¡± When I pointed to the center of the lake, Dang Gyu-young carefully observed that spot. Bubble, bubble. Bubbles began to rise and ripple on the mirror-like smooth surface of the lake. Moreover, those bubbles and ripples were slowly approaching us. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± No words were needed. Dang Gyu-young began preparing for the battle that was about to unfold. The shadow beneath her feet grew darker and expanded its range. Then, butterflies began to flutter up one by one from within. Bubble, bubble, bubble. Meanwhile, the bubbles rising from the depths of the lake grew more intense. Swoooosh¡ª! Something huge and round suddenly popped out of the water. It was a giant fish, the size of a house. Each of its scales was as large as a palm and they covered its entire body, making it look as though it was clad in armor. This was the dungeon¡¯s boss monster. Elemental Fish. Its two large eyes stared directly at us. Its face, which resembled a frog or toad more than a fish, kept reminding me of someone I knew. Just like... When I thrust my flame-covered fist with force, a firestorm raced across the water¡¯s surface. Whooooooooooosh¡ª! ¡°¡ª!¡± Once again, the Elemental Fish endured the firestorm and the onslaught of shadow weapons with little effort. It glared at us with eyes full of hostility. But instead of continuing its attack, it gradually backed off and sank smoothly below the water¡¯s surface. The bubbling that had been rising furiously began to subside, and the lake regained its mirror-like smoothness. If it weren¡¯t for the chaos around us, it would have been hard to believe that a battle had just taken place. Dang Gyu-young looked at me. ¡°...It¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°When will it come out again?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be a couple of hours.¡± The Elemental Fish was a vicious monster; it attacked anything that entered its territory, but it also possessed a cunning nature that allowed it to make use of its environment. After a battle, it would retreat to the depths of the lake to recover some of its strength only to resurface about two hours later. And each time it did, the color of its scales, in other words, its attribute, would change without any specific pattern. It was completely at random. ¡°But what if it¡¯s brown again?¡± ¡°Then we lose another two hours.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it takes so long.¡± Opportunities kept coming, but every time we failed to take it down, our time in the dungeon would extend by another two hours. This was why I had prepared the Thunder Hearts to minimize the influence of luck as much as possible. Even if it turned into a lightning attribute, we would still be able to inflict damage. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°We just need to kill time¡ªwait, hold on.¡± I raised my hand to stop Dang Gyu-young. Judging by the way her eyes sparkled as she reached into her inventory, it seemed like she had prepared something, but now wasn¡¯t the time to be playing around. ¡°Let¡¯s go check on the crow first.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s happening now?¡± The dimensional crow would appear soon, so we needed to be waiting at the meeting spot in advance. Dang Gyu-young clicked her tongue in disappointment and withdrew her hand. The area around Rainbow Lake was an unremarkable, typical forest. A short distance away, a small hill rose up, and after a brief stroll as if we were out for a walk, we quickly reached the top. At the summit, there was a small clearing, and right in the center, a flat rock lay there all by itself. It had the atmosphere of an airship docking station. ¡°This must be the place?¡± ¡°Yes, this is it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious. This is my first time seeing it up close.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. She had seen the dimensional crow from a distance a few times, but this was her first time seeing a direct transaction or observing one up close. Unless you planned meticulously like I did, it was rare to encounter these creatures. ¡°It¡¯s a transaction, but would it be okay if I asked you for a small favor?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s fine. What is it?¡± Dang Gyu-young replied with a grin. However, as I listened to the details of the favor, my expression subtly shifted. ¡°...Are you sure this is okay?¡± ¡°It should be fine.¡± ¡°Haah, alright. I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± We waited in silence for a while and watched the evening sunset. How much time had passed? The air suddenly rippled, and a dark figure burst out from the void. Flap, flap. The dark figure flapped its wings rapidly to slow down and gently landed on the rock. It was a giant crow. ¡°Caw.¡± It was much larger than a typical bird, wore a gentleman¡¯s hat on its head, was dressed in a dignified suit, and carried a bag. It looked exactly like what I had seen through the replay. The Crow Tailor. The tailor didn¡¯t even glance at Dang Gyu-young. But when it noticed me, it flapped its wings vigorously in surprise and leaned forward as if trying to get a closer look. Although it was hard to read the expression of a crow, it was clear that it was very intrigued. ¡°Caw, young monarch, what brings you to me?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± I came to commission some tailoring. Chapter 213: No.294 Rainbow Lake (2) ¡°Caw.¡± Dimensional crows were neutral monsters and NPCs, so they didn¡¯t appear particularly strong on the surface. Because of this, there was a time when players were swept up in a craze to hunt crows, but ninety-nine out of a hundred attempts ended in failure. They¡¯re ridiculously strong. If ranked, they would be S-rank. Even the Blood Cult Elder who we barely managed to defeat by teaming up with graduates in the Black Market was A-rank, and the Dimensional Crow could easily wipe the floor with him. The fact that they were called ¡°Dimensional¡± already hinted at ¡°These guys are insanely strong¡±. In any game, space-time magic was considered top-tier, and was no exception. The Dimensional Crows are so proficient in space-time magic that they move through isolated dungeons as if they were their own homes, so it would be stranger if they weren¡¯t that powerful. To such an incredible NPC, even a third-year club president like Dang Gyu-young would look like a mere small fry, and I would appear no more significant than a minnow. If not for the [Monarch], that is. A monarch, regardless of their rank, was a revered being. Even at C-rank, a monarch is still a monarch. As a result, the Crow Tailor and I were able to talk almost as equals. ¡°Caw, you say you¡¯ve come to commission some tailoring?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame, young monarch. I no longer make clothes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here for clothes.¡± ¡°Caw? Then what is it?¡± The tailor could create clothing-type equipment if provided with special materials and a hefty fee, but my inventory situation was a bit lacking for that. That¡¯s why I had come to see it today for a different purpose. ¡°I want you to use a skill.¡± ¡°What skill are you talking about?¡± ¡°Weaving.¡± The Crow Tailor flapped its wings in surprise. [Weaving] was an S-rank unique skill possessed only by the Crow Tailor in the world of . Its very existence is not well known, so it was no wonder the tailor was surprised when I brought it up out of nowhere. ¡°Young monarch, where did you hear about that?¡± ¡°A young monarch is still a monarch.¡± ¡°Caw, fair enough.¡± The Crow Tailor was somewhat convinced and reasoned that it might be possible since I am a monarch. The effect of [Weaving] is just one line. ? It weaves different targets into one. Simply put, it¡¯s a fusion skill. And if I had to point out the most broken aspect that wasn¡¯t mentioned in the description, it was that ¡°anything¡± could be fused without any restrictions. Not only could items be fused with other items, but also items with skills or even the specific options that items possessed. Of course, that was from the perspective of the Crow, who owned the skill. From the client¡¯s perspective, however, it was a bit different. There¡¯s a labor cost. The higher the quality or quantity of the materials being fused, the more labor costs one had to pay. Fusing B-rank materials was more expensive than fusing D-rank ones, and combining three or four materials cost more than fusing just two. Because of this, the materials I could afford to fuse at the moment were somewhat limited. ¡°Caw, where should I apply it?¡± ¡°Here.¡± In response to the Crow¡¯s question, I handed over Root I was holding. [Root(A)] ? Very high mana conductivity ? Damage protection (A) applied ? Automatic durability recovery. ? Levitate zone (C) constantly activated ? Memorize (C) ? Upgradeable ? Upgradeable ¡°You¡¯re asking me to combine the options?¡± ¡°Yes, [Levitate Zone] and [Memorize], and this one too.¡± Next, I took out a small vial of reagent from my inventory. [Mutant Reagent (C)] It was something I had obtained through the material selection reward. The effect of the Mutant Reagent was to increase the instability of the item being crafted. Arms of shadows suddenly shot up from the ground, swinging the weapons they held. It was a sudden ambush, but after all, the Dimensional Crow was still an S-rank. His only reaction was a brief glance at the incoming shadow weapons. Then, countless dark purple hexagons appeared in front of him, linking together to form a wide wall. [Hex Void] The shadow weapons vanished the moment they touched the wall as if they were sucked into it. It was perfect spatial magic defense, but¡ª That¡¯s only talking about the front. Thud. A very thin needle flew in from behind and pierced the Crow Tailor¡¯s wing joint. Using the shadows, it had been secretly pulled back and then launched while attacking from the front. ¡°Caw.¡± With a single flap of his wings, the poison needle disappeared without a trace. Immediately after, a cone-shaped gust of wind gathered and shot out right in front of Dang Gyu-young. The whole sequence happened in the blink of an eye. One could question if it could have been avoided even with prior preparation. [Gale Thrust] It was a wind magic that pierced the enemy with a spear of air, pushing them far away. Though it was considered a basic wind magic, this one was ranked as high as S-rank. If hit, the target wouldn¡¯t just be pushed back; the struck area could very well explode. Naturally, I couldn¡¯t let Dang Gyu-young meet a tragic end. [Activate ¡®Enchantment¡¯.] [¡®Distortion¡¯ has been granted to the target.] [Rank of granted ¡®Distortion¡¯: ¨C ] Before the cone of wind could strike Dang Gyu-young¡¯s abdomen, it twisted and veered off course before flying in a completely wrong direction. Booom-booom-boom¡ª! And it decimated everything in its path. Good thing I deflected it with Distortion. Seeing Dang Gyu-young unharmed, the Crow Tailor tried to cast his next spell, but¡ª ¡°Enough, step back.¡± I ordered Dang Gyu-young first. This was to make it clear that everything had been on my command. When Dang Gyu-young lowered her head and stepped back, the Tailor turned his gaze back to me while flapping his wings furiously. ¡°Caw, young monarch. What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°I got carried away with my curiosity. I apologize.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide once. But there won¡¯t be a next time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Since I had already gained everything I wanted, the game was over. [Activate ¡®Copy-Trait¡¯.] [Registering the target¡¯s trait ¡®Poison Resistance (S)¡¯ in the slot.] ? Copy-Trait [2/2] 1. Poison Resistance (S) 2. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown [Weaving] couldn¡¯t be copied in the first place, and while the skills [Hex Void] and [Gale Thrust] could be copied, I couldn¡¯t use them due to insufficient mana. It would have been the same even if I had copied other spells. Having a low-rank core really was this frustrating. Instead, I decided to take a trait that didn¡¯t consume much mana, and I stealthily poisoned him to copy [Poison Resistance]. While learning [Hundred Poisons Immunity], I had become capable of blocking quite a variety of poisons, but the world was filled with countless poisons. Additionally, one of the main scenario bosses I would inevitably face someday used poison as a main weapon, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt to prepare for it when the opportunity arose. ¡°Caw.¡± The Crow Tailor became engrossed in his weaving again, and Dang Gyu-young and I silently watched his work without further interruption. Moments later, the scattered letters began to weave into words and those words formed sentences. And as the completed sentences were sucked back into the system window, Flash! Root absorbed a faint light and slightly changed its form. Originally, it had been a short staff with a golden magic dagger attached, but now, instead of being attached, they had completely fused into one. A short spear with an overall dark glow. [Deep Root (A)] Success. Chapter 214: No.294 Rainbow Lake (3) Chapter 214: No.294 Rainbow Lake (3) [Deep Root (A)] ? Very high mana conductivity ? Damage protection (A) applied ? Automatic durability recovery ? Earth Line ? Upgradeable ? Upgradeable ? Upgradeable The C-rank Levitate Zone and Memorize which had occupied two upgrade slots. The two fused with the mutation reagent to create a new attribute. [Earth Line] ? When the weapon is connected to the ground, the power of your skills increases. The conditions for Earth Line are two: ¡°ground¡± and ¡°connection.¡± The ground doesn¡¯t necessarily have to be made of soil or stone, but it must be a place where I am standing. Additionally, connecting the weapon means embedding the tip of Root into the ground. This also meant the user¡¯s position was fixed in one spot. Of course, it¡¯s not necessary to remain in one place the entire time but to receive the bonus, Root must touch the ground just before the skill activates. Since this condition forces you to pause at least once during battle, it can be quite a hindrance to mobility. However, the reward was as big as the risk. [Earth Line] provided a bonus regardless of whether the skill was magical or physical. For example, if I were to use the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, it would activate with a ¡°+¡± at B-rank. At this point, the benefit of risking a brief pause in battle was more than enough. However, aside from the performance of the new attribute, there was another issue: It¡¯s too short. Currently, the length of Root was barely longer than my forearm. To connect it to the ground, I would have to either bend over or kneel, but it wasn¡¯t feasible to constantly sit and stand during the heat of battle. It¡¯s about time to extend it. This weapon was designed to be assembled. The issue of length could be resolved by crafting the next part and attaching it. While I was staring down at Root and lost in thought, the crow tailor asked me, ¡°Caw. Young Monarch, are you satisfied with the result?¡± ¡°Very much. I¡¯m glad I entrusted it to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always the best!¡± Puffed up by my praise, the crow tailor hopped in place a few times. Then he asked again, ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± ¡°This is it for today.¡± ¡°Understood. Until next time, Young Monarch!¡± With a farewell, the Crow Tailor straightened his outfit. He adjusted his gentleman¡¯s hat, picked up his bag with one hand, and fluttered into the air. After circling around once, he vanished into thin air and into another dungeon. After I watched that scene, I shifted my gaze to Dang Gyu-young who had a strange smile on her lips. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Young Monarch~¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You know, I like the way you talk to me casually, but I think I like it even more when you use informal speech.¡± ¡°Why all of a sudden?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not sudden~¡± Dang Gyu-young lowered her voice and imitated what I had said to the crow tailor. ¡°When you said ¡®Enough, step back!¡¯ it gave me a bit of a thrill.¡± ¡°You¡¯re caught up in something strange again.¡± ¡°Come on, order me to do something. Be as forceful as you can.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Hurry up~ Young Monarch~¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just head down now.¡± I pretended not to hear her and quickened my pace. Dang Gyu-young happily followed behind. ¡°Young Monarch~ Why are you in such a hurry~¡± She kept adding ¡°Young Monarch¡± to everything she said. *** Since the Elemental Fish were due to reappear soon, Dang Gyu-young and I descended the hill and headed toward the Rainbow Lake. By then, the sun had set, and the full moon illuminated the darkening sky. The lake reflected the moonlight perfectly while also casting a mysterious rainbow-colored glow. We stared at the lake in silence for a while, reveling in the strange atmosphere. ¡°.......¡± After some time had passed, a ripple spread across the lake that had been reflecting the moonlight. The difference this time, instead of bubbling with foam, [Earth Line] [Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger] Thunk, ¡°¡ª!¡± Feeling the foreign sensation between its eyes, Ice Gap-doo shook violently and tried to throw me off. If I lost my balance here, I could easily fall into the cracks of the shattered ice below. So I pushed off from its scales and leaped backward. As I glanced down mid-air, Icy ground. I landed and immediately planted the Deep Root into the ice, regaining my balance. Scrrrape, The ice screeched as it dragged, and my sliding slowed significantly. In the meantime, Ice Gap-doo completed its next freezing spell. Palm-sized shards of ice rained down. I stretched one hand forward in a half-sitting position. Whooosh¡ª A strong wind blew through, scattering the shards of ice in all directions. Again. I charged in once more, not giving Ice Gap-doo a chance to link its spells together. Stepping on the shadow butterflies, I climbed up and thrust the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger deep into its flesh. Then, just like before, I retreated and mounted it again before driving the weapon in once more. ¡°¡ª!¡± Perhaps it was because I had struck it with the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger three times in a row. Ice Gap-doo¡¯s movements became far slower than when it first appeared, and the power of its freezing magic had diminished significantly. ¡°¡ª!¡± Before long, it let out a weak cry and slowly began to sink downward. All that remained on the frozen ground was a large gaping hole. Dang Gyu-young fixed her gaze on it as she approached me. ¡°Did you finish it off?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll barely survive.¡± The Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, strengthened by Earth Line, had pierced it three times in succession. It must have taken a huge amount of damage, and even now that it has sunk to the bottom of the lake, the cold air must be piercing through its entire body. Dang Gyu-young tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Then isn¡¯t it as good as dead anyway?¡± ¡°If its attribute doesn¡¯t change.¡± If it maintained its ice attribute, it would continue to take damage from the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, but if it shifted to another attribute, that damage would drastically decrease. In that case, it might survive and recover some of its strength. ¡°When will it change?¡± ¡°Normally, it takes a while after submerging, but if it¡¯s at a disadvantage, it changes quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty cheap.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve almost got it, though.¡± Even so, the fact that it was in critical condition didn¡¯t change. Its remaining health was less than 20%. As long as its attribute matched the one I had when it came back, that would be the end of it. Even if not, it would be over the next time or the time after that. Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°We kill time.¡± There were about two hours left until the Elemental Fish would recover and reappear. Earlier, we had gone to see the Dimensional Crow but this time there was nothing like that. Dang Gyu-young subtly lifted the corner of her lips. ¡°So we¡¯re just resting for two hours?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± This dungeon was relatively quiet, so I had given her a heads-up beforehand, and Dang Gyu-young said she would prepare something to pass the time. ¡°Are you excited?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious, to be honest. I wonder what you brought.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing special, just something simple.¡± Like I had mentioned earlier, she had prepared for it like a light picnic or camping trip. Dang Gyu-young glanced around and said, ¡°Let¡¯s move to a better spot first.¡± The area was definitely a mess. The local terrain had been churned up by the Earth attribute magic of the Kim Gap-doo Fish, and chunks of ice were scattered everywhere, leaving no room to step. There was no way we could lay down a mat in a place like this. ¡°Follow me, young monarch~¡± So we started walking around the perimeter of the Rainbow Lake. Chapter 215: No.294 Rainbow Lake (4) Since the lake was so vast, it didn¡¯t take long for a clean spot to appear. Dang Gyu-young looked around and asked, ¡°How about here?¡± ¡°It works for me.¡± We might have found an even better spot if we kept walking, but Dang Gyu-young seemed to be satisfied enough with this place. I wasn¡¯t picky about things like this either, so I just went along with it. She started pulling out the items she had prepared from her inventory. Shadow hands rose from beneath our feet to help. First, a large camping stove appeared and she piled it with firewood before pulling out a magic tool to light it. Whoosh. Next, she set a grill on top of the stove and pulled out various snacks from an icebox. Beef, sausages, and whole shrimp began to cook, and as I watched them sizzle, Dang Gyu-young unfolded two folding chairs before she tapped one of them. ¡°Take a seat, young monarch.¡± ¡°It really feels like camping.¡± Though the setting might have been simple, everything from the equipment to the ingredients showed she had prepared quite thoroughly for just an overnight trip. ¡°You said it was simple, right?¡± ¡°Simple, but pretty serious.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled. ¡°I¡¯m really into this kind of stuff.¡± ¡°I figured you¡¯d like something more peaceful.¡± Though the setting might have seemed simple, everything from the equipment to the ingredients showed she had prepared thoroughly for just an overnight camping trip. Looking back, it made sense. While she seemed to enjoy walking through the downtown area together with me, she looked truly at ease when we strolled through the empty school at night or sat side by side on a bench sipping canned coffee. Somehow, I felt like I understood why. ¡°I lead a pretty busy life.¡± Things had improved recently, but the workload that came with being the club president was still substantial. On top of that, she had to juggle the demands of her third-year academic schedule while finding time to sharpen her personal skills. That last part is the hardest. As a shadow mage, her class was fairly rare. Even though there were some precedents, it was mostly a path she had to carve out on her own. In other words, just to stay average, she had to work twice as hard as everyone else. With all these reasons keeping her busy, it was clear that, ¡°When you rest, you want to really rest.¡± ¡°As always, you get it right away. It¡¯s so easy talking with you, Kim Ho.¡± Dang Gyu-young took a canned drink from the icebox and handed it to me before grabbing one for herself as well. But instead of opening the can right away, she kept her gaze fixed on the lake and spoke. ¡°What do you think my dream is?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Take a guess.¡± I thought for a moment before answering. ¡°Based on the conversation, is it something like camping or traveling?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, traveling a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an easy dream.¡± The fact that we were at school made things relatively better, But this world inside the game wasn¡¯t exactly a safe place where you could travel around freely. Especially not a place where you could casually enjoy a camping atmosphere. Monsters roamed everywhere, and villains operated in secret. Their threat level ranged from C-rank to A-rank, and sometimes even S-rank, making it dangerous. Dang Gyu-young nodded her head and casually opened her can. Ssshh. ¡°...It¡¯s difficult, yeah, that¡¯s why it¡¯s a dream. But don¡¯t you think it¡¯ll come true someday?¡± When she was about to take a sip, something seemed to cross her mind and she spoke again. ¡°Hey, if we¡¯re talking like this, your dream is even harder!¡± ¡°Mine¡¯s difficult too.¡± The goal of the EX-rank reincarnation quest was to prevent the world¡¯s destruction. In short, it was ¡°world peace¡±. And in this world, achieving world peace was just as tough as world domination. I smiled and repeated the words Dang Gyu-young had said earlier. ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯ll come true someday?¡± ¡°...Well, I have to hand it to you; you¡¯ve got confidence. I guess I¡¯ll have to help you out.¡± When world peace comes, there will be plenty of places to go and have fun. Dang Gyu-young raised her canned drink. ¡°Shall we toast?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± After a brief moment of pondering what to toast to, Dang Gyu-young grinned and held out her can. ¡°To world peace.¡± ¡°To the dream of camping.¡± Clink, The cans gently bumped together. *** Two hours flew by as we ate, drank, and exchanged small talk. Fzzzzzzzzzzzzzt. Before long, electricity gathered above its head; it grew larger and larger until it formed a bolt of lightning that shot straight toward Dang Gyu-young. Dang Gyu-young instinctively started to dodge but then, as if a thought crossed her mind, she stopped in her tracks. And took the lightning head-on. Fzzzzzzzt! ¡°...Interesting.¡± Despite taking it head-on, Dang Gyu-young was perfectly fine and without a scratch. She had been testing the effect of her elemental resistance. I remembered when I first got it; I too had let myself get hit by an unnecessary breath attack just out of curiosity. It seemed people thought the same way about these things. Meanwhile, the butterflies fluttered diligently, drawing closer to the creature. When they reached above its head, they simultaneously unleashed their lightning strikes. Dozens of bolts rained down. Booom! Booom! ¡°¡ª!¡± The Lightning Gap-doo let out a sharp scream. As expected, it didn¡¯t go down with one hit and was barely hanging on by a thread. ¡°Still not dead, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll finish it.¡± I clenched my fist, and the Heart Thunder shattered, sending a bolt of lightning piercing into my heart. Crackle! A tingling sensation spread from my chest to the rest of my body. When I tried to lightly raise my mana, a faint electric current crackled instead of mana. I got on one knee and planted deep roots into the ground. In that position, I extended my empty hand forward. [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Spiral Explosion¡¯ increases. (C+ -> A+)] Fzzzzzzzzzt! Faint currents mixed into every strand of wind gathering from all directions. The currents and wind converged around the Elemental Fish and soon formed a huge whirlwind. The whirlwind shrank and became more compressed until it finally erupted in a massive explosion of electricity. Fizzzzzzzzzzz¡ª! A bright flash flooded my vision. When the explosion subsided and my sight returned, the Kim Gap-doo Fish had completely disappeared without a trace. It had already been in critical condition, and there was no way it could have survived a spiral explosion enhanced to A+ with additional power. Rumble, Soon after, the area trembled, signaling that the dungeon had been cleared and an exit opened up. In front of it, several chests were laid out. [Multicolored Scale Box]*2 [Rainbow Lake Random Box (D)]*1 ¡°Are the multicolored scales defensive equipment materials?¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re for defensive equipment.¡± Like the Elemental Fish, its attributes constantly shifted, and unless it was attacked with the corresponding attribute, it boasted extremely high defense. Because it was such a valuable material, it also came with a relatively high price. Dang Gyu-young seemed pleased with the mention of its expensive price and her expression turned to a satisfied one. ¡°Really? Then let¡¯s each take one.¡± ¡°What about the random box?¡± Considering Dang Gyu-young¡¯s significant contribution in the dungeon, if she wanted it, I could have easily handed it over. After all, thanks to her, I had copied poison resistance from the Crow Tailor and we had even managed to prepare for a few hours of camping. However, after thinking it over for a moment, Dang Gyu-young made a suggestion. ¡°Should we open it and decide?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± We¡¯d open it first and then decide who would take it based on what was inside. Without much hesitation, Dang Gyu-young swiftly opened the random box with an almost careless ease, similar to Seo Ye-in. Flash! [Random Rank-Up] *2 ¡°Well, not bad.¡± ¡°Shall we split it fifty-fifty again?¡± ¡°No, you can just have it all.¡± Dang Gyu-young generously handed it over to me, saying she had never had any luck raising her rank with these before. Her overall skill levels and traits were higher than mine, so her chances of success were probably even lower. It really is hard to get it to work. If it had been Seo Ye-in, that lucky charm cheater, she would have used it on the spot and it would have worked, but since I was neither lucky nor a cheater, I decided to save it for later. After quickly finishing the distribution, we headed towards the teleportation portal. But then Dang Gyu-young hesitated again and turned her head towards me. ¡°...Come to think of it, that¡¯s strange. This dungeon was supposed to be such a hassle, but coming in with you, I didn¡¯t even notice the time passing.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s team up more often.¡± ¡°Will you make it fun again next time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Huhum, okay.¡± We exchanged smiles as we looked at each other. Then we stepped through the teleportation portal we had almost forgotten to cross. Chapter 216: Upgrade (1) Chapter 216: Upgrade (1) Sunday. The training center. I was sitting and leaning against one side of the training room wall. Resting on my shoulder was a blanket-wrapped bundle like a rolled-up kimbap, and from its edge, I could just see a glimpse of gray hair and the top of a head. As usual, it was Seo Ye-in who was recharging her sloth battery. I simply accepted it and shifted my gaze forward. There, two iron dummies were facing off and pointing their weapons at each other. One of them was holding a heavy two-handed hammer, and the other was holding a thick greatsword. The two dummies inched closer to each other, and the one with the greatsword moved first. Whoosh¡ª! The greatsword sliced through the air diagonally, leaving a faint sound behind. I firmly maintained [Earth Line] with Deep Root and reached out toward the dummy with the hammer. Whooosh¡ª A gust of wind swept through the training room. The wind formed a circular barrier around the hammer-wielding iron dummy. Bang! As the greatsword struck, its speed momentarily slowed, but soon passed through and finished cutting what it was trying to cut. A long diagonal mark appeared across the upper body of the hammer-wielding iron dummy. But the training dummy couldn¡¯t feel pain of course. It immediately swung its hammer with full force, bringing it crashing down. Whooosh¡ª The greatsword slowed again for a moment as it connected, but it sliced clean through, completing the strike. Creaaaak! A long diagonal scar was etched into the upper body of the hammer iron dummy. When I reached out again, this time a wind barrier enveloped the head of the greatsword-wielding iron dummy. But, just like before, it wasn¡¯t enough to defend against the huge weight of the descending hammer. Clang¡ª! ¡°........?¡± Following the sharp sound, the blanket-wrapped kimbap on my shoulder trembled slightly and a bit more of the gray hair peeked out from the edge. I spoke in its direction. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that sound familiar?¡± ¡°.......¡± The blanket-wrapped kimbap shrank back and the gray hair slowly slid out of sight again. It didn¡¯t move anymore. Ran away, huh. I tore my gaze away from Seo Ye-in who had drifted off into dreamland and alternated casting Wind Barrier on the iron dummies again. Whoosh¡ª Currently, Wind Barrier was at F+ rank. Even with the double bonuses from [Blessing of the West Wind] and [Earth Line], the iron dummies¡¯ attacks kept breaking through. It¡¯s always like this at the start. The defense would steadily improve as the rank increased. Clank! Bang! After fighting intensely, two of the iron dummies were reduced to scrap metal. I immediately summoned two new iron dummies to continue the battle and kept casting Wind Barrier without pause. After repeating this process countless times, [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has increased. (F+ -> E+)] Since it wasn¡¯t a skill with a high training difficulty, I quickly managed to escape F-rank. That¡¯s enough for today. It was time to start moving. I deactivated the iron dummies and stood up from my spot. At that moment, the blanket-wrapped kimbap shifted slightly and Seo Ye-in peeked her disheveled face out. ¡°Come back...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get up for now. We¡¯ve got somewhere to be.¡± ¡°Just one more hour...¡± ¡°Miss, you really have no conscience.¡± ¡°Ten more minutes...¡± It seemed she felt a bit guilty, as her request for an extension dropped sharply from an hour to ten minutes. Even so, I shook my head firmly. ¡°You¡¯re already in the negative.¡± ¡°How could this be...¡± ¡°Get up already.¡± If she didn¡¯t cooperate, there would be no more Kim Ho pillow for her in the future. Seo Ye-in had no choice but to comply. *** The [Multicolored Scale Box] I obtained during the dungeon raid with Dang Gyu-young. When opened, it randomly drops between one to three scales. After handing it over to the lucky charm, Another reason was that if I gave it to a blacksmith, I¡¯d have to pay a separate fee. As I had already gone through a hassle during the crafting of Root, simply handing over the task wouldn¡¯t be easy either. Why go through the trouble of doing something twice when the senior could take care of it in one go? Of course, from the senior¡¯s perspective, it wasn¡¯t appealing to have more work. He waved his hand dismissively while showing his annoyance clearly. ¡°Ugh, fine. I¡¯ll take care of it when I have time and let you know. Now go.¡± But then Seo Ye-in quietly watched him while tilting her head slightly as she asked, ¡°Are you busy?¡± ¡°.......!¡± The senior¡¯s pupils wavered from side to side, and he swallowed nervously while staring at Seo Ye-in. She probably didn¡¯t mean much by it. She likely asked because he seemed busy, but to that senior, it would have sounded entirely different. A request had come from the daughter of the Hye-seong Group, and he who was just a mere senior, handled it carelessly or delayed it because he was busy? What would happen if this news reached the Future Strategy Office? ¨C Oh, you¡¯re busy. I understand. So, you must be too busy to work with us, then. ¨C That¡¯s...! The senior¡¯s scholarship status and even his potential employment at Hye-seong Group after graduation might slip away at the same time. Of course, it seemed like an over exaggeration to me, but to that senior, it probably wasn¡¯t. And as if he had a split personality, the senior¡¯s attitude completely flipped, and he began addressing us in a much more pleasant tone. ¡°Busy? Who, me? No way! I¡¯ll upgrade all three items right away. This Wednesday¡ªno, actually, come by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Sure, take care on your way out~¡± The senior kindly saw us off, right to the end. As Seo Ye-in and I left the tailor¡¯s club, we exchanged glances. ¡°Strong.¡± ¡°Strong.¡± *** After unexpectedly turning the tailor¡¯s club upside down with a bit of forceful persuasion, The next place we headed was the magic engineering workshop. I recalled the conversation I had with Dang Gyu-young a few days earlier. ¨C Bong Jae-seok was looking for you. ¨C What for? ¨C Don¡¯t know, he just asked if you could come by when you had time. Bong Jae-seok, the president of the magic engineering club. Like most people in the production classes, he was always pressed for time. He was the kind of person who¡¯d even dislike the time spent negotiating. The fact that he went out of his way to make time to meet me meant one thing. It must be something he really needs. If that was the case, he wouldn¡¯t treat me poorly when I visited. After all, he had a straightforward personality. I also had a good idea of what the matter was. There hadn¡¯t been many deals between Bong Jae-seok and me. And it was likely something I could easily resolve. For me, it was a favorable situation in many ways. So, after getting in touch through Dang Gyu-young, I passed by the tailor club and made my way to see him. When I arrived at the front of the Magic Engineering Workshop No. 1 with Seo Ye-in, I saw a familiar face. It was Park Na-ri, the promising student from the Mother Nature Club along with her small tiger Bum. ¡°Ah, hello...?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Park Na-ri, as always, waved shyly while Bum slowly moved his front paw through the air. Then he leaped from her arms and rubbed his forehead against my leg. I greeted them casually. ¡°Hello. What brings you here?¡± ¡°My sister, no, the club president, told me to hurry and come...¡± ¡°Who are you here to see?¡± ¡°Uh... the club president here...?¡± She had been sent directly by the Mother Nature Club, and it turned out Park Na-ri also had business with Bong Jae-seok. On top of that, they had timed her arrival perfectly with mine. I became even more certain of what Bong Jae-seok was going to ask. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Just then, Bong Jae-seok walked out of Workshop No. 1. Beside him was a third-year female student. This was someone who had tried hard to recruit me before. She must be the vice president. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± As if he couldn¡¯t waste even a single second, Bong Jae-seok turned on his heel right after the greeting. Then he started leading the way toward Workshop No. 4. Chapter 217: Upgrade (2) Chapter 217: Upgrade (2) I arrived at Workshop No. 4 after following Bong Jae-seok. It was a place I had visited quite a few times while making my Root weapon, but now it was completely empty. I looked around the interior and then asked casually, ¡°That senior isn¡¯t here today.¡± ¡°He moved to Workshop No. 3.¡± It seemed that all the effort he had been putting in over in the corner had finally paid off. Bong Jae-seok looked between me and Park Na-ri before getting straight to the point. ¡°As you might have guessed, the reason I called you both here is because of the Cube of Life.¡± The Cube of Life. It was an item crafted according to a 10x10x10 cube blueprint. The current owner was Park Na-ri, the homeowner was Bum, and even the Mother Nature Club held a certain share of it. Meanwhile, I had given Bong Jae-seok a blueprint that meticulously recorded each of the thousand cubes one by one. His goal was probably to use that as a foundation to create a complete blueprint and eventually perfect the Cube of Life, but¡ª ¡°Seems like you¡¯re stuck on something.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Cube of Life was a solid S-rank item. Drawing the blueprint was only the first part of a long-chain quest. Bong Jae-seok nodded his head. He was already stuck at the very start. Because he hadn¡¯t drawn the blueprint himself, his understanding of it was significantly lacking. And it seemed that the reason why he had called the two of us was to find a breakthrough. First, Bong Jae-seok spoke to Park Na-ri. Drawing the blueprint was only the beginning of a long chain quest. Yet he was already stuck at that very first stage. ¡°Would it be alright if I took a look at the cube?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. It¡¯s fine....¡± Park Na-ri rummaged through her inventory and pulled out the Cube of Life. She then removed the various life-type items stored inside and placed them back into her inventory. Despite it being one of her most valuable assets, she didn¡¯t seem at all hesitant to reveal it. It was likely because she had already discussed it with the Mother Nature Club. They must be interested in it as well. The Cube of Life that Park Na-ri currently owned was essentially a prototype. Since it was made with a rough blueprint, its quality inevitably fell short. Even so, it was ranked B and had such incredible performance that it played a major role in helping Park Na-ri lead the promising students race. Then what would an S-rank cube with full capabilities be like? Or even if they succeeded in mass-producing the B-rank cube and distributed it to their members¡ª The skill level of not only the Mother Nature Club but also the entire Mother Nature Guild would rise significantly. It made sense that the Mother Nature Club wouldn¡¯t hold back on cooperation or investment. However, just as Park Na-ri was about to hand over the Cube of Life¡ª ¡°Meow.¡± The mini tiger Bum suddenly squeezed in between them and slipped right into the cube. Then, with a quick tap of his front paw, he shut the lid. Park Na-ri grew flustered and tried to open the cube again. ¡°Bum, hey, just come out for a moment. I need to show this to the senior.¡± ¡°Meoww!¡± Bum only stuck his paw out and swatted away Park Na-ri¡¯s hand. After all, you need the homeowner¡¯s permission for a house tour, and right now, the current homeowner seemed very displeased. ¡°J-Just a moment, please.¡± While Park Na-ri anxiously tried to coax Bum out, Bong Jae-seok appeared to decide it was best to finish our conversation for the time being. He pulled out a stack of documents from his coat and handed it to me. ¡°Take a look at this. I¡¯ve listed the tricky parts.¡± I slowly flipped through the pages and read each one carefully. From Bong Jae-seok¡¯s perspective, they might indeed be difficult, but from my perspective as a stagnant water, the solutions were obvious to me at a glance. However, giving him an answer too quickly would only lower my value. So I deliberately put on a serious expression, pretended to think deeply, and then responded. ¡°I believe I can help you with this.¡± ¡°Great. Of course, I¡¯m not asking for free help. Let me know what you need.¡± Bong Jae-seok immediately started talking about compensation. And since he didn¡¯t like playing mind games, he would most likely agree to my request. Just like before, his straightforward personality showed. I immediately said what I wanted. ¡°Meow.¡± Meanwhile, Park Na-ri¡¯s hands and arms had accumulated several bite and scratch marks. Still, it looked like she had almost succeeded in convincing Bum. ¡°Se-Senior said he¡¯d remodel it for you. A remodel.¡± ¡°.....?¡± Since Bong Jae-seok would be working on restoring the Cube of Life, ¡°remodel¡± wasn¡¯t exactly wrong. Then, when Park Na-ri played her trump card, ¡°Let¡¯s have a snack, Bum. A snack, okay?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Bum¡ªno, Bum-nim¡ªfinally vacated his spot in his villa. It was clear, regardless of the industry, being a caretaker was an extreme job. Bong Jae-seok seemed to share the same thought as he cast a sympathetic look at Park Na-ri before shifting to the task at hand. He brushed off the cat hair and scratches, then began flipping through the prepared documents one by one while asking questions. ¡°Let¡¯s get started. Why doesn¡¯t this part fit?¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim. First, this section¡ª¡± I compared the documents with the cube and answered each question carefully. *** After exchanging questions and answers for quite some time, Bong Jae-seok was able to resolve most of his questions. He spoke to the vice president with a satisfied expression. ¡°See? I knew it was a good idea to call them. They earned their keep, right?¡± ¡°...Yeah, I suppose.¡± The vice president who had been frowning the whole time now looked noticeably more relaxed. Bong Jae-seok was eager to apply what he had learned and he quickly stood up. ¡°Thanks for today. If I have more questions, can I call you again?¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± ¡°Great! I¡¯ll head out first, then!¡± With that, Bong Jae-seok bolted out of Workshop No. 4 like the wind. The vice president gave him a light nod as she followed after. Not bad at all. I had answered a few questions and received a B-rank ingot box in return. And just as Bong Jae-seok had confirmed at the end, more obstacles would likely arise in the future. Each time, we would be able to make mutually beneficial exchanges. When we left the magic engineering workshop, Seo Ye-in asked me, ¡°Where to now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see the senior tailor again.¡± The scholarship senior who had told us to come tomorrow contacted us sooner than expected. It seemed he had set everything aside to take care of the upgrade first. The power of authority is truly frightening. Just a single question, ¡°Are you busy?¡± had this much of an impact. With that thought in mind, I headed toward the tailor club. Soon, the scholarship senior came into view. He was waiting in front of the club room. He greeted us with the same incredibly kind smile he had when he saw us off last time. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re here? It finished sooner than I thought, so I called you. I¡¯m not busy at all.¡± Emphasizing how ¡°not busy¡± he was, he handed over two pairs of sneakers and a set of armor. The sneakers were mostly white, but the accent colors shifted occasionally to pale red, blue, and yellow in certain areas. [Cloudstepper (B+)] ? Bonus to movement skills. ? Inertia Ignoring (C) applied. ?Automatic durability recovery ?Multicolor Defense (C) ?Upgradeable With the multicolored scale upgrade, a ¡°+¡± was added to its original rank, and a C-rank multicolor defense trait was included. It seemed that even though he rushed, he hadn¡¯t done the job carelessly. I bowed my head slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to finish this so quickly. Thank you.¡± ¡°Oh, no, no. It wasn¡¯t anything difficult. I should¡¯ve finished it quickly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to let the team leader know.¡± ¡°Haha, you don¡¯t have to go that far. Thank you.¡± The atmosphere between the scholarship senior and me was rather warm and friendly. However, from time to time, he carefully glanced at Seo Ye-in as if to gauge her reaction. Chapter 218: 12th Week Duel Battle (1) Chapter 218: 12th Week Duel Battle (1) After finishing up at the tailoring club, Seo Ye-in and I returned to the training center. It was time to resume training with the Wind Barrier. But before that, I figured it would be better to hand things over first, so I sent a message to Go Hyeon-woo. ¡°Hello, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡± Go Hyeon-woo quickly came to our training room. As soon as he arrived, his gaze dropped and he shifted between looking at the upgraded Cloudsteppers that Seo Ye-in and I were wearing. A satisfied fatherly smile then spread across his face. ¡°They look really good.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got yours too.¡± Without much reaction, I returned the armor that Go Hyeon-woo had entrusted to me. [Multicolor Carapace (C+)] ? Multicolor Defense (C+) ? Upgradeable Originally, it had been large and heavy due to the bronze upgrade, but that was replaced with a multicolored scale upgrade. The weight and bulk have been significantly reduced, giving it the mobility that a warrior like Go Hyeon-woo needs to wear it comfortably. It was light enough to wear under his uniform, like a t-shirt. Go Hyeon-woo looked extremely pleased with his new armor. ¡°I always end up getting more than I deserve from Kim-hyung. Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. It¡¯ll all come out of your share.¡± ¡°Haha, you mean this? I¡¯m quite satisfied with your way of doing things, Kim-hyung.¡± We shared a light laugh as we looked at each other. But just then, Seo Ye-in who had been standing there with a sleepy expression suddenly started tugging at my sleeve. When I met her gaze, she said a single short word. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Jackpot.¡± ¡°Box?¡± Nod. Go Hyeon-woo was clearly puzzled and seemed unable to follow our brief exchange, but Seo Ye-in and I understood each other perfectly. Now, jackpot, box. If you put that together into one sentence, it meant: ¡°If you open the ingot box now, you¡¯ll hit the jackpot.¡± The ¡°later¡± that was mentioned back in the magic engineering workshop had just become ¡°now¡±. So I pulled out the [Ghost Captain¡¯s Ingot Box], and as soon as Seo Ye-in took it, she opened the lid. Flaaash¡ª! A thick fog poured out of the box and filled the training room. Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in, who were standing nearby, were barely visible through the thick fog. It felt as though we had been transported to the sea, with the air humid and carrying the faint scent of salt. With this level of effect... It was practically guaranteed to be a jackpot. As expected, the item revealed when the fog lifted didn¡¯t disappoint me. It was a metal with an overall dark blue color and a strange texture. [Kraketite Ingot (A)] This was a rare metal that crystallized inside the body of the deep-sea boss monster, Kraken, though it was incredibly rare. Even the smallest amount held immense value, and this was a fully processed ingot. If I used this to craft the next part and combined it with Deep Root, I¡¯ll definitely get at least an A+. ¡°Wow. Miss Seo¡¯s luck never ceases to amaze me.¡± Go Hyeon-woo didn¡¯t know exactly what Krakatite was, but it seemed he understood it was a powerful item, likely on the level of an A-rank. Well, just by looking at it, anyone could tell it wasn¡¯t ordinary. As he marveled at the ingot, Seo Ye-in looked up at me closely and asked, ¡°Helpful?¡± ¡°You helped a lot.¡± ¡°...pillow?¡± ¡°Yeah, tonight you can use it as much as you want.¡± Although the current usage of the Kim Ho pillow was in the negatives, she had just pulled out an A-rank material so there was no need to be too strict this time. Her gray eyes sparkled with excitement at my approval. Then, as if a new thought crossed her mind, she asked again. ¡°...Butler?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not happening.¡± ¡°A shame.¡± Still, some things just weren¡¯t possible. After scanning my student ID at the terminal and waiting for a moment, the match was set. I glanced at the names that appeared on the scoreboard and thought to myself. It really matched like this, huh? I figured there was a chance since the scores were similar, but I never expected it to actually happen. When I stepped onto the teleportation magic circle and entered the arena, I suddenly found myself standing in the middle of an incredibly high sky. We were so high up that I couldn¡¯t clearly see what was below. What I was standing on was a cluster of clouds, just like the one Lee Soo-dok had shown us. Of course, this one wasn¡¯t just a small cloud; it was wide and thick enough to stand on and even take a few steps. These cloud platforms were scattered upwards at intervals, yet stretched endlessly. It was literally a staircase of clouds. And then the teammate who appeared nearby was¡ª ¡°Kim Ho...!¡± It was Cha Hyeon-joo who was building up a bad relationship with me. In the crystal duel battle, I had sent her flying twice in a row, When she launched a preemptive strike during the midterms, I shattered her attack immediately and tossed her into the lake. And the next time we crossed paths, I had Seo Ye-in snipe her for me. With this kind of history between us, it was no surprise that Cha Hyeon-joo was glaring at me like she wanted to kill me. Still, since we were on the same team now, we couldn¡¯t just spend the whole match growling at each other. I casually initiated the conversation. ¡°Since our scores are similar, we¡¯ve ended up on the same team. Let¡¯s try working together for at least this match.¡± ¡°Work together? Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for both of us to set aside personal feelings? It¡¯s still a duel battle, after all, and our scores are on the line.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± While I was trying to keep things friendly between us, Cha Hyeon-joo continued to growl. She was someone who stubbornly insisted on using daggers even if she lost, so I had somewhat expected this. It was clear that she didn¡¯t care about losing points. I asked again. ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°Want to win? Go ahead and try. Make it 3 against 1.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo scoffed as she replied. In other words, she was saying she planned to team kill. Three against one, huh? It looked like this wasn¡¯t going to go smoothly. I figured I should first assess the enemy¡¯s capabilities, so I shifted my gaze forward. Both of them looked somewhat familiar. One of them was Jeong Soo-ji, from the Emerald Magic Tower. Her skill level was similar to Kwak Ji-cheol, but she leaned more toward a defensive playstyle. Of course, we¡¯d have to see if her skills held up while fighting above the clouds. The other one was Choi Jeong-pil from my class. Not that it meant much; we only knew each other¡¯s faces and names. Based on what I saw during the placement exam, he was in the close-combat class. Judging by the axes he gripped in both hands, that much was clear. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± As the three of them focused their attention solely on me, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kim Ho 100% Cha Hyeon-joo 100%] Vs [Jeong Soo-ji 100% Choi Jeong-pil 100%] Just like she said, Cha Hyeon-joo immediately aimed her bow at me the moment the match began. The sudden internal strife startled the opposing team even more. An arrow could have lodged in my chest at any moment, but I stayed calm and asked, ¡°You really have no intention of cooperating with me?¡± ¡°None!¡± ¡°I see...¡± I nodded my head with a bitter expression¡ª Boom! ¡ªbefore compressed air exploded and Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s body went flying through the air. ¡°Then get lost.¡± *** TN: Probably the first time I felt that Kim Ho was a bit angry/annoyed. This girl should be proud. Chapter 219: 12th Week Duel Battle (2) Even as she was struck by the sudden wind force and sent flying, Cha Hyeon-joo remained calm. Quickly, she switched out her arrow and fired it. Whoosh! The arrow had a hook instead of a tip and a rope attached to its end. As soon as the hook caught onto a cloud, she grabbed the rope and began climbing up. She¡¯s definitely a promising student. Seeing how she easily escaped a situation that would have trapped most people made it clear. Of course, I wasn¡¯t just going to stand by and watch. The moment Cha Hyeon-joo finally reached the cloud¡ª Boom! Compressed air exploded once again, forcefully pushing her away. It was a wind force I had prepared from the moment her hooked arrow latched onto the cloud. ¡°Ugh...!¡± Only then did a sense of danger appear on Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s face. As she flew through the air, she frantically scanned her surroundings and spotted a floating cloud platform nearby. Desperately, she stretched out her hand clung to the cloud, and tried to climb up. ¡°Peekaboo.¡± ¡°......!¡± But I was already standing there and waiting for her. I pressed my foot firmly on Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s hand and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one last choice. Do you want to fall, or fight with me?¡± Cha Hyeon-joo had already boldly declared her intention to team-kill. But rather than facing a 3-on-1, it would be better for me to get rid of her early and make it a 2-on-1. However, if there was even the slightest chance to get the cooperation of a promising student like her, it was worth extending a final offer. Handling it as a 2-on-2 would be much easier. Or I could just send her flying right away. Either way, I had nothing to lose. Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s face twisted with anger and humiliation. Ignoring her reaction, I began the countdown. ¡°Five, four, three...¡± Whoosh¡ª At the same time, wind gathered and compressed in my hand. A clear sign that I was ready to send her skydiving whenever I wanted. Seeing this, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s face twitched slightly and she turned her head away before muttering in a low voice. ¡°...I¡¯ll fight.¡± ¡°The wind¡¯s pretty loud up here. I can¡¯t hear you.¡± Whoosh¡ª The wind in my hand swirled even more fiercely. Cha Hyeon-joo clenched her eyes shut and shouted. ¡°I¡¯ll fight! I¡¯ll fight with you!¡± ¡°Are you going all the way? No backstabbing?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± No matter how much she resisted, she would helplessly fall down with just a wave of my hand. It seemed she decided it was better to join forces for now. She would watch me fight before she made her next move. Of course, she might still stab me in the back later. Then I won¡¯t hold back either. I removed my foot from Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s hand. She crawled up onto the platform and glared at me with a face full of frustration. After meeting her gaze for a moment, I gestured to the side with my chin. ¡°Go.¡± There stood Choi Jeong-pil, approaching us with twin axes in his hands. My gesture held a clear meaning: Take care of him. Cha Hyeon-joo seemed to understand; her eyes narrowed as she glared at Choi Jeong-pil with a fierce intensity. Then, like lightning, she nocked several arrows and fired them. Whirrrr! Each shot was filled with emotion, as if she had decided to unleash all the anger she had toward me on him. ¡°......!¡± Caught off guard by the sudden barrage of arrows, Choi Jeong-pil stopped in his tracks and swung his axes at an incredible speed, deflecting most of them. However, a few managed to graze his forearm and shoulder. [Choi Jeong-pil: 100%] [Choi Jeong-pil: 96%] Choi Jeong-pil immediately prepared to counterattack. His arm blurred for a moment, then the hand axe spun like a boomerang and went flying toward Cha Hyeon-joo. She leaped back into the clouds to avoid the axe while continuing her barrage of arrows. Whirrrr! I¡¯ll let them play for now. I turned my attention to tracking the other one. Jeong Soo-ji had started heading upward as soon as the match began. She likely judged that her combat abilities were relatively weak. Wind blew in from all directions, forming a whirlwind that grasped Choi Jeong-pil¡¯s body. He suddenly found himself completely immobilized. ¡°What¡ª?!¡± Choi Jeong-pil¡¯s face was filled with shock. It wasn¡¯t until he shifted his gaze to the side that he realized I had already intervened, but by then it was far too late. Even at that moment, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s barrage of arrows continued flying. Thwack thwack thwack! ¡°Kraaah!!¡± [Choi Jeong-pil: 68%] [Choi Jeong-pil: 52%] As Choi Jeong-pil took the full brunt of the arrows, he seemed to lose consciousness for a moment. When his body went limp, I gave him a gentle push with Wind Force and he slipped off the cloud platform before plummeting below. A defeat not just from the fight but from falling as well. Soon, the scoreboard was updated. [Kim Ho, Cha Hyeon-joo Win] vs [Jeong Soo-ji, Choi Jeong-pil Lose] ¡°......¡± Despite the easy victory, Cha Hyeon-joo didn¡¯t seem the least bit pleased. It looked like she wasn¡¯t happy about how closely she had followed my orders. I opened my mouth to speak with a calm expression on my face, ¡°You did a good jo¡ª¡± Boom! ¡°¡ªb. Now get lost.¡± And I walked out, leaving behind Cha Hyeon-joo who was quickly flying away. *** Not long after I stepped out of the arena, Cha Hyeon-joo followed behind. Maybe it was because of that skydiving-like experience at the end, but she was glaring at me and breathing heavily. I met her gaze and spoke with my eyes. ¨C So what? We stared each other down for a moment, but eventually, Cha Hyeon-joo was the first to look away. Still, she kept glancing over. She was definitely competitive. I have to give her credit for her fighting spirit. Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s strengths: skilled and highly competitive. Weaknesses: everything else. With that thought, I scanned my student ID on the terminal. ¡°......¡± Cha Hyeon-joo, who had been sneaking glances at me, quickly scanned her own student ID as well. She must be hoping we¡¯ll be matched up again. This time, preferably as opponents. It¡¯s definitely possible. There are hundreds of first-year students at the Dragon Slayer Academy. Of course, not all of them were participating in duel battles at this exact time. Some might be prioritizing training or club activities and would postpone their duel battles to later in the week or weekend. So right now, it was likely that less than half of the whole grade was up for matching. Even within that smaller pool, when divided into score ranges like 300 points, 700 points, and 900 points, the number of participants in each bracket would only be a few dozen at most. So, the odds of facing the same opponent in consecutive battles became fairly high. ¡°......!¡± But soon, Cha Hyeon-joo checked the scoreboard and frowned. It seemed, unfortunately, that she was matched with other students. Grind, She gave me one last look and gritted her teeth before stepping into the teleportation circle and disappearing. We¡¯ll probably meet again soon enough. Since she mainly used a bow as her weapon, her score would continue to rise for a while, and that meant her score would stay more or less in line with mine as I climbed too. After waiting a bit, I got matched as well. First, I checked the two opponents: [Choi Jeong-pil 695 points, Son Hyeong-taek 688 points] Choi Jeong-pil, whom I had just faced in the previous match. The other opponent was Son Hyeong-taek, whom I had faced in a duel battle at the volcanic zone. My teammate was also someone very familiar. I keep running into this one a lot. While the odds made it possible, it felt like I encountered her especially often. I wasn¡¯t sure if that was good luck or bad. Just then, I felt someone¡¯s gaze and turned my head. Standing there was a bright red head of hair that always stood out. [Kim Ho 675 points, Hong Yeon-hwa 718 points] ¡°......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa was looking at me with a bright face. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging furiously. Chapter 220: 12th Week Duel Battle (3) When the match was set and Kim Ho¡¯s name appeared on the scoreboard, Hong Yeon-hwa let out a silent scream. Huwaaa! ...But when she took a closer look, she realized that she and Kim Ho were on the same team. She had been through so much at his hands before that just seeing the name ¡°Kim Ho¡± had instinctively filled her with fear. Once she understood they were on the same side, the feeling that washed over her was a strange excitement. It was like receiving an unexpected gift. In the previous three-way duel battle at the volcanic zone, she had suffered through absurd and unfair pairings. One round was against the monster Kim Ho, and the next was against Seo Ye-in, a monster trained by none other than Kim Ho. The result of finishing second in both matches? A mere 11 points. When she thought about how she had pushed herself to the limit, it felt like an empty achievement. But this time...! That monster Kim Ho was on her side. Even just seeing his name on the scoreboard filled her with a sense of reassurance. Hong Yeon-hwa scanned the crowd of waiting students and immediately spotted Kim Ho. He didn¡¯t look particularly special, so why was it that he stood out so much? Perhaps he felt her gaze as he turned to look her way. ¡°......¡± Maybe it was because they were playing this match together, But somehow, it didn¡¯t feel as scary as before. The two exchanged brief greetings, and Kim Ho gestured toward the arena with his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa followed closely behind Kim Ho as he led the way. As soon as they stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, their surroundings shifted in an instant, and the next moment, they were standing on a wide cloud platform high up in the endless sky. Similar platforms were floating at a certain distance everywhere in their field of vision, and Hong Yeon Hwa glanced down to see what was below. I absolutely can¡¯t fall. No matter what. She repeated the thought firmly in her mind. Next, she checked the opposing team, who had appeared on the opposite side. From Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s perspective, she didn¡¯t know Choi Jeong-pil at all, and she had only briefly seen Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s face during the 4-on-4 mentoring match. Still, she could confirm that the former was a dual-axe warrior and the latter a martial artist. At least she knew that much. This is starting off well. Not only was she lucky to be teamed up with the monster Kim Ho, but both opponents were close-range classes. Considering the terrain favored long-range combat, they were already starting off with an advantage. But... do they know each other? Just as Hong Yeon-hwa suspected, the other three had met before. In a bad way. As soon as Son Hyeong-taek and Choi Jeong-pil saw Kim Ho¡¯s face, they both grimaced at the same time. Then, after checking each other¡¯s expressions, they spoke at the same time. ¡°Did he get you too?¡± ¡°You too?¡± Wind magic victims A and B. Especially Choi Jeong-pil, who had just been humiliated by Kim Ho in the previous match. His direct opponent had been Cha Hyeon-ju, but since Kim Ho had interfered at the crucial moment, his anger toward Kim Ho was far greater than toward Cha Hyeon-ju. Choi Jeong-pil gritted his teeth. ¡°...No matter what it takes, I¡¯m going to make sure that guy is eliminated.¡± ¡°We want the same thing. But you should be careful. That guy¡¯s wind magic is no joke.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Kim Ho used tactics that either pushed his opponents from various angles or trapped them in place with whirlwinds. And his timing was annoyingly perfect. On terrain like this, with unstable footing, they¡¯d have to be even more cautious. Still locking his gaze on Kim Ho, Son Hyeong-taek made a suggestion. ¡°So how about we take him out as soon as the match starts?¡± ¡°Focus all our attacks on Kim Ho?¡± ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ve got at least one ranged attack up your sleeve, right?¡± It was true that Son Hyeong-taek had his wind fists, and Choi Jeong-pil had the option of throwing his hand axes. But then Choi Jeong-pil thought of another problem. ¡°What about Hong Yeon-hwa?¡± ¡°......¡± A promising student that anyone at the Dragon Slayer Academy would know. Would she really just stand by and watch while they focused their attacks on Kim Ho, her own teammate? Even if they were lucky enough to take him down, by then she would have prepared all sorts of magic to meet them head-on. However, in the next moment, the two of them exchanged a glance and came to a silent agreement. ¡°...We¡¯ll deal with that later.¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± Even if they lost the match, they still wanted to land at least one blow on that annoying guy. Kim Ho calmly watched as the two opponents¡¯ faces twisted, relaxed, whispered to each other, and then twisted again. Then, he suddenly threw a question at Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Huh, uh...? Strategy...?¡± Kim Ho gave a slight nod of his chin. Just like during the mentoring match, he was signaling that he would follow her lead. In that case, what would be the best approach in this environment? After a brief moment of consideration, Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously explained her strategy. After listening to her plan, Kim Ho responded. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I need to buy us time. A two-on-one.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that you need to stall for too long... maybe...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa felt a bit uneasy about having her teammate face a two-on-one situation, but Kim Ho unexpectedly agreed without hesitation. ¡°Okay.¡± Soon, the countdown began. [3] [2] Just as Son Hyeong-taek landed on one of the platforms, Whoooooooooosh! A pillar of fire erupted. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± Son Hyeong-taek instinctively kicked off the cloud and flung himself backward, managing to return to the previous platform in time. Choi Jeong-pil, however, wasn¡¯t as quick to react. The moment he touched the cloud platform, a pillar of fire shot up and engulfed him. Boooom¡ª! ¡°Aaaargh!¡± Choi Jeong-pil flailed desperately as the flames swallowed him whole. However, his pain didn¡¯t last long, as the cloud platform also burned and scattered. Choi Jeong-pil plummeted below and soon turned into a small dot before disappearing completely. [Choi Jeong-pil ¨C %] ¡°Damn...!¡± Only then did Son Hyeong-taek carefully survey his surroundings and realize that the platforms etched with magic circles outnumbered the ones without. He had stepped right into the mage¡¯s domain without even knowing it. Whoosh! Fire arrows shot toward him as if they didn¡¯t intend to give him any time to rest. They targeted both him and the cloud platforms at the same time. In other words, even if he dodged, the platform would burn and disappear. The only thing he could do was keep moving. As he landed on the next platform, a pillar of fire erupted right beneath him. In a panic, he blindly leaped to the next visible platform. While doing so, he sent a wind fist flying as a counter attack, Bang! But the wind fist couldn¡¯t even penetrate the barrier. Hong Yeon-hwa fired her fire arrows without so much as a flinch. Damn it...! He had completely fallen into her pace. For now, all he could do was frantically leap around every time Hong Yeon-hwa moved her hand. Then, the continuous flow of her fire magic abruptly stopped. Son Hyeong-taek felt something was off, stopped in his tracks, and stared at her. At first, he thought Hong Yeon-hwa was looking at him, but soon realized that wasn¡¯t the case. Her gaze was slightly off to the side. And when he turned his head in that direction... ¡°Welcome back.¡± ¡°Kim¡ª!¡± Boom! Compressed air exploded, sending Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s body hurtling downward at great speed. ¡°Hwoooaaaah¡ª!¡± [Son Hyeong-taek ¨C %] Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s strategy was for Kim Ho to buy time while she secured control of the platforms. The plan had worked almost perfectly and allowed them to get rid of Choi Jeong-pil with relative ease. Though the final part deviated slightly from the original plan, as Son Hyeong-taek frantically evaded the fire arrows and pillars of flame, Kim Ho closed in and knocked him down. ¡°......¡± Kim Ho glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa and gave her a slight nod of his chin. Though they were quite far apart, Hong Yeon-hwa felt like she knew exactly what he had said. ¨C Well done. A bright smile spread across Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face. *** Hong Yeon-hwa moved outside the arena. She quickly glanced around and soon spotted Kim Ho. He was scanning his student ID at the terminal and got ready to queue for the next match. Should I... do it too? She hesitated for a moment. What if she queued up after him and ended up facing Kim Ho as her opponent? Wouldn¡¯t all the points she had worked so hard to earn be reset? ...No, I¡¯ll do it. She couldn¡¯t quite explain why, but today felt like a day where things would go her way. It wouldn¡¯t be like the forced matchups from the last duel battle week. With that baseless confidence, Hong Yeon-hwa scanned her student ID. Her heart began to race, and she had to hold her chest to calm herself down. It¡¯s not, right? It won¡¯t happen, right? Was she being reckless? Should she cancel while she still could? But what about her pride? Would pride protect her points? A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind. And finally, when the match was set, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face brightened again. [Kim Ho 710 points, Hong Yeon-hwa 741 points] Yes! She had ended up on the same team as the monster Kim Ho for two consecutive matches! Today was definitely her lucky day. However. When she checked the names of the two students on the opposing team, she couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. ...Huh? [Go Hyeon-woo 803 points, Seo Ye-in 761 points] Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously shifted her eyes to gauge Kim Ho¡¯s reaction. The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward and his face became more and more sinister. Hong Yeon-hwa shuddered. Chapter 221: 12th Week Duel Battle (4) I took in the sight of Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in across from me. This is perfect. Winning was already a given. Since there was a copy slot as a side quest reward. It would be as easy as flipping a hand. Amplifying Wind Force to A+ and pushing them off the clouds would end it right there. But that would be a bad approach. What good would it do to show off power and claim a quick victory against those two? They already knew everything they needed to know. What mattered was the process. How they won or lost and what they learned from it. In that regard, Hong Yeon-hwa was the perfect teammate. Go Hyeon-woo hadn¡¯t faced many true mages before, and Seo Ye-in only secured her victories by exploiting the natural advantage between gunslingers and mages, but in terms of raw skill, she still had a long way to go. She was a promising mage so with a little nudge from me, I could definitely help them realize that. Therefore, in this match, it was important to win while ¡°giving Hong Yeon-hwa the spotlight¡±. ¡°......?¡± From the moment the match was set, Hong Yeon-hwa kept glancing at me nervously. It seemed like she wasn¡¯t sure what to expect since the opposing team consisted of my two closest friends. I calmly broke the silence. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Y-Yes...?¡± ¡°For this match, you¡¯re the main damage dealer.¡± ¡°M-Me...?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll just be supporting from the side.¡± ¡°Is... is that okay...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa didn¡¯t look confident. In the last three-way match in the volcanic zone, she had faced Seo Ye-in and lost, and now Go Hyeon-woo was added to the mix. While he wasn¡¯t quite at the level of a promising student, he was known for being quite skilled. So it made sense that she couldn¡¯t predict an easy victory. On the other hand, I had a perfect grasp of both of their abilities, as well as Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s and my own. So I spoke with certainty. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can do it.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Of course, I¡¯d be the one steering the ship. I began explaining how we would approach this match. Hong Yeon-hwa listened to me intently with gleaming eyes. *** ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Go Hyeon-woo had a pleased smile on his face. Ever since he first met Kim Ho in the middle of the forest, he wanted to fight with him once regardless of whether he won or lost. So whenever he had the chance, he would request a spar, but Kim Ho always found some reason to decline. Yet, unexpectedly, they had now met in an official setting. ¡°.......¡± Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in seemed more interested in the cloud platforms than the duel itself. She squatted down and pressed the clouds with her fingertips, then curled up on top of them before lying down. As usual, her face was expressionless, but there was an unmistakable air of contentment about her. Go Hyeon-woo was also curious, so he asked for her thoughts. ¡°How does it feel to lie on them?¡± ¡°Comfortable....¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyelids began to droop slowly. She looked ready to fall asleep at any moment. However, as a responsible teammate, Go Hyeon-woo felt it necessary to bring this human sloth back to reality. ¡°I hate to break it to you, but that platform will disappear soon. Didn¡¯t they say it vanishes in sequence?¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to fall down there, do you?¡± Seo Ye-in was reluctant to skydive in her sleep so she sluggishly got up from her spot. Still, her gaze lingered on the cloud platform with regret. Still, since he had at least managed to get her on her feet, Go Hyeon-woo proceeded to lay out his plan. ¡°Our opponent is Kim-hyung, and I know Miss Hong¡¯s skills are exceptional as well. It would be wise for us to cooperate, so listen to this¡ª¡± ¡°.......¡± But throughout his explanation, Seo Ye-in merely stared off into the distance with drowsy eyes. Go Hyeon-woo couldn¡¯t be sure if she had even grasped what he was saying. The feathers that were each the size of a palm burned brightly as flames danced around them. She threw them down without hesitation. Go Hyeon-woo slashed with his magic sword, intending to cut down the burning feathers flying toward him. However, as they approached their target, the flaming feathers suddenly slowed and began fluttering irregularly and drifting unpredictably like falling leaves. Thrown off by the unexpected movement, his magic sword sliced through empty air. ¡°This!¡± Fwoosh! The feathers touched Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s body, and in an instant, a blaze erupted furiously. ¡°So troublesome.¡± [Go Hyeon-woo: 97%] He quickly used wind to blow the flames away, so the damage wasn¡¯t severe for now. However, as he had just experienced, the irregular movements made it incredibly difficult to deflect or block them. And it wasn¡¯t just one flaming feather. Each time Hong Yeon-hwa cast her spell, multiple feathers were created and with her continuous chanting, the flaming feathers fell endlessly. Fwoosh! Even when they managed to avoid them, the feathers set the cloud platforms on fire which forced the two to hurriedly jump to the next platform. Of course, Seo Ye-in wasn¡¯t just taking hits without fighting back. Poof! A small puff of cloud appeared from her bracelet and began floating around her. It then swiftly swallowed the incoming flaming feathers. Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t help but let out a bitter laugh in disbelief. That thing baffles me every time... What rank is that thing anyway? Still, there seemed to be a clear way to deal with that cloud. Simply send more feathers than it could swallow. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s casting speed quickened even more. More flaming feathers appeared in her hand, most of which she directed toward Seo Ye-in. Seo Ye-in had her cloud swallow some and dodged the rest while continuously hopping from one cloud platform to another. ¡°Jump.¡± The distance between them slowly began to close. As Hong Yeon-hwa grew increasingly desperate and started linking her flame spells together, there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of concern on Seo Ye-in¡¯s face. ¡°Jump.¡± Soon, Seo Ye-in landed just one level below the cloud platform where Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s team was positioned. For the first time since the match began, she raised her magic gun and aimed it at Hong Yeon-hwa. She had judged that her opponent was finally within range. The moment Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes met Seo Ye-in¡¯s gray ones, along with the gun¡¯s barrel, she felt her hair stand on end. The memory of what had happened in their last match against each other flashed through her mind. Ratatatatatata! As soon as the magic gun spewed blue flames, she instinctively curled her body tightly. ¡°Nngh...¡± But what was this? There were faint impacts, but that was all. There was none of the pain from magic bullets embedding into her. [Hong Yeon-hwa: 99%] She quickly realized it was thanks to the layers of defensive spells protecting her. Her blazing armor, the reverse curtain, and even the shield Kim Ho had cast. With three layers of defensive magic in place, even the magic bullets from a marksman couldn¡¯t break through. ¡°.......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa looked over at Kim Ho with a face full of relief. Kim Ho gave a small nod, as if to say, ¡°Well done¡± and added a single comment. ¡°Stay focused.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...¡± Despite dodging the barrage of flaming feathers while frantically jumping from one platform to another, Go Hyun-woo and Seo Ye-in managed to close the distance. They were now just one level below. Ratatatata! Seo Ye-in continued to fire her magic gun in rapid succession, while Go Hyun-woo gathered wind to launch a sword of energy. Naturally, Kim Ho had anticipated this situation and had a simple countermeasure ready. ¡°Here we go again.¡± Boom! With a burst of compressed air, both their bodies shot upward. Go Hyun-woo and Seo Ye-in who were caught off guard could only watch them rise like dogs chasing after chickens. ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so unfair.¡± Chapter 222: 12th Week Duel Battle (5) Chapter 222: 12th Week Duel Battle (5) The strategy of the Kim Ho-Hong Yeon-hwa team was simple. They took advantage of their mobility to quickly secure the high ground, then suppressed the opposing team as they tried to follow. Whenever the distance closed to a certain point, they would swiftly fly upwards and continue their suppression from above and repeat the process. It was blatant and predictable, but effective. We still haven¡¯t found a breakthrough. Go Hyeon-woo thought as he slashed his magic sword diagonally. The wind wrapped around the blade lashed out fiercely and sliced through the falling flaming feathers. Shhk! However, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s magic was seamlessly linked in the blink of an eye. More feathers immediately flew toward him. Not even a moment to breathe. There was the option to just endure it physically. Those spells were focused on suppression, so their destructive power didn¡¯t seem too significant. But even with that, there was still one problem. Boom! Some of the feathers exploded mid-flight. It was because Hong Yeon-hwa occasionally mixed in a fire explosion spell, [Outburst]. Since he couldn¡¯t tell which ones would explode, Go Hyeon-woo couldn¡¯t afford to ignore the feathers and it slowed his pace even more. [Go Hyeon-woo: 83% Seo Ye-in: 87%] Considering the time that had passed, they had only lost a small amount of health. Still, the current situation wasn¡¯t very optimistic for them. [Kim Ho: 100% Hong Yeon-hwa: 98%] On the other side, the opposing team had barely taken any damage at all. If this keeps up, we¡¯ll lose for sure. But as Go Hyeon-woo had assessed at the start of the match, Kim Ho could easily secure victory whenever he wanted. That meant there had to be some reason for dragging the fight out this long. ¡°......¡± Go Hyeon-woo continued to slice through the flaming feathers, all the while keeping his eyes on the opposing side. Then his gaze met with Kim Ho, who was staring down at him with a calm expression. Somehow, Go Hyeon-woo felt like he understood Kim Ho¡¯s intent. He¡¯s waiting for us to make the first move. Seo Ye-in seemed to have come to the same conclusion. Her figure wavered for a moment and then vanished. She had put on the invisible ghillie suit. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes flashed. If that¡¯s the case... He gathered his momentum and pushed off the cloud platform. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa had been keeping a close eye on Seo Ye-in and quickly realized that she had gone into hiding. But why? Why now, of all times? She had been sending more flaming feathers toward Seo Ye-in than Go Hyeon-woo. Since Seo Ye-in who was a long-range type was more threatening, the more she was suppressed, the less likely there would be a counterattack. But it didn¡¯t seem like she was just hiding to avoid the suppression. There had to be another reason... Suddenly, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ...Ah! Her weapon! Come to think of it, Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic gun could transform into several forms. An assault rifle, a shotgun, or a sniper rifle. And in this situation, the most fitting choice would be... A sniper, most likely. The assault rifle hadn¡¯t done much damage since it was blocked by the three layers of defensive magic, so she was probably aiming to end it with one powerful shot from the sniper rifle. Can I block it...? Even now, things were precarious, but could she withstand a sniper shot? It felt like it would pierce right through... Hong Yeon-hwa glanced at Kim Ho with a bit of unease, but he responded nonchalantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± It seemed he had already prepared something. His calm demeanor filled Hong Yeon-hwa with both reassurance and relief. Kim Ho added one more thing. ¡°This is actually an opportunity.¡± It took quite some time to switch the magic gun into a different form. In other words, during that time, they could cast magic without being interrupted by Seo Ye-in. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this too.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa immediately grasped Kim Ho¡¯s intent. Bang¡ª! [Hong Yeon-hwa: 89%] ¡°........!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s body staggered violently. With the barrier only partially restored, the impact and damage were worse than before. But there wouldn¡¯t be a third shot. Despite the continuous interference, she had finally completed the large-scale spell. Whoosh! Hong Yeon-hwa raised her wand high. A huge flame erupted from the magic circle at her feet and took the shape of a phoenix. Soon, the phoenix flapped its wings powerfully and hundreds of fiery feathers filled the sky, falling like rain. [Phoenix Flutter] Fwoosh, As the feathers poured down like a downpour, they touched the cloud platforms and spread flames like wildfire. One of the feathers even set Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s shoulder on fire, but he didn¡¯t care and remained focused on the scene unfolding before him. ¡°What a sight.¡± Fwoosh! In no time, the cloud platforms were completely consumed by flames and scattered, not even lasting long enough to drink a glass of water. The sky that was once dotted with scattered platforms was now entirely clear. With no foothold left, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in had no choice but to fall. ¡°.......¡± In the midst of this, Go Hyeon-woo turned to look at Seo Ye-in. She had a dull expression on her face with one side of her gray hair on fire. For some reason, Go Hyeon-woo found himself in a strangely good mood. ¡°Haha, Miss Seo. It looks like we lost.¡± ¡°Kim Ho is unfair.¡± [Kim Ho Hong Yeon-hwa Win] VS [Go Hyeon-woo Seo Ye-in Lose] Hong Yeon-hwa looked at the scoreboard with a face full of joy. I won...! She had two victories now! Since Kim Ho was on the same team as her, Hong Yeon-hwa had expected they would win somehow, though she thought it might be a bit challenging since their opponents were Go Hyun-woo and Seo Ye-in. But when she followed his instructions during the match, they managed to secure victory far more easily than she had anticipated. Even in moments that felt dangerous, he stepped in and resolved everything. Once again, Hong Yeon-hwa confirmed that Kim Ho was a guaranteed ticket to victory. The two of them left the arena almost at the same time. When their eyes met, Kim Ho threw out a simple remark in his usual indifferent tone. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Oh, uh, yeah! You too... well done...¡± Without another word, Kim Ho turned and walked toward the exit of the arena. It seemed he had already finished all three of his quota matches. As Hong Yeon-hwa watched his retreating figure, something suddenly came to her mind. In a rush, she hurried after him. ¡°U-Umm!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kim Ho responded in his usual nonchalant way. Hong Yeon-hwa shifted her gaze around nervously as she spoke. ¡°Well... my sister asked if you could come by... just once...¡± ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°If... it¡¯s not too much trouble...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa had received various forms of help from Kim Ho up until now. During the mentoring period, he had tailored sparring sessions for her which allowed her to master Fire Pillar, which in turn helped her secure an easy victory over Bukgong Han-seol. The same went for the midterm exam on the deserted island. At that time, Hong Yeon-hwa had been left alone after her partner became incapacitated, but Kim Ho had readily offered to share his resting spot with her. He even exchanged items to help her complete the crystal set. Without that, achieving a high score would not have been so easy. For these reasons, Hong Ye-hwa had invited Kim Ho to stop by the clubroom when he had time. As a form of gratitude and to discuss her future plans, And there¡¯s something I need to check... too...? However, perhaps because she had vaguely said ¡°When you have time,¡± Kim Ho had only responded with an ¡°okay¡± and she hadn¡¯t heard from him since. Just a few days ago, Hong Ye-hwa had asked, ¡°When is he coming, anyway?¡± and she remembered that and called out to stop him. After hearing her explanation, Kim Ho seemed to think for a moment. Then, as if deciding he couldn¡¯t put it off any longer, he nodded his head. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 223: Ruby Magic Tower I had received a request to visit the Ruby Magic Tower during the last week of mentoring, which was the 8th week. And now it was already the 12th week. It had been a month since I said I would go. The reason I had delayed my visit until now was to handle more pressing matters first. Resolving the conflict with the swordsmanship club and completing the Treasure Map were prime examples. Also, I had judged that the Ruby Magic Tower wouldn¡¯t need my consultation urgently. It¡¯s about time I go now. Most of the important issues had been dealt with by now. I was left with more free time, and it wasn¡¯t polite to keep delaying a visit after receiving an invitation. So when Hong Yeon-hwa brought it up, I readily agreed to follow her. When we arrived at the Ruby Magic Tower clubroom, the club president Hong Ye-hwa greeted us. It seemed Hong Yeon-hwa sent word ahead while we were on our way. ¡°Welcome. It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not coming sooner.¡± ¡°No, I told you to drop by when you had time.¡± Hong Ye-hwa gave me a soft smile and said that she was thankful I came, even now. Unlike Hong Yeon-hwa who wore her emotions on her face, this older sister of her was far more skilled at navigating social situations. Having been pushed and pulled between various factions to reach the position of club president, it was only natural that she had become adept at such things. ¡°.......¡± On the other hand, ever since the three-way meeting had begun, Hong Yeon-hwa had been staring intensely at her older sister as if she was demanding something. Even though Hong Ye-hwa shot back a stern look as if she was telling her to hold back, Hong Yeon-hwa showed no signs of backing down. From what I had observed so far, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s fiery personality rarely conceded to anyone, but her older sister was one of the few exceptions. However, in this particular staring contest, it was surprisingly Hong Ye-hwa who surrendered first. With a deep sigh, she finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry to ask this as soon as you got here, but could I make a small request?¡± ¡°Go ahead, senior-nim.¡± ¡°We had a bit of an argument...¡± Hong Ye-hwa trailed off with a conflicted expression on her face as if she was debating whether or not to continue. But with Hong Yeon-hwa still pressing her silently, she had no choice but to keep talking. ¡°Well... she says she sleeps better when she leans on you. Honestly, I don¡¯t really believe it, but if you don¡¯t mind...¡± ¡°You want to confirm it, is that right?¡± ¡°Mhmm. If you¡¯re not comfortable, feel free to say no.¡± I could already picture what had happened. After seeing me and Seo Ye-in sleeping together during the midterm exam, Hong Yeon-hwa showed some curiosity about the ¡°Kim Ho pillow¡±. So she volunteered to be the second test subject and tried leaning on my shoulder. The experiment had been abruptly stopped due to Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s sudden appearance. I could only guess that during the sisters¡¯ argument, something along the lines of ¡°You try leaning on him too!¡± must have come up. Which would explain why she now wanted to test it out. ¡°.......¡± Hong Ye-hwa waited for my decision with a somewhat ambiguous attitude. She seemed half hoping I would refuse, but she was also half wanting to see it through. I felt just as awkward. If you were visiting a friend¡¯s house and their older sister suddenly asked to lean on you for a moment, wouldn¡¯t you feel uncomfortable too? Still, I should go through with it. Does the Kim Ho pillow really have the power to induce deep sleep? It was still an unresolved mystery for me. With the third test subject having walked in on her own, it seemed right to confirm it now. So I nodded my head. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Feel free to try it.¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± With my approval, Hong Ye-hwa pushed two chairs together. She sat me down in one, then moved to sit in the other, but paused again and let out a deep sigh. ¡°Haah...¡± Her breath carried a mix of complicated emotions. After glaring at Hong Yeon-hwa for a moment, she finally sat next to me. Then she slowly leaned over, rested her head on my shoulder, and closed her eyes. Among the many dungeons in the underground levels, there were countless ice-themed ones. The higher the rank, the better. I had passed this information on through Hong Yeon-hwa. Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head. ¡°Mhmm, so I wanted to ask... I heard you¡¯ve been going down to the underground levels frequently. Is that true?¡± Considering how I had been going up and down the underground like it was routine during every strategy battle week, it was only natural for rumors to spread. Since it wasn¡¯t exactly a big secret, and I didn¡¯t think Hong Yeon-hwa would go around broadcasting it, I decided to give her a partial confirmation. ¡°I sneak down there from time to time.¡± ¡°What rank?¡± ¡°Most of the time it¡¯s D-rank.¡± Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard the word D-rank. Then, she made a suggestion. ¡°Would you be able to take Yeon-hwa down with you?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more reliable to go with the club¡¯s seniors?¡± What I meant was, with all the second- and third-year seniors in the club, why ask a first-year like me? Hong Ye-hwa explained with a wry smile. ¡°For the time being, I can¡¯t get the second and third-years to move. It¡¯s a bit complicated to explain.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°So, I have no choice but to bring in outside help, and since it¡¯s D-rank, I thought it might be best to ask you.¡± She had reasoned that it was better to entrust this to someone she was at least somewhat familiar with rather than a complete stranger. Hong Ye-hwa then took out a jewelry box the size of her fist from her inventory. A perfectly fitted ruby glowed a deep red. ¡°This is a gift. I really appreciate all the help you¡¯ve given.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll accept it gratefully.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re okay with taking Yeon-hwa down there, I¡¯ll prepare additional compensation.¡± It wasn¡¯t a bad offer. Going down to the underground floors every strategy battle week was a given. Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s request was simply to choose the ice-themed dungeon from the ones I was already planning to enter and to take Hong Yeon-hwa with me. For me, it was like gaining free manpower, and since Hong Yeon-hwa possessed Aqua Flame, clearing the ice dungeon would be a breeze. On top of that, she¡¯d throw in a ruby as a bonus for the clear reward. You can never have too many jewels. ¨C Caw! Young monarch! You¡¯ve brought something shiny! After all, shiny things were the favorite bargaining material for dimensional crows, including the crow tailor. So, I didn¡¯t take long to decide. ¡°I¡¯ll make time next week.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± For the next strategy battle week, I had already planned to enter [Gathering of Villains] with Dang Gyu-yeong and her group, and beyond that, my schedule was open. So, clearing the rest with Hong Yeon-hwa wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. ¡°You¡¯re okay with this too, right?¡± Hong Ye-hwa asked a question that was more of an announcement than a request. Hong Yeon-hwa had been visibly shrinking into herself until then, but when she was suddenly pointed out, she flinched and looked back and forth between us. After a moment of what seemed like hesitation, she finally spoke. ¡°I think... it should be fine.¡± Perhaps the trust we had built while working on our teamwork during the recent battle made her decide it would be okay with me. Hong Ye-hwa smiled gently and spoke to me. ¡°Then let me know once the details are set.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The Hong sisters saw me off all the way to the entrance of the Ruby Magic Tower¡¯s club room. The last glimpse I caught of their faces had smiles clearly spread across them. But not long after I stepped out of the room, Boom! Boom! Boom! ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± From beyond the closed door, I heard the sounds of something burning, explosions going off, a fierce smack to someone¡¯s head¡ª And Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s pitiful scream echoed loudly. Chapter 224: I Was Lucky Again As I walked, I pulled up the notification message I had received earlier. [Side Quest: 12th Week Duel Battles] (Completed) ? Objective: Complete 3 duel matches. ? Progress (3/3 Wins) ? Reward: [Copy ¨C Skill] Slot +1 This week¡¯s side quest had been cleared with the highest possible achievement: 1 win with Cha Hyeon-joo and 2 wins with Hong Yeon-hwa. The reward was an additional copy slot just like I expected. ? Copy ¨C Skill [2/3] 1. Silent Step (B+) 2. Overheat (C) 3. (None) A surprising gain in all this was that Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s Overheat skill had ranked up from D to C. I noticed it during the duel and overwrote it onto one of my existing slots. Now, I had to decide what skill to register in the empty third slot. And as for how to use the one remaining fixed pin, I decided I¡¯d think about that later. I had arrived at my next destination, so I shook off my thoughts and lifted my gaze. It was another club room, and the nameplate above the door read: When I stood in front of the sign and waited for a moment, a familiar face greeted me. It was none other than the president of the Martial Arts Club and the Toad with a Fiery Heart Kim Gap-doo. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Kim Gap-doo gave me an unwelcoming look. But I had business with him, so I came to see him regardless. In the crystal battle amidst the mentoring week. Kim Gap-doo had made a bold bet. It was a 4-on-4 duel battle for a chance to win a day with Dang Gyu-young, and as the club president, he had recklessly wagered the club¡¯s items. He had been confident in his victory, but when his ace Jo Byeok lost, the duel ended with Dang Gyu-young ¡¯s team winning. However, handing over so many items at once would severely shake Kim Gap-doo¡¯s standing within the club. Taking that into account, Dang Gyu-young adjusted things so the items would be handed over gradually, without causing too much strain on him. Among the items I was set to receive was, of course, my own share. After all, I was the one who secured the victory against Jo Byeok from the Disciplinary Committee, so it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say I contributed the most to winning the 4-on-4 bet. In the process, I had to show some of my skills, and in exchange, Dang Gyu-young promised me a portion of the winnings. The reason I came to the martial arts club was to claim one of those shares. Of course, Kim Gap-doo didn¡¯t know any of this so it would¡¯ve been pointless for me to show up unannounced. That¡¯s why Dang Gyu-young had sent him a message in advance. [Dang Gyu-young: Hey] [Dang Gyu-young: Kim Gap-doo] [Kim Gap-doo: Gyu-ha!! (short for Gyu-young-ha)] [Kim Gap-doo: What¡¯s up? ><] [Kim Gap-doo: (happy frog emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: About the items] [Kim Gap-doo: Yeah yeah >_< How should I prepare?] [Dang Gyu-young: I¡¯m sending Kim Ho] [Dang Gyu-young: Later] [Kim Gap-doo: (serious frog emoji)] [Kim Gap-doo: Kim Ho?] [Kim Gap-doo: What item?] [Kim Gap-doo: Dang Gyu-young] [Kim Gap-doo: Dang Gyu-young??] [Kim Gap-doo: ???] Kim Gap-doo showed me these messages and said, ¡°There¡¯s been no reply since then.¡± ¡°She blocked you again.¡± ¡°Is that so...?¡± Kim Gap-doo¡¯s expression darkened suddenly. Sad Gap-doo. While I was thinking such rude thoughts, Kim Gap-doo quickly controlled his expression, as if he thought he couldn¡¯t act weak in front of me. ¡°So you came in place of Dang Gyu-young?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°...She must trust you a lot.¡± It made sense that he would think that way, considering I wasn¡¯t even a member of the thieves club, yet I was tasked with delivering the items. But in reality, the item right now wasn¡¯t being delivered; it was mine. There were plenty of clubs in the Dragon Slayer Academy, yet as just a first-year, I was the third to use them. I was ahead of even some high-ranking club presidents. It was no wonder he found it interesting. I smiled slightly and brushed it off. ¡°I was lucky.¡± ¡°I feel like you¡¯ve said something similar before.¡± ¡°Well, luck can strike twice, can¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But I wonder if it¡¯ll stop at just twice.¡± ¡°.......¡± I maintained my silent smile, while the blacksmith club president stared at me as if he was trying to read my thoughts. However, it seemed he didn¡¯t want to waste any more time, so he got straight to the point. ¡°What would you like me to make?¡± ¡°This.¡± Just like when I requested the crafting of Root, this time too I brought along a blueprint. The blacksmith club president accepted the blueprint and unfolded it before his eyes flashed with interest. Then he asked, ¡°I¡¯d like to take another look at the weapon you had made before.¡± ¡°Here it is.¡± I placed Deep Root on the table. Aside from the priest¡¯s dagger attached to the tip, everything was just as it had been. The president compared Root with the blueprint and his eyes sparkled with recognition. ¡°They¡¯re designed to connect, I see.¡± ¡°You caught on quickly.¡± ¡°Judging by the additional joints, this won¡¯t be the final form.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°This is an interesting piece, really.¡± The president nodded as he said that. It was a sign that he had accepted the request for the commission. ¡°You¡¯ve brought the materials, I assume?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I set the chunk of Kraketite onto the table with a thud. The president¡¯s eyes deepened as he picked up the metal and examined it closely for a while. ¡°Kraketite... I¡¯ve never worked with this metal before. Were you lucky this time as well?¡± ¡°Maybe I was lucky a third time.¡± Though if I thought about it, it wasn¡¯t really my luck at all. It was the lucky sloth¡¯s good fortune. The president stared at me a bit longer, but once again, he seemed to set his curiosity aside. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be polite to pry too much into the source, would it? I¡¯m lucky too, since I¡¯ll get to work on a high-rank piece for the first time in a while.¡± The importance of skills and traits is just as critical for production classes as it is for combat classes. To craft high-quality equipment, one must acquire a variety of skills and traits and continuously manage their rank. However, by the time someone reaches the level of a third-year club president, most tend to stagnate at A or B rank. In that situation, a Kraketite ingot was like rain in a drought. It was extremely rare, with hardly any opportunity to work with it, and its rank was A. Just using this material to craft an item would lead to significant progress. Perhaps that¡¯s why the blacksmith club president made another offer. ¡°Like last time, there will be some leftover material. If you¡¯re okay with it, I can make an additional item for you. What do you think?¡± When I had the Root made with the Millennium Iron, the leftover materials were used to craft Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s durable pen. Though back then, it had been a favor in exchange for fulfilling the president¡¯s request. This time, he offered to make something for me as long as I allowed him to use the leftover Kraketite. It wasn¡¯t a bad deal, since getting the chance to craft with high-rank materials was never a loss. I had nothing to lose either since I wouldn¡¯t have to pay for the labor if he made an item for me. So I accepted the offer without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll deliver it as soon as it¡¯s finished.¡± Once all the minor details were settled, the blacksmith club president stood up. He was holding the blueprint and the ingot. It seemed like he was ready to start working immediately. It¡¯ll probably take about a week at most. Although Kraketite was ranked the same as Millennium Iron, it was much easier to process. When we left the club room together, the president added a meaningful remark. ¡°I¡¯m curious. How many more times will your luck hold out... I¡¯ll be watching with interest.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± Because my Lucky Charm isn¡¯t going anywhere anytime soon. Chapter 225: If It’s Just Money, We Have It After making a request to the blacksmith club, I was on my way to the training center, ¡°Kim-hyung.¡± When I ran into Go Hyeon-woo. He was coming after finishing this week¡¯s quota of duel battles. I asked him as we walked side by side. ¡°How many wins?¡± ¡°Two wins.¡± ¡°As expected.¡± It meant he had won every match except the one against me. Well, Go Hyeon-woo wasn¡¯t the type to lose to anyone else anyway. We would see how things go once he entered the 900-point range for real. The conversation naturally shifted to the duels we had together. ¡°So, how was it, fighting against Hong Yeon-hwa?¡± ¡°I knew Miss Hong¡¯s skills were impressive. We had coordinated during the midterm exam, after all. Now that I faced her as an opponent, she really lives up to her reputation.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa was a textbook example of a battery-style mage. Given enough time, she would settle down in one spot and either bombard opponents with mid-level spells or quickly unleash large-scale magic Her firepower was truly overwhelming when she was allowed to build up. ¡°Win or lose, I wanted to experience it at least once.¡± ¡°I figured as much. If it were you, Kim-hyung, you would have won much more easily.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to really learn from fighting me, anyway.¡± Wind mages themselves are rare, and the odds of fighting on terrain where you could fall to your death are almost nonexistent going forward. On the other hand, since there were plenty of chances to face off against battery-style mages in the future, I had intentionally put Hong Yeon-hwa in the spotlight. Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head and asked, ¡°Thanks to that, I learned a lot. But I¡¯m curious, what¡¯s your evaluation, Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°Well, for starters, your strategy was flawless.¡± On the Cloud Stairs where movement was restricted, close-combat classes were at a huge disadvantage. Despite that, Go Hyeon-woo kept leaping up the platforms and trying to close the distance with Hong Yeon-hwa, all while making sure Seo Ye-in faced less pressure. In the end, Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets were blocked by a barrier but that was a different issue. Even his last resort wasn¡¯t bad. When Hong Yeon-hwa was chanting her large-scale spell, Go Hyeon-woo immediately seized the opportunity and unleashed Clear Stream. Although it was blocked in the end, it was the best decision he could have made at the time. Go Hyeon-woo gave an awkward laugh. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s too much praise. Were there any shortcomings?¡± ¡°If I had to nitpick, there was one thing.¡± ¡°Nitpick? Not at all, please feel free to say it.¡± Most martial artists took great pride in the martial arts they had learned and were very sensitive to evaluations. This was because an evaluation of their martial arts was also an evaluation of their sect and master. Because of that, I approached the topic carefully and only brought it up once Go Hyeon-woo had given his approval. ¡°What kind of movement technique have you learned?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve learned the Thousand Winds, Endless Step from my sect.¡± Like his other martial arts, it was of a fairly high level. You could tell just by watching how smoothly he extended forward with each step. However, the issue that stood out was this: ¡°Your hands and feet aren¡¯t in sync. When you use clear stream, your feet stop moving, and when you use your movement technique, your sword stops.¡± When Hong Yeon-hwa had prepared her final move, Go Hyeon-woo made his first and last attack using Clear Stream. After that, I had to detonate my Spiral Explosion in succession, forcing him into a one-way retreat. If he had been able to continue using Clear Stream while retreating, he might have been able to counterattack. Go Hyeon-woo gave a bitter smile. ¡°As expected, I can¡¯t fool your eyes, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°So you already knew?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s something I¡¯ve been struggling with.¡± All of Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s martial arts were at a high level, but that also made them difficult to master. Right now, it was impossible for him to use both his sword techniques and his movement technique at the same time. Or even if he did, one would end up out of sync with the other. For now, I decided to hold off on giving him an answer. ¡°There are a few ideas I have in mind, but I need to think about it a bit more.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s even a slight chance, I¡¯d like to give it a try.¡± ¡°Yeah, you won¡¯t have to wait long.¡± *** I trained in the Wind Barrier skill at the training center until evening. Then when I started to feel hungry, I sent a message to Seo Ye-in. [Kim Ho: (tap-tap cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (peeking cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (glaring cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: Wanna grab food?] [Seo Ye-in: ...... ] I added more context. ¡°Yes, this time I reinforced my teammate¡¯s barrier with an extra layer, but soon she will be learning another defensive spell, so the result will likely end up the same.¡± ¡°.......¡± Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s gaze deepened. Since Hong Yeon-hwa was a promising first-year student, the Second Future Strategy Office had also been keeping an eye on her. In the last duel match in the volcanic zone, she had lost in a one-on-one with Seo Ye-in, but she quickly came back with improved defenses. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s growth is quite amazing as well.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a quick learner too.¡± Of course, Ahn Jeong-mi already knew this. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s rapid improvement wasn¡¯t just due to her natural growth rate; it was also thanks to the full support of the Ruby Magic Tower. That was the point I wanted to make. If they¡¯re getting support, we can¡¯t take them lightly. Now that the Hye-seong Group¡¯s heiress was showing enthusiasm, falling behind the rival faction due to lack of support? They wouldn¡¯t stand for it, not with their pride on the line. It¡¯s not like the Hye-seong Group was short on money. Ahn Jeong-mi asked calmly. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to hear what Kim Ho-nim thinks.¡± As a veteran marksman, she likely already had her own answer yet she still sought my opinion first. Maybe there was a hint of testing in her question, but it was also out of respect for how well I¡¯d guided Seo Ye-in so far. I gave the prepared response. ¡°The most straightforward solution would be to raise her rank.¡± Of course, this was not a solution that could be realized immediately. Seo Ye-in¡¯s Marksman skills were all stuck at C-rank. No matter how much raw talent she had, breaking through the barrier to B-rank would take time. Naturally, I didn¡¯t bring up the topic of ranks just to end it there. ¡°Still, learning an additional bonus trait shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± For example, the [Blessing of the West Wind] that I mastered provides a bonus to wind magic. The Gunslinger class also had similar bonus traits, so I suggested having Seo Ye-in learn one of those. Ahn Jeong-mi diligently took notes. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare it right away. Is there anything else you¡¯ve thought of?¡± ¡°Yes, how about learning a special bullet skill?¡± As the name implied, these special bullet skills had special effects. They ranged from piercing, explosion, shock, to cutting, and more. For example, the bullet Ahn Jeong-mi had fired at the Blood Cult elder in the Black Market was a ¡°shock¡± type special bullet. There were several ways to manifest these: 1. Using a specialized magic gun. 2. Using special bullets. 3. Implementing it as a skill. These were the most common methods. However, since Seo Ye-in already had a suitable magic gun, getting a specialized one would be a waste, and using special bullets would be like throwing money into the dirt. In life-or-death battles, money wouldn¡¯t matter, but in a practical evaluation, it would seem a bit wasteful. And beyond the cost-effect, ¡°As a Marksman, it¡¯s worth learning at least one or two special bullet skills, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I agree. Do you have any particular types you would recommend?¡± Ahn Jeong-mi asked but I passed the choice to Seo Ye-in. I pulled up the list of special bullet skills and showed it to her. ¡°Pick one.¡± ¡°.......¡± Her gray eyes slowly scanned the list. Then, after a moment, she casually lifted her finger and pointed to one without hesitation. ¡°This one.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi and I exchanged glances and nodded at the same time. ¡°That seems like a good choice.¡± ¡°You picked well.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll prepare it right away and deliver it to you.¡± As always, Ahn Jeong-mi ended the call with a polite farewell. The next day, ¡°Kim Ho, Seo Ye-in.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± A senior who seemed to be a scholarship student approached us and handed over a skill book and a rolled-up piece of parchment. Hye-seong Group¡¯s influence is terrifying. They managed to get all of this, not in a day, but overnight. Chapter 226: Killing Three Birds With One Stone First, looking over the skill book, [Skill Book ¨C Explosive Bullet] Seo Ye-in had chosen an explosive special bullet skill. It may be less effective than the piercing bullet or cutting bullet in piercing barriers or strong defenses. Of course, that was only a relative comparison. It¡¯s still stronger than regular magic bullets. If she combined magic bullet + explosive bullet + ejection, it could easily break through even if Hong Yeon-hwa cast a triple-layered defensive magic. Provided it¡¯s backed by a sufficient rank, of course. Another reason most Marksmen prioritized explosive or impact bullets was their versatility. It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll only be fighting against humans. The majority of monsters weren¡¯t humanoid, and many of them were quite large. For example, you couldn¡¯t deal significant damage to a mid-to-large-sized monster like an ogre with just piercing bullets. It¡¯s like trying to stab someone with a needle. It might hurt more, but it¡¯d take forever to kill them. That¡¯s why impact bullets, which transmitted shock internally, and explosive bullets, which destroyed a wide area, had higher versatility. Finally, there was the fact that choosing these bullets expanded the range of weapons that could be selected later on. She would be able to use various explosive weapons like rocket launchers and mortars. There was the drawback that the cost of these weapons wasn¡¯t a joke. But it¡¯s Hye-seong Group, after all. For this rich girl, it wasn¡¯t much of a drawback. Whether Seo Ye-in had considered all these factors or simply followed her gut instinct was unclear. In any case, both Ahn Jeong-mi and I thought explosive bullets were an excellent choice. As soon as she used the skill book, Seo Ye-in was enveloped in a bright light. Flaaash! Probably something like this notification message appeared. [Activated ¡®Skill Book ¨C Explosive Bullets¡¯.] [Acquired ¡®Explosive Bullet (F)¡¯.] Next up was the rolled-up parchment. [Quest Scroll ¨C Marksmanship] Marksmanship was a trait that gave bonuses to all ranged skills and traits. In Seo Ye-in¡¯s case, just learning it would add a bonus to the magic bullet, ejection, and explosive bullet skills. Because of this versatility, demand was high, and the price was no joke. But it¡¯s Hye-seong Group, after all. It seemed there really was nothing money couldn¡¯t solve. They probably purchased it through a scholarship student from the archery club. I gave Seo Ye-in a light nod. ¡°Give it a try.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Flaaash! Once again, the scroll shone brightly and enveloped Seo Ye-in. As the name suggested, a quest scroll gave the user a quest, and upon completion, they would receive a reward. The objectives were assigned randomly but the difficulty was capped based on the level of the reward. In other words, it wouldn¡¯t suddenly ask her to defeat a Blood Cult elder out of nowhere. Seo Ye-in stared blankly into the air. ¡°......¡± ¡°What did you get?¡± ¡°This.¡± At my question, she shared the details of the quest. [Side Quest ¨C Marksmanship] ? Objective: Kill enemies (0/100) Consecutive kills (0/30) Headshots (0/15) ? Reward: Marksmanship It wasn¡¯t far from what I had expected. There was no need to explain the kill part, while consecutive kills meant taking out enemies one after another without missing a shot. As for headshots, it required hitting enemies between the eyes with magic bullets. With Seo Ye-in¡¯s skills, she should be able to meet all three conditions without much trouble. The only issue was the location. It should be somewhere with over 100 enemies. For now, there¡¯s only the dungeon. It would be nice if training dummies counted, but quests weren¡¯t usually that lenient. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait until the week of the strategy battle.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Shall we start by dealing with the explosive bullet skill then?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± We headed towards the training center. *** Training center. If you took one of those bullets and examined it closely, you¡¯d see a bomb symbol engraved on one side of the casing. It meant [Explosive Bullet] had been added. Then, her gun was aimed at the opponent, and it began firing bursts of blue flames. Ratatatata! Go Hyeon-woo remained calm throughout. As if to reflect his calm attitude, his magic sword moved smoothly, and the wind wrapped around the blade deflected each of the magic bullets one by one. This is just the basics. Since the magic bullets were being fired head-on, any swordsman of a certain level could deflect them with ease. Go Hyeon-woo needed to take a step beyond that. Whirrr¡ª Another gust of wind swirled around his legs. In that state, Go Hyeon-woo began to step forward, one step, then two. However, It¡¯s getting clumsy. Though his high-level movement technique allowed him to extend smoothly in all directions, slight gaps began to show in the once flawless defense. Magic bullets squeezed through those gaps and struck the Wind Barrier. Pop pop pop, Tiny explosions that were barely the size of a baby¡¯s fist. Since they were F-rank explosive bullets, they were rather insignificant. But this is just the beginning. Everyone starts off clumsy, after all. Go Hyeon-woo kept stepping forward, despite how awkward it felt. I continued reinforcing the barrier in quick succession. And Seo Ye-in kept firing like a machine. Her magic gun emitted an endless stream of blue light. Ratatatata! *** We spent all of our free time immersed in training. Seo Ye-in fired, Go Hyeon-woo blocked and dodged with his Pure Flow and movement technique, and I cast the barrier. As expected, Seo Ye-in was the first to show results. Suddenly, she stopped shooting and said one thing. ¡°It ranked up.¡± ¡°E-rank?¡± ¨C Nod, From that moment, the explosions that had been no bigger than a baby¡¯s fist grew to the size of an adult¡¯s palm. They broke through the Wind Barrier and gradually caused damage to Go Hyeon-woo. Of course, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s pain didn¡¯t last long because, [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has increased. (E+ -> D+)] My skill rank had risen by one level too. Once again, the balance between offense and defense was evenly matched. In the midst of it all, Go Hyeon-woo finally reached enlightenment. Whirrr¡ª His movement technique and Pure Flow technique, which had been disconnected until now, suddenly connected smoothly for a moment. Most of the magic bullets missed their mark, while the rest were deflected by Pure Flow. ¡°Kim-hyung.¡± Go Hyeon-woo looked at me with a big smile on his face. As expected, getting beaten up always leads to improvement. I nodded calmly. ¡°Well done. Now, let¡¯s master it completely.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Go Hyun-woo was excited and started to use the techniques at the same time again. Seo Ye-in¡¯s gun barrel followed his movements. Ratatatata! *** A few more days of training passed, and by Friday, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s movement technique and Pure Flow technique, which had only occasionally connected by chance, flowed smoothly like water. Now, it was rare to see any awkwardness. He was even mixing in the Clear Stream technique from time to time. Seo Ye-in had also made progress. In the middle of wildly firing magic bullets, she suddenly stopped again and stared straight at me. ¡°It ranked up.¡± ¡°D-rank?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± It had only taken her a few days to raise a newly learned skill from F to D rank. No matter how many times I saw it, her talent was terrifying. Now that she¡¯d leveled it up enough to use in real combat, the next step was clear. ¡°Let¡¯s go finish your duel battles. It¡¯s time to teach a lesson to some mages.¡± ¡°Teach them a lesson.¡± Chapter 227: I’ll Teach Them a Lesson Above the sky where clouds floated lazily, Kwak Ji-cheol stood on a platform and looked at the scoreboard. His expression wasn¡¯t very bright. ¡°Haah... What rotten luck.¡± [Kwak Ji-cheol 100% Kang Hee-chan 100%] vs [Seo Ye-in 100% Jeong Soo-ji 100%] He had faced Seo Ye-in twice in duel battles before, and he lost both times. Once he was taken down by her sniping, and the other time he was blown away by her shotgun. Was the last time we fought about a month ago? Around five weeks. In that time, how much had their skills changed? Did the gap between them widen or narrow? Either way, I won¡¯t go down as easily as before. During midterms, Kwak Ji-cheol had made his infamous ¡°dark history¡± which painfully reminded him of his lack of skill. So he had thrown himself into training far more diligently than before. He even sought advice from seniors at the Emerald Magic Tower. Thanks to that, his skills have improved noticeably over the past few weeks. Maybe now he could say he had a bit of a chance? Another bit of good news was that Seo Ye-in¡¯s teammate was Jeong Soo-ji. I know her well. Kwak Ji-cheol and Jeong Soo-ji were both members of the Emerald Magic Tower and spent so much time together that they knew each other¡¯s strengths and weaknesses inside out. Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s biggest weakness was clear: Her physical ability is lacking. Though Kwak Ji-cheol couldn¡¯t claim to be particularly strong himself, Jeong Soo-ji was at the level of a near-weakling. If he could exploit that weakness and take her down quickly to create a 2-on-1 scenario, even if there was a skill gap between him and Seo Ye-in, he would have a chance at victory. Having finished his calculations, Kwak Ji-cheol turned to Kang Hee-chan. ¡°We take out Jeong Soo-ji first. If we engage her in close combat, she¡¯ll go down easily.¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± Kang Hee-chan replied half-heartedly. From the moment he entered the arena, his gaze had been fixed on Seo Ye-in across the field. She¡¯s pretty. Beautiful. Gorgeous. There were plenty of beautiful women around Kang Hee-chan after all. Even Cha Hyun-joo had quite a face. Her personality was a disaster, though. But Seo Ye-in stood out among all those beauties. Normally, someone with messy hair, a sleepy look, or squatting down to press clouds into the ground might come off a bit gloomy, but even in those moments, Seo Ye-in had a unique charm. Kwak Ji-cheol also understood why Kang Hee-chan was staring off into space like that, but that was one thing and a duel was another. So he spoke up again. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you could focus.¡± ¡°...Sorry.¡± Only then did Kang Hee-chan snap out of it. He shifted his thoughts from Seo Ye-in¡¯s appearance to analyzing her abilities. He had encountered Seo Ye-in before during the three-way battle in the volcanic zone. However, back then, she had gone into hiding as soon as the fight began, so he never got the chance to face her, and he was eliminated first in a one-on-one fight with Hong Yeon-hwa. But when he reviewed the replay later, Seo Ye-in had defeated Hong Yeon-hwa and taken first place. The matchup between a mage and a marksman might have played a role, but it also meant that Seo Ye-in¡¯s skills were that impressive. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll have to take this seriously. Kang Hee-chan put the small wrist shield he had been using into his inventory and pulled out a large tower shield instead. It might reduce his mobility, but against a marksman, minimizing the number of hits was crucial. It would also make it easier to block Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s interference. Kwak Ji-cheol and Kang Hee-chan exchanged glances and nodded at the same time. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was squatting down and pressing into the clouds with her hands. She was only half-listening as Jeong Soo-ji rambled on about their plan. ...I couldn¡¯t finish her off. She had hoped for Hong Yeon-hwa to be her opponent, but instead, she got an unexpected match. Considering it was already Friday, there was a high chance that Hong Yeon-hwa had already finished her three quota matches. Regrettably, she resolved to deal with the two in front of her. Soon, Seo Ye-in stood up from her spot, and as if that was the signal, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Seo Ye-in blurred and disappeared right away. She disappeared with the help of her invisible ghillie suit. ¡°Huh?¡± Jeong Soo-ji was left all alone in an instant. Meanwhile, Kwak Ji-cheol and Kang Hee-chan were leaping over the cloud platforms and closing in. ¡°Wait, hold on. The plan...¡± Jeong Soo-ji tried to speak and started looking around anxiously, but no response came, just like before the match started. Meanwhile, the two from the opposing team continued to narrow the gap. Jeong Soo-ji started to panic. I need to run. Once more, the sand wall crumbled and the magic bullets forced their way through to strike Kwak Ji-cheol. [Kwak Ji-cheol: 84%] [Kwak Ji-cheol: 79%] ¡°Gah!¡± ...I can¡¯t compete with her. It was only then that Kwak Ji-cheol realized. He had been confident in his improved skills, but Seo Ye-in had grown even more. The gap hadn¡¯t closed; it had widened instead. No, it¡¯s not over yet. It wasn¡¯t over! Kwak Ji-cheol opened his inventory and pulled out even more sand. Then he reinforced the sand walls, layering them even thicker. He had taken the turtle defense strategy to the extreme. Let¡¯s see if she can break through this! Seo Ye-in¡¯s attack power had certainly increased, but with this level of defense, it would be difficult to break through using only an assault rifle. She would have to switch to a shotgun or a sniper rifle, and as far as he knew, that would take a fair amount of time. That would be his chance to counterattack. ¡°......¡± However, contrary to his expectations, Seo Ye-in continued to fire the assault rifle without hesitation. Bang-bang-bang-bang! Explosions echoed, but thanks to the layered defensive walls, they didn¡¯t break through. But his relief was short-lived. Kwak Ji-cheol felt the ground beneath his feet suddenly give way. That¡¯s right, here. ¡°Cloud Platform Bomb¡ª!¡± Instead of breaking through his defense, she shot the clouds to eliminate the ground he could stand on. Kwak Ji-cheol looked down as he fell rapidly through the air. and, to his relief, he saw a single cloud platform floating below. Heavens are on my side! It couldn¡¯t end like this. The moment he landed on that platform, he could quickly recover and continue the fight. However, in the next moment, he looked up and was left speechless. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in was looking down at him. And the barrel of her gun was aimed at the very cloud platform he was about to land on. Kwak Ji-cheol shouted in desperation, ¡°No!¡± Ratatatatata! Magic bullets pounded the cloud platform relentlessly, causing it to explode into pieces. With the platform that was supposed to catch him now scattered, Kwak Ji-cheol continued to fall. ¡°Arghhhhh¡ª!¡± Seo Ye-in stared down at him and spoke for the first time since the match began. Her eyes were cold. ¡°Done.¡± She had taught a lesson the mage. [Seo Ye-in, Jeong Soo-ji Win] vs [Kwak Ji-cheol, Kang Hee-chan Lose] *** After Seo Ye-in had ¡°taught a lesson¡± to all three of her opponents, including her teammate, I contacted Ahn Jeong-mi again. It was to report on her training progress. ¡°¡ªSo, using D-rank explosive bullets, she saw quite the good results in her duel battles. At this rate, I think she will reach C-rank in no time.¡± ¡°I see. You¡¯ve worked very hard.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi seemed quite satisfied. With the human sloth participating in training with enthusiasm and producing results, there was no reason for her not to be pleased. Whatever Ahn Jeong-mi brought her, it was effective, so it felt rewarding. I continued my report. ¡°I plan to tackle the quest scroll during the strategy battle week. Based on the content, she will need to head down into the dungeon.¡± ¡°I trust you, Kim Ho-nim. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± At that moment, Seo Ye-in who had been sprawled out on the table lazily rolling around suddenly jumped into the conversation. ¡°I want to go down too.¡± ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve already earned the qualification for the underground level.¡± ¡°Lower.¡± Seo Ye-in added with a shake of her head. She meant she wanted to follow me into a D-rank or higher dungeon. I expected another firm ¡°No, you can¡¯t!¡± in response, but Ahn Jeong-mi suddenly turned her gaze toward me and asked a rather unexpected question. ¡°Kim Ho-nim, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°Do you have any plans for summer vacation?¡± ¡°......!¡± At those words, Seo Ye-in immediately lifted her head. Shen then began tugging on my sleeve with her eyes now wide open and alert as if she had never been sleepy. ¡°Come visit my house.¡± Chapter 228: 13th Week Strategy Battle (1) Although Seo Ye-in was showing an unexpected amount of interest, it didn¡¯t seem like Ahn Jeong-mi had brought up this question just to change the subject. It was an issue that needed to be dealt with sooner or later anyway. There had to be some connection between taking Seo Ye-in into a dungeon and my summer vacation plans. So, to confirm, I asked again. ¡°I assume there¡¯s a reason you¡¯re asking this?¡± ¡°The Chairman would like to meet you, Kim Ho-nim.¡± ¡°And the Chairman is....?¡± ¡°He is young miss Seo Ye-in¡¯s grandfather.¡± I glanced over at Seo Ye-in. I had guessed she was connected to someone high up. So, she¡¯s the Chairman¡¯s granddaughter. It made perfect sense now why she was under the management of the Future Strategy Office and even had a butler. Given the flow of the conversation, it seemed the Chairman of a company as big as Hye-seong Group wanted to meet me because, ¡°He wants to assess my qualifications?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± He wanted to see if my abilities were sufficient to tackle high-level dungeons, What kind of person I was, And whether I was someone he could trust to look after his granddaughter. He wanted to judge that for himself. There¡¯s no reason for me to refuse. Taking Seo Ye-in into the underground dungeons was a hurdle I would have to clear eventually. Since the rewards from luck-related dungeons were quite substantial, the sooner I got permission, the better. There could be some extra benefits too. They invited me over, so would it really just end with a simple meeting? Hye-seong Group had often given me decent rewards whenever I helped Seo Ye-in or did her a favor. This time would probably be no different. If I have time, I could even grab a hidden piece or two. The new city where Hye-seong Group¡¯s headquarters were located came to mind. I remembered a few hidden pieces around there. Though I was leaning toward going, you never know what might happen in life. So I decided to hold off on giving an answer. ¡°I don¡¯t have any special plans, but I¡¯d like to think it over a bit more before deciding.¡± ¡°I understand. Feel free to let me know anytime.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi who was inside the crystal ball bowed politely as if to show respect for my decision. On the other hand, Seo Ye-in who was eager for a quicker response said, ¡°Come visit my house.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Come visit.¡± She kept tugging at my sleeve whenever she got the chance and repeatedly urged me to visit her. *** The ¡°three-in-one¡± training continued over the weekend. Normally, I left Seo Ye-in alone on weekends, but this time, she participated with unusual enthusiasm. I was curious so I asked her why. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to finish her off.¡± That was her brief reply. In the last match of the duel battle, Kwak Ji-cheol ended up being little more than cannon fodder, but it seemed that wasn¡¯t enough to satisfy her. So she decided to focus on ranking up more in preparation for the day she would face Hong Yeon-hwa again. Turns out she really doesn¡¯t like losing either. For Go Hyeon-woo and me, this was welcome news. The three-in-one training couldn¡¯t proceed if even one person was missing. So by Sunday evening, as Seo Ye-in worked on her explosive bullet skill, Go Hyeon-woo trained both his sword technique and movement technique, and I continued my wind magic practice, we saw significant progress. The talented monster Seo Ye-in naturally advanced her explosive bullet skill to C-rank, while Go Hyeon-woo became skilled enough to use his sword technique and movement technique in real combat. [¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ rank has increased. (D+ -> C+)] I also managed to push my Wind Barrier to the next level. *** Monday. It was time for the strategy battle class. Seo Cheong-yong began to speak with his usual kind smile. ¡°This week, just like always, we¡¯ll be trying to survive in a hostile environment.¡± ¡°.......¡± Shhhhhh... In addition, thick smoke was rising from various spots here and there. ¡°That looks like poisonous gas, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Large plants were swaying side to side in the distance, almost as if they were dancing. ¡°They look like monsters, right?¡± ¡°They do.¡± Go Hyeon-woo slowly reached for his waist, but I kept walking ahead regardless. Before long, a building that had once been a greenhouse came into view. Its glass walls were shattered, leaving only a bare frame behind, while various plants had burst out from the structure. I trudged inside without hesitation with Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in following behind me. In the center of the greenhouse, a small tree was glowing with light. ¡°It looks like a sanctuary, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely easy to tell.¡± ¡°Just find the crystal and charge it.¡± The clear condition for this dungeon was to charge two crystals. ¡°The grading is based on average health.¡± [Kim Ho: 100%] [Go Hyeon-woo: 100%] [Seo Ye-in: 100%] The score would depend on how much of the group¡¯s average health remained once both crystals were fully charged. At the same time, I pulled up this week¡¯s side quest. [Side Quest: 13th Week Strategy Battle] ?Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon ?Deadline: ~Sunday midnight ?Reward: Varies based on performance. The maximum achievement rate required was an average health of 95% or higher. In other words, we had to take almost no damage. And with a three-person team, it wasn¡¯t enough for just me to perform well. We all had to do well. The difficulty was definitely high, But it¡¯s definitely worth it. The rewards were good enough to justify the effort. ¡°I¡¯ve got some good news; the location here is pretty good.¡± Standing in the sanctuary and surveying the terrain, I noticed a few narrow paths winding through the dense mass of giant plants. ¡°If the monsters come, that¡¯s the only way they can get through.¡± ¡°It looks like a good spot for a fight.¡± Among other poison zone dungeons like jungles or swamps, I specifically chose this botanical garden for a reason. The narrow paths made it impossible for us to get surrounded by monsters, and we could take them down as they came. However, Go Hyeon-woo seemed to have some concerns. ¡°But Kim-hyung, doesn¡¯t that restrict our movement too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Shhhh... Right then, acrid smoke began rising from the nearby ground. If poisonous gas or pollen scattered around during an urgent battle, where could we possibly run? Of course, I had prepared a solution for this problem too. ¡°The second piece of good news is...¡± It would be faster to show than to explain a hundred times. I glanced nearby and spotted a colorful flower in full bloom. When I reached out and grabbed it, purple pollen scattered everywhere. At a glance, it was obviously full of toxins. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Kim Ho: 100%] Not only had my health not dropped, but I hadn¡¯t even been poisoned. I dusted off my hands and asked, ¡°What are we?¡± ¡°......!¡± Go Hyeon-woo seemed to remember something he had forgotten when he saw that. ¡°...We¡¯re immune to most poisons.¡± All three of us were. Chapter 229: 13th Week Strategy Battle (2) Hundred Poisons Immunity. It was a trait that granted resistance to various poisons. Since it was a C-rank trait, it could be bypassed by rare or high-level poisons, but it could easily block basic plant poisons like those found in this F-rank dungeon. ¡°Still, be careful not to get scratched.¡± ¡°It only prevents poisoning, after all.¡± Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head in agreement. While we didn¡¯t have to worry about poison, we could still take damage from other types of attacks, such as being pricked by thorns or physical attacks. Plus, there was a fairly strict condition of maintaining an average health of 95%, so we couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. ¡°Now then, shall we go find the crystal?¡± To charge the crystal, we first had to secure one somewhere in the dungeon. I spoke to Seo Ye-in in a polite tone. ¡°Lucky Charm-nim, please guide us.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in looked to the left, then to the right, before turning around and glancing behind her. Then she slowly raised her hand and pointed in one direction. ¡°There.¡± ¡°Very good. Go Hyeon-woo, move out.¡± ¡°Hmm, I shall be off.¡± Both Go Hyeon-woo and I knew well enough of Lucky Charm¡¯s ¡°abilities¡± so we didn¡¯t have any doubts about her directions. Whoosh¡ª As Go Hyeon-woo left at a brisk pace, a gust of wind gently swirled around him. I cast Wind Barrier. ¡°So, where should we go next?¡± At my question, Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly before pointing in a different direction this time. ¡°There.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± There were two crystals in total that needed to be retrieved and charged. Since Go Hyeon-woo had gone for one, the remaining one was for the two of us to collect. So I took the lead, and Seo Ye-in followed at a similar pace. As we walked along the botanical garden¡¯s path, following Lucky Charm¡¯s guidance, the crystal soon came into view. When it came to instincts or luck, leaving it to Seo Ye-in usually worked out pretty well. However, there was one problem. This was the location of the crystal. A monstrously large Venus flytrap had its jaws wide open, and the crystal lay right in the middle of it. Seo Ye-in looked at me and I demonstrated with hand gestures. ¡°Just like this¡ªShahh. Easy, right?¡± All we had to do was quickly stick a hand in, grab the crystal, and pull it out just as fast. Seo Ye-in stared at the Venus flytrap for a few seconds, then reached her hand in. ¡°Shahh.¡± Chomp. The Venus flytrap snapped shut at a terrifying speed and bit down on Seo Ye-in¡¯s arm. [Seo Ye-in: 100%] [Seo Ye-in: 99%] ¡°...Help.¡± ¡°I told you, pull it out quickly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not coming out.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not going to come out now.¡± If it slid out easily while trapped, would it even be called a Venus flytrap? [Seo Ye-in: 98%] ¡°...Help.¡± I wanted to tease her a bit longer, but since her health had dropped a little more, I decided to help. I pried the Venus flytrap open with all my strength, and Seo Ye-in pulled out her trapped arm along with the crystal. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in stared at the Venus flytrap as if she was facing a worthy opponent. She then slowly brought her hand closer again, as if she was ready for another attempt, but I grabbed her hand to stop her. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Go Hyeon-woo was probably on his way back with the crystal by now, so we couldn¡¯t waste any more time. She would just fail again anyway. If we tried again, it would only drain more of her precious health. With a bit of reluctance lingering in Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes, I pulled her along and we started retracing our steps. The way back had become more difficult, as the plant-type monsters which had only been swaying in the distance earlier were now starting to gather. They looked like walking candy sticks or bean sprouts. The only difference was that instead of candy heads, they had large flower buds, and thick plant stems supported their bodies instead of sticks. Whoosh¡ª At that point, I cast Wind Barrier and picked up the pace. Seo Ye-in also pulled out her magic gun, but I stopped her. ¡°Let¡¯s just get back for now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was best to return to the greenhouse and set up near the sanctuary before engaging in any battle. It seemed they hadn¡¯t realized that the poisonous pollen wasn¡¯t working. Of course, some of them also threw spiky cacti or fired thin poison darts, not just the poisonous powder fruits. But regardless of what they tried, everything was blocked by the Wind Barrier. The value of upgrading it to C+ rank was more than enough. Ratatatatata! Seo Ye-in counterattacked all those creatures without fail. Go Hyeon-woo handled the luring, I took care of defense, and the occasional poisonous smoke was neutralized by our hundred poisons immunity, so we could focus solely on the offensive without worrying about anything else. Ratatatatata! Then, at some point, the magic bullets suddenly seemed to grow much stronger. Even Go Hyeon-woo was startled enough to glance back in surprise. I threw a quick word to Seo Ye-in as well. ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Done.¡± She had completed the side quest and acquired [Marksmanship]. Each of Seo Ye-in¡¯s ranged skills and traits now had an additional bonus, so her overall destructive power had significantly increased. Her firepower had grown noticeably stronger. Moreover, Go Hyeon-woo no longer needed to focus on luring the monsters and began actively joining the offensive. Not long after that, [Crystal: 100%] Flash! The second crystal finished charging as well. The relentless assault of the bean sprout monsters stopped as if it had all been a lie, and the greenhouse trembled like an earthquake had hit before the exit opened up. At that moment, the replay crystal ball that had been set aside began to score our performance. [Kim Ho: 100%] [Seo Ye-in: 98%] [Go Hyeon-woo: 100%] [Average Health: 99/100% = 792 points] + [Number of monsters defeated: 153 = 51 points] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Total score: 843 points] * F-rank dungeon clear multiplier 1.0x = 843 pts The three of us looked at the results with satisfaction. During all this, Go Hyeon-woo seemed to have a question and asked Seo Ye-in, ¡°But Miss Seo, when did you lose any health?¡± ¡°Shahh, I failed.¡± ¡°......?¡± If translated, it meant she had tried to swiftly pull out the crystal from a Venus flytrap but got caught. Since Go Hyeon-woo was still a beginner in sloth language, it was no surprise he found it hard to understand. It wasn¡¯t important, so we just moved on. [Herb Botanical Garden Random Box (F)] *2 Even though Lightning Valley was also an F-rank dungeon, its reward had only been one box. In contrast, the Herb Botanical Garden, while also F-rank, was a three-person dungeon and had much tighter terrain compared to similar dungeons. If we didn¡¯t have the Hundred Poisons Immunity, we would have been poisoned every time the bean sprout monsters threw their poison fruit, and it would have been a real hassle. Because of that, we ended up getting two random boxes as a reward. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± Go Hyeon-woo and I glanced at Seo Ye-in at the same time, almost as if we had planned it. Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod and opened both random boxes at once. Click, [Random Rank Up] *2 For F-rank random boxes, this wasn¡¯t a bad outcome at all. I handed one of the Random Rank Ups to Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. ¡°Here, give them a try.¡± ¡°But Kim-hyung, you didn¡¯t get anything for yourself.¡± ¡°So what if I didn¡¯t?¡± After all, I managed all the rewards from other dungeons, so there was no need to claim my share from an F-rank dungeon as well. And if you¡¯re wondering whether I really didn¡¯t get anything out of this, well, that wasn¡¯t quite true either. [Side Quest: 13th Week Strategy Battle] (Completed) ? Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon ? Average health (99/95%) ? Reward: Stamp Coupon (C) A reward given when completing the side quest with the maximum achievement. It was a coupon that allowed you to collect multiple stamps. With a C-rank stamp coupon, you could collect up to ten stamps, and by gathering five and then ten stamps, you could receive an ¡°even more special reward¡±. So how do you collect the stamps? By failing. More precisely, whenever you or a party member received a ¡°failure¡± result on any random item, a stamp would be added. For example, like that future teahouse owner Shin, who had the special ability to draw a lower than E-rank reward from a D-rank random box. Or by using the Random Rank Up and failing. So go ahead; fail for me. Chapter 230: Byeong-cheol Is Out If the Random Rank Up succeeded, of course, it would be even better. It would save the two of them the time and effort needed to invest in ranking up some skills. But realistically, two rank ups are far too few. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s luck wasn¡¯t good enough to rely on just one chance. Seo Ye-in had managed to cheat her way to raising [Bullet Time] to C-rank in one shot, but such luck wasn¡¯t likely to happen again. Now that most things are at C-rank anyway. While moving from D to C could still happen with a bit of good luck, moving from C to B was impossible without extraordinary luck. You¡¯d have to break through near-zero odds. That¡¯s why I had failed thirty times in a row in the past and why I still saw Inferno Fist at B-rank as a miracle. Because of this, I watched the two of them without high expectations. The first challenger was Go Hyeon-woo. He held the Random Rank Up with a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m a little nervous.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you fail, you can just try again next time.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Flash! As soon as Go Hyeon-woo used the Random Rank Up, the scroll began to glow brighter and brighter, Fwoosh... Then in an instant, the light faded and the scroll crumbled into ashes before scattering into the air. [Rank Up has failed] ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it goes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is most of the time.¡± Go Hyeon-woo calmly accepted his failure, and a stamp was automatically added to the stamp coupon. [Stamp Coupon (C)] ? Stamp 1/10 Naturally, both of our gazes shifted to Seo Ye-in who was still waiting. ¡°.......¡± As always, Seo Ye-in showed no hint of tension. She quietly glanced down at the Random Rank Up in her hand before using it. Flash! The scroll began to glow brighter and brighter. Could it actually work? Considering all the unbelievable luck she had until now, even I couldn¡¯t help but feel a flicker of hope. But then, Fwoosh... [Rank Up has failed] ? Stamp 2/10 The Random Rank Up crumbled into ashes, and another stamp was added. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Judging by how indifferent she always was, even during random box openings, it seemed she wasn¡¯t too concerned about the outcome either way. However, Go Hyeon-woo raised an eyebrow with a surprised expression. ¡°This is rare. For Miss Seo to fail.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± It seemed that not even her extraordinary luck could guarantee a perfect streak with the Random Rank Up. Well, if that were possible, it wouldn¡¯t just be luck; it would be a bug. After all, it would mean gaining second and third-year level specs with just a few Rank Ups. Still, you never know. After all, this was only the second attempt. We would have to wait and see if Seo Ye-in¡¯s success rate would continue to drop to the average or if she would occasionally defy the odds. *** The brutal odds of the Random Rank Up applied to me without exception. Fwoosh... [Rank Up has failed] [Rank Up has failed] The two scrolls in front of me turned to dust and scattered. They were the rewards from defeating the Elemental Gap-doo with Dang Gyu-young but, Now they¡¯ve been replaced with stamps. [Stamp Coupon (C)] ? Stamps: 4/10 The silver lining was that I only needed one more stamp to reach the first reward. I figured I could fill it by clearing the next dungeon. After all, when you open enough random boxes, you¡¯re bound to get a dud sooner or later. As if reading my thoughts, a message from Dang Gyu-young came in right on cue. ¡°If you want to join, you¡¯ve got to fight at least at his level.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s a high bar. Guess I¡¯ll have to sit this one out.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol finally let go of any lingering attachment. After all, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s fighting power was almost at the level of a promising student, and that was just the minimum requirement. He decided it was better to give up his spot to someone more suitable than to stubbornly insist on joining without being able to fight. Once everything was settled, Dang Gyu-young spoke up again. ¡°So, with Byeong-cheol out, that leaves four of us. What about the last spot?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to bring someone from the outside, a mercenary.¡± ¡°Sounds like you already have someone in mind.¡± ¡°Yes, I have a very capable candidate.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure our Kim Ho will do a great job.¡± Dang Gyu-young seemed to let it pass without further question, perhaps because there was a certain level of trust built up by now. Next, I handed out a stack of thick papers to each person. It was the strategy guide for the [Gathering of Villains]. It detailed how we should act after entering the dungeon, what to be cautious of, and other specifics. Since it was a B-rank dungeon, the guide was written to minimize any risks. As she flipped through the pages, Chae Da-bin asked a question. ¡°This includes the raid¡¯s strategy guide too.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a comprehensive version.¡± ¡°.......¡± Chae Da-bin furrowed her brow. Our roles and the raid team¡¯s role were clearly divided, so she wondered why I would hand out a combined version. She had figured out my intention. ¡°....Aren¡¯t we supposed to stay out of each other¡¯s business over there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s only if they perform well.¡± ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re saying they won¡¯t.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a pretty high chance of trouble.¡± I had no idea how strong Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s leadership was or how thoroughly they had prepared for the raid. But a wise man from a distant island once said this famous line: ¨CIf there are five people in a group, one of them is bound to be trash. And over there, they¡¯ve got fifteen people, right? I seriously doubted everything would go smoothly. I added more explanation. ¡°Honestly, we can just do our part and leave.¡± Once we retrieved the hidden pieces, we could use the emergency escape portal, and our job would be done. Even if Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s team asked for help, we had no obligation to assist them. Besides, the raid team was no pushover. After all, they had gathered fifteen third-year students, so even if problems arose, they would figure out a way through. ¡°But in the process, they might have to spend a bit more.¡± They would likely need to use their stashed elixirs and magic scrolls. In that case, even if they earned dungeon rewards, their losses could outweigh the gains. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then it¡¯d be cheaper to ask for our help instead.¡± ¡°Much cheaper.¡± ¡°Helping them and squeezing out more rewards at the same time?¡± ¡°You catch on quick.¡± ¡°Hey, I am the president of the thieves¡¯ club.¡± As Dang Gyu-young and I were chatting, Chae Da-bin and Go Hyeon-woo who had been watching exchanged their own thoughts. ¡°We can¡¯t completely rule out the possibility that they¡¯ll handle everything perfectly, but it¡¯s still better to be prepared.¡± ¡°It never hurts to have a backup plan.¡± So, even though it seemed a bit unnecessary, they decided to thoroughly memorize the thick strategy guide. Dang Gyu-young looked at me again. ¡°Now we just need to solve the mercenary issue.¡± ¡°I was actually planning to meet with someone about that.¡± Who would we bring as a mercenary? This was a matter that could be answered quickly by setting a few conditions. The first condition, as I mentioned to Shin Byeong-cheol, was that they had to be at least as strong as Go Hyeon-woo. The second was that they had to be willing to forgo other rewards in order to obtain the Ghost Dance. Lastly, they needed to have some backing. Since sharing the Ghost Dance just by participating would put us at a loss, we needed some compensation in return. With these conditions in mind, one person came to mind right away. Someone who had shown great interest in the Ghost Dance from the moment I first mentioned it, A promising student from the Black Faction who was known by aliases like Jang Sam and Jang Cheol-soo. Jang Moo-geuk. Chapter 231: Octopus Limbs As soon as I left the thieves club room, I called out to Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam. There was no need for lengthy explanations; two words were enough. [Kim Ho: Ghost Dance] Sure enough, the two assassins dropped everything and came running. Their eyes were blazing with anticipation. ¡°...Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°Why would I lie about something like this?¡± There wasn¡¯t anything to gain by deceiving them, after all. Wang Chron-sam asked, ¡°Do you have it with you now?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m planning to pick it up this week. I called you because there are some things we need to coordinate in advance.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± I briefly summarized the conversation that had taken place in the thieves club room. I explained that we¡¯d be joining a raid in a B-rank dungeon, where one of the hidden pieces we¡¯d be retrieving was none other than the Ghost Dance. And that there was currently an open spot on the team. Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam exchanged a look. With only one slot and two people called, it was only fair that the more skilled of the two would take the spot. In any case, Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s abilities were slightly below my own standards. Jang Moo-geuk spoke up at this point. ¡°You want me to join the raid?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And what do I gain from this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you priority rights to the transaction.¡± ¡°......!¡± The [Ghost Dance] was a technique left behind by the illusion demon among the Four Supreme Demons Under Heaven. Its true nature was a highly unique and powerful skill and, at the same time, a form of enlightenment. While it was notoriously difficult to locate and even harder to obtain, the advantages it offered were astounding enough to offset these drawbacks. It¡¯s not just a one-time use, after all. Generally, items that granted skills or special traits would vanish the moment they were used. The skill book and quest scroll Seo Ye-in had used were good examples of this. In contrast, although Ghost Dance had a limited number of uses, it allowed multiple people to benefit from it in turn. After the reserved members of the thieves club and Go Hyeon-woo had their chance, it was likely there would still be two or three uses left. My proposal, then, was to offer them priority access to those remaining opportunities. Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°It¡¯s certainly tempting, but it¡¯s better to hear the full terms before deciding.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d give us priority in the transaction. However, even with priority, if the deal itself falls through, then it¡¯s all meaningless, isn¡¯t it?¡± In other words, he was saying that they would agree to the mercenary proposal only after hearing the requirements, to prevent any misunderstandings later. It was a reasonable condition, so I nodded my head. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t make unreasonable demands. For the two of you, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± In fact, it was something even easier to acquire due to their connections to the black faction. When I stated my requirements, a flicker of surprise appeared in their eyes. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, but it¡¯s not impossible. For something like Ghost Dance, paying that much seems fair. But what exactly do you plan to do with it?¡± ¡°Is that really important?¡± ¡°...No, it¡¯s not.¡± The important thing wasn¡¯t how it would be used, but simply that I wanted it as part of the deal. Jang Moo-geuk didn¡¯t press further and nodded in agreement. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll accept your offer. You said Friday, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Friday. And here, take this and read through it beforehand.¡± I handed him a strategy guide as well. Of course, compared to the comprehensive version I gave Go Hyeon-woo, Dang Gyu-young, and Chae Da-bin, this one was much thinner. Since he doesn¡¯t need to know everything. What I needed from Jang Moo-geuk was his power. In the event of an emergency, the other party members could handle the rest. When he tucked the guide into his coat, Jang Moo-geuk asked, ¡°I¡¯ll read it over. Is that all?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be off. Came in a rush, after all.¡± Saying he had run over in the middle of other business, the two of them quickly stood up and went away. While I was watching their backs as they left, a thought struck me, and I called out with a question. The joints were barely visible at both ends. I immediately took out Deep Root. I removed the F-rank iron rod I had been using to simply extend its length and attached the newly acquired rod in its place. With a satisfying fit, a spear was completed, as if it had always been one piece. [Deep Rooted Sapling (A+)] ? Very high mana conductivity ? Damage protection (A) applied ?Automatic durability recovery ?Earth Line ?Octopus Limbs ?Upgradeable ?Upgradeable ?Upgradeable The item¡¯s name had changed from [Deep Root] to [Deep Rooted Sapling], with its overall rank slightly upgraded from A to A+. And then there was the newly added trait, [Octopus Limbs]. Didn¡¯t expect to get this one so soon. I had acquired this incredibly powerful effect much more easily and quickly than I anticipated. Considering I had only given a few tips to the magic engineering club, the reward felt almost too good. All thanks to my lucky charm. In my mind, I offered a deep bow of gratitude to Seo Ye-in who was probably still sound asleep in the classroom. [Octopus Limbs] ?Allows simultaneous casting of a skill up to n times. ?Costs and penalties increase by n2 depending on the number of casts. For example, with Wind Barrier, I would normally have to chant the spell, complete the spell, cast it on one person, then repeat the same process for the next person, and then the next. But with Octopus Limbs, I could cast Wind Barrier on three people at the same time. The same goes for skills with cooldown times. Normally, I¡¯d use a skill, wait for the cooldown, use it again, wait for the cooldown once more, and so on. But with Octopus Limbs, I could cast it on as many targets as I wanted simultaneously. Of course, the penalty was brutal. Casting a skill ¡°n times¡± with Octopus Limbs increased the cost or penalty by the square of n. So, casting Wind Barrier 3 times at once with Octopus Limbs would consume 9 times the usual mana. If I used Octopus Limbs to cast a skill with a one-hour cooldown five times simultaneously, the total cooldown would rise to a whopping 25 hours. With skills like Inferno Fist or Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, I was already barely managing to offset the elemental penalties, so using Octopus Limbs for them would be completely out of the question. Still, the potential is limitless. There were moments in intense battles when, even with such a penalty, it would be necessary to unleash multiple skills at once. In a way, it was like having another ace up my sleeve. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa had been watching me and gauging my reaction the whole time. When I took my eyes off the sapling, she asked cautiously. ¡°...So? How is it?¡± ¡°I like it. It was a good choice this time.¡± I answered her and then asked in return. ¡°Is there something else you wanted to say?¡± ¡°Oh, uh... mhmm....¡± Hong Yeon-hwa had come to me on an errand, but I knew that now we were getting to the real point. Though the Ruby Magic Tower and the Blacksmith Club had a relatively close relationship, it wasn¡¯t close enough for them to use a promising student as a simple messenger. She hadn¡¯t even been directly involved in the crafting, like when she melted down that Millennium Iron. I could guess that Hong Ye-hwa had likely sent her. She must have told her to hand it over and subtly hinted to ask a few questions while she was at it. Actually, this works out well. I had actually been planning to reach out to her today or tomorrow, so her coming to find me saved me the trouble. As expected, her next words didn¡¯t stray far from what I expected. ¡°Um... I was wondering if... you¡¯d be going into the dungeon sometime this week...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa needed to clear an ice-themed dungeon to rank up her Aqua Flame trait. However, the second- and third-year students at the Ruby Magic Tower were tied up for some reason. So they couldn¡¯t join her. And as a result, Hong Ye-hwa had chosen me as her alternative. Since I had no reason to refuse, I agreed to set aside some time to help her. And it happens I¡¯m free right now. This week¡¯s strategy battle had already seen us clearing the Herb Garden on the first day. And the raid on the Gathering of Villains wouldn¡¯t start until Friday, so I had free time until then. I nodded my head and asked, ¡°How about today or tomorrow?¡± Chapter 232: No.490 Winterhalt Fortress (1) When Hong Yeon-hwa accepted my proposal, I immediately selected a dungeon we could finish in a day. It was a D-rank dungeon with no active bids, ice-themed, and ideal for her rank progression. Later that evening, I met Shin Byeong-cheol and Hong Yeon-hwa, and we descended the stairs into the depths. Leading the way, Shin Byeong-cheol cut through the path ahead while chattering non-stop. ¡°Hey, how come you never take a break during strategy battle weeks? You go in more often than most third-years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I mostly choose easy dungeons.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so sure about that. This Friday, you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°Zip it.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± If I had not warned him in time, he would have almost spilled the beans about our upcoming B-rank dungeon run. Shin Byeong-cheol paused briefly but soon resumed his chatter as if nothing had happened. ¡°But, hey, hyung-nim, there really isn¡¯t any reward for guiding this time?¡± ¡°You took that bet because you wanted to, remember?¡± The previous bet was whether Shin Byeong-cheol would draw something D-rank or higher from the random box. And sure enough, he pulled an E-rank tea set so this guiding job was free of charge. ¡°Sure, but, you see, my life¡¯s been rough lately with all these tea sets piling up. I would appreciate it if you could show me some mercy¡ª¡± At that moment, Hong Yeon-hwa spoke up as if she was reaching the limit of her patience. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Yep. Shutting up now.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol zipped his mouth shut. Since I too felt the need to manage the noise level, I didn¡¯t say much to Hong Yeon-hwa. Still, I thought it would be best to wrap up the conversation, so I added one last remark. ¡°I might be able to give you a box or two.¡± ¡°......!¡± Shin Byeong-cheol expressed his gratitude with exaggerated gestures. Well, I really did need his help to get that fifth stamp. Thanks to the new reward, he eagerly focused on his role as our guide, and we reached the entrance to the D-rank dungeon without any major trouble. [No.490] [Winterhalt Fortress] ¡°When should I come back for you?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll probably be in there for a while this time. Morning.¡± ¡°Okay, see you then.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa and I stepped into the teleportation portal one after the other. In the next moment, we found ourselves inside a tent-like shelter. The surroundings had a distinctly medieval feel, though the facilities weren¡¯t in great shape. The chill in the air was there even indoors, making it easy to imagine just how much colder it must have been outside. Booooooong¡ª! At that moment, a deep resonant horn sounded from somewhere nearby. Then came a chaotic mix of hurried footsteps, shouts, and calls, blending together in a frenzied hum. I exchanged a glance with Hong Yeon-hwa and then stepped outside the tent. Whoooosh¡ª Immediately, a blizzard struck against my face. It¡¯s freezing. Though my uniform had a built-in cold resistance and elemental protection, the cold still bit through. It wasn¡¯t unbearable, though, so I braced myself and surveyed the surroundings. Winterhalt Fortress. That was the setting for this dungeon. As the word ¡°fortress¡± implied, the main objective here was [Siege Defense]. Booooong¡ª! And the continued blaring of the horn in my ears signaled that the siege defense was about to begin. Hundred-men captains commanded troops as they rushed toward the fortress walls. ¡°To your positions!¡± ¡°Move faster, you sluggish lot¡ª!¡± After watching the scene for a moment, I tossed a quick word to Hong Yeon-hwa and took the lead. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± We headed toward the fortress wall and began climbing the stone steps. Along the way, I stopped a passing hundred-man captain. ¡°I have a few questions.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa began muttering incantations under her breath. The ruby at the staff¡¯s tip glowed a vivid red, and a large magic circle formed beneath her feet. After a moment, the large-scale magic spell was completed, the very one that had been used as a trump card back in the duel battle of the Cloud Stairs. [Phoenix Flutter] Whoosh¡ª A huge flame rose from the magic circle and took the shape of a phoenix. With one powerful beat of its wings, hundreds of fiery feathers scattered forward. The fiery feathers crossed the distance to reach the monster army, sparking countless small flames throughout their ranks. The damage from this spell wasn¡¯t usually significant, but¡ª If it¡¯s Aqua Flame, that¡¯s a different story. Whoosh! Monsters touched by the sparks melted away without exception, whether they were orcs, trolls, or golems. With the added power of Aqua Flame, the fire magic was absolute poison to ice-attribute monsters. ¨C Ooohhh¡ª! The soldiers who watched let out cheers filled with awe and encouragement. Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t hide her proud expression. The corners of her mouth kept twitching upward. I threw in another word. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going like this.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa summoned the phoenix again, and hundreds more fiery feathers swept across the battlefield. Yet, despite this, the ice monster army still had plenty of forces left and continued their advance. There¡¯s no better hunting ground than this. It was the perfect environment to rank up Aqua Flame and various fire spells. While it didn¡¯t have the density of Millennium Iron ice-attribute monsters continuously poured in. She would rely on quantity over quality. After casting a few large-scale spells, Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to get the hang of it. As if she was ready to get serious about her rank-up work, she pulled out a rolled-up magic scroll from her inventory. It was labeled with the word ¡°Boost¡± and several arrows pointing upward. Rank Boost. Simply put, it was an experience boost item, almost identical to the event buff I received during the mentoring period. It granted the user a timed buff and allowed them to gain rank faster even with the same training effort. Unlike [Rank Up], it could be used at any rank and allowed the honing of various skills and traits at the same time. I spoke honestly. ¡°How enviable.¡± In this game, items related to rank were all highly valuable because they directly impacted one¡¯s stats. Especially Rank Boost, which only lasted a few hours, so it was typically saved for situations where rank-up efficiency was extremely high. Hong Yeon-hwa was using it casually in her very first dungeon. Such a move would reveal just how wealthy the Ruby Magic Tower must be. But for some reason, after hearing my remark about how envious I was, her gaze began to wander around nervously. Finally, she cautiously extended a Rank Boost toward me. ¡°Do... do you want one?¡± I hadn¡¯t said it because I wanted her to hand it over. Now I felt like I was coming off as the bad guy. I shook my head. ¡°No, I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s okay. I have plenty.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa took out even more Rank Boosters from her inventory. Carrying around so many of something that¡¯s hard to obtain even once... the Ruby Magic Tower was really going all out for her. As I stood there, watching silently and lost in thought, Hong Yeon-hwa shivered. Then she extended another Rank Boost toward me. ¡°Th-Then... how about two?¡± Did she think I found one insufficient? At this rate, she¡¯d keep handing them over, so I decided to just accept her offer. I wasn¡¯t one to turn down gifts in the first place. ¡°One is enough. I¡¯ll use it well.¡± ¡°Mhmm ...¡± Whoosh¡ª Maybe it was because the snowstorm was coming down hard. Hong Yeon-hwa looked more timid than usual. Chapter 233: No.490 Winterhalt Fortress (2) Even at that moment, the enemies were steadily closing the distance. Seeing this, Hong Yeon-hwa immediately used a Rank Boost. A bright light burst forth from the magic scroll and surrounded her body. [Activated ¡®Rank Boost¡¯.] [Skill and trait growth rates increase significantly.] A notification like that probably popped up. I planned to use mine a bit later. Since my skills were relatively short-range, I would have to wait until the enemies reached the wall anyway. Hong Yeon-hwa summoned the giant phoenix once again. Fiery feathers filled the sky as they rained down, with countless small flames bursting into life. Whoosh¡ª! Each time, hundreds of ice monsters would burn up and vanish in chunks. There were so many that it didn¡¯t seem like their numbers had decreased much when looking at the whole monster army. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± But there was no reason to stop. Since we had been fighting them head-on anyway, it seemed best to reduce their numbers before the real siege began. Hong Yeon-hwa too likely wanted to make the most of her Rank Boost while it lasted. Whoosh¡ª! Since she unleashed a one-sided barrage of magic, there was no way the enemies wouldn¡¯t notice us. The Ice Witch was no exception. Even from a large distance, I could feel her gaze lock directly onto us. The ice monster army picked up its pace. Soon, perhaps deciding we were now in range, the orc shamans and the Ice Witch began casting their spells. ¡°......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa felt the surge of mana from the enemy lines and reacted immediately. She interrupted her large-scale spell mid-cast and chained together defensive spells instead. [Reverse Curtain] [Blazing Armor] Whoosh¡ª One layer of flames took on the form of armor, while another formed a protective sphere around her. But Hong Yeon-hwa didn¡¯t stop there. She activated a third spell as well. [Blaze Shield] A burning shield floated in midair and blazed with intensity. Looks like she learned something new. Taking my advice to heart, she now had three layers of defensive magic. What would happen if she faced Seo Ye-in like this? Although marksmen held a slight advantage over mages, I couldn¡¯t be certain which side would win until I saw it with my own eyes. But there was one thing I knew for sure. They¡¯ll never break through this. Shwip! Shwip! Shwip! Shwip¡ª!! The Ice Orc shamans launched ice spikes, and the Ice Witch hurled a huge ice spear. They were aiming to shatter the very walls we stood upon. However, Hong Yeon-hwa merely stared at them with a haughty gaze with her blazing shield held firmly before her. The moment the oncoming ice spells struck the shield¡ª Ssssshhhh¡ª They evaporated without leaving a single scratch. ¡°Hmph.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s lips curled up as if in disdain. She probably expected this outcome. Even in her duel with Bukgong Han-seol, she had effortlessly nullified her opponent¡¯s attacks. Such was the absolute power of Aqua Flame over ice-type magic. Ice spells continued to rain down a few more times, but Hong Yeon-hwa didn¡¯t bother to defend further beyond maintaining her Blaze Shield. She decided that this alone was more than enough. And with that, she shifted back to offense. She focused on summoning the phoenix. Fwoosh! After repeating these spells for some time, a faint look of fatigue began to appear on Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face. I sensed her condition and asked, ¡°Are you out of mana?¡± ¡°Mhmm, almost...¡± After casting a large-scale magic spell dozens of times, her mana was bound to run out. The enemies were almost at the wall, but for now, she needed a brief rest. A few blue magic circles appeared beneath Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s feet. Thin threads extended from the circles and connected to her. It was a mana recovery spell that absorbed, refined, and supplied the surrounding mana to the caster. In that state, Hong Yeon-hwa turned her gaze toward me and raised an eyebrow. Taking advantage of the momentum, I decided to test out the Octopus Limbs as well. At that moment, Hong Yeon-hwa was engraving fire pillar magic circles in two places, so I cast spells on two spots as well. [Earth Line] [Octopus Limbs] [Spiral Explosion] [Spiral Explosion] Whooosh¡ª Two whirlwinds formed at the same time and started pulling in the monsters. Soon, fire pillars spiraled up from the magic circles, Boom¡ª! The compressed air burst which caused an even larger explosion of flames. In the next moment, everything within the area was completely obliterated. The synergy is as strong as expected. The combination of Spiral Explosion and Fire Pillar. When fire and wind mixed, the power multiplied even further. ¡°......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to be thinking the same and looked at me with a bright expression on her face. As she kept glancing my way, I spoke in a casual tone. ¡°I¡¯ll aim, so just keep doing what you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°...Mhmm, I will.¡± With her broad awareness and skill at managing the field, there was no need for me to give additional instructions. She surveyed various parts of the fortress walls and selected weak spots to cast Fire Pillar spells. I would then add Spiral Explosion to those areas. Kwooooosh¡ª! After repeating this process for quite some time, once my mana ran low, I would sit on a camping chair to rest, then head back to the battlefield and repeat. ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± Amidst this, we often heard furious shouts that came from none other than the Ice Witch. With two random intruders burning her entire army to cinders, it was no wonder she was filled with rage. At one point, Hong Yeon-hwa glanced at me and asked, ¡°Is... is she alright...?¡± ¡°Yeah. Just ignore her.¡± I brushed it off casually. The Ice Witch was more of a commander-type creature; her own fighting power wasn¡¯t particularly impressive. All the ice spells she sent our way were blocked by Hong Yeon-hwa, and with the overwhelming difference in power, there was no need to worry about her. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯d be a waste to attack her.¡± If we killed her now, the dungeon would close right then and there. Better to keep her alive as long as possible to keep leveling up, and then, when we were ready to leave, we could treat her like hitting the dungeon¡¯s exit switch. Hong Yeon-hwa nodded in understanding and continued casting her fire magic, which had been paused for a moment. Once again, fire pillars began sprouting up all over the battlefield. Kwoooosh¡ª! *** For hours, we continued to cast our spells with mechanical precision. Hong Yeon-hwa used a variety of fire spells in rotation, while I focused mainly on Spiral Explosion. By now, she had likely made substantial progress in ranking up. I think it¡¯s about time to wrap this up. There were two conditions to clear this dungeon. Either survive for a set period of time or defeat the boss monster. It felt like the ¡°set period¡± would soon end, and the dungeon would close on its own, but if we defeated the Ice Witch beforehand, we could get an extra random box. She looks a bit worn out too. Although Hong Yeon-hwa tried not to show it, she seemed fairly drained from repeatedly exhausting and replenishing her mana. Just as I was about to give the order to wrap things up, ¡°........!¡± An unsettling presence appeared at the rear of the battlefield, something that didn¡¯t belong in this dungeon. It was a thick, pitch-black liquid like rotting sludge, but it wriggled like a living creature. It slithered across the ground and moved steadily toward the Ice Witch. So, it appears here, huh? I had expected it to show up around this time, but I never thought it would be in this dungeon. Hong Yeon-hwa spotted it as well and when she felt that something was wrong, she shot me a worried glance. For the first time since entering this dungeon, I spoke in a serious tone. ¡°Remember the last day of midterms?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a similar situation to that. Stay focused from now on.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression grew more tense. At the same time, a notification message appeared at the corner of my view. [Main Quest 2-1] Chapter 234: No.490 Winterhalt Fortress (3) [Main Quest 2-1] ? Objective: Investigate the unidentified monster. ? Reward: Random Box Enhancement Scroll This was the second main quest I encountered since entering the world of this game. Unlike the one-off nature of the first quest, this one was structured as a series of chain quests. It was like piecing together a large puzzle, starting from the smallest clues and working toward the bigger picture. And with the appearance of ¡°that thing¡±, It seemed like ¡°the bigger picture¡± was still on track. Due to the ripple effects of the EX-rank reincarnation quest, every character had been replaced, and the events they triggered had shifted slightly. Still, it seemed things weren¡¯t straying too far from the original storyline. At least not yet. Even if I had no way to predict what might happen later. For example, the assassin who showed up at the Black Market after being fooled by the fake cipher was someone I didn¡¯t know at all. Even so, he was still a Blood Cult Elder. And the Blood Fury pill incident had still occurred during the midterm on the deserted island. I expected this time to be no different. With these thoughts settled, I focused my gaze back on ¡°that thing¡±. Dark Oobleck. A slime-type undead monster. Its rank ranged widely, from A to D. Given that this was a D-rank dungeon, it was likely they would send in a C-rank. Half a rank to a full rank higher than the dungeon¡¯s level. It wasn¡¯t an utterly hopeless situation, but it wasn¡¯t one to be optimistic about either. So we had to prepare now. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Y-Yes...?¡± ¡°How much mana do you have left?¡± ¡°Not... much.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression darkened slightly. For hours now, we had been in the dungeon with her casting spells in rapid succession, recovering, and then casting again, over and over. The fatigue had built up so much that even using mana recovery magic wasn¡¯t as effective as it had been. Still, it was better than nothing. ¡°Recover as much as you can, even a little.¡± ¡°...Got it.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa immediately chanted a spell, and blue magic circles appeared beneath her and she started to replenish her mana. ¨C .....! Meanwhile, the army of ice monsters paused in their siege and turned their attention all at once to the rear. They had spotted the approaching Dark Oobleck. Its appearance was very bizarre, so it was only a matter of time before it caught their attention. The moment it was detected, the Dark Oobleck writhed and charged forward with incredible speed. It rapidly closed the distance toward the Ice Witch as its target. To block its path, a horde of Ice Orcs and Trolls stood in the way, while shamans and the Ice Witch cast freezing spells at it. Yet the creature slipped right through and evaded their attacks without suffering much damage. In an instant, it reached the front of the Ice Witch, spread itself wide, and engulfed her entirely. There was a brief struggle from inside and signs of a jerking motion, but it quickly went still. She¡¯s been devoured. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, the Dark Oobleck moved quickly again and ate a nearby Ice Golem. Clump, slosh. The Dark Oobleck that was now swollen in size writhed violently before the black ooze began to harden as if frozen solid. Its new form appeared to be a mix of the Ice Witch and the Ice Golem. That¡¯s what makes it so tricky. The Dark Oobleck would devour victims in this way. Then it could borrow their appearance and powers. And when there were multiple victims like now, it would merge their features into a single combined form. Now that it transformed into a giant Ice Witch Golem, the Dark Oobleck turned its head and fixed its gaze directly on the fortress wall. Then, imitating the Ice Witch, it let out a piercing shriek. ¨C ¡ª¡ª! The Ice Monster army, which had fallen into disarray, quickly regained control and the siege resumed. The Dark Oobleck took a few steps forward, then began charging with astonishing speed for its massive size. Boom, boom, boom! The ground rumbled a few times before, in the blink of an eye, it reached the fortress wall and crashed into it with its full weight. Crash¡ª! A deafening shockwave burst forth, scattering debris and dust in every direction. A moment later, as the dust settled, a deep crater in the fortress wall came into view. It won¡¯t hold for long. If the wall were breached, it would mean a failed defense and, ultimately, failure to clear the dungeon. I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and said, ¡°Let¡¯s move. Have you recovered enough?¡± ¡°...A little. I¡¯ll try anyway.¡± She hadn¡¯t been able to fully restore her mana with the limited time, but at this point, there was no other choice. Hong Yeon-hwa must have understood that reality, which was why she answered as she did. ¡°We¡¯ll do it just like we did during midterms.¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± Like when we faced the Alpha Ogre, the plan was for the vanguard to hold it in place while the rearguard dealt damage. Splitting roles this way was not only more efficient but also increased our chances of success compared to me tackling it alone. Especially since that creature was both undead and of the ice attribute, Hong Yeon-hwa could deal devastating damage with her Aqua Flame. I checked in with Hong Yeon-hwa one last time. ¡°We don¡¯t have many chances. Maybe once, twice if we¡¯re lucky. Can you do it?¡± ¡°I can. I will.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa met my gaze directly with an unusual show of resolve. A trace of fear flickered in her eyes but determination held strong. That was enough for me. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go.¡± Rumble¡ª! The ground underfoot shook violently once more. The Dark Oobleck had slammed into the fortress wall a second time. Originally, this was a spell the Ice Witch could only cast under specific conditions, so I nearly missed my chance to acquire it when it was absorbed by the Dark Oobleck. ¡°Thanks for using it for me.¡± [Activated the ¡®Copy Skill.¡¯] [The target¡¯s skill ¡®Chillwind (F)¡¯ has been registered in the slot.] ? Copy Skill [3/3] 1. Silent Step (B+) 2. Overheat (A) (Amplification ¡ü) 3. Chillwind (F) Thinking my movements had been slowed, the Dark Oobleck swung its arm again, but that level of force was hardly enough to affect me. I swung the sapling weapon without a hitch to meet its attack. Bang! The creature was forced to stumble back again. This time, it linked a dark spell to Chillwind. Black crystals flew at me, mixed into the raging blizzard. ¡°Still not enough.¡± [Wind Barrier] A barrier of wind wrapped tightly around me and it deflected every one of the dark crystals. Keeping the shield up, I closed in and struck again. Bang! The Dark Oobleck who was continuously pushed back finally came to a halt with both feet planted within the magic circle. The once simple, wide circle was now filling up with intricate symbols. ¡°Stay right there. Don¡¯t go anywhere else.¡± ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± It answered with a sharp screech of defiance while twisting its body to step sideways. But before it could even take its next step, I appeared right in front of it. ¡°Gotcha.¡± Bang! ¡°¡ª¡ª!¡± For the Dark Oobleck, this was all frustrating. The army of ice monsters crumbled at a mere gesture from me, It was repeatedly overpowered in close combat, Its magic had no effect, And whenever it tried to escape, I blocked its path like a ghost. With nothing else left to try, it finally resorted to its last option. The giant Ice Witch Golem which had been solid and formidable collapsed into a shapeless heap and returned to its original oozing sludge state. It tried to scatter in all directions like that. ¡°I said no.¡± Whiiirrr¡ª The wind blew from all directions and trapped it in the form of a whirlwind. A spiral explosion amplified to A+ rank. The huge whirlwind even pulled in the entire army of ice monsters in the area. Then the magic circle glowed a bright crimson and unleashed a towering pillar of flame. Kwoooosh¡ª! The fire pillar spiraled upward endlessly as if to reach beyond the fortress wall and up to the sky. Following that, the air compressed by the Spiral Explosion burst free. Booooom¡ª! It triggered an even greater explosion of flames. In the aftermath, not only the Dark Oobleck but also the entire army of ice monsters evaporated without a trace. Looks like it¡¯s over. I retraced my steps and climbed back up the fortress wall. With a few uses of Wind Force, I quickly propelled myself up to the top. ¡°Finished it in one go without any mistakes. Well done.¡± ¡°......¡± Though I offered a compliment, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s response was utterly flat. She was exhausted and so she collapsed to the ground. When her tension eased, all the accumulated fatigue seemed to come crashing down at once. On top of that, she had overused the little mana she had left. Her core was still at C-rank, yet I had raised her Fire Pillar skill to A-rank and she even used it at maximum output, so by now, her mana was likely depleted. Even so, the dungeon would be closing soon, so rest or not, she needed to get outside to recover. I reached out my hand to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°It¡¯s over. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°.......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa stared at my hand in a daze, then slowly placed her own on top of it. ...And then she just stayed there for a long moment. She must have been too weak to put any strength into her grip. ¡°Can¡¯t stand up?¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± I had no choice. I moved closer and bent my knees as I turned my back to her. ¡°Climb on.¡± ¡°......¡± Under normal circumstances, she would have hesitated or shrunk back, but this time, Hong Yeon-hwa quietly stretched out her arms and wrapped them around my neck. It seemed like her mind wasn¡¯t working quite right. As we walked toward the exit, Hong Yeon-hwa mumbled like someone a little drunk with her face buried against my back. ¡°Unnie... liar...¡± Why was she suddenly talking about her older sister (unnie) here? Maybe something she had been keeping to herself slipped out without her realizing. That made it likely to be close to the truth. So I threw out a casual question. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You know... the effect...¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°This... so warm...¡± Her words trailed off. Soon, all I could hear was the soft, steady sound of her breathing against my back. Chapter 235: Chillwind The portal for teleporting outside the dungeon stood before me. In front of it lay four small boxes. [Winterhalt Random Box (D)] *4 The standard reward was three. Plus one extra for defeating the Ice Witch made for a total of four. And on top of that, the main quest reward was included. [Main Quest 2-1] (Completed) ?Objective: Investigate the unidentified monster. ?Reward: Random Box Enhancement Scroll *2 [Main Quest 2-2] (In progress...) ?Objective: Gather information. ?Reward: Reward varies based on achievement Since the second main quest was connected to the previous one, the rewards weren¡¯t overly generous right from the start. Still, this is decent enough. The Random Box Enhancement Scroll. Using it on any random box would add a ¡°+¡± to its rank. If it was used on a D-ranked box, it would become D+, and the chances of better rewards appearing would increase. Naturally, it made more sense to save it and use it on a B-ranked box I would obtain soon rather than using it right away. We¡¯ll split the loot fifty-fifty. So, my share would be two random boxes and one enhancement scroll. I had already used the rank boost thanks to Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s help, and soon I would be getting rubies as well, so it didn¡¯t feel like I was missing out at all. Once I stepped through the teleportation portal and exited the dungeon, Shin Byeong-cheol who had been waiting camouflaged against the wall smoothly revealed himself. He bowed politely. ¡°You¡¯ve returned, hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The reason he was showing such respect with his entire body was because I had promised him a random box I didn¡¯t actually need to give him. A faithful servant to capitalism, really. Shin Byeong-cheol started to say something but stopped short when he noticed Hong Yeon-hwa on my back. ¡°What¡¯s this? Is she hurt?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just tired and asleep.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a relief, then.¡± Entering a dungeon below one¡¯s qualification level was already a rule violation, and if she were to get seriously injured there, the issue would only escalate. In that case, every person involved, including the guide, would be investigated. Shin Byeong-cheol might have had those calculations in mind too, but it seemed he was genuinely more concerned as a fellow human being. Only after he confirmed the soft rise and fall of Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s breathing did he finally relax his expression. He lowered his voice significantly. As if he was trying to be considerate. However, his tone remained as laid-back as ever. ¡°So, how did it go? Did you clear it successfully, hyung-nim?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± For me, clearing a D-rank dungeon wasn¡¯t particularly difficult. In fact, it was practically like a place I visited as routinely as eating. Still, the reason Shin Byeong-cheol asked was likely due to a train of thought that went something like this: Kim Ho cleared the dungeon well. ¡ú The rewards must be generous. ¡ú There¡¯s enough for my share too. ¡ú Jackpot, this is awesome! So I gave him the words he wanted to hear and handed him the random box. ¡°Go ahead, open it now if you want.¡± ¡°How do you read me so well, Kim-hyung?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol accepted the D-rank random box with a dramatic imitation of Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s voice. Then he took a few deep breaths. ¡°Ssssss, haaa¡ª¡± He must have been secretly nervous because he had steadily walked the path of a cafe owner up until now. But I couldn¡¯t wait forever, so I threw out a taunting comment. ¡°What, nervous?¡± ¡°Hey now, give me a second to build up my energy.¡± ¡°Hurry up and build it.¡± The taunt worked; Shin Byeong-cheol immediately placed his hand on the box lid. Then, in a flash, he narrowed his eyes in intense focus. ¡°Here goes nothing!¡± Flash! ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± We both let out sounds of amazement at the same time. It was the brightest light yet from any box Shin Byeong-cheol had opened. As the glow faded, the results were revealed: Dark Oobleck¡¯s skill, or more precisely, the magic skill it had swallowed from the Ice Witch. The skill¡¯s main effect, as I had experienced firsthand, was slowing down all enemies within range. There were quite a few skills that inflicted the slow status, but Chillwind was known for being exceptionally potent in this regard. Even though I had only faced the F-rank Chillwind, my S-rank elemental resistance hadn¡¯t been able to fully counter it. Naturally, if its rank increased, its potency would only grow stronger. It¡¯s a tricky one to block. With its dual nature as an ice attribute and wind attribute, ways to defend against or dodge it were severely limited. And then there was the third, final effect. Cold Amplification. Any target that entered Chillwind¡¯s range would receive additional ice attribute damage and effects. This was part of the reason why even the F-rank slow effect had been able to partially pierce my elemental resistance. Of course, a skill this powerful came with its downsides. It¡¯s an absolute nightmare to rank up. Why else would the D-rank boss Ice Witch have kept it as an F-rank skill? She must¡¯ve learned it but hadn¡¯t managed to rank it up herself. Being a high-level spell, it had a growth difficulty similar to Amplification or Monarch. It was virtually impossible to grow through repetitive training alone, so I had to use Rank Up. Of course, this didn¡¯t surprise me. It¡¯s not like that¡¯s the only one. I already had five or six skills and traits that barely advanced, so adding one more made little difference. And since high-difficulty skills came with a guarantee of exceptional performance, I had no reason to hesitate. Then the investment is already decided. To grow a copied skill, I had to make it mine first, so I took out the last remaining fixed pin. [Used ¡®Fixed Pin.¡¯] [¡®Chillwind (F+)¡¯ has been fixed.] [Skills] ?Chillwind (F+) New! ?Wind Force (C+) ?Wind Barrier (C+) ?Spiral Explosion (C+) ?Inferno Fist (B) ?Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger (B) ?Amplification (C) ?Enchantment (C) ?Copy-Skill [2/3] 1. Thief¡¯s Step (B+) 2. Overheat (C) 3. (Empty) The next fixed pin should probably go to Poison Resistance. The S-rank trait Poison Resistance that I copied from the Crow Tailor. Even without fixing it, its performance was already exceptional on its own, but once I was fully ¡°prepared¡±, I planned to use a fixed pin on it as well. Just as Spiral Explosion combined three C-rank wind spells, certain skills or traits could merge into something even more powerful if the right conditions were met. In fact, I had considered delaying fixing Poison Resistance, but with the second main quest confirmed, that wasn¡¯t an option anymore. The Dark Oobleck hadn¡¯t appeared naturally. It had been intentionally unleashed by someone. Normally, I would have to uncover its origin by following a sequence of chain quests, but I had already solved this puzzle enough times to already know the answer. The Witch of Corruption. An A-rank necromancer and one of the corpse dragon¡¯s legion commanders. As the name implied, she specialized in poison magic. To handle her effectively, the best course would be to fix [Poison Resistance] and merge it with related traits before reaching the final stages of the second main quest. In other words, I still have some time. For now, this was just the beginning phase. The Witch of Corruption had shattered the Dark Oobleck into dozens, even hundreds of fragments before scattering them across the underground floors of the Dungeon Building, and now they were starting to be discovered. This week alone, at least dozens of parties would venture into those underground floors, and a few of them would run into a Dark Oobleck like we did. Even if they didn¡¯t die, the students were in for a tough time. After much struggle, they would manage to escape the dungeon, and whether they shared their replay, confided in those around them, or reported it to the Academy, the news would spread anyway. And as similar reports piled up, the academy would gradually become more vigilant. This was the series of events set to unfold this week. The danger wasn¡¯t right in front of us yet, and I had a rough idea of when it might get closer. In that case, it was better to act quickly rather than shrink back because of the main quest. I need to secure what I can and fast. As rumors spread, the atmosphere would grow more tense and the security on the underground floors would be reinforced. That would make sneaking in and out much harder. I had to move before that happened. I sent a message to Dang Gyu-young. Chapter 236: I Don’t Like Him Hong Yeon-hwa was walking. It was pitch-dark all around which made it impossible to tell where she was, yet she somehow felt she had to keep moving. ¨C Hong Yeon-hwa... Then she heard a voice. It echoed from all directions, as if it was resounding through a cave and she couldn¡¯t discern who it belonged to. Yet, strangely enough, it felt familiar. ¨C Hong Yeon-hwa... The farther she walked forward, the louder and clearer the voice seemed to grow. Guessing it was because she was getting closer, Hong Yeon-hwa extended her hand and started groping her way forward while steadily pressing on. ¨C Hong Yeon-hwa... As she walked a bit farther, she felt she was beginning to recognize the voice¡¯s owner. A strange sense of unease crept up on her, but the urge to confirm was stronger. So Hong Yeon-hwa kept moving without stopping. ¨C ...... How much longer had she walked? The voice that had been calling out periodically suddenly stopped. Hong Yeon-hwa came to an abrupt halt. Then she asked a question cautiously. ¡°Are you... there?¡± ¨C Ssss... Instead of an answer, what emerged from the darkness was the face of Kim Ho who had been calling her this whole time. The only problem was that his face was enormous. Like that of a giant. ¡°Uh, uh...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa froze and her mouth slightly opened in shock. Soon, the giant face of Kim Ho lowered its gaze to meet hers. ¡°Hoooong Yeoeoneon-hwaaaaaa....¡± A giant hand reached toward her. The pale-faced Hong Yeon-hwa began to tremble uncontrollably. ¡°Uwaaa...¡± ¡°Yeeeeon-hwaa...sooon...¡± The shadow of that enormous hand began to envelop her. Hong Yeon-hwa curled up tightly and squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°Ah!¡± Then suddenly, she opened her eyes. The pitch-black darkness was gone. It was replaced by bright sunlight streaming in through the window. She was lying in her dorm room, on her own bed. Hong Yeon-hwa let out a sigh of relief. ...It was just a dream. Right, there¡¯s no way a giant Kim Ho could be real. She decided to go back to sleep. Pulling the blanket over herself, Hong Yeon-hwa closed her eyes again. But only a short moment later¡ª ¡°Ah!¡± She snapped her eyes open once more. A single thought had crossed her mind. But... why am I here? Just a moment ago, she had been with Kim Ho in the dungeon fighting a defensive battle. They had even taken down a strange black monster together. Could this still be part of the dream? Hong Yeon-hwa tried to make sense of her current situation as she stared up at the ceiling. Gradually, though only faintly, scattered fragments of scenes began to come back to her. Kim Ho amplified her Fire Pillar to A-rank. She had poured everything she had into it and finally succeeded in defeating the giant Ice Witch Golem. In the next moment, she felt completely drained of mana. Her energy was utterly spent, and her memory faded out for a brief instant. ¨C It¡¯s over. Let¡¯s go. ¡°......¡± She remembered resting her hand on Kim Ho¡¯s and remaining like that for quite a while. ¨C Unnie... liar... ¨C What is it? ¨C You know... the effect... She recalled nuzzling her face happily into Kim Ho¡¯s back as he carried her. ¨C Hong Yeon-hwa, we¡¯re here. ¨C ...... And finally, she remembered Kim Ho setting her down in front of the girls¡¯ dormitory. He must have carried her all the way from the dungeon building to the dormitory. And then, without even saying goodbye, she had stumbled back to her room and collapsed onto her bed. As the memories resurfaced, Hong Yeon-hwa let out a low sigh. ¡°Ah...¡± She really must have gone crazy. Hong Yeon-hwa averted her gaze and answered while trying to sound casual. ¡°One of them... I gave to Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Why¡¯d you give it to him?¡± ¡°Well, am I supposed to be the only one boosting my rank while he just watches? That¡¯d be kinda awkward, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Still, how could you just give away a boost like it¡¯s nothing?¡± It was true that the Ruby Tower fully supported Hong Yeon-hwa, but it wasn¡¯t to the extent that she could use rank boosts as if they were water, let alone share them with someone else out of generosity. So, it was no wonder Hong Ye-hwa was reacting so strongly. ¡°At least try to negotiate. Like giving the boost instead of the ruby!¡± ¡°How could I even do that?¡± Negotiate with Kim Ho? For Hong Yeon-hwa, that was an unthinkable idea. Besides, from her perspective, she felt she had a valid reason. ¡°Still, he went in there because of me, so I had to show some appreciation.¡± ¡°Then why show appreciation with a rank boost? And was it even yours to give?¡± Hong Ye-hwa was implying that the boost was provided by the magic tower, not for her personal use. Hong Yeon-hwa was momentarily at a loss for words because it was a fair point, but she also started to feel a bit irritated. So she shook a random box and held it up. ¡°I¡¯ll make up for it! I¡¯ll break open my piggy bank or draw something out from here!¡± ¡°Do you really think you¡¯ll get anything useful? Out of that?¡± Hong Ye-hwa scoffed. A rank boost wasn¡¯t the kind of item that would just drop so easily. Maybe if it were a B or C-rank box, but D-rank? Absolutely out of the question. It would be lucky if she didn¡¯t end up pulling something useless like a cushion or a teacup. Regardless, Hong Yeon-hwa seemed already fired up. [The ¡®Random Box Enhancement Scroll¡¯ has been used.] Flaaaash! A burst of light radiated from the scroll as it merged into one of the random boxes. [Winterhalt Random Box (D+)] The rank shifted from D to D+. Hong Ye-hwa felt it was a waste to use the enhancement scroll, and she also thought her sister was doing something reckless, but she decided to stay quiet and watch. It was her sister¡¯s item to use as she wished, and if she failed this time, it might cool her down a bit. But the moment Hong Yeon-hwa flung open the random box¡ª Flaaa¡ªsh¡ª! A dazzling light, almost too bright to believe it came from a mere D+ rank box, filled the room. When the light finally faded, two rolled-up magic scrolls appeared in Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s hands instead of the random box. [Rank Boost] *2 ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°It... really came out.¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± The Hong sisters were dumbfounded. Hong Ye-hwa, who had been planning how to calmly reason with and persuade her sister afterward, found herself stunned at this unexpected outcome. Hong Yeon-hwa was equally speechless. She had opened the random box out of frustration, without really expecting much. But now that things were turning in her favor, the corners of her mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch into a small smile. ¡°See? S-Satisfied now? I got it, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°... So you¡¯re still planning to give one to Kim Ho?¡± ¡°What? Can¡¯t I?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa shot back confidently. On the other hand, Hong Ye-hwa was left speechless at this unexpected windfall. What could she say when her sister was offering her own item as a gesture of goodwill? Still, she felt uneasy and asked anyway. ¡°Why are you going that far? Do you... like him?¡± ¡°What? Why are you suddenly pushing it in that direction?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been acting strange lately; that¡¯s why. Just tell me. I won¡¯t get mad. What do you think of him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like him.¡± Her answer came without hesitation. Yet Hong Ye-hwa was still unconvinced and pressed her further. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t! Stop meddling already!¡± ¡°...Alright, sorry.¡± As Hong Yeon-hwa snapped back, Hong Ye-hwa apologized. After all, no matter how close they were, there was a limit to how much she should interfere in her sister¡¯s personal life. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa silently repeated her sister¡¯s question to herself. What do I think of Kim Ho? Honestly, she didn¡¯t know. Until recently, even meeting Kim Ho¡¯s gaze had made her shrink back, but lately, her preconceived notions had been breaking down, and she found herself noticing his positive traits. He seemed reliable, and she even thought he was impressive. When they shared coffee together, she felt at ease. But still, liking him... that¡¯s not it, right? Probably not. Chapter 237: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (1) The atmosphere in the disciplinary committee room was heavy. A large screen on one side was split into numerous smaller screens and each was replaying different footage. The common element across all of them was that every screen displayed various grotesque forms of black monsters. Next to it, a whiteboard had some key information listed by Kwak Seung-jae, while the committee members, including the club president Oh Se-hoon and the second and third-year members, focused their attention on him. At last, Kwak Seung-jae looked around the room and began to speak. ¡°After cross-verifying, we have confirmed that these monsters are Dark Ooblecks.¡± ¡°...So it¡¯s as we suspected.¡± ¡°We had a hunch, but it really is the Witch of Corruption.¡± Each committee member murmured in turn. During the first-year midterm exam, there had been an incident involving the Blood Demon Cult, led by an elder of the cult and the Witch of Corruption. They had been defeated in a battle with faculty members, including Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong, and had retreated to even deeper underground levels. Things had been quiet for the past few weeks, but the fact that activity was resuming suggested they had regained a fair amount of strength. Kwak Seung-jae continued the briefing. ¡°As of Thursday, there have been fourteen reported cases, and it¡¯s expected that this number will double by the weekend.¡± ¡°Most major attacks usually peak on weekends. How many bids are left for this week?¡± ¡°Seventy-one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a lot.¡± The disciplinary committee member who had asked the question clicked his tongue. For large dungeons or those that required a long time to clear, they typically began exploration on Friday afternoons to avoid overlapping with the academic schedule. Additionally, these types of dungeons generally had a high average difficulty. Most of the current bids were for B and C-rank dungeons. If these Dark Ooblecks appeared in these dungeons, the danger level would increase, and the likelihood of students dying would rise as well. One of the committee members posed a question to Oh Se-hoon. ¡°What about closing the dungeon building temporarily?¡± ¡°A decision was already made at the faculty meeting. Right now, they feel there isn¡¯t enough justification.¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured as much.¡± The member nodded in agreement as if he anticipated the answer. Though it was an unexpected situation, so far, no students have been seriously injured or killed. As a result, despite the widespread rumors about Dark Ooblecks, most parties with active bids would likely push forward and just accept the risks to clear the dungeons. If they postponed, resources invested in their preparations could end up tied up or lost entirely. Moreover, those students who had already completed their dungeon runs would gain an advantage through practical scores and rewards from clears, which would lead to a widening gap in growth and performance. If the faculty locked down the dungeons in such a scenario, the backlash would be significant. In other words, unless someone¡¯s life was lost, they didn¡¯t have sufficient grounds to close them down. Of course, beyond these somewhat political factors, there were other reasons as well. So, Oh Se-hoon added an explanation. ¡°During the faculty meeting, they also raised this idea. It might actually be the Witch of Corruption¡¯s intention to provoke a shutdown of the dungeon building.¡± ¡°She intended to close off the dungeon building...? What does that mean?¡± As the committee member furrowed his brows, Oh Se-hoon smiled slightly and turned his gaze toward Kwak Seung-jae. It was as if he was inviting him to answer. With a slight nod, Kwak Seung-jae began to speak. ¡°The Dark Oobleck is known to grow stronger over time.¡± It has the habit of eating everything it sees and absorbing its power, so if left alone it would naturally absorb more. ¡°For now, since it¡¯s still in its early stage, its power isn¡¯t much different from the dungeon¡¯s difficulty level, but if it¡¯s given more time, who knows.¡± ¡°We need to deal with it before it becomes uncontrollably strong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Either way, the Dark Oobleck has to be dealt with, and if left alone, the parties clearing the dungeon would handle it in their stead. So from the academy¡¯s perspective, there¡¯s even less reason to close the dungeon. Another committee member asked a question. ¡°Then, are we planning to keep the dungeon building open this week? Have you set up any countermeasures for emergencies?¡± ¡°We confirmed that the rescue request system is functioning properly.¡± The rescue request. In effect, it was the only means to contact the outside world from inside the dungeon. However, using it would nullify the practical evaluation, and a portion of the clear rewards would have to go to the committee. Still, it was better than having no option at all. ¡°At least this way, we can be fairly sure no one will lose their life.¡± ¡°Yes, assuming we respond immediately, of course. Accordingly, here¡¯s the plan.¡± They would significantly increase the number of disciplinary committee members stationed on the underground floors. On the whiteboard appeared a layout showing the new patrol distribution on the lower levels. That made unauthorized raids practically impossible. Even if she sent scouts, they¡¯d be caught right away. Yet, there were still things that were hard to give up on. ¡°I really need to go. I have to get down there.¡± ¡°We have to find a way through somehow.¡± The [Gathering of Villains] dungeon. The hidden piece at stake wasn¡¯t just any prize; it was the Ghost Dance. The very thing the thieves¡¯ club had been searching for. Even better, the trouble of handling the main part of the raid was being taken on by Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s raid team, so this was a rare opportunity for them. Naturally, this held true for me as well, so I asked Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll be difficult?¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not so sure. There isn¡¯t just the disciplinary committee, you know. There might even be teachers patrolling.¡± ¡°Mind if I ask you something?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°About a few skills and ranks of yours.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m only telling you this. What are you curious about?¡± Asking about someone else¡¯s skills or traits, and especially their rank, is something that¡¯s practically taboo. Still, I needed to check to make a solid plan. Perhaps understanding this, Dang Gyu-young hesitated slightly but answered my question honestly. The fact that we had built up some trust between us was probably a big reason why. When I mentioned my plan, Dang Gyu-young looked at me with a strange expression. ¡°Kim Ho-ah, why do I sometimes feel like you know me better than I know myself?¡± ¡°Can I use the cheat code again?¡± ¡°You know everything because you¡¯ve graduated over 200 times?¡± ¡°You know me well.¡± ¡°Haah.¡± Dang Gyu-young shook her head as if she had half given up. It¡¯s not like I could just admit that I¡¯ve spent some time playing as a Shadow Mage too. I moved the conversation along. ¡°So, what do you think? Our odds of success now.¡± ¡°Honestly? Still fifty-fifty?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a shot.¡± Dang Gyu-young narrowed her eyes. ¡°And if we get caught?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen? Penalty points?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a real thief at heart now. You¡¯ve got the mindset down.¡± Are you still not joining the club? Dang Gyu-young threw in yet another casual recruitment attempt. Then suddenly, as if a thought crossed her mind, she asked, ¡°But that... what was it, Oobleck or whatever it¡¯s called. Wouldn¡¯t it show up in the dungeon we¡¯re going into?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say there¡¯s a 0% chance, but realistically speaking, it won¡¯t appear.¡± The Witch of Corruption was A-rank. Naturally, the Oobleck she controlled would be ranked below that. For it to appear in a B-rank dungeon, it would need to be at least B+ rank, but even then, there¡¯s no guarantee it would have any meaningful impact. B-rank bosses were all strong, after all. Take the Black Snake and White Snake as examples. The Dark Oobleck wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them. So, from the Witch of Corruption¡¯s perspective, it¡¯s more efficient to send her forces into sure-thing C- or D-rank dungeons rather than wasting resources on an uncertain B-rank dungeon. Even after explaining all this, Dang Gyu-young still seemed uneasy. ¡°You never know, though.¡± ¡°Well, does it matter? It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll be the ones facing it.¡± ¡°...Now that you mention it, true.¡± Our role was simply to provide the treasure map and strategy guide while keeping a low profile inside the dungeon. Even if the Dark Oobleck does show up, it will be Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s raid team dealing with it. ¡°It¡¯s like a ¡®pleasure without responsibility¡¯.¡± ¡°I like that.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled bashfully. *** TN: Last one was probably a dirty joke. It¡¯s like a saying in Korean, though it¡¯s not always used in such way. Chapter 238: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (2) On Friday night, Go Hyeon-woo and I headed toward the dungeon building a little earlier than the arranged time. As we waited a bit out front, we spotted Jang Moo-geuk approaching from a distance. As expected of an assassin, his stride was perfectly measured as if by a ruler, and his footsteps were nearly silent. Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s eyes gleamed as he met Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s gaze. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this day.¡± ¡°Likewise.¡± From their words alone, it seemed they might draw swords and start a duel at any moment, but the tone between them was surprisingly gentle. The faint smiles at the corners of their lips meant they were actually pleased with the situation. Go Hyeon-woo spoke up. ¡°Though we¡¯re on the same side today, if the opportunity comes, I¡¯d like to ask for another lesson from you, Jang-hyung.¡± ¡°A good day will come. When the time is right, I won¡¯t avoid it.¡± Jang Moo-geuk replied in an even tone. Shortly after, Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin arrived precisely at the scheduled time. The two martial artists bowed their heads politely. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s get going right away.¡± Dang Gyu-young returned their brief greeting and took the lead. Then, just as she stopped in front of the door leading down to the underground, she looked around at us and spoke. ¡°Come down after five minutes.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°See you below.¡± There was no issue with accessing the F-floor itself, but if the five of us moved together in a big group, we¡¯d be sure to catch the attention of the Disciplinary Committee. Especially since two of them were the president and vice-president of the thieves club. If word spread to the lower floors, security would only tighten unnecessarily, so we decided to split up for now and move separately even just to the F-floor. Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin went down first, and we waited a moment before following. The moment I set foot on the spiral staircase, I felt it. It¡¯s cold down here. The atmosphere permeating the entire underground level was visibly more tense than usual. The expressions on the passing students¡¯ faces looked downright serious. And in one glance, I spotted three different students wearing Disciplinary Committee armbands. For the F-floor where incidents are rare, this was an unusual amount of monitoring. I could only guess there would be even more security below. All this was due to the chaos that A-rank villain had stirred up. I moved my lips slightly to signal the two with me. ¨C Let¡¯s act natural. ¨C Understood. Neither Go Hyeon-woo nor I were strangers to the underground level, so keeping a poker face was no problem. And as for Jang Moo-geuk whose profession as an assassin had trained him well, he was completely at ease. If only his naming sense were as perfect as his skills. Honestly, there¡¯s just no fixing the ¡°Jang Oh-Wang Gon¡± pair. As I walked along, thinking about all this, a second-year member of the disciplinary committee passed by. He glanced in our direction, but when we bowed our heads slightly, he simply gave us a quick nod before averting his gaze. The same went for the other committee members we encountered after that. Without drawing much suspicion, we changed elevators a few times and finally reached the lowest level of the F-floor. In the next moment, a small shadow butterfly fluttered in front of us from somewhere. We followed the butterfly¡¯s lead, and soon, Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin emerged from a shaded spot. ¨C This is just the beginning. Stay focused. As soon as we regrouped, we stepped onto the E floor. Just as expected, there were more committee members patrolling here than on the F floor. Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin exchanged a quick glance. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s usual guiding style was to spread shadow butterflies around and push forward based on the information they gathered. But now, even a single butterfly in sight would set off an alarm across the entire floor, so the strategy had to change. [Shadow Sanctuary] A shadow rose from the ground and formed a large dome, like ink spreading over us all. It was a skill that granted a stealth buff to allies within range for a limited time. Highly useful, though it had one drawback. There¡¯s still the cooldown. For a B-rank, the stealth lasted three minutes with a five-minute cooldown. Which meant for two minutes, we would have to move without stealth or use another concealment skill. Of course, that¡¯s assuming only one person uses it. If two people took turns using it, the story would change entirely. [Activated ¡®Copy-Skill¡¯.] [Registering the target¡¯s skill ¡®Shadow Sanctuary (B)¡¯ in the slot.] ?Copy ¨C Skill [3/3] ¨C ...... ¨C Why are you looking at me like that? ¨C One win for you. I had always seen her getting caught and chased by Kwak Seung-jae, but this time her stealth was flawless. However, Dang Gyu-young looked less than pleased with my assessment. ¨C No, what do you mean? This is just my normal skill level. ¨C Let¡¯s go with that. ¨C No, really, it is! When it comes to playing tag with Kwak Seung-jae, I win eight out of ten times. Right, Da-bin? When Dang Gyu-young asked for backup, Chae Da-bin reluctantly agreed. ¨C ...Yes, I guess that¡¯s true. ¨C Why do you sound so unconvincing? I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s true! We continued making our way down amidst the whispering and bantering. Finally, we arrived at the C-floor, the last section we had to get through. The moment we entered, Dang Gyu-young let out a dry laugh. ¨C Wow, this just keeps getting better and better. The security here was even tighter. Above the D-floor, the disciplinary committee members were stationed in a tight grid, and even teachers were visible here and there. The probability of an encounter with the Dark Oobleck was highest here, and the potential damage was worse than at the D-floor, so they¡¯d stationed extra defenses. Cha Da-bin diligently manipulated the tablet and checked the view here and there. Her expression darkened slightly. -This is going to be tough for me, too. No matter how perfect the field of view was, it would be meaningless if we couldn¡¯t map out a route. At that, Dang Gyu-young and I exchanged a glance. ¨C Let¡¯s use it here. ¨C Looks like we¡¯ll have to. We had one more trick up our sleeves from our discussion the previous night, and now was the time to put it to use. [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Shadow Leap¡¯ has increased. (C ¡ú A)] [Duration: 00:04:57] [Cooldown: 00:29:57] Dang Gyu-young had mastered a high-level movement skill called Shadow Leap. It was a skill that allowed her to teleport to the next available shadow. Like [Blink] or [Teleport] which were advanced space spells known only to high-ranking mages, Shadow Leap was a high-level space skill. Naturally, the growth difficulty of this skill was extremely high, and even for a third-year club president like Dang Gyu-young, her skill rank was still at C. Of course, the skill performed well even at that rank, but the upgrade to A-rank made it much more powerful. With that upgrade, the number of targets increases. At C-rank, the skill could transport two people including the caster; at A-rank, it allowed for up to five people. In other words, she could transport all of us. Dang Gyu-young sent a shadow butterfly fluttering to the opposite side. When the butterfly fluttered to its destination, it spread wide and cast a large shadow. [Shadow Leap] Swoosh¨C There was a sensation as if we were being pulled down beneath our feet, and then the scenery abruptly changed. The next moment, we were standing at the spot where she had sent the shadow butterfly. Chae Da-bin looked a little surprised and repeated the question she had asked earlier. ¨C Did you rank up on that too? ¨C ...Something like that. Anyway, how¡¯s this? ¨C It seems doable. Chae Da-bin¡¯s face brightened again. She stared intently at her tablet and began to think hard. And I could almost hear it say, ¡°Recalculating route¡±. Then, Chae Da-bin pointed in one direction. ¨C Over there. Dang Gyu-young sent the shadow butterfly to the next location again, then used Shadow Leap to instantly transport everyone. Chae Da-bin would point out the direction, and we repeated this cycle of teleportation over and over. In this way, we quickly descended the C-floor and almost reached the depths. At that point, Dang Gyu-young leaned in close and whispered. ¡°...Hey, Kim Ho-ah.¡± ¡°Yes, noona?¡± ¡°The amplification... it¡¯s worn off.¡± The amplification¡¯s duration had ended, and [Shadow Leap] had returned to C-rank. The C-rank amplification duration was only 5 minutes, with a cooldown of 30 minutes. I had saved it until the very end, but it still wasn¡¯t quite enough to bypass the entire C-floor in one go. ¨C Over there. Chae Da-bin wasn¡¯t aware of this and continued pointing out directions. Chapter 239: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (3) We had come to a stop right in the middle of the C-floor. With the Disciplinary Committee members still patrolling, there was no benefit to lingering here. I guess it¡¯s time to go with Plan B. I had hoped it wouldn¡¯t come to this, but I had prepared just in case. I leaned over and whispered to Dang Gyu-young. ¨C Could you make a few round trips? ¨C What, four times? At C-rank, Shadow Leap could only transport two people at a time. For Dang Gyu-young to move all five of us, she would have to make four round trips. The risk would increase considerably, but¡ª ¡°Two trips will be enough.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°I can use it too.¡± If I copied Shadow Leap, we could transport everyone together which would make it far more efficient. ?Copy ¨C Skill [3/3] 1. Thief¡¯s Step (B+) 2. Overheat (C) 3. Shadow Sanctuary (B) [Overheat] was a skill I had copied from Hong Yeon-hwa, And Shadow Sanctuary was essential for keeping the party hidden. So, the best copy slot to overwrite was Thief¡¯s Step. After all, since Thief¡¯s Step was originally Dang Gyu-young¡¯s skill, I could just copy it again later. Of course, even with this approach, Dang Gyu-young would still have to make two round trips, so the risk level would inevitably increase. Chae Da-bin would likely wonder why our pace had suddenly slowed down as well. Still, it¡¯s better than getting caught. Adding a bit of risk was definitely better than failing before we even reached our destination. Just as I was about to start the copying process with these thoughts in mind¡ª ¡°!¡± One of the patrolling Disciplinary Committee members suddenly stopped in their tracks, as if they received some sort of message. With a tense expression, they exchanged a few quick communications, then hurriedly pushed off the ground and headed upward. Dang Gyu-young watched them disappear before turning back to me. ¨C ...Seems like it showed up. That thing? ¨C Seems that way. Apparently, a party exploring a C-rank dungeon had encountered a Dark Oobleck and sent out a distress call. Some of the Disciplinary Committee members were deployed for the rescue. Although others still patrolled their assigned areas without deviation, from our perspective, it felt like a huge gap had opened in the once stiflingly dense security net. Chae Da-bin was excited by the opportunity and led the way. ¨C This way! Following her, we arrived at the depths. With the Disciplinary Committee clustered on the C- and D-floors, I had hoped the security here might be more lax. Yet the depths were still the depths. Guard posts stood at intervals, crystal balls were embedded everywhere, and the committee members continued their patrols. But then again, look who we had with us. The president and vice president of the thieves club, after all. The two had already broken through this place once before, back when we had infiltrated the Black Death dungeon. It seemed like this time would be no different. Soon, Dang Gyu-young began gathering mana in large amounts, while Chae Da-bin furiously tapped away on her tablet at an incredible speed. [Shadow Pouch] A shadow emerged from Dang Gyu-young and turned into a giant pouch that quickly swallowed all the first-years, including me. Go Hyeon-woo and I remained still since we experienced this before, and Jang Moo-geuk only briefly blinked his eyes as if he was amazed but kept his composure. After a moment of letting ourselves be jostled around, the shadow pouch spat us out right at our destination. [No.88] [Gathering of Villains] Dang Gyu-young waved urgently in front of the teleportation portal. ¨C Go in, go in, quickly, quickly. Without waiting for anyone to take the lead, we all rushed inside. Our surroundings shifted abruptly, and we found ourselves standing at the edge of a forest outside the city. Only then did the group finally relax. Although we hadn¡¯t even officially started the operation, everyone already looked exhausted. Yet alongside the relief was a sense of achievement at overcoming a significant hurdle. Especially for Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin who wore expressions of pure satisfaction. ¡°Wow, this is truly a triumph of human determination.¡± ¡°It goes to show that if you put in the effort, there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t achieve.¡± Just the day before when we were planning this, we weren¡¯t sure if success was even possible, but in a desperate search for a possible breakthrough, we had managed to penetrate the iron-clad defenses of the Disciplinary Committee. Even accounting for a bit of luck toward the end, it was still an impressive feat. However, the satisfaction was brief, as something suddenly seemed to dawn on Chae Da-bin and a look of concern appeared on her face. [In the weedy area near the bamboo grove, you can find elixirs.] Elixirs were never in enough supply. And since this was a B-rank dungeon, any elixirs we found here would likely be of a decent rank. Without a word, everyone crouched down and started digging through the weeds. Only Jang Moo-geuk seemed a bit skeptical. ¡°To think I¡¯d live to do farmwork in a dungeon.¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s an experience too, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± ¡°You certainly have a positive attitude.¡± ¡°I hear that often.¡± Jang Moo-geuk who thought no one would agree with him kept silent and concentrated on his digging. After a while, he seemed to find something, pulled it up by the roots, and showed it to me. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a poisonous plant?¡± [Blood-Coagulating Herb (D)] This plant had the effect of congealing the blood. It was somewhere between a medicinal plant and a poison. When refined it could be used as a medicine, but eaten raw it was deadly. Mixed among the weeds were other poisonous plants ranging from C to E rank. Roughly speaking, about 80% of what we found were weeds, 19% were poisonous plants, and maybe 1% were actual elixirs. I answered him casually. ¡°Keep the poisonous ones too. They¡¯re too valuable to toss.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Since I wasn¡¯t wrong, Jang Moo-geuk nodded in agreement. In reality, gathering poisonous plants was also a minor goal of mine. The more I collected, the better prepared I¡¯d be for the next step of my plan. Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young used her shadow hands to hold a hoe. She worked much more comfortably and quickly than the others. After a while she snuck up close to me and tickled my cheek with a weed that looked like foxtail grass. ¡°Young monarch, be honest with me.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°You know exactly where it is, don¡¯t you?¡± Dang Gyu-young had learned through countless experiences that my eye for detail was near supernatural. The idea that I wouldn¡¯t be able to spot an elixir hidden somewhere in the weeds and that the whole party would have to dig around for it didn¡¯t make sense. In the end, she concluded that I was pretending not to know. I admitted it freely. ¡°You caught me.¡± ¡°Why pretend not to know?¡± ¡°Because I need the manpower.¡± Out of the five of us, I was the only one who needed poisonous plants. If I suddenly pulled out an elixir, there¡¯d be no reason for anyone to keep digging around. Even Jang Moo-geuk would immediately drop his hoe. But if I let them search on their own, it might take a bit longer, but we¡¯d end up with a bigger stockpile of poisonous plants. Dang Gyu-young narrowed her eyes. ¡°Using your party members for personal gain. Don¡¯t you feel a little guilty?¡± ¡°A little. But can you keep it a secret?¡± ¡°Another secret?¡± ¡°The more, the better, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but... why are you so annoying.¡± As Dang Gyu-young crept closer, I took a step back to keep our distance. ¡°Why are you coming closer?¡± ¡°Just one good pinch of those cheeks.¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± She kept moving toward me, and I kept backing away. While we were half-crouched and playing this game of tag, Chae Da-bin¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°I found something!¡± We both turned to see Chae Da-bin holding a thick root of Tuber fleeceflower. [300-Year Tuber fleeceflower (C+)] ¡°It actually showed up.¡± Jang Moo-geuk remarked. A C+-rank elixir would be quite effective even if we divided it five ways. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. I casually added, ¡°There¡¯s one more. A 500-year one.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± Go Hyeon-woo and Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s eyes lit up. And they began to turn over the field with burning enthusiasm. Chapter 240: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (4) When the five superhumans charged in with their hoes, the weed-covered field quickly turned into barren ground. And like I had predicted, [500-Year Tuber Fleeceflower (B)] Another large root of fleeceflower emerged. Thanks to this, any lingering dissatisfaction Jang Moo-geuk had was instantly swept away. In fact, he looked more than pleased. ¡°Taking a quick detour to pick up two high-grade elixirs. This is a great start.¡± ¡°Kim-hyung, you really do bring us all good fortune with your knowledge.¡± Go Hyeon-woo was eager to praise me as well. In reality, though it might seem like we found this hidden gem effortlessly, this kind of hidden piece is notoriously hard to find. This was because you would have to dig through every nook and cranny of the vast dungeon and even turn over the weed field. While I could have easily sold this information, I chose instead to share it with my party members. After all, it benefits me too. [Blood-Spotted Herb (D)] x3 [Short Leaf Herb (C)] x2 [Sharp Leaf Herb (C)] x2 ... With the manpower I gathered here, we dug up a pile of poisonous plants. They weren¡¯t exactly low-value items, but thanks to my role in finding the elixir locations, they were all mine. The elixirs would be shared later, while I¡¯d make good use of the poisonous plants myself. ¡°Now then, shall we go collect it? The Ghost Dance.¡± ¡°Are we finally going?¡± An undeniable sense of anticipation seeped through Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s tone. It made sense. What he had so eagerly awaited was now right in front of him. We retraced our steps back to the edge of the bamboo forest and stepped inside. As we continued to walk, the fog gradually began to settle. The fog continued to thicken, to the point where not only our feet but even the figures of the people behind us became blurred. But it was broad daylight, and the weather had been clear just moments before. Could such a heavy fog even form so suddenly? Dang Gyu-young glanced around and spoke up. ¡°A formation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± This area was layered with a rather advanced formation. The fog obscured our vision and even created a disorienting effect that made it easy to lose all sense of direction. Pressing on without any countermeasure in a situation like this would be a terrible choice. I had no intention of doing so, so I turned my head to the back. ¡°Go Hyeon-woo.¡± ¡°Right here.¡± At that, Go Hyeon-woo handed me a small wooden figurine that was barely the size of my palm. It was the Dharma statue we¡¯d obtained from the Black Death dungeon. It was a remnant of a nameless swordmaster¡¯s legacy, but it also served as a tool for dispelling formations with ease. When we tackled the [Sealing Demon Chests] dungeon, we used it to locate the hidden Golden Merchant Guild Leader beyond the barrier. It¡¯ll work here too. As soon as I held the Dharma statue forward, it took immediate effect. Like a candle lighting up the darkness, the fog thinned around me to reveal the dirt path ahead. Its performance is excellent. The Ghost Dance was a rare legacy left behind by the Illusion Demon, one of the Four Supreme Demons Under Heaven. It is not inferior at all to the Blood Ghost Blade Demon¡¯s legacy, which was the destination of Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s raid team. Just as the Treasure Map was needed over there, we too were supposed to have a similar key item prepared for this place. Even so, the reason I chose to push forward was thanks to my first secret weapon, the Dharma statue. While not the exact key, it would serve as a kind of master key. And my second secret weapon was¡ª Me, of course. Someone who could instinctively navigate through the barrier formations set up by former graduates. Besides, I had broken through this place countless times even without the Dharma statue, so finding the path wasn¡¯t difficult. Of course, this didn¡¯t apply to the rest of the party, so I gave them a quick reminder over my shoulder. ¡°From now on, stay close to the person in front of you and follow them while keeping your eyes on their back.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re not careful, we¡¯ll get separated?¡± ¡°That could happen.¡± At my response, Dang Gyu-young smiled slightly, then extended her hand toward me. They¡¯ll manage just fine. There was no need to worry since they were skilled enough to avoid any serious accidents. I just needed to focus on my role. As I moved swiftly, the side path soon ended and another clearing appeared. Compared to the spot where the others were fighting, this area was much smaller, with square marble tiles laid across the ground. Like a personal training area. Also surrounding the marble were giant statues of goblins and demons, each a head or two taller than a person. They stood as though they were watching over anyone training here. This was the place where the Illusion Demon¡¯s treasure called the Ghost Dance could be obtained. Of course, just finding it wasn¡¯t enough. I have to pass the trial. When I stepped into the center of the marble floor, the atmosphere immediately shifted. In an instant, fog swirled in like clouds. Everything was hidden from view. All that remained visible were the marble floor and the statues of goblins and demons. Rumble... Then the statues began to move, and all at once they stood up and walked toward me. Each of them held either a long staff or a club resembling a Yeoui staff as thick as a building pillar. Just a single blow of those seemed capable of breaking bones. Anyone would have instinctively felt threatened in such a situation, but I simply stood on the marble with my arms hanging loosely at my sides. Fighting them is meaningless. After all, this was part of the Illusion Formation. They were difficult to defeat, and even if they fell, new statues would quickly replace them, which would just waste my energy. It¡¯s not something I can force my way through. While I could use a few tricks to reach the treasure, obtaining the skill or trait was another matter entirely. I¡¯d have to undergo the trial just as the Illusion Demon intended. Of course, like with any trial, there were some useful tips. Ignore the statues. It didn¡¯t mean I should just ignore them and take the hits. It meant to abandon any fear of the statues and focus on something else. I lowered my gaze just a bit in front of me. Footprints were appearing one by one as if someone had walked this path before me. I moved forward and carefully stepped on each one. Whoosh! The statues swung their heavy weapons, but I kept all my attention on the footprints. I made sure to step precisely, with every movement flowing naturally, Each step connecting smoothly to the next. And then, even though I wasn¡¯t trying to dodge, their attacks passed just a hair¡¯s breadth away from me. This is why it¡¯s said to ignore the statues. Just following instructions allowed me to avoid their strikes. If I focused too much on them, my tension and scattered concentration would make it harder to hit each footprint precisely. The Illusion Demon¡¯s trial continued. Though it felt like I had come a long way, I was still in the center of the training hall, still surrounded by statues. Looks like the difficulty¡¯s about to increase. As soon as I thought that, the attacks of the statues became fiercer. Where before two or three statues had swung their weapons, now it was five or six, and their speed had picked up as well. In response, the footprints began appearing faster. Sometimes they spread out with wide gaps; other times they zigzagged in erratic patterns, and I had to follow closely to avoid being hit by the statues. Thud! Boom! Heavy weapons crashed down behind or next to me. They filled the air with deafening noise and scattered clouds of stone dust. Even so, I continued to ignore them completely, and I just stepped on the footprints over and over again in a state of half-consciousness. I repeated this over and over who knows how many times. Then, suddenly, the footprints that had appeared without pause were gone and I stopped in place. When I looked around, I noticed the fog had cleared and the open space had returned to its original state. The training area that should have been shattered into pieces was intact, and the stone statues were still in their places. As if nothing had happened. It¡¯s over. I had passed the Illusion Demon¡¯s trial. As if to confirm my thought, a message appeared in the corner of my vision. [Acquired ¡®Ghost Dance¡¯.¡±] Chapter 241: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (5) [Ghost Dance] ? Moves quickly over a set distance. ? While moving, evasion rate and stealth are significantly increased. Ghost Dance was a hybrid skill that combined movement, evasion, and stealth. Usually, the effects of hybrid skills tend to be somewhat mediocre when examined individually, but this one was exceptional in all three aspects, much like Spiral Explosion. It delivers outstanding power no matter which class uses it, but it pairs especially well with thieves or assassins who benefit from the element of surprise. Its drawbacks were that it couldn¡¯t be ranked up, so growth was impossible, and it had a 5-minute cooldown. This meant it could only be used at most twice per battle, so it was best to use it strategically. As for its actual performance, I would test it out when the opportunity arises. Now it¡¯s time for the next person. The usual method is to send the second participant back into the trial when you return to the clearing where the party members were fighting. After the second person completes the Illusion Demon¡¯s trial and acquires Ghost Dance, then the third person enters, and so on. But I didn¡¯t find this approach all that appealing. It¡¯s inefficient. I may have passed the trial in a single attempt since I¡¯ve completed it so many times I could practically do it with my eyes closed, but it¡¯s impossible to predict how long it will take others. With their talent, they¡¯ll likely get the hang of it in two or three tries, but if all four have to go through it¡ª It will take far too long. During this time, we would have to withstand the relentless attacks of the masked men in black, which would take a heavy toll on our stamina. I think it would be far more efficient to save my time and stamina for gathering other hidden items and to leave learning Ghost Dance for later. The question remained, though. How could we delay the Illusion Demon¡¯s trial? There was a very simple answer. Just take it with me. It sounded ridiculous but I could do it. To be exact, I had a cheat item that could make it possible. It was the statue of Dharma, which I¡¯d been keeping temporarily in my inventory. When I took it out and brought it close to the goblin statue¡ª Srrrkk... The large statue that was once bigger than a person began to shrink rapidly. It deflated like a balloon until it was no larger than the palm of my hand. This is its true size. It had only appeared larger due to the illusion formation, but now that the Dharma statue had partially dispelled the effect, its real form was revealed. I placed the miniature goblin statue into my inventory, then repeated the process, shrinking and collecting the other statues in the same way. Before long, only the marble floor remained in the hall. These statues weren¡¯t just decorative. They were key components of the illusion formation. If you set them up properly, you can recreate the Illusion Demon¡¯s formation and take the trial. In other words, the others could access the trial and acquire Ghost Dance even outside the bamboo forest, or even beyond the dungeon itself. Though there¡¯s still a limit on how many times it can be used. After all, they had durability. But at least I could take them with me. That was something. With that thought in mind, I retraced my steps back along the side path. When I arrived at the clearing, the battle was already in full swing. The masked men in black attacked like well-trained elite warriors, and each member of the group responded in their own way. Dang Gyu-young positioned herself protectively around Chae Da-bin and took on most of the combat herself. Shadow arms rose from the ground, wielding a variety of shadow weapons to bring down the enemies. Chae Da-bin focused less on attacking directly and more on supporting her allies; small drones flew around, casting shields or buffs here and there. As expected, she¡¯s a support type. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s skills had been improving noticeably by the day, and recently, he¡¯d been practicing his movement technique through the three-in-one training method. He slipped between the masked figures with smooth, flowing movements, and weaved his way through them as he swung his sword. Jang Moo-geuk focused mainly on evasion and defense, but at decisive moments, he would land a single fatal strike to the masked figures¡¯ necks or chests. During this intense exchange, Dang Gyu-young noticed me stepping out from the side path and called out to me. ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got it.¡± I pulled out one of the goblin statues and continued, ¡°Let¡¯s head out now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With a smooth wave of Dang Gyu-young¡¯s hand, the shadow arms collapsed all at once and rippled forward like a wave to push back the enemies. Boom¡ª! A gap instantly opened in the encirclement. Seizing that moment, we swiftly escaped from the clearing. As we ran, Chae Da-bin paused to look back and remarked in amazement, ¡°...It¡¯s all gone.¡± The clearing had already been completely cleared out. It was as if the intense battle we¡¯d just fought had been nothing but a lie. That was because it had all been an illusion, crafted by the formation. Now that we were outside its range, it couldn¡¯t affect us anymore. Of course, there were also formations set along the exit path, so I extended my hand to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°So, you¡¯re a cautious bunch. I wondered why you stopped pursuing us, only to find you lying in wait here.¡± When I heard that, I quickly pieced the situation together. It seemed Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s party had gained the upper hand in battle, but for some reason, they withdrew during the pursuit. This was probably to regroup and conserve their strength. The Paracorrosive Twin Demons must have thought they¡¯d escaped successfully, but after spotting us, they decided they needed to shake off any pursuers and approached. I wondered if there was any room for negotiation and asked, ¡°Should we just let you go?¡± ¡°Heh, you think we¡¯d fall for such a shallow trick? Pretend to let us go so you can stab us in the back, is that it?¡± I had genuinely meant to let them pass. But it looked like fighting was inevitable. If that were the case, then it made sense to block their escape route so we wouldn¡¯t end up empty-handed as well. So I changed my approach slightly and began to subtly provoke the Twin Demons. ¡°Wow, just a moment ago you two were running like your lives depended on it, so why the sudden urge to fight? Not like it matters; you¡¯ll probably just flee again if things get tough.¡± ¡°...Don¡¯t worry about that. We¡¯ll settle things with you to the end.¡± Judging by their reaction, it seemed my taunt had been successful; the Paracorrosive Twin Demons¡¯ lips curled into a murderous smile. As they raised their auras at the same time, the surrounding plants darkened and withered under the oppressive energy. ¡°Since you¡¯ve entertained me with those little remarks, I¡¯ll leave you for last. I¡¯ll play with you a bit before you die.¡± I slipped behind Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Did you hear that? They¡¯re going to ¡®play with me¡¯ before killing me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen. You¡¯re playing with me.¡± Dang Gyu-young lightly brushed a hand over my head. Then, her expression turned serious as she carefully shifted to the side. Sensing that the fight was about to break out, she positioned herself in the optimal spot. It¡¯s only just starting... I still didn¡¯t know how Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s party had ended up dealing with the Paracorrosive Twin Demons, but I remembered the strategy guide advising to avoid fighting them if possible. Unlike most demons who roamed individually, these two stuck together which made them especially difficult to face. On top of that, they were experts in poison technique which made them even trickier to handle. But, of course, that was based on the general strategy guide recommendation. For me, they¡¯re manageable. After all, those two had already gone through a fierce battle, so they weren¡¯t in peak condition. If they had a health gauge, I¡¯d guess it was around 70 percent. And most importantly¡ª They¡¯re masters of poison techniques. Which made it all the more manageable for me. I first linked [Octopus Limbs] and [Enchantment]. [You have granted the skill ¡°Poison Resistance (S)¡± to the target.] [You have granted the skill ¡°Poison Resistance (S)¡± to the target.] [You have granted....] [The rank of the granted ¡°Poison Resistance¡±: B] [Duration 00:14:58] [Cooldown 09:19:58] I granted [Poison Resistance] to four people. However, that alone left the rank a bit lacking, So I¡¯ll have to amplify it. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯] [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯] [The rank of ¡®Poison Resistance¡¯ has been increased. (B¡úS)] [The rank of ¡®Poison Resistance¡¯......] After I amplified the poison resistance granted to the four people, I also amplified my own skills. [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has been increased. (C+¡úA+)] [The rank of ¡®Overheat¡¯ has been increased. (C¡úA)] [The rank of ¡®Wind Force¡¯ has been increased. (C+¡úA+)] [The rank of ¡®Spiral Explosion¡¯ has been increased. (C+¡úA+)] [The rank of ¡®Chillwind¡¯ has been increased. (E+¡úC+)] [Duration 00:04:58] [Cooldown 40:29:58] Casting back-to-back with [Octopus Limbs] triggered a huge penalty. The cooldown of [Enchantment] was increased by 16 times and the cooldown of [Amplification] was increased by a staggering 81 times. Both skills were effectively sealed for the next few days. Still, it had been worth it. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± The corners of everyone¡¯s lips subtly lifted. Just a moment ago, there had been a tangible tension in their gaze toward the Twin Demons. Now, though, they wore expressions that seemed to ponder how best to handle these enemies. I also snickered and said, ¡°Let¡¯s finish this in five minutes.¡± Chapter 242: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (6) The Twin Demons stared at us with baffled expressions. Just a moment ago, we had been nothing but serious, so seeing us all grinning together must have been unnerving. ¡°...Have these fools all gone mad?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s begin. There¡¯s no point wasting time with chatter.¡± I cut off the conversation deliberately. With only five minutes left on the amplification duration, there was no room for delay. The Twin Demons hardened their expressions again, though they seemed to agree that time was too precious to waste. Both of them raised their energy at the same time and scattered their power in all directions. Pop pop pop! Typical strategy. They spread their poison far and wide to take control of the space, with the goal of slowly poisoning us all. Their plan was also to identify any weaker opponents and lay the poison on them for maximum effect. However, what they hadn¡¯t accounted for was, I have S-rank poison resistance. With Wind Barrier wrapped around my body, I charged straight at the paralyzing demon. After taking a few hits, the Wind Barrier started to crumble and the poison began seeping into my body, but I ignored it and closed the distance between us. ¡°This bastard...?¡± The paralyzing demon¡¯s eyes widened in shock. In all his life, he had likely never encountered an opponent as recklessly daring as me. But his shock only lasted a moment before he swung at me with both fists. I dodged his arm by a hair¡¯s breadth and drove my Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger right into him. Thud. Got one hit in. I then stepped back to create some distance to regroup, ¡°You!¡± The paralyzing demon pursued me as if he was unwilling to let me go. When his palm struck toward my head, I tilted slightly to avoid it. When he aimed a blow at my abdomen, I diverted it with a gentle twist of my waist. The demon hesitated for a moment just as he was about to launch another attack, then stepped back. Swish, swish, swish! Shadow blades slashed through the spot he had just vacated. Dang Gyu-young had intervened. Shadows rose from beneath her feet and placed daggers in her hands, which she threw quickly, one after the other. Taking advantage of the distraction, I glanced over to check on the corrosive demon. He was being handled by Go Hyeon-woo, Jang Moo-geuk, and Chae Da-bin. Good. The Twin Demons were difficult to deal with when they were together, having perfected their teamwork over many years. Now that they were naturally separated, I could focus all my attention on the paralyzing demon. Swish, swish! ¡°You¡¯re getting on my nerves.¡± The paralyzing demon scowled as he dodged the incoming shadowed daggers, then unleashed a barrage of energy attacks in Dang Gyu-young¡¯s direction. Pop, pop, pop! Thanks to her nimble movements, none of the attacks landed, but from each point where his energy had struck, a thick poisonous smoke began to rise. Seeing this, a sinister smile crept across the paralyzing demon¡¯s face. He was a master of poison techniques. Even if his attacks missed, he could gradually cover the area with poisonous smoke, so he wasn¡¯t at a disadvantage. No matter how agile the opponent was, as long as they were human, they¡¯d inevitably inhale some of that smoke over time, and soon Dang Gyu-young would succumb to paralysis and collapse. Or so he calculated. That¡¯s assuming she doesn¡¯t have poison resistance. With her resistance holding at S-rank, she¡¯d likely be fine standing amidst the poisonous spoke for at least five minutes. Sensing it was time to go back on the offensive, I called out to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Support me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Then I activated Wind Barrier and launched myself forward. Whoosh! The distance between me and the paralyzing demon closed quickly. Maybe remembering that I had just struck him with the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, the paralyzing demon kept a cautious distance between us and continued to unleash his energy. I didn¡¯t push too hard and kept pace while continuously casting Wind Barrier. As I followed, shadow butterflies began gathering around the paralyzing demon one by one, until in an instant, more than a dozen had swarmed around him. [Dream of Shadow Butterflies] They suddenly dissolved and clung to the paralyzing demon¡¯s body like a sticky, viscous liquid. ¡°Hmm!¡± The paralyzing demon immediately generated a protective energy to shake them off, but in that brief moment, I drove the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger into him. When I moved along those footsteps, my body slid forward as if I had turned into a ghost. In no time, I was close behind the corrosive demon and I drove the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger straight into his back. Thunk. ¡°......!¡± Only then did the corrosive demon turn around and look at me. His eyes were wide open, almost as if they were being torn apart. This was because he hadn¡¯t noticed me sneaking in close enough to strike with deadly precision. Perhaps too shocked, he stood frozen for too long. Dang Gyu-young jumped out with a shadow leap, bound him tightly, and gave Go Hyeon-woo the perfect opportunity to slash diagonally with his magic sword. Srrk! Then, Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Well done.¡± Thud! A long, needle-like blade pierced through the corrosive demon¡¯s upper body, sticking out the other side. As to be expected from an assassin, Jang Moo-geuk had waited for the perfect moment to land the finishing blow. When the corrosive demon¡¯s crumbling body fell, Jang Moo-geuk withdrew his sword and looked over at me. ¡°So, that¡¯s the ghost dance. It¡¯s not just fast; its stealth abilities are astounding. Even while I was watching, you vanished for a moment. The stories I¡¯d heard hardly did it justice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a truly remarkable technique. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± It was, after all, the ghost dance technique that had brought him into the dungeon. Now that he¡¯d seen its performance firsthand, he was sure to be excited. But this wasn¡¯t the best time to focus on the ghost dance. ¡°Good work, everyone. First, let¡¯s start with the antidote.¡± Everyone was dealing with a gradual accumulation of poison. Even though Go Hyeon-woo and I had [Hundred Poisons Immunity], it wasn¡¯t enough to fully guard against the deadly poison used by a mid-boss B-rank poisoner. Moreover, [Poison Resistance] only reduced the damage from poison after it had already entered the system; it couldn¡¯t prevent poisoning itself. Even as an S-rank skill, its limitations were clear. [Duration: 00:01:02] Moreover, soon the [Amplification] would end, and everyone¡¯s poison resistance would drop from S to B, meaning the damage would start coming in rapidly. If the enchantment goes away as well, they might end up collapsing and coughing up blood. The poison needed to be dealt with before that happened. I turned to Dang Gyu-young and asked, ¡°Do you have any antidote? If not, we can use this.¡± In my hand was a basic elixir I had received from Angel Gap-doo. If she didn¡¯t have anything suitable, I intended to share this with the group. But Dang Gyu-young immediately stopped me. ¡°Why use that? It¡¯s too precious.¡± After that, she pulled a few antidotes from her inventory and handed them out. ¡°As expected, you¡¯re prepared.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m still part of the main family, after all.¡± Though she hadn¡¯t mastered the Dang family¡¯s secret techniques, she had once been a direct descendant, which meant she had extensive knowledge about poisons and always carried antidotes with her. She even used that knowledge to apply poison to the dimensional crow before. Once we dealt with all the poison, I looked around to see two small chests placed near where the twins had fallen. [Gathering of Villains Random Box (B)]*2 Unintentionally, we just earned rewards by joining in this ¡°boss rush¡± raid. These would be divided up later. Dang Gyu-young gazed off into the distance. Her expression was a mix of worry and skepticism. ¡°Did Pang Mi-ryeong and her team get tangled up somehow? Looks like they let them slip by.¡± ¡°Seems that way. We¡¯ll probably hear from them soon.¡± Sure enough, just a moment later, the communicator rang like a ghost. After a quick exchange of glances between us, Dang Gyu-young put on an innocent expression and answered while feigning ignorance. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± ¨C There¡¯s been... a bit of a problem. ¡°Oh? What, did something blow up?¡± ¨C ...Yes, Team 2. Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s voice came through. It was low and tinged with complex emotions. Apparently, it was Team 2 that had faced the Paracorrosive Twin Demons before we did. Judging by her call, it seemed they took a fair amount of damage. Well, we already took them down. There was obviously no reason for us to tell her that just yet. We had to keep the upper hand after all. Chapter 243: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (7) Humans were crafty creatures; their mindset when borrowing money differed from when it was time to pay it back. And right now, Pang Mi-ryeong was in the position of needing a loan. Sure, she¡¯d appreciate knowing that we had dealt with the Paracorrosive Twin Demons, but any reward for that would be on her terms. On the other hand, if we started with negotiations, we could tailor it to our liking. Dang Gyu-young knew this too, which was why she kept it under wraps for now. After taking the communicator from her, I spoke in a deliberately regretful tone. ¡°Senior-nim, didn¡¯t I advise you to avoid the Twin Demons if possible?¡± I¡¯d even mentioned it two or three times in the strategy guide. If I didn¡¯t have an S-rank [Poison Resistance], I would¡¯ve done whatever it took to steer clear of them myself. Like blowing them away with Wind Force and making a run for it. ¨C ....... A faint sigh came through the communicator. I could almost picture Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s troubled expression. ¨C ...I know. I did warn them, but they must have thought it was worth a shot. The Team 2 leader had probably been feeling overconfident, given how smoothly things had been going with the strategy. Not realizing, of course, that it was entirely thanks to the guide. Amidst their false bravado, they had taken on the Twin Demons and suffered huge losses as a result. Another team acting on its own was beyond Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s control, and it was pointless to dwell on things that were already done, so I kept the conversation moving forward. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you reached out because you need our help.¡± ¨C That¡¯s right. ¡°I¡¯d like to get a sense of the big picture first. How many did you manage to take down?¡± Pang Mi-ryeong paused in silence before responding. ¨C Altogether, we¡¯ve got six. Team 1 is investigating the legacy, Team 2 is recovering like I mentioned, and Team 3 is continuing with the raid. ¡°And the plan going forward?¡± ¨C Team 3 should be able to take down two more, and if Team 2 recovers quickly, they might manage at least one. ¡°Still, that leaves us pretty short.¡± Even adding it all together, that only made nine demons down. Far from the dungeon-clear target of twelve. They were missing the contribution Team 2 would have provided. It seemed Pang Mi-ryeong was thinking the same thing, as a sigh came through the communicator once again. ¨C What else can we do? We¡¯ll just have to work harder. So, can you give us a hand? ¡°......¡± Instead of replying, I glanced sideways and Dang Gyu-young took the communicator from me. ¡°First, I¡¯d like to hear what you¡¯re offering.¡± ¨C I¡¯ll split a bit more of the clear rewards with you. ¡°How much?¡± ¨C Just take down one more. No, make it two, and I¡¯ll give you one random box. Items from a B-rank random box were of fairly high value, after all. Since we had already taken down two demons, this would mean getting one more box at no extra cost. But we weren¡¯t about to settle for that. Dang Gyu-young responded. She sounded anything but impressed. ¡°Sorry, but that doesn¡¯t exactly motivate us. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re a team of third-year seniors; there are three first-years here. There¡¯s no reason for us to take on that kind of risk.¡± ¨C ...Fine. Whatever you want. Name it. ¡°What about the legacy thing¡ª¡± ¨C Except for that. Pang Mi-ryeong cut her off firmly. No matter how bad the situation was, she wouldn¡¯t budge when it came to the Blood Ghost Blade Demon¡¯s hidden treasure. After all, that was the very reason this raid had been put together in the first place. It seemed Dang Gyu-young had only been testing the waters, judging by how easily she tossed out her next proposal. ¡°Then, give us three.¡± ¨C ...Three random boxes? ¡°Yes.¡± ¨C That¡¯s too many. Let¡¯s make it two boxes for two kills. Apparently, she found this acceptable, as Dang Gyu-young glanced at me to gauge my opinion. I took the communicator again and replied, ¡°Please make it three.¡± ¨C I¡¯m telling you, that¡¯s too many. There are limits to what I can authorize on my own. Even two will raise complaints. ¡°In exchange, we¡¯ll take care of one more target.¡± Like I heard earlier, Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s side could handle nine of the demons without problems. If we added three more to that tally, the clear conditions would be met. I made a suggestion. ¡°Then let¡¯s split up just this once.¡± While Go Hyeon-woo and the other two took down the Bloodlust Demon, Dang Gyu-young and I would recover a different hidden piece. They had memorized the entire strategy guide, so there was nothing they didn¡¯t know. Moreover, they had flawlessly executed every order I gave them so far. Even though the odds of success were high, it wasn¡¯t 100%, so it was ultimately just a suggestion. ¡°If you want to play it safe, we can go together; if you think it¡¯s doable, take it on yourselves. Either way works, so no pressure.¡± Go Hyeon-woo hesitated for a moment, then resolved himself and replied. ¡°If we¡¯re afraid of even this little danger, we¡¯ll never grow. I¡¯ll give it a go. Leave it to us.¡± ¡°Good.¡± After a few additional reminders, we split into two groups. ¡°Well then, Kim-hyung, good luck.¡± ¡°You too.¡± The three of them quickly sped off into the distance and used their movement techniques to disappear from sight. After watching them go, I began walking alongside Dang Gyu-young. When I glanced over, I noticed that she was also sneaking a sidelong look at me. A faint, mysterious smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I smile?¡± ¡°You can, but there must be a reason.¡± ¡°Just feeling good that things are working out well.¡± Dang Gyu-young answered in a calm tone and quickly changed the subject. ¡°So, we¡¯re heading to that place from before, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± We had been interrupted earlier by the sudden appearance of the Twin Demons, but now that the obstacles were out of the way, there was no reason not to go. So we turned and began heading toward the city. Even as we entered the marketplace, there were few people around. The atmosphere was tense, and the expressions of the few passersby we did see were filled with fear. With demons roaming everywhere and skilled warriors, including Paeng Mi-ryeong¡¯s raid team, frequently clashing with them, it was a classic case of shrimp caught in the whale¡¯s battle for the common people. As a result, most inns and taverns had shut their doors and there were few vendors on the streets. Dang Gyu-young clicked her tongue in mild disappointment as she took this in. ¡°I was hoping to pick up a few things, but it looks like everything¡¯s closed.¡± ¡°If we look around carefully, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find something. Let¡¯s finish our task and then browse.¡± ¡°Huhum, sounds good.¡± Soon, we arrived at a fairly large manor. Its walls were correspondingly high, but we already had experience leaping up to rooftops. We jumped over the wall at the same time and started scanning the grounds. There were traces of people here and there but, ¡°Not that many.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got to make the most of times like this.¡± That¡¯s what we came here for, after all. Dang Gyu-young narrowed her eyes at me. ¡°The more I look at you, the more you seem like a thief.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re not wrong. I¡¯ll admit it.¡± ¡°How about joining the club when we get back?¡± ¡°No thanks.¡± Dang Gyu-young was constantly on the lookout for a chance to rope me in. Of course, I was determined to stay unaffiliated, so I refused again. But she seemed unusually persistent today. ¡°Then how about becoming an honorary member?¡± ¡°Is that even a thing?¡± First time I heard of it. Dang Gyu-young answered with confidence. ¡°I just created it. It¡¯s within the club president¡¯s authority.¡± ¡°Why waste your authority on something like that?¡± No doubt she¡¯d find a way to sneak me in as a full member after making me an honorary one. This was a good time to change the subject. ¡°Let¡¯s just get going.¡± Dang Gyu-young pouted in frustration, but she seemed to agree that we needed to move. We couldn¡¯t stay perched on someone else¡¯s wall forever. A black butterfly fluttered gracefully into the manor below. Chapter 244: No. 88 The Gathering of Villains (8) The sun was high in the sky, and broad daylight wasn¡¯t exactly the best time for stealing. Of course, Dang Gyu-young was an exception. Anywhere you go, there¡¯s always shade somewhere, and she was a master of shadows. Swish¡ª We used the shadowy places to sneak into the manor, and when there was nowhere to hide, Dang Gyu-young made a temporary shadow by summoning a shadow butterfly. She paired that with [Shadow Leap] to teleport us. This allowed us to steal what we needed and slip out nearly undetected. While the manor was vast, it didn¡¯t hold any gold, jewels, elixirs, or legendary weapons, but it did have something of equal value. Dang Gyu-young was quickly flipping through the pages of an old, worn book. [True Interpretations of Heavenly Formations (B)] True Interpretations of Heavenly Formations was a high-level book on formation techniques, and as a B-rank text, it held some advanced insights. Even though none of our party members used formation techniques, quite a few students at the academy did. Dang Gyu-young closed the book and spoke. ¡°This will be something that Jegal So-so will love.¡± ¡°Please handle the sale.¡± Jegal So-so would definitely be interested in True Interpretations of Heavenly Formations, and as the vice president of the Swordsmanship Club, she would probably pay well for it. I could have handled the trade myself, but Dang Gyu-young was closer to her, so I decided to leave it to her. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s check on the situation over there.¡± It had been some time since we sent Go Hyeon-woo and the others to take care of the Bloodlust Demon, and even more time had passed while we carried out this theft. ? So by now, there was likely news? When I sent a message, the response came in just three seconds. ¨C Kim-hyung. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¨C It was resolved without much difficulty, thanks to Jang-hyung and Senior Chae¡¯s help. ¡°Good work. So, what are you planning to do now? You can either join us or kill some time over there.¡± ¨C I recall there¡¯s a place nearby that Kim-hyung pointed out. I¡¯d like to investigate it. ¡°You remembered that?¡± There was indeed a hidden piece near the Bloodlust Demon¡¯s activity zone. Although I had mentioned it in the strategy guide, I thought he might have forgotten due to the urgency of the situation. Yet, he made sure not to overlook it. His thorough execution of the tasks assigned to him was commendable. Moreover, he had managed to work smoothly with Jang Moo-geuk and Chae Da-bin, despite it being their first time collaborating. At this rate, when we eventually form a large raid team, Go Hyeon-woo seemed like a solid candidate for a team leader position. ¡°Anyway, do as you see fit. Our location isn¡¯t great, so we¡¯re just planning to take it easy for now.¡± ¨C Hmm, understood. While Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s side had a hidden piece nearby, we would need to travel a significant distance to reach our next destination. Moving now at this late stage of the raid could throw off our timing, and forcing it could lead to unnecessary risks. It was better to be satisfied with what we had achieved so far. Go Hyeon-woo understood this as well and readily agreed. ¨C Then, let¡¯s meet up when it¡¯s over. ¡°Yeah, good job.¡± The communication ended. Dang Gyu-young who had been listening beside me asked, ¡°So, we¡¯re done now?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re done.¡± Like we planned before entering the manor, I intended to buy some local specialties or snacks if we came across any. While we were walking side by side, Dang Gyu-young suddenly started talking. ¡°Hey, Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about something.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Why did you send those three ahead and leave just the two of us here?¡± Judging by the narrowing of her eyes as she looked at me, it seemed she had figured something out. To be honest, the manor¡¯s defenses weren¡¯t that strict. If I had wanted to steal something, I could have done it alone. Even so, there was a reason I specifically brought Dang Gyu-young along. ¡°Shadow Leap shuttle, right?¡± Honestly, I couldn¡¯t deny there was some truth to that. Her ability had made things significantly easier for me. Still, words can make all the difference depending on how they¡¯re phrased. ¡°Shuttle? That word sounds so negative. There are better ways to put it.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°For example, something like ¡®high-level personnel¡¯ or ¡®right person in the right place¡¯. Doesn¡¯t that sound better?¡± Dang Gyu-young seemed slightly intrigued as if the phrasing had won her over for a moment. But then, her eyes narrowed again. She must have realized I had only changed the wording without changing the meaning. ¡°Promise.¡± Only after linking pinkies and sealing the deal did Dang Gyu-young finally let go. Then, as if something else came to mind, she asked another question. ¡°By the way, what are you doing during summer break?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided for sure yet, but I¡¯m planning to stay at Seo Ye-in¡¯s place for a while.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face momentarily froze in confusion, and then the smile slowly disappeared from her lips. ¡°...Why there?¡± ¡°Remember when we talked about the underground floor last time? Her family was strongly opposed to it, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, they were.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why they want me to visit. Looks like they¡¯re planning to run some kind of test.¡± If Seo Ye-in participated in underground floor raids, the range of dungeons we could choose from would increase significantly. So even though I said it wasn¡¯t confirmed yet, the decision to visit Hye-seong Group was almost finalized. On top of that, ever since Ahn Jeong-mi mentioned it, Seo Ye-in had been throwing invitations at every opportunity which played a big role too. ¨C Come over. ¨C Come visit my place. With invitations like that, it didn¡¯t feel necessary to make other plans. Dang Gyu-young seemed to understand my reasoning and nodded her head. ¡°Yeah, it sounds like you have to go at least once.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the better option.¡± However, despite the casual tone of her words, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s chopsticks were pointlessly poking at the duck egg dumplings on her plate. Even the shadow at her feet seemed to darken a bit and swirl in a faint way. I could guess what might be going through her mind, but I pretended not to notice and replied in a composed manner. ¡°We¡¯ll still see each other during the break.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not spending the whole time there?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll also be getting mentoring.¡± ¡°...Ah!¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes lit up with sudden realization. The second mentoring session. The schedule depended on the mentor¡¯s availability and whether the mentees chose to participate, but it was usually held during the summer break. For Dang Gyu-young, this was her first time serving as a mentor, and since the official notice hadn¡¯t been issued yet, she had completely forgotten about it. ¡°If it happens, will you come?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± If it opened, I would participate without question. Just like the previous mentoring session, quests would be assigned and event bonuses would be up for grabs. This time, I asked a similar question. ¡°Will you be doing it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Dang Gyu-young was burning with enthusiasm. She said that she would do it even if it meant putting aside her schedule for the Thieves Guild. *** After filling ourselves with dumplings, we leisurely strolled through the marketplace and bought a few regional specialties. Since the trio from Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s side was still working hard to secure the hidden pieces, I figured we should prepare some snacks to share with them once everything was over. Meanwhile, I kept in touch with Pang Mi-ryeong who asked the same question several times in disbelief when she heard about our situation. ¨C Did you really get three kills? Really? ¡°I told you so.¡± Dang Gyu-yeong answered with a smile. Only then did it start to sink in, and Pang Mi-ryeong expressed her amazement. ¨C Even just two kills would¡¯ve been amazing. Thanks to you, I can finally relax a bit. Thank you. ¡°How many have we taken out so far?¡± ¨C Including you all, eleven kills. Three teams are working on the last target. It¡¯ll be over soon, so get ready. ¡°Okay.¡± After giving Go Hyeon-woo a heads-up, I spent some more time sharing some tanghulu (sweets) with Dang Gyu-young. Soon, the ground began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck, and a teleportation portal suddenly appeared in the distance. Just as Pang Mi-ryeong had said, it meant the three teams had defeated the final demon and cleared the dungeon. We exchanged a quick glance. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± And with that, we walked into the teleportation portal together. Now all that was left was to ascend without getting caught by the disciplinary committee. *** TN: She wants him. Chapter 245: Dividing Shares As soon as we exited the dungeon, Dang Gyu-young drew out a massive surge of mana and prepared a skill. The next moment, our surroundings abruptly shifted and the depths of the dungeon building were revealed. The other participants who had joined the raid also poured out in droves. Amidst the noise and chaos, the five members of our party and Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s party exchanged quick glances. As soon as we regrouped, Dang Gyu-young unleashed the skill she had been preparing. [Shadowlatcher] Shadows surged from beneath our feet. They enveloped the five of us before merging with Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s shadow. Shadowlatcher. It was a skill that allowed one to conceal themselves within another¡¯s shadow. Depending on the user¡¯s abilities, it could even hide multiple people at once, just like now. However, it had a critical flaw. If attacked, the concealment was immediately broken. For this reason, it was essential to cast it discreetly enough that the host wouldn¡¯t notice or you could just secure their consent beforehand. Naturally, we fell into the latter category. Another downside was that the shape of the shadow would not reflect Pang Mi-ryeong alone but would instead display the clustered forms of the five of us. If someone were to single out Pang Mi-ryeong and examine her shadow closely, the difference would be obvious at a glance. Of course, we had thoroughly planned for these drawbacks in advance and made sure that the other members of the raid formed a circle around Pang Mi-ryeong. Now, no matter which direction the light hit from, the shadows would appear to blend seamlessly. It would be difficult for anyone to notice. Now that the front of a dungeon grew crowded all of a sudden, a patrol member of the disciplinary committee started to approach. The patrol member gave a cursory glance over the raid team members and then asked Pang Mi-ryeong, ¡°Are there any injuries?¡± ¡°None.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. You must all be tired, so go in and rest.¡± ¡°Sure, you too. Good work.¡± Since the raid had been carried out following proper registration, the disciplinary committee had no reason to detain them for long. With that, he left to continue his patrol. He showed no sign of realizing that we were hidden within Pang Mi-ryeong¡¯s shadow. After briefly glancing in the direction he had disappeared, Pang Mi-ryeong spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s go up.¡± Everyone began heading toward the spiral staircase. On the way, a third-year student approached Pang Mi-ryeong and handed her an apology. Judging by the pale expression on his face, it was probably the leader of Team 2 who had gotten carried away and was severely defeated by the Twin Demons. R ¡°...I¡¯m sorry. I should have stuck to the plan.¡± ¡°You should be sorry. Because of you, the entire raid was almost put in danger. If you pull something like that again, we won¡¯t work with you.¡± ¡°I promise, next time I¡¯ll follow orders to the letter.¡± The leader of Team 2 repeatedly swore to do better. While his apologetic demeanor stemmed partly from genuine regret, it was also clear he wanted to salvage his reputation. If word got out that he was a troublemaker, it wouldn¡¯t just affect the rest of his school year; no raid team would accept him after graduation either. Then he lowered his gaze to the shadow and offered a word of gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Dang Gyu-young. We avoided major problems thanks to you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. I just did the job I was paid for.¡± When Dang Gyu-young responded as if it was no big deal, the leader of Team 2 turned back to Pang Mi-ryeong and spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll cover the losses myself.¡± ¡°Do as you like.¡± Team 2 had missed three demons from their quota. However, because they had made an urgent request to us, the practical loss to the raid team had risen to six random boxes. To make up for that out of his own pocket, he¡¯d have to sell off a significant portion of his inventory. Even so, he seemed to have decided that taking an immediate loss was better than damaging his reputation. As long as he could maintain his position as a party leader and keep moving upward, opportunities would surely come his way in the future. He knows how to handle himself. Despite acting recklessly during the raid, his qualities as a leader seemed passable. Considering the pride he must have in himself, the fact that he apologized in front of everyone and promised compensation spoke volumes. Perhaps because of that, the gazes of the other raid members had noticeably softened. The Pang Mi-ryeong raid team continued their upward march, leaving the depths behind. On the C-floor, just like when we had descended, the disciplinary committee maintained a tight defensive perimeter as they carried out their patrols. [500-Year Tuber fleeceflower (B)] A bunch of poisonous plants gathered along the way: [Blood-Spotted Herb (D)] x3 [Short Leaf Herb (C)] x2 [Sharp Leaf Herb (C)] x2 ....... The random boxes received as clear rewards and from Pang Mi-ryeong were laid out. [Gathering of Villain Random Box (B)] x6 There was also the book we stole from the manor and a hidden piece that Go Hyeon-woo had diligently secured at the very end. [True Interpretations of Heavenly Formations(B)] [Grand Azure Elixir (C+)] Additionally, there was the most crucial item, the Ghost Dance, but since everyone would eventually have a fair chance at it, there was no need to place it on the table. Dang Gyu-young glanced around the group before continuing. ¡°It¡¯s better not to open the boxes and just divide them as is. Everyone okay with that?¡± Everyone nodded their heads in agreement. In cases where two party members, like Go Hyeon-woo and I or Dang Gyu-young and I, had a close relationship, it was common to open the random boxes first and then distribute the contents based on individual needs. Even if there was some overlap in what we needed, it rarely led to serious conflicts. However, the five of us here were a temporary party formed out of aligned interests. For example, while Chae Da-bin and Jang Moo-geuk were friendly with me, it would be a stretch to call us close. Similarly, Go Hyeon-woo and Dang Gyu-young¡¯s relationship was nothing more than that of senior and junior. If someone struck gold with an unexpected jackpot from a random box or conversely got nothing but scraps, it could easily lead to hurt feelings. That¡¯s why Dang Gyu-young decided it was fairest to distribute the random boxes in their unopened state and let each person handle their own box opening. It was also the less headache-inducing option. ¡°Take one each.¡± Following the number of party members, each person received one box. Next, Dang Gyu-young turned to me. ¡°Kim Ho, you choose first.¡± Considering that my contribution to this raid had been the highest, I was given priority. Thanks to my strategy guide, we were able to obtain numerous hidden pieces, including the Ghost Dance, and in the battle against the Twin Paracorrosive Demons, I had turned the tide early on with S-rank [Poison Resistance]. I scanned the items laid out on the table. Most of them were B-rank and roughly equal in value, but I had already made up my mind. ¡°I¡¯ll take another box.¡± With the random box enhancement scroll and my ¡°Lucky Charm¡±, it made sense to take a gamble on the odds. Dang Gyu-young nodded her head readily. ¡°Sure, take the poison herbs too.¡± The next turn went to Dang Gyu-young and Chae Da-bin. Both had made significant contributions in the dungeon and had diligently fulfilled their roles as guides to the depths. If not for their help, reaching the dungeon without drawing the attention of the disciplinary committee would have been impossible. Dang Gyu-young seemed to have decided long ago what she wanted. The moment her turn came, she reached for the True Interpretations of Heavenly Formations. ¡°I¡¯ll take this. It¡¯ll fetch a high price if I sell it. Da-bin, do you need this by any chance?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll take the elixir instead.¡± Chae Da-bin shook her head. As expected, being from the magic engineering field, she didn¡¯t seem particularly interested in items related to formations. In the end, Chae Da-bin took the B-rank Tuber fleeceflower, while Go Hyeon-woo and Jang Moo-geuk each chose one of the remaining C+-rank Tuber fleeceflower and Grand Azure Elixir. With the table now cleared of items, Dang Gyu-young smiled in satisfaction. ¡°This distribution went really smoothly. Now all that¡¯s left is the main dish...¡± When she said that, she cast a subtle glance in my direction. All eyes were brimming with anticipation as they turned to me. Jang Moo-geuk in particular looked beyond eager. His gaze was practically blazing with excitement. I gave a small smile, then stood up from my seat. ¡°Thank you for waiting. Let¡¯s get going right away.¡± To obtain the Ghost Dance. Chapter 246: Ghost Dance Chapter 246: Ghost Dance I contacted Shin Byeong-cheol on the way to the training center. Since he had contributed to the Black Death dungeon raid, it was only fair for him to have a chance as well. [Kim Ho: Been a while] [Shin Byeong-cheol: Where are you, hyung-nim?] [Kim Ho: Training center] [Shin Byeong-cheol: I¡¯ll be there right away, hyung-nim!] True to his word, Shin Byeong-cheol came running at full speed. ¡°Ah, thank you so much for calling me.¡± ¡°I promised, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Of course! A man¡¯s got to live by keeping his promises, after all.¡± I glanced at Jang Moo-geuk and silently asked for his opinion. He gave a slight nod of his chin in response. It seemed he had already called Wang Cheon-sam. We reserved a spacious training room at the training center. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, I began setting things up one by one. As I operated the training room terminal, a square-shaped stage appeared. It looked very similar to the one-person training area I had seen in the Bamboo Forest. Next, I retrieved the statues of the demons and goblins from my inventory and arranged them around the stage. To recreate the Illusion Demon¡¯s formation, the placement of each statue had to be precisely accurate, without even a millimeter of deviation. Fortunately, this setup didn¡¯t require any special skills or knowledge related to formations. As long as you memorize everything. There weren¡¯t many statues; there were barely around ten. So memorizing their positions wasn¡¯t much of a challenge. A goblin at the eastern corner, a demon opposite it in the western corner, another demon at the next edge... I carefully considered the placement and orientation of each statue and positioned them one by one. Hissssss. Fog began to spread gradually across the square stage, and the statues of the goblins and demons started to grow larger. Dang Gyu-young who seemed to be interested reached out and lightly touched one of the statues. ¡°This feels like a balloon. I get that it¡¯s an illusion formation.¡± The fact that we could see the illusions meant that the formation was functioning correctly. It also meant I was doing it right. So I continued arranging the statues, and by the time I was finishing up, their sizes had grown larger than a person. When I turned my back to the stage, Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Yes, would you like to go first?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Dang Gyu-young stepped onto the stage and positioned herself in the dead center. Immediately, the fog thickened and swallowed her completely. Only her silhouette remained faintly visible. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± Curious about how the Illusion Demon¡¯s trial was conducted, everyone focused their attention on the fog and strained their eyes to see. But Dang Gyu-young¡¯s silhouette remained motionless in the same spot. The trial wasn¡¯t taking place on the stage but within the illusion. Before long, the fog rapidly cleared to reveal Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Ah!¡± She flinched before regaining her composure, though her expression didn¡¯t look great. It seemed like she had failed. She probably ended up getting beaten up by the statues, which brought the trial to an abrupt end. When Dang Gyu-young stepped off the stage, I asked her, ¡°Do you want to take a break before trying again?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve got the hang of it now. I should finish it while I¡¯m in the zone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably a good idea.¡± I nodded my head in agreement, and she returned to the center of the square stage. The second attempt took considerably longer. When the fog finally lifted, Dang Gyu-young let out a long sigh, but a small smile began to form at the corners of her lips. She glanced to the side briefly; she was likely reading a notification message. ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°You finished quickly.¡± ¡°Two tries were enough.¡± She smiled triumphantly. As someone with a thief class, she probably had confidence in her ability to evade, though I had expected it might take her three attempts. Managing it in just two meant Dang Gyu-young had more talent than I thought. Next up was Chae Da-bin. This time, my prediction was spot on. It took her three attempts to clear the Illusion Demon¡¯s trial. While her magic engineering skills were exceptional, she seemed to lack proficiency in other areas. That¡¯s why she¡¯s a spiked hexagon on a stat graph. If she were to face a promising first-year, she might hold her own, but it¡¯d be close? While I was lost in thought, Dang Gyu-young approached and asked, ¡°So we¡¯re done now, right? Is there anything else to do?¡± ¡°No, nothing. You¡¯re free to go.¡± Both of them had already learned Ghost Dance, and since the trial took place within the Illusion Formation, there wasn¡¯t much to oversee. ¡°You¡¯ll even have to change your name to Wang Byeong-cheol then.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t happen. I¡¯ll succeed no matter what.¡± With a determined expression on his face, Wang Cheon-sam steeled himself for his third attempt at the Illusion Demon¡¯s trial. Soon, the fog lifted. ¡°...Whew.¡± A sigh of relief escaped from Wang Cheon-sam. Somehow, he seemed more relieved that he hadn¡¯t become ¡°Wang Byeong-cheol¡± than over successfully learning the Ghost Dance. The two assassins approached me. They each offered a word of thanks. ¡°Thank you. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve finally obtained the fortuitous opportunity I¡¯ve been searching for all this time.¡± ¡°You kept your promise, so we¡¯ll keep ours.¡± With that, they handed me a few finely crafted wooden boxes. The reward Jang Moo-geuk earned by joining this raid as a mercenary was simply a ¡°priority in trade¡±. The trade itself was a separate matter. Now that they had acquired the Ghost Dance, they were fulfilling their promised payment. I decided to inspect the contents later. After storing the wooden boxes in my inventory, I said, ¡°You¡¯ve all done well. You can head out now.¡± ¡°Will do. Thanks again.¡± As Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Chun-sam were about to leave, they paused for a few seconds to glance at Shin Byeong-cheol. He was still the only one who hadn¡¯t obtained the Ghost Dance. Whatever crossed their minds, they casually turned away and without a word, Swish¡ª Swish, swish¡ª They actually demonstrated the Ghost Dance as they exited the training room. As he watched their backs, Shin Byeong-cheol put his hand to his forehead with a deep sense of frustration rising in him. ¡°No, seriously, this is just¡ªwow.¡± ¡°Let it go. If you fight them, you¡¯ll lose.¡± ¡°I mean, sure, but¡ªargh, come on.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol seemed to agree with my words and quickly worked to calm his anger. Or rather, he redirected it. ¡°Fine. Out of sheer spite, I¡¯ll succeed no matter what.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol strode up to the stage with determined steps to take his trial. ...After two more attempts, he finally succeeded in acquiring the Ghost Dance technique. Although the process had its ups and downs, the fact remained that he had obtained a high-performance skill in the end. This made Shin Byeong-cheol look visibly satisfied. Once Shin Byeong-cheol had departed, only Go Hyeon-woo and I remained in the training room. ¡°Thankfully, everyone managed to succeed. I was worried we might run out of attempts before they did.¡± ¡°It was close. There¡¯s really not much left now. At most, two or three more tries?¡± Unlike when the formation was first set up, the statues now appeared weathered, as though they had aged significantly over time. Not only were cracks visible in various places, but some parts had even broken off. Still, they weren¡¯t completely destroyed, and the formation was functioning well enough, so it could still be used for the time being. Since it was a high-level formation, it could have been passed on to Jegal So-so as research material but¡ª I¡¯ll use it to its fullest before handing it over. In fact, I had already sent a message for that earlier. [Kim Ho: knock knock] [Kim Ho: (cat knocking on door emoji)] [Kim Ho: (cat knocking on door emoji)] [Kim Ho: Wake up, please.] [Seo Ye-in: (sleepy cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: ?] [Seo Ye-in: (rolling cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: I¡¯ve got something to show you.] [Kim Ho: (shy cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (tilted head cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: ????] [Kim Ho: Come to the training center.] Before long, I sensed someone¡¯s presence and turned my head to see Seo Ye-in standing at the door of the training room. She looked just as disheveled as the cat emoji she had sent earlier. As usual, it seemed she had just woken up from a deep sleep. ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in stared at me blankly. Her gaze seemed to ask, ¡°What is it you want to show me?¡± I took a step forward and adjusted my stance. ¡°Watch closely.¡± ¡°?¡± Swish Then I activated the Ghost Dance and my body started gliding forward as though I was sliding effortlessly. ¡°......!¡± Her gray eyes sparkled brightly. It was the look she always had when she found something she wanted. Chapter 247: Swish [Bullet Time], the ability to seize a fleeting moment. And [Ghost Dance] which granted incredible speed, evasion, and stealth in the blink of an eye. The synergy between the two was nothing short of extraordinary. Because of this, I had already decided that if I had any remaining attempts, I would first give Seo Ye-in the opportunity. Even though she hadn¡¯t contributed much to acquiring Ghost Dance, The trade is more than worth it. If it had been anyone else, I would have started by negotiating terms, but I already had an ideal partnership with the Hye-seong Group. Even if I acted first and reported later, they would willingly provide compensation. Especially for a skill as powerful as Ghost Dance. Besides, considering how much I had benefited from the luck of my ¡°Lucky Charm¡±, I tended to be lenient with my calculations as well. However, the human sloth had a tendency to lose more than half her motivation on weekends. If I simply asked, ¡°Want to come learn a skill?¡± she¡¯d likely just fall back asleep. That¡¯s why I opted for a different approach: The curiosity bait strategy. After calling her out, I demonstrated Ghost Dance right in front of her and the strategy worked remarkably well. Seeing Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes light up with excitement was proof enough. I casually threw her a question. ¡°Want to learn it?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°This way, please.¡± I led Seo Ye-in to the square stage and briefly explained the Illusion Demon Trial to her. I told her there was an illusion formation set up, and once she got inside, the statues would attack her. ¡°¡ªSo basically, you just have to step on the right footprints as hard as you can. Understand?¡± ¡°Understand.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head slowly, then stepped onto the center of the stage and stood still as fog thickened around her like a cloud in an instant. Go Hyeon-woo watched with a face full of curiosity. ¡°I wonder how many attempts Miss Seo will need.¡± ¡°Probably just two.¡± ¡°I expect that too¡± But once again, our predictions were spectacularly off the mark. When the fog cleared, Seo Ye-in glanced back and forth between us, then slowly raised one hand and formed a V-sign. It meant she had succeeded. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡± ¡°She cleared it in a single try.¡± It was a level of talent that went beyond overwhelming. It was almost violent talent. Seo Ye-in stepped off the stage and walked toward us. I waited until she was close enough, then, Swish. I used Ghost Dance to glide backward. Then I gestured for her to come closer from a distance and saw Seo Ye-in staring at me in silence before¡ª Swish. She mirrored my move and used Ghost Dance to glide after me. Go Hyeon-woo watched the exchange with a warm fatherly smile. Since the skill had a five-minute cooldown anyway, I decided to cut the playful teasing short. I reached into my inventory and pulled out two random boxes. ¡°While we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s take care of these.¡± ¡°A good idea.¡± Go Hyeon-woo eagerly took out a random box of his own. He was clearly pleased with the suggestion. Seo Ye-in wouldn¡¯t open his own box, of course, but he seemed intent on soaking up some of that lucky energy from nearby. I pulled out another item. It was a Random Box Enhancement Scroll. This was one of the rewards from clearing Main Quest 2-1. There had been two scrolls in total, and Hong Yeon-hwa and I each took one. I wonder if she made good use of hers. Surely she didn¡¯t waste it on a D-rank box? That would be a bit of a shame. I put those thoughts aside and used the scroll. [Activated the ¡®Random Box Enhancement Scroll¡¯.] A bright light seeped into the Gathering of Villains Random Box. Flash! [Gathering of Villains Random Box (B+)] [Gathering of Villains Random Box (B)] The scroll had upgraded one to B+ and left the other at B. With this, everything was ready. I presented the random boxes to the Lucky Charm-nim with the utmost respect. ¡°Please, open them.¡± Seo Ye-in silently accepted the boxes and gazed down at them for a moment. She picked up the B-rank box first and opened it without hesitation. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in gently stroked the hoodie. She seemed more interested in its texture than its capabilities. At a glance, it did look incredibly soft and fluffy. But no matter how much she admired it, I couldn¡¯t give this to her, so I extended my hand. ¡°Hand it over.¡± Seo Ye-in hugged the hoodie tightly. She was clearly unwilling to part with it. As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Swish. She activated her Ghost Dance technique and retreated several paces away. Had her cooldown already reset? Even so, rules were rules. I slowly shook my head and wagged my finger. ¡°Nope. Come back.¡± Reluctantly, Seo Ye-in returned and placed the hoodie in my hands. The moment I received it, I put the hoodie on, pulled the hood over my head, and tugged the strings tight before tying them into a butterfly knot. ¡°Everyone, let go of your greed. This is mine.¡± Seo Ye-in stared intently at the hoodie as if she still couldn¡¯t let go of her lingering attachment to it. Then she began to tug lightly at my sleeve before pulling out a thick black card. ¡°.....?¡± ¡°Not for sale. Not for sale.¡± Even after my repeated refusals, Seo Ye-in still couldn¡¯t bring herself to release the hoodie. She really seemed to want it. In situations like this, there was no choice but to take special measures. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you a choice. Option one: spend summer vacation with Kim Ho. Option two: spend summer vacation with the hoodie.¡± Seo Ye-in looked back and forth between the hoodie and me; she was clearly unable to give up on either. After agonizing over it for a while, her eyes suddenly widened as if she¡¯d come to some realization. ¡°...Butler?¡± ¡°No, pick one of the two.¡± *** After sending off Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in, I sat alone in the center of the mana cultivation room. Though I wanted to test the great performance of the Hidden Master hoodie right away, I needed to take some time for an initial inspection first. I started with the first item pulled by my Lucky Charm. The Skill Tuning Scroll. I had been feeling the need for it for some time, and of course, I already knew where to use it. [Activated the ¡®Skill Tuning Scroll¡¯.] [Tuning the skill ¡®Amplification (C)¡¯.] When broken down, Amplification functioned as follows: It allowed you to designate one skill or trait, either your own or an ally¡¯s, and enhance it by two stages. The ¡°duration¡± and ¡°cooldown time¡± scaled proportionally to the rank. Among these factors, the two aspects I couldn¡¯t change were ¡°designate one target¡± and ¡°increase rank by two ranks¡±. If the number of targets were doubled, the trade-off would be a decrease in rank increase to only one rank. And so, my focus was on one particular element: Duration. Looking back, the battle with the Twin Demons had been precariously close. The poison resistance I granted my party members had only maintained an S-rank level for five minutes. If those creatures had decided to change tactics, retreat mid-fight, or prolong the battle into a war of attrition, things could have gone very badly. Of course, Amplification increased duration and reduced cooldown time as its rank rose. But that alone wasn¡¯t enough, which was why I decided to tune it. [Duration] ? 5 minutes ¡ú 10 minutes [Cooldown Time] ? 30 minutes ¡ú 1 hour 20 minutes Doubling the duration caused the cooldown to more than double in return. It was significantly heavier than before. Still, heavier is better. I¡¯d likely continue using multitasking skills like Octopus Limbs often, which meant the cooldowns might eventually stretch into days rather than hours. If I had to wait a long time anyway, it was better to maximize the duration when I did use it. Besides, in the mid-to-late stages, I¡¯d likely acquire time-based skills or items that would make cooldown management much easier. With the tuning complete, Now, the real work begins. I took out the items I had obtained during this dungeon raid. There were various poisonous plants I had harvested from the weed field, as well as the wooden boxes I had received from Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam in exchange for Ghost Dance. All of these were gathered for a single purpose. The Main Quest. The Witch of Corruption¡¯s main skills revolved around poison. Even though I already possessed the S-rank skill [Poison Resistance], it wasn¡¯t enough to completely avoid poisoning. This was proved in the battle against the Twin Paracorrosive Demons. I needed to prepare for a stronger countermeasure. For example, Poison Immunity. Chapter 248: The President, the Vice President, and the Raid Team Leader Poison Immunity was an S-rank trait. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t something that could be obtained as easily as it sounded. However, I was confident that more than half of the preparations were already complete. There were two main methods to achieve it. The first was the straightforward approach: gradually progressing step by step through Hundred Poisons Immunity, Thousand Poisons Immunity, and finally Poison Immunity. The second method was to fuse Thousand Poisons Immunity with another poison-related trait. And that other trait was none other than: Poison Resistance. By locking in the S-rank Poison Resistance trait with the fixed pin and then reaching Thousand Poisons Immunity, the two traits would naturally combine to become Poison Immunity. Then how could I obtain the most crucial Thousand Poisons Immunity? I had acquired Hundred Poisons Immunity by consuming the inner core of the Venomous Horned Black Blood Serpent. I gained it at a certain probability. The same principle applied to Thousand Poisons Immunity. By consuming the inner cores of poisonous creatures or poisons that Hundred Poisons Immunity couldn¡¯t block, there was a chance to upgrade to the next level. The only difference was: The probability is much lower. As a B-rank trait, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to consume just one or two poisons. That was why I had prepared so much in advance. I opened the wooden boxes I had received from Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam. Immediately, the pungent smells of blood and bitterness filled my senses. [Inner Core of the Human-Faced Spiderlord (B)] [Green-Blood Red Leaf Flower (C+)] [Inner Core of the Desert Python (C+)] [Inner Core of the White King Snake (C+)] Since I had traded the opportunity to obtain the Ghost Dance, each of these items held immense value. When I added the poisonous herbs I had gathered from the weed field to the mix, The chances should exceed 10%. Of course, with just a 10% chance, the likelihood of failure was still much higher. Even so, I remained fairly optimistic about the situation, and the main reason was that this probability was cumulative. The first time I consume an inner core, the chance of success would be less than 1%. But as the number of inner cores and poisons accumulates in my body, the chances would increase to 3%, 5%, 8%, and so on. R? Eventually, I was bound to reach Thousand Poisons Immunity, and once the cumulative probability hit 10%, it would become a fairly meaningful gamble. I¡¯ll also accumulate quite a bit of mana along the way. Just like elixirs, poisons also contained powerful energy. The key difference was that before the energy could be controlled, it harmed the body. However, I could mitigate this damage thanks to my Poison Resistance and the ¡°Harmful Effects Removal¡± effect on my hoodie. So regardless of success or failure, I would still be able to amass a significant amount of mana. Alright, let¡¯s give it a try. I settled down in the center of the mana cultivation room and popped one of the inner cores into my mouth. It tasted like a sock that had been soaking in a sewer, but I forced myself to swallow it. Then I slowly began to guide the mana within my body. *** In the meantime, Pang Mi-ryeong was sound asleep in her dormitory room. Since it was the weekend, she planned to catch up on all the rest she¡¯d been missing. However, that plan didn¡¯t last long before it was interrupted. Knock, knock, knock, knock. Someone was knocking at her door. Pang Mi-ryeong groggily opened her eyes and felt a sudden surge of irritation. Why can¡¯t I even rest on the weekends? Can¡¯t they just leave me alone for once? Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock. The knocking continued relentlessly, completely ignoring her frustration. And beyond the closed door, a familiar voice called out. ¡°Hey, Pang! Open the door!¡± It was none other than Dang Gyu-young. To be fair, she had somewhat anticipated this. There were only a handful of people close enough to her to barge into her room on a weekend. As if the knocking wasn¡¯t enough, messages started flooding in. [Dang Gyu-young: Open the door, hurry up.] [Pang Mi-ryeong: I¡¯m outside.] [Dang Gyu-young: Don¡¯t lie.] [Dang Gyu-young: I know you¡¯re inside.] [Pang Mi-ryeong: Whatever, I¡¯m going back to sleep. Bye.] Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud! Dang Gyu-young began pounding on the door even harder. Almost to the point where it sounded rhythmic. Pang Mi-ryeong was caught off guard and found herself absentmindedly moving to the beat. Then she realized something. It¡¯s not just one person. Although Dang Gyu-young had the ability to summon shadow hands, this felt more like actual human hands knocking. ¡°It was worth all the trouble.¡± Pang Mi-ryeong smiled in satisfaction as she put the Blood Ghost Blade back into her inventory. Then she turned the question back to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys pick up a lot too?¡± ¡°Mhmm, a little of this and that.¡± As Dang Gyu-young glanced toward Jegal So-so, she also pulled out an old book to show them. It was none other than the ¡°True Interpretations of Heavenly Formations¡± she had obtained from Kim Ho. Of course, Dang Gyu-young had paid a price more than sufficient to satisfy him. Afterward, she planned to study the so-called Ilusion Demon Formation with Kim Ho¡¯s help. Pang Mi-ryeong marveled aloud. ¡°That guy is impressive. Where does he even learn all this stuff?¡± ¡°He graduated over 200 times, apparently.¡± Dang Gyu-young replied casually. Naturally, the three of them weren¡¯t naive enough to take those words at face value. It seemed far more plausible that he had backing from one of the graduates. Yet, they hadn¡¯t even managed to catch a hint of who that backer might be or which group they belonged to. Rather than dwelling on that unresolved mystery, Pang Mi-ryeong decided to satisfy a different curiosity. Specifically, the relationship between Dang Gyu-young and Kim Ho. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal between you and him?¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®deal¡¯? We¡¯re just good senior and junior, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you went on a camping trip with him recently?¡± ¡°Why not? And when did I ever say it was just camping? We entered a dungeon and took a short break, that¡¯s all.¡± Dang Gyu-young responded as if she was exasperated. At that, Jegal So-so and Pang Mi-ryeong exchanged glances before each chimed in with a serious tone. ¡°Qyu, no matter how you spin it, seniors don¡¯t go camping alone with juniors.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never gone into a dungeon with a junior either.¡± However, Dang Gyu-young was not shaken by the combined attacks of the Swordsmanship Club members. ¡°Come on, can¡¯t you take a cherished junior out to hang out? Am I the only one who does that?¡± Just as Pang Mi-ryeong was about to retort, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re the only one,¡± Jegal So-so held her back momentarily. Then, with an even more serious tone, she posed another question. ¡°Qyu, let¡¯s be honest. Would you ever go on a trip like that with Byeong-cheol too?¡± ¡°.....!¡± Dang Gyu-young flinched and clamped her mouth shut. When she heard that, Pang Mi-ryeong felt like giving a standing ovation. As expected of Jegal, she¡¯s sharp as ever. For Dang Gyu-young, there was no way to claim, ¡°Shin Byeong-cheol isn¡¯t a cherished junior,¡± nor could she admit, ¡°Kim Ho is special.¡± In situations like this, silence often spoke volumes. It seemed Dang Gyu-young herself was aware of this, as her lips began to pout slightly. Jegal So-so decided it was time to step back. ¡°In matters like this, pacing is key.¡± Pushing too hard might cause Dang Gyu-young to close herself off completely. That would mean losing one of her small sources of amusement, which was hardly worth it. So she pretended to agree just enough to let her off the hook. ¡°You know, now that I think about it, it could just be a senior and junior who are a little closer than usual.¡± ¡°...Right?¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression softened a little, as though she liked how that was phrased. Taking advantage of the moment, Jegal So-so casually slipped in her next question. ¡°So, what would you say is your junior¡¯s most charming quality?¡± She emphasized ¡°junior¡± deliberately, hoping to lower her guard. Dang Gyu-young furrowed her brow slightly and remained silent. She herself had never really given this part much thought before. Eventually, the answer that came out of her mouth was: ¡°His eyes are cute.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jegal So-so and Paeng Mi-ryeong both froze. Their expressions momentarily turned blank. Kim Ho¡¯s face surfaced in their memories. Fierce eyes, sinister eyes, scheming eyes plastered with hidden intentions. He literally had the eyes of a mastermind crafting dark plots. ...That¡¯s cute? Seriously? Does she actually have this kind of taste? Or is she so smitten that even that outweighs any preference? Dang Gyu-young who was completely oblivious to their thoughts smiled brightly and added, ¡°The more you look, the cuter they get?¡± *** TN: Oh wow! Chapter 249: 14th Week Duel Battle (1) As expected, it¡¯s not working. I spent the entire weekend alternating between consuming poison and cultivating mana and repeated the cycle until all my stock was exhausted. Even so, it seemed I was still far from achieving the Thousand Poisons Immunity. I was hoping it might work in one go just once. There was a faint hope, just a sliver, that like striking gold, I might suddenly achieve it in one try. But of course, nothing comes that easily. Still, the poison had steadily bolstered my internal energy, so the results weren¡¯t entirely in vain. I was confident that if I continued consuming poison and cultivating, the Thousand Poisons Immunity wouldn¡¯t remain out of reach for much longer. There was, however, one thing I regretted. It¡¯s already Monday. While I was engrossed in mana cultivation, I had effectively erased the weekend. Even though I felt some regret, I still had to attend class, so I sent a message to Seo Ye-in. [Kim Ho: Swish.] [Seo Ye-in: ?] [Seo Ye-in: Swish.] [Kim Ho: Swish~] [Seo Ye-in: Swish.] [Kim Ho: Food?] [Seo Ye-in: Ok.] I met Seo Ye-in in front of the student cafeteria. She wore a hoodie over her school uniform. It was a size or two too big, the same one she had been wearing when we first met on the train. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen that in a while.¡± Seo Ye-in slowly extended her arms forward. Her sleeves were so loose that her hands were completely hidden. ¡°Exchange.¡± ¡°For mine?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I hadn¡¯t expected her to boldly demand a one-to-one exchange. Of course, that hoodie didn¡¯t look like just any ordinary hoodie. It seemed to carry the touch of Hye-seong Group¡¯s advanced technology and was probably at least B-rank in quality. Even so, trading wasn¡¯t an option, so I refused outright. ¡°No.¡± Seo Ye-in waved her outstretched arms slightly as if insisting I accept the trade. The loose sleeves swayed along with her movements. In situations like this. I grabbed both sleeves and tied them into a knot. Seo Ye-in looked down at the knot, then raised her head to stare blankly at me. ¡°...Untie it.¡± I calmly untied her sleeves, then took the lead. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± You should smoothly divert the topic. It was only natural. The breakfast menu was instant omelets. You could choose from a variety of ingredients, including eggs, and take your plate to the egg station where they¡¯d make an omelet for you on the spot. I preferred sticking to the basics, so I piled my plate with eggs, plenty of cheese, finely chopped ham and bacon, and a bit of vegetables. Seo Ye-in glanced at my plate with curious eyes. ¡°The same?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I made Kim Homlet No. 2 like I wanted and handed it over to the chef, who skillfully began to shape the eggs into rugby ball shapes. In the midst of all this, I felt eyes on the back of my head and turned my head, ¡°H-Hello...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa was shyly waving her hand. It seemed she had noticed us while choosing ingredients for her omelet. I waved back in response and asked, ¡°Did you come alone?¡± ¡°Mhmm, just today...¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, join us.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up with delight. Out of courtesy, I turned to Seo Ye-in and asked her as well, ¡°You¡¯re okay with it, right?¡± ¨C Nod. Since Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa had taken the deserted island midterms together, they were at least familiar with each other. Even in the duel battles against each other had led to a healthy rivalry, with wins and losses depending on their progress. Because of this, I figured having breakfast together wouldn¡¯t feel awkward for anyone. By the time both Kim Homelets were ready, I gestured with my chin toward an empty table. ¡°I¡¯ll grab us a spot.¡± ¡°Mhmm, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± I found a table and sat down, side by side with Seo Ye-in. Seo Ye-in steadily moved her fork. She seemed to be satisfied with the Kim Homelet recipe. After a short while, Hong Yeon-hwa also returned with a cup of coffee and a freshly made omelet, and then took a seat across from us. [Hong Yeon-hwa: (waving puppy emoji)] [Kim Ho: (waving puppy emoji)] [Hong Yeon-hwa: (tail-wagging puppy emoji)] ¡°Do it after class.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± At Lee Soo-dok¡¯s curt remark, I immediately closed the message window. Lee Soo-dok glanced at me briefly before sweeping his sharp gaze across the classroom. ¡°Recently, the scores for both duel battles and strategy battles have been notably poor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious that it¡¯s due to the hostile environment, isn¡¯t it? Or am I wrong?¡± Since it was true, the students kept their mouths shut and merely exchanged nervous glances. From my perspective, duel battles and strategy battles conducted in hostile environments weren¡¯t all that different from before. In some ways, they were even easier for me. But that was only because I possessed overpowered traits like elemental resistance and poison resistance. Most people don¡¯t have those. So most students were busy dodging fireballs, avoiding lightning strikes, and staying clear of poisonous gas. Under such circumstances, it was nearly impossible for them to perform at their best. ¡°It seems many of you are still struggling to adapt. Therefore,¡± Lee Soo-dok projected a set of rules and an environment map onto the board. MAP: [Glacial Zone] RULE: [Crystals] [Double] ¡°The hostile environments will continue to appear from now on, until you can fully adapt to them.¡± The students¡¯ faces turned pale. Perhaps displeased by their reaction, Lee Soo-dok frowned and spoke sharply. ¡°Mark my words, it¡¯s better to go through this now and adapt. If you¡¯re still like this after graduation, it¡¯ll cost you your life.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to explain the rules, do I?¡± By now, everyone was familiar with the Crystal rule. They have encountered it in duel battles, strategy battles, and midterms. The double rule required no further explanation either. ¡°Use your brains and give it your all. That¡¯s all.¡± With that, Lee Soo-dok said no more and left the classroom. As the students¡¯ murmurs grew louder, I checked the recently arrived side quest. [Side Quest: 14th Week Duel Battles] (In Progress) ? Objective: Complete 2 duel matches. (-/2 matches) ? Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. ? Reward: Varies based on the number of wins. (-/2 wins) It¡¯ll probably be a random rank up reward. Since this was another chance to collect a stamp, I planned to clear it with the highest achievement possible, as always. It was best to get it done on the first day. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was lying down with her hoodie half-pulled down. Every single day, without fail, Seo Ye-in dozed off in class so much that even the infamous human butcher Lee Soo-dok eventually gave up on waking her. In a way, wasn¡¯t that an achievement of its own? Still, if we were going to head to the duel battle, I had no choice but to wake the human sloth. ¡°Hey, Miss Seo. Wake up. Class is over.¡± ¡°Miss Seo. Let¡¯s go to the duel battle.¡± ¡°Change... my hoodie...¡± Even then, Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t budge an inch. Left with no other option, I decided to take drastic measures. Whoosh When I cast [Chill Wind] at the weakest possible strength, a cold breeze swept over her. At that, Seo Ye-in shivered slightly while still slumped over her desk, then slowly lifted her head. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± She looked around slowly, as if trying to grasp the situation, and finally turned her gaze to me. It seemed she had figured out that I was the source of the cold wind. Then, she pulled out the Kim Ho pot from her inventory and gripped it in her hand. It was clear she was very upset, so I quickly apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like cold wind.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it again.¡± It had been an effective solution, but since it could provoke resentment from the other party, it wasn¡¯t the best option. This was something to be used only occasionally. Seo Ye-in put the Kim Ho pot back into her inventory and glanced around the room again. Realizing that the classroom was already half-empty, she asked, ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°Yeah, class is over. Let¡¯s go for the duel battle.¡± ¡° Seo Ye-in slowly got up from her seat. *** TN: Just noticed the heroines are using cat, fox, and puppy emojis... so cute! Chapter 250: 14th Week Duel Battle (2) As soon as we arrived at the arena, we scanned our student IDs on the terminal. While we waited for the match to be assigned, ¡°Open the store.¡± ¡°.....?¡± Seo Ye-in tilted her head in confusion but opened the student store nonetheless. She quickly skimmed through the endless list of items being displayed. Why the student store all of a sudden? Of course, it was to prepare for the upcoming duel battle. The glacial zone was clearly a hostile environment. If you gather information and equip yourself with the necessary equipment, you can adapt much more easily. It was just like preparing gas masks, antidotes, or poison immunity before entering an area filled with poisonous fumes. Though it seemed like most students hadn¡¯t realized this yet. Eventually, I pointed to an item on the list and said, [Spiked Soles] ¡°They say it¡¯s a glacial zone. Don¡¯t you think the floor will be slippery inside?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°We should buy them, right?¡± ¡°Buy them.¡± [Bought ¡®Spiked Soles¡¯ (-300pt)] As soon as the points were deducted, a pair of shoe soles dropped onto my hand. They were equipped with sharp spikes and could be attached to shoes to act as crampons. I made another subtle suggestion in a soft voice. ¡°It¡¯ll be cold in there. Why don¡¯t you buy some hand warmers too?¡± ¡°...Buy.¡± [Bought ¡®Hand Warmers¡¯ (-100pt)] I bought one, but Seo Ye-in bought a whopping three. Together, we spent a total of 1,000 points. It might seem excessive for just one week of duel battles. However, if the opponents weren¡¯t as prepared as we were, it would give us a clear advantage in battle. And if the replay sold well, we¡¯d earn back more than what we spent. Soon, the match was set, and the scoreboard displayed the names of both our team and our opponents. [Kim Ho: 738 points, Seo Ye-in: 752 points] vs [Jeong Soo-ji: 601 points, Park Na-ri: 1,013 points] A promising student, huh. The druid promising student Park Na-ri, along with her mini-tiger familiar Bum. And paired with her was Jeong Soo-ji, who had an annoying knack for chipping away at opponents with precision. At the start of the semester, Go Hyeon-woo had struggled against this duo. Even with relentless combined attacks from him and Bukgong Han-seol, they couldn¡¯t break through Park Na-ri¡¯s health, and in the end, they lost by timeout. R I had expected it would be a while before we faced Park Na-ri in a duel battle, but it seemed Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s recent losing streak had caused her to drop a significant number of points. As a result, their average score dropped to the 800s, and they ended up matched against us. They were certainly tricky opponents, but¡ª You never know until you try. This was a 2-on-2 duel battle. And it was also a crystal-based duel. I turned to Seo Ye-in and said, ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± We walked toward the arena and stepped onto the teleportation magic circle. Our view immediately opened up to reveal an expanse of pure white glacier terrain. While a few gentle hills rose here and there, the area was largely flat. The only problem was¡ª Whooooosh¡ª! A fierce snowstorm pelted our faces. Even with the cold resistance magic cast on our uniforms and elemental resistance in place, the chill was sharp enough to seep through. It¡¯s colder than Winterhalt. Then again, that place focused more on defensive battles, while this was an overtly hostile environment designed as a survival challenge. They deliberately created these blizzard conditions, and if it wasn¡¯t freezing, that would be even stranger. I glanced at Seo Ye-in to see how she was holding up. She had her hood pulled low over her face and was huddled tightly into herself. Still, her eyes darted around, and she was scanning her surroundings. I asked her, ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°...I want out.¡± So she was searching for the exit. Just from the fact that Seo Ye-in had pulled out her ¡°Kim Ho Pot¡± at the faintest trace of a chill, it was clear how much she hated the cold. And now, in a place blanketed entirely in snow and ice, with a relentless blizzard raging, it was no environment for someone like her to endure. Unfortunately, the match had already been set and we were already inside the arena. ¡°The exit doesn¡¯t open until the match is over.¡± It was unmistakably Park Na-ri¡¯s team. Since I was in charge of keeping them in check, I started moving toward their direction. The snow was piled up to my knees, which caused my feet to sink with every step, and where it didn¡¯t sink, there was ice. Of course, the soles of my shoes were fitted with spikes, so I didn¡¯t have to worry about slipping. It seems like they¡¯re more concerned over there. Park Na-ri¡¯s team was moving much slower compared to Seo Ye-in and me. They even stopped occasionally, as if they were struggling to maintain their balance and avoid slipping. Thanks to that, it was easy to close the distance between us. When I got closer, they seemed to notice my approach and assumed a defensive stance. I casually greeted them. ¡°Hope you¡¯re all doing well.¡± ¡°H-Hello...¡± Park Na-ri waved her hand timidly. When it came to timidity, she was on a completely different level than Hong Yeon-hwa when it came to ¡°Kim Ho¡±. Jeong Soo-ji gave me a slight nod, and even the tiger who was now as large as a house let out a low growl. While exchanging greetings, I discreetly checked their footwear. Nothing there. Just as I had guessed on my way here, their shoes didn¡¯t have spiked soles. That meant the difference in mobility would be significant, and I could count that as a major advantage in my favor. Whoosh¡ª I conjured up a small gust of wind to test the surroundings. The entire area was made up of a large ice sheet with a little snow on top. It was as slippery as it could get. A perfect battlefield. After checking up to this point, I looked at the three of them and spoke honestly. ¡°As you can probably tell, I¡¯m just here to buy time. I¡¯m in charge of keeping you occupied.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Seo Ye-in?¡± Jeong Soo-ji asked the question, but there was no need for me to answer. Wooong¡ª At that moment, the sanctuary glowed even more blue and sent down a pillar of light. Though it was hard to see clearly from this distance, it was obvious who the target of that light was. [Crystal: 1%] [Crystal: 2%] Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s face turned frantic as she quickly looked toward Park Na-ri and spoke. ¡°Na-ri, I¡¯ll take care of¡ª¡± Then, perhaps she remembered that she had no chance of winning if she fought me one-on-one, she closed her mouth for a moment and spoke again. ¡°Na-ri, I¡¯ll hold her off. You handle this one.¡± ¡°U-Uh, okay....¡± Park Na-ri nodded her head in response and turned to face me. The tiger Bum also let out a low growl in my direction. It seemed they had divided their roles. Park Na-ri would engage me, and Jeong Soo-ji would go after Seo Ye-in. At a glance, it might have seemed like a reasonable strategy, but it had a fatal flaw. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll just let you go?¡± I was here to keep them both tied up, after all. Just as Jeong Soo-ji began to leave her position, I cast Wind Force in her direction. Whooosh¡ª ¡°Huh? Huh?! Whoa!¡± The headwind pushed Jeong Soo-ji backward, causing her to lose her balance and flail her arms. Eventually, she fell flat on her butt and continued sliding a considerable distance across the ice. Meanwhile, I stood firmly in place on the icy surface. As naturally as if I were standing on solid ground. Only then did Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s gazes drop to my feet. ¡°That...?¡± ¡°Oh, this? I spent some points on it.¡± A hefty sum of 300 points had gone into it. And when you spend that much, it¡¯s only natural to show off a little. I stood on my tiptoes and showed the sole of one foot. The underside was covered with sharp, protruding spikes. ¡°They¡¯re super comfortable. You should each get a pair.¡± Both of their faces turned noticeably serious. They had realized how severely disadvantaged they were in terms of mobility. And that dividing roles between them was virtually impossible. Still, they seemed confident they had the upper hand in combat. Their plan in a two-on-one situation was probably to quickly overpower me and then move on to interfere with Seo Ye-in. Park Na-ri took a deep breath before calling out to Bum. ¡°B-Bum.¡± ¡°Grrr...¡± Bum let out a low growl as it glared at me while crouching low. Then, like a coiled spring, it launched itself at me. ¡°Graaaaah¡ª!¡± Chapter 251: 14th Week Duel Battle (3) Chapter 251: 14th Week Duel Battle (3) The tiger was a spirit beast in its own right; it even knew how to use mana, and each of its attacks carried the full weight of its body. This made it difficult for most close-combat classes to withstand. As for a mage like me, there was no question about it. I just have to dodge no matter what. The moment the tiger¡¯s front paw swung toward my face, I lightly twisted my body and sidestepped. Bum realized immediately that it had swiped at nothing but air and swiftly adjusted its body to land. However, the spot where it landed wasn¡¯t solid ground but an ice sheet. It couldn¡¯t avoid slipping either. To make matters worse¡ª Bang! Compressed air exploded and forcefully shoved Bum away. As the tiger slid rapidly into the distance, I briefly shifted my focus away from it and cast Wind Force on Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji. Whooosh¡ª ¡°Ah, ahhh!¡± ¡°S-Stop...!¡± The two of them wobbled and flailed like inflatable dancing tube men at a festival. They could barely stay upright on the ice, as if someone kept pushing them from the side. As the wind continued to blow, Jeong Soo-ji lost her balance and toppled over again. [Crystal: 23%] The charge is going smoothly. ¡°Graaaah!¡± When I turned my body again, I saw Bum charging at me with terrifying speed. I planted the sapling firmly on the ice and stretched out my other hand toward the tiger. [Earth Line] [Chill Wind] [Wind Force] Whooooosh¡ª! A wind imbued with cold and physical force swept forward. The charging Bum began to slow down, and before long, it was being steadily pushed backward. Even just the combination of slowing effects and pushing force was impressive on its own, but with the blizzard raging and the slippery ice beneath it, the effects were amplified significantly. ¡°Grrrr.¡± ¡°B-Bum!¡± But Park Na-ri was a promising student and she wasn¡¯t about to just stand idly by. At some point, she had cast a spell and a green light radiated from her staff before it enveloped Bum. Flash! Debuff weakening. ¡°Grrrgh!¡± Thanks to her spell, Bum shook off the slowing effect and regained its speed. With a powerful leap, it moved to my side and swung its front paw in a wide arc, as if to strike across a broad range. Mana infused into its claws created three streaks of crescent-shaped slashes. I surrounded the sapling with dark clouds and cast Wind Barrier while retreating. The crescent-shaped slashes tore easily through the barrier but ultimately collided with the dark clouds and were neutralized. As if determined not to give me any breathing room, Bum kept following me while swinging its claws relentlessly. I narrowly dodged each strike, and when a small opening appeared, I used the chance to cast Wind Force on Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji. Whooosh¡ª ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Jeong Soo-ji slipped and fell again, causing the spell she was casting to be canceled, while Park Na-ri, though staggering as she lost her balance, managed to complete her spell to the end. This was the difference between someone with their score in the 600s and someone in the 1,000s. Flash! Once again, a glowing aura enveloped Bum¡¯s body. As the buffs kept stacking, the longer the fight dragged on, the more it worked in their favor. Still, it won¡¯t go on for too long. [Crystal 61%] The charge would be complete soon enough. I only needed to hold out until then. A claw swung diagonally toward me. I leaned to the side to dodge and simultaneously exploded compressed air. Bang! Bum slid across the ice once more, but the distance it was pushed was noticeably shorter this time. I had a good idea of what kind of buff Park Na-ri had just cast. Increased weight. The less Bum slid, the more opportunities it had to attack, and the more force its strikes carried. It wasn¡¯t a bad choice. As expected of a promising student, she had learned a variety of buffs. That said, it¡¯s about time for this to end. Every buff had a duration. The green glow surrounding Bum¡¯s body began to fade and eventually disappeared entirely. This meant the ¡°Debuff Weakening¡± buff she had used to counter Chill Wind was no longer in effect. Which meant¡ª I can use Chill Wind again. Whoooosh¡ª ¡°Look, my hand¡¯s still freezing. See?¡± ¡°!!!¡± Seo Ye-in suddenly shrank back and sidestepped away like a crab, increasing the distance between us. Her eyes were filled with caution as her hand hovered near her inventory; she was hesitating whether to grab something or not. It looked like she was moments away from pulling out her beloved Kim Ho pot. ¡°I don¡¯t like cold things.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it.¡± At that, Seo Ye-in slowly approached me and placed a hand warmer in each of my hands. ¡°Your hands will be warm now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± But isn¡¯t one of these originally mine? It didn¡¯t seem worth arguing over, so I just fiddled with the hand warmer as we walked. Before long, we arrived at the snack bar. Each of us bought a cup of hot chocolate and sipped at it as we walked. It seemed other people had similar ideas, as Jeong Soo-ji and Park Na-ri¡¯s duo also entered the snack bar and ordered their own hot chocolates. When our eyes met, the two whispered to each other briefly before Jeong Soo-ji hesitantly approached me and started to speak. ¡°Uh, so, um.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Well, about the replay... I was wondering if you could, maybe, keep it private...¡± Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s face was flushed with embarrassment, probably because she had spent the entire game performing what could only be described as ¡°sophisticated performance art¡± on the ice. And all of that mortifying display had been perfectly captured and stored in the replay. What made the situation worse was that her partner in this tragedy was none other than the promising student, Park Na-ri. If that replay were to be uploaded to the student marketplace, it would sell like hotcakes. But for her, it would mean her entire cringeworthy disaster would be preserved for the future. It would be like switching classes from ¡°Earth Mage¡± to ¡°Clown¡±. I understood how she must feel and readily agreed. After all, it was partially my fault. ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± Jeong Soo-ji let out a deep sigh of relief. As a token of appreciation, Jeong Soo-ji handed me two Random Rank Up scrolls. Since keeping the replay private would mean a loss of points for me, this was her way of helping offset the cost. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now.¡± ¡°Alright, take care.¡± After Jeong Soo-ji and Park Na-ri left, I handed one of the Random Rank Up scrolls to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Here, this one¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in wasn¡¯t the type to care about accumulating points or saving replays, so I accepted Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s offer without bothering to ask for her opinion. Still, since we were on the same team, splitting the reward felt fair. Seo Ye-in stared quietly at the Random Rank Up scroll in her hand. ¡°......¡± ¡°Are you going to use it right away?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Flash¡ª The scroll began to emit a faint, bright light. Whooshhh... Then it turned to ash and scattered. While her innate luck might help push through in other areas, Random Rank Up scrolls weren¡¯t so easy to exploit. They weren¡¯t affected by probability-related skills or traits. Still, thanks to this, I managed to add another stamp to the collection. [Stamp Coupon (C)] ? Stamps: 7/10 Not much left now. Random Rank Up scrolls also appeared as side quest rewards, so the goal was finally within reach. Of course, to complete it, we would need to successfully finish the remaining matches. ¡°Now that we¡¯re warmed up, shall we get going again?¡± The cooldown for buffs was almost over as well. However, Seo Ye-in averted her gaze and started inching sideways. It seemed the thought of diving back into the snowstorm made her hesitant. I approached her and spoke gently to persuade her. ¡°Let¡¯s do just one more match.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°If we finish this, we¡¯re done for the week. Let¡¯s charge just one more crystal, then we can rest.¡± ¡°......A pillow?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll positively consider that too.¡± Using sweet talk, I coaxed the human sloth all the way to the arena and queued us for a match. I checked over the items while waiting. There¡¯s no need to spend more points. The spiked soles were still intact, and the hand warmers were holding their warmth. Of course, as usual, all four hand warmers belonged to Seo Ye-in. Soon, the scoreboard displayed our names alongside our opponents¡¯ names. ¡°......It¡¯s these two again.¡± Chapter 252: 14th Week Duel Battle (4) [Kim Ho: 763 points, Seo Ye-in: 775 points] vs [Wang Gon: 698 points, Jang Oh: 828 points] The assassin duo. For some reason, this week we¡¯ve only had two matches, but both were against promising students. On top of that, assassin-class characters were natural predators of ranged classes. While the Gunslinger class was agile enough to make it a somewhat even match, we were still at a disadvantage. This might actually be a good thing. It doesn¡¯t seem like a bad idea to use this opportunity to gain some real combat experience. Seo Ye-in, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care about experience or anything else; she just wanted to finish this quickly. Still, once the battle began, she¡¯d show her usual enthusiasm. Before entering, we took a final moment to check our preparations. ¡°Make sure the spikes are on tight.¡± ¡°Spikes tight.¡± ¡°Get your hand warmers ready.¡± ¡°Hand warmers.¡± ¡°Put your hood on to stay warm.¡± ¡°Hood on.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s teach them a lesson.¡± With that, we stepped onto the teleportation magic circle. Whiiiiiish¡ª! Instantly, a snowstorm lashed at our faces without mercy. The bit of enthusiasm Seo Ye-in had mustered quickly started to fade. ¡°......I want out.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s finish quickly and get out of here.¡± ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s start right now.¡± I responded naturally, and just in time, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kim Ho: 100%, Seo Ye-in: 100%] vs [Wang Gon: 100%, Jang Oh: 100%] ¡°This time, we¡¯ll move together.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± The Park Na-ri/ Jeong Soo-ji duo had been easy for me to handle alone, mainly because they were a defensive team with low offensive power, and the difference in mobility caused by the presence or absence of spiked soles worked in my favor. This time, however, dividing roles would only put us at a disadvantage. The opponents had overwhelming attack power, and there was no guarantee Seo Ye-in could endure it. I asked her as we walked side by side, ¡°Which way is the crystal?¡± ¡°Over there.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Seo Ye-in slowly raised her hand to point in one direction. Even in this bitter cold, Lucky Charm¡¯s radar seemed to be functioning perfectly. Sure enough, after walking a little further, I spotted something standing out amidst the swirling snowstorm. A makeshift altar with a crystal placed on top of it. After retrieving the crystal, we turned toward the sanctuary. ¡°Let¡¯s go charge it.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± But before we got very far, we had to slow down. Two silhouettes appeared ahead, blocking our path. Naturally, they were Jang Oh and Wang Gon. Or more accurately, they were Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam. I gave a light wave as a greeting and tossed out a question that had crossed my mind earlier. ¡°Are you sticking with those aliases? Jang Oh and Wang Gon?¡± I had already told them those names were lame. They each muttered a response with awkward expressions. ¡°...We¡¯re not using them because we like them.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t keep changing them all the time, can we?¡± It seemed they had no choice but to stick with those aliases for the time being. In the first place, if they had chosen decent aliases, they wouldn¡¯t have needed to change them so often. But since I could understand their situation well enough, I decided to let it slide. Next, the two of them simultaneously turned to look at Seo Ye-in. Although it was their first time meeting her, it seemed they had already caught on to the fact that she was someone who often accompanied me. Perhaps because of this, Jang Moo-geuk asked in a somewhat playful tone. ¡°Is this our sister-in-law?¡± Wang Cheon-sam also raised the corners of his lips and corrected his words. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t ¡®Hyung-nim¡¯s wife¡¯ be a more appropriate term?¡± ¡°Then that would make Kim Ho our Hyung (older brother).¡± At the moment of impact, he swung the sword he had been holding low. Clang! I crossed the sapling just in time to deflect the blow. As soon as Jang Moo-geuk brushed past me, he pivoted sharply and redirected his attack toward Seo Ye-in. So that¡¯s been his plan all along. Distract me momentarily, slip past, and take Seo Ye-in out first. That was his intention. And it was working to some extent; the two assassins closed in from either side before converging on Seo Ye-in in a coordinated assault. Of course, I wasn¡¯t about to stand by and watch. ¡°Jump.¡± ¡°Jump.¡± At my command, Seo Ye-in activated Feather Step and leaped straight up into the air. Bang! I used Wind Force, and her trajectory curved as she flew through the air toward me. The moment she landed beside me, she stabilized her stance and resumed firing. Ratatatatatata! ¡°Damn it...¡± The opponents, who had been confident they had her cornered, were momentarily startled as Seo Ye-in abruptly soared out of their reach. Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam scrambled to dodge the incoming magic bullets. But they couldn¡¯t evade them all; a couple of shots grazed Wang Cheon-sam and caused some damage. [Wang Gon: 97%] [Wang Gon: 93%] The assassins were not discouraged and attacked again with the same unrelenting ferocity. I made the dark clouds float near Seo Ye-in and let them drift aimlessly, then planted the sapling into the ground. Then I stretched my hand forward. [Earth Line] [Chillwind] [Wind Force] Whiiiiiish! ¡°So annoying.¡± Wang Cheon-sam muttered with a frown. It wasn¡¯t just the constant pushing and pulling that irritated him, but the fact that the accumulated cold slowed him down more and more with each passing moment. [Wang Gon: 93%, Jang Oh: 97%] On top of that, Chillwind¡¯s freezing enhancement effect doubled the power of the blizzard and caused their once-steady health to chip away bit by bit. Even so, their focus remained fixed on Seo Ye-in. Once again, they thrust their swords from two directions. While I parried Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s attack, Seo Ye-in used Feather Step to evade Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s sword. But as if anticipating her movements, the blade tip wavered and pursued her, only to collide with the dark clouds I had sent, causing its trajectory to falter. In that brief opening, Seo Ye-in took aim with her gun. Ratatatatatatatatata! Even at such close range, Jang Moo-geuk deftly dodged and weaved through the magic bullets with movement technique. As expected from a promising talent, his mastery of movement techniques was remarkable. At the same time, the two assassins widened the distance before each of them hurled a dagger toward us. Ssshhhkk! A distraction. The real attack was coming next. I deflected the daggers roughly and kept my eyes locked on them. As expected, a thin nearly invisible layer of energy enveloped Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s sword, which made it harder to detect. With a few swift steps forward, he suddenly blurred, and his form faded as though he had become a ghost. Ghost Dance. A quick glance to the side confirmed that Wang Cheon-sam was also activating Ghost Dance. His movements were smooth, stealthy, and incredibly fast as he closed the gap. In an instant, Jang Moo-geuk reached Seo Ye-in with his blade poised to strike¡ª Flash! Seo Ye-in activated Bullet Time. Her gray eyes captured the trajectory of the two blades. In an instant, her presence seemed to fade. Swish. With movements as smooth as a sliding shadow, she slipped past the assassins¡¯ attack. She used Bullet Time to perceive their attacks and Ghost Dance to escape. The two assassins, who had been confident their strikes would land, were visibly shaken when their blades sliced through nothing but air. They frantically scanned their surroundings, but Seo Ye-in had already repositioned herself at a distance with her gun barrel aimed squarely at them. Her magic gun unleashed a relentless barrage of blue fire. Tututututututu! The magic bullets slammed into Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s shoulder and side before exploding on impact. ¡°Urgh...!¡± [Wang Gon: 91%] [Wang Gon: 64%] The two were quite surprised and couldn¡¯t speak for a long time with their eyes wide open. Finally, Jang Moo-geuk broke the silence. ¡°...What just happened?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you?¡± She learned it too. Chapter 253: 14th Week Duel Battle (5) Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s gaze deepened. So that¡¯s how it is. If Seo Ye-in had mastered Ghost Dance, then what had just happened made sense to some degree. He had no complaints about the fact that she had learned it. In the first place, it was only because of Kim Ho that he was able to reach the illusory demon¡¯s formation and even retrieve the statues from there. How it was used was entirely up to Kim Ho¡¯s discretion. He and Wang Cheon-sam had paid the price to earn their opportunity, and he assumed Seo Ye-in must have done the same. But he was still curious, so Jang Moo-geuk fixed his gaze on Kim Ho and opened his mouth to speak. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Our sister-in-law...¡± Jang Moo-geuk cast a brief glance at Seo Ye-in before continuing. ¡°...How many times did she fail?¡± ¡°How many attempts did it take for her to succeed?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Perhaps because the question felt so trivial compared to his serious tone, Kim Ho¡¯s expression momentarily grew strange. Still, he seemed to think there was no harm in answering and gave a short reply. ¡°Once.¡± Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s face froze in shock. He glanced subtly toward Wang Cheon-sam who wore a similar expression on his face. Even someone as confident in their movement technique as Jang Moo-geuk had barely managed to clear the Illusory Demon¡¯s trial on his second attempt. The same had been true for Go Hyeon-woo and Dang Gyu-young. But to hear that she had succeeded without even a single mistake on her first try was shocking. ¡°How did you do it?¡± When Jang Moo-geuk asked that, Seo Ye-in simply tilted her head in confusion. Her reaction was as if he had asked her, ¡°How do you breathe?¡± or ¡°How do you drink water?¡± It was as though succeeding on the first try was only natural for her. She¡¯s worthy of being paired with him. Jang Moo-geuk suspected there must be a reason why Kim Ho had chosen to pair with Seo Ye-in instead of Go Hyeon-woo for the duel battle. From what he had observed so far, Kim Ho was meticulous and calculating by nature. Even if she was their sister-in-law, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen her out of personal attachment. And just now, Jang Moo-geuk had caught a glimpse of the reason. It was Seo Ye-in¡¯s extraordinary talent. If that was the case, then perhaps it was time to act, even if it was a bit early. It¡¯s time to make my move. In reality, ever since Seo Ye-in had countered their trump card of Ghost Dance with the same skill, their options had become extremely limited. Ghost Dance provided a powerful stealth effect, making it almost impossible for the opponent to detect or respond to an attack. Yet Seo Ye-in had seen through that stealth, seized the briefest moment, and successfully evaded. What this meant was clear. She has another skill. It was clear that some sort of utility-type skill or trait was at work. And that skill, in all likelihood, had a cooldown similar to Ghost Dance. If it were any shorter, there would be no reason for her to save it until now. In conclusion, the moment the five-minute cooldown reset, Seo Ye-in would not only regain Ghost Dance but also have a definitive countermeasure ready. On the other hand, they had no such advantage, meaning they needed to make their move before the situation became even more unfavorable. Wang Cheon-sam seemed to sense this as well. When Jang Moo-geuk sent him a glance, he responded with a slight nod of his chin. Having worked together for so long, they could understand each other with just a look. ¨C Can you do it? ¨C At least once. [Wang Gon: 64%] Wang Cheon-sam had taken a direct counter and suffered huge damage. Even now, he was barely holding up. Still, he could handle one final effort, enough to support Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s decisive move. Whoosh¡ª Meanwhile, as the blizzard continued to rage, Seo Ye-in hunched her shoulders against the cold. She then spoke to Kim Ho in a tone that sounded like a complaint. ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s wrap this up.¡± As if she had been waiting for permission, Seo Ye-in immediately took aim with her assault rifle. Ratatatatata! Jang Moo-geuk and Wang Cheon-sam split to either side and exchanged another look. ¨C I¡¯m going in. ¨C Anytime. The energy of the two suddenly surged, only to disappear as if it were extinguished. Of course, it hadn¡¯t truly disappeared. It had just been compressed to an extreme, so it looked like that. In that state, they slid forward with practiced movement technique and rushed toward Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in. ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± The snowstorm was still raging mercilessly, but we could talk once we were outside. With that, we stepped through the teleportation portal one by one. The moment we exited the arena, warmth and lively chatter rushed in from all directions. As I warmed my body and turned my gaze to Seo Ye-in, I saw that she wasn¡¯t in her hooded human mode like in the first match. It was probably thanks to the elemental resistance being raised to S-rank. I held out my hand. ¡°Give me one hand warmer.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± When Seo Ye-in handed me a hand warmer, I fiddled with it and asked, ¡°They¡¯re strong, huh?¡± ¡°Strong.¡± Seo Ye-in, of course, would already know that. If I hadn¡¯t granted her the distortion skill, she would have been the one collapsing under Jang Moo-geuk¡¯s ultimate technique. Moreover, in a one-on-one situation, even the dark clouds wouldn¡¯t have been there, and the outcome might have been decided even faster. Perhaps that was why Seo Ye-in seemed subtly provoked. The cold and sleepy look she had earlier mostly disappeared, and a competitive spirit now burned in her eyes. Then she stepped closer and looked up at me intently. ¡°Kim Ho, special training.¡± ¡°Sure, should we do a special training session after a while?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go right now.¡± Seo Ye-in, this human sloth incarnate, usually only trained when I forced her. But now that she was showing rare enthusiasm, it was best to make the most of the opportunity. As we walked together toward the training center, I pulled up my quest window. [Side Quest: 14th Week Duel Battles] (Completed) ? Objective: Complete 2 duel matches (2/2 Wins) ? Reward: Random Rank Up x2 Currently, I had collected seven stamps. Including the random rank up I received from Jeong Soo-ji, I had now three random rank ups. Using them all would complete the stamp coupon. There was no reason to drag it out. Might as well get it done right away. Since random rank ups weren¡¯t influenced by external factors, the results would be the same no matter where I used them. So, as we walked, I began using the random rank up scrolls one by one. Fwoosh... [Rank Up failed.] [Stamp Coupon (C)] ? Stamps: 8/10 ¡°Of course.¡± Since I hadn¡¯t expected much to begin with, I naturally moved on to the next random rank up, and Seo Ye-in watched the process with curious eyes. Flash! A magic scroll lit up brightly. But, as expected, the light quickly faded before scattering like dust. Fwoosh... [Rank Up failed.] ? Stamps: 9/10 ¡°Just one more to go.¡± I used the final random rank up scroll and showed the stamp coupon to Seo Ye-in as I explained. Flash! ¡°When you fail ten times, this lets you exchange it for something else. I¡¯m going to use that to rank up a C-rank skill¡ª¡± Flaaaaaashh¡ª! At that moment, the random rank up emitted an even brighter light, and the radiance surged into my body. [Rank Up succeeded!] [The rank of ¡®Monarch¡¯ has increased: C ¡ú B.] ¡°¡ªbut it actually succeeded.¡± I hadn¡¯t expected it to work at all. The odds of advancing from C to B were ridiculously low. Moreover, Monarch was a trait that couldn¡¯t grow through conventional means. It required a rank up scroll to progress eventually. This was like hitting the jackpot twice. Seo Ye-in stared at me blankly for a moment before echoing the words I often said to her. ¡°That¡¯s cheating.¡± ¡°Right. Totally cheating.¡± What a huge win. Chapter 254: Shin Byeong-cheol’s Greatest Crisis The training center. The training room. Seo Ye-in aimed her magic gun at the approaching iron dolls. The muzzle continuously spewed bursts of blue fire. Ratatatatata! The magic bullets struck the iron dolls, triggering small explosions upon impact. However, their bodies didn¡¯t bear so much as a scratch. Their durability had been set to an extremely high level after all. The iron dolls that seemed to be unaffected by the barrage marched steadily forward with their large arms swinging toward Seo Ye-in. Of course, she wasn¡¯t someone who would fall victim to such crude attacks. She skillfully weaved through their attacks and continued firing without hesitation. Ratatatatata! I thought to myself as I watched her. At least the direction is clear now. Through the match against the assassin duo, Seo Ye-in¡¯s strengths and weaknesses had become even more obvious. Her offensive power was strong enough to take down any first-year student, but it was meaningless if her attacks didn¡¯t land. Even against Jang Moo-geuk, none of her shots had landed squarely, with only a few grazing him lightly. This highlighted a critical issue. Her utility was still lacking. This weakness could be compensated for by acquiring secondary weapons, accessories with bonus effects, or by learning new skills or traits. But there¡¯s no need to rush. Bullet Time or Ghost Dance-level utility skills weren¡¯t exactly easy to come by, and as for a secondary weapon, it was already in production by Hye-sung Group. It would take about two weeks, they said. For the time being, the direction was clear. Rather than increasing variety, focus on building a solid foundation. The priority was on ranking up existing skills. Most of the skills Seo Ye-in had learned were stuck at C-rank, so consistent training would eventually allow her to reach B-rank, one skill at a time. With that in mind, I added a few new traits to the iron dolls, such as enhanced durability and knockback resistance. If she kept fighting them repeatedly, she¡¯d be able to train a wide range of skills and traits evenly. Ratatatatata! She¡¯s got a lot of energy today. Seo Ye-in kept moving without pause. Normally, her sloth-like stamina would have given out long ago, leaving her collapsed on the ground, but today she was lasting much longer than usual. As expected, pitting her against promising students had proven effective. Even Jang Moo-geuk, by the end of the match, seemed to have fired up his competitive spirit. Next time, I¡¯d try pairing her against Cha Hyeon-joo if the opportunity arose. Meanwhile, my thoughts drifted elsewhere. The plan¡¯s gone a bit off track. [Stamp Coupon (C)] ? Stamps: 9/10 The original plan had been to use up all the Random Rank Ups and complete the Stamp Coupon. Unexpectedly, though, [Monarch] had ranked up to B. Of course, this kind of surprise was a welcome one. Obtaining another Random Rank Up wasn¡¯t exactly difficult. Maybe I should ask the butler. I hadn¡¯t yet contacted Ahn Jeong-mi. If I told her that Seo Ye-in mastered Ghost Dance thanks to me, she would surely offer a generous reward, and perhaps she wouldn¡¯t mind throwing in a Random Rank Up as well. Of course, the ¡°generous reward¡± was another matter entirely. Should I ask for more poisonous herbs, or maybe.... I pondered the matter for a while. *** The next day. It was time for the strategy battle class. Seo Cheong-yong, as always, conducted the lesson with his warm and amiable smile. The good news was that the class was finally nearing its end. The bad news was that he had assigned homework right at the end. ¡°¡ªSo, everyone, pick an F-rank boss dungeon and take some time to analyze it.¡± ¡°I heard Teacher Jo Ok-soon assigned a similar homework recently, so you can tackle both at the same time and finish it faster, right?¡± Just as Seo Cheong-yong mentioned, Jo Ok-soon had given us an assignment in the Monster Ecology class not long ago to investigate and analyze a boss monster. Now, with the addition of the boss dungeon analysis, one couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this was mere coincidence. Those with sharp intuition seemed to have caught on to the topic of the next strategy battle session, and their eyes flashed with realization. Of course, his plea had no effect. Song Cheon-hye cut him off firmly and decisively and then began circling the classroom with Han So-mi. They confiscated prohibited items from the remaining students and scanned their ID cards. During the first ban wave, there had been those who resisted, but now, perhaps realizing the clear difference in strength between them and the disciplinary committee members, everyone cooperated without complaint. Once the inspection was complete, Song Cheon-hye addressed the class. ¡°Depending on the severity of the violations, penalty points and disciplinary actions will be imposed. The details will be sent to you via message.¡± ¡°All done! Time to grab lunch~¡± She then left the classroom with Han So-mi waving her hand. Since they were carrying a lot of high-risk items, it seemed they were heading straight to the disciplinary committee room without delay. ¨C Murmur, murmur... The students began cautiously whispering among each other, and before long, the noise grew louder. Most of them didn¡¯t carry prohibited items to begin with, and even if they were unlucky enough to have theirs confiscated, they just shrugged it off as bad luck and moved on. Shin Byeong-cheol, however, wasn¡¯t in the same boat. He sat in his seat lifelessly, as if his soul had left his body. After sitting dazed for quite some time, he finally regained a bit of his composure and began furiously grabbing at his hair. ¡°Wow, they really took everything? I¡¯m totally screwed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I told you to carry just a little at a time.¡± ¡°Dang-noonim is going to rip all my hair out. Am I going to go bald at this rate?¡± ¡°Wear a wig.¡± It¡¯s not like you need hair to run a teahouse, right? I answered indifferently while thinking to myself. For the disciplinary committee, this ban wave had allowed them to confiscate a pile of prohibited items, so they needed to store and manage those items until they could hand them over to the academic side. However, any task carried out by people inevitably leaves room for small or large oversights, and it¡¯s in the nature of thieves to exploit those gaps. Simply put, They¡¯ll be heading to the temporary storage again this time. The likelihood of a break-in event at the temporary storage was very high. So the first thing I needed to do was, I should borrow the cube. The hidden effect of the Cube of Life. If you place prohibited items inside, it can evade detection by ban waves or similar detection spells. Therefore, it was worth seeking permission from the Mother Nature Club to borrow it for a few days. With that thought in mind, I left the classroom and headed to the neighboring class. Since the ban wave had been conducted across the entire grade, the atmosphere in the next class was similarly chaotic. In the meantime, Park Na-ri was dutifully serving as a punching bag for the mini tiger Bum. Of course, unwillingly. ¡°B-Bum, stop hitting me, please stop.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Bum continued to throw soft paw punches repeatedly. Whether something had rubbed him the wrong way or he simply felt like hitting something, who could say? But soon enough, he noticed someone approaching, turned his head in this direction, and spotted me. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Hello, Bum.¡± Bum leaped down from the desk and approached me but stopped a short distance away before hesitating. It seemed he recalled the time during the glacial environment duel battle when I had shoved him back with Wind Force and chilled him with Chillwind. However, as I stood still, he gradually let his guard down and finally came closer, then rubbed his forehead against my knee. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°I brought snacks.¡± By chance, one of the specialties from the Gathering of Villains could serve as a treat for cats. It was dried fish. When I broke it into small pieces and offered it to him, he eagerly accepted and gobbled it up. With him occupied, I brought up the main topic. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask you.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Bum responded while crunching on the dried fish. If I were to translate his reaction, it might be something like, ¡°Go on, let¡¯s hear it.¡± So I spoke. ¡°Could I borrow the cube for a bit?¡± The dried fish slipped from Bum¡¯s mouth. He stared up at me with a serious expression as if to say: ¨C What did you just say? Chapter 255: The Challenge It was a reaction I had somewhat anticipated. For Bum, the Cube of Life was practically like his own private villa. From his perspective, it was as if an acquaintance he barely knew suddenly asked, ¡°Hey, mind if I crash at your villa for a couple of days?¡± Of course, I had already prepared some persuasive arguments. ¡°I¡¯m not asking to borrow it for free. I¡¯ll pay you rent.¡± ¡°.....?¡± Bum raised his little paw as if to attack, but then put it down again. It seemed he wanted to hear me out before deciding. ¡°Hasn¡¯t your villa been getting a lot of scratches lately?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about time for a remodel, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Meow...¡± At present, I was the only one capable of maintaining the Cube of Life. Repairing magical engineering items wasn¡¯t particularly difficult, but for Bong Jae-seok and the other members of the Magic Engineering Club, the Cube of Life was a difficult object. They hadn¡¯t fully figured it out yet, and messing with it carelessly could lead to unexpected problems. ¡°Meow...¡± Bum seemed interested. If it can be remodeled neatly in exchange for leaving the villa for only two days, wouldn¡¯t it be a good deal? When I felt that he was almost convinced, I delivered the final blow. I pulled out a handful of dried fish. These were the same specialty from the Gathering of Villains which Bum had been munching on earlier. ¡°Just snack on this for a few days. I¡¯ll return it to you as good as new.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Bum gave a short reply before resuming his nibbling on the dried fish. It was his way of agreeing to my proposal. Having resolved the biggest hurdle, I turned my gaze to Park Na-ri next. ¡°He¡¯s fine with it. What about you?¡± Park Na-ri stared at me with wide eyes, as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she had just witnessed. Perhaps she hadn¡¯t expected me to successfully negotiate with Bum. But when I continued looking at her, she dropped her gaze diagonally and stammered nervously. ¡°If, if Bum¡¯s okay with it, th-then I¡¯m fine too.¡± The reason I asked Bum first was simple. After all, I needed the consent of both the owner and the resident. If I had asked Park Na-ri first, she would¡¯ve likely said something like, ¡°We should check with Bum first...¡± Such is the exhausting life of a caretaker. Park Na-ri cautiously asked. ¡°H-How long are you planning to borrow it for...?¡± ¡°About two days should be enough. You don¡¯t need it this week, right?¡± ¡°M-Mhmm ... The duel battles are all done anyway...¡± Park Na-ri wasn¡¯t the type to go around challenging people to duel battles, and her magic training was something she usually did without the Cube. That meant she could lend it to me until the next strategy week. ¡°S-So... what are you going to use it for?¡±. ¡°For research. And to help out Senior Bong while I¡¯m at it.¡± It wasn¡¯t a lie. Bong Jae-seok had recently started asking for help more often. Hiding prohibited items is not something you want to make public. Unless the other side somehow discovered it by chance, I planned to keep it confidential. Although Park Na-ri wasn¡¯t the type to break school rules, I couldn¡¯t say the same for the members of the Mother Nature Club. Even their leader Ha Soo-yeon had a subtle, scheming side to her like a tactician. If the Cube was used too openly, it could draw attention, and there was a risk the repercussions might reach both me and Dang Gyu-young. Perhaps the explanation about using it for research convinced her because Park Na-ri pulled the Cube of Life out of her inventory and emptied its contents. I accepted the Cube and handed her a specialty product set from the Gathering of Villains. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll use it carefully and return it clean.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Even then, Bum who had been busily chewing on dried fish lifted his head and let out a sound as if to say, ¨C Take good care of the remodeling. *** After securing the Cube, I busied myself with tasks while waiting for a message. Because of the sudden ban wave, the thieves¡¯ club would need some time to assess the situation. Like before, I helped Seo Ye-in with her training, and while I was at it, I practiced wind-type magic like Wind Barrier. Just as expected, a message arrived. [Dang Gyu-young: (Waving Fox emoji)] Things had been fairly balanced in the back-and-forth struggle until the Elder from the Blood Sect appeared, forcing the entire disciplinary committee to mobilize to contain the situation. After that, they could do nothing but watch as prohibited items were traded in abundance. It was a humiliating blow from the disciplinary committee¡¯s perspective. Naturally, they had spent time sharpening their knives in preparation, and when the moment was right, they launched a surprise ban wave, dealing a significant blow to the thieves club. Now, it seemed they intended to lure us into their trap with this challenge, aiming to slap us with penalty points and disciplinary actions. ¡°This does seem pretty shady.¡± ¡°Mhmm, it¡¯s completely shady.¡± ¡°Looks like a trap no matter how you look at it.¡± ¡°An obvious trap.¡± We couldn¡¯t help but exchange small, knowing laughs. ¡°You¡¯re still going, though, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course. No question about it. You¡¯re coming too, right?¡± ¡°Absolutely. No question.¡± To make smoother progress on the main quest, I needed to power up as much as possible. For the sake of world peace, sometimes breaking a few school rules was inevitable. Dang Gyu-young leaned in and lowered her voice slightly. ¡°So, you know... that cube? Can you borrow it for me tomorrow?¡± The Cube of Life was a guaranteed way to smuggle out any prohibited item placed inside it. It was practically a game-breaking item for infiltrating the temporary storage. But the owner of the cube was Park Nari. Since Dang Gyu-young had no real connection with her, asking to borrow it would undoubtedly be awkward. The first thing that would come to Park Nari¡¯s mind would be: ¡°Why does the president of the thieves club need a life-type item?¡± I smiled and casually placed the cube on the table. ¡°This one?¡± ¡°...Wait, what? You already borrowed it?¡± ¡°Call it intuition.¡± Then Dang Gyu-young leaned toward me and began roughly ruffling my hair and cheeks. ¡°Aww¡ªour Kim Ho, how can you be so clever? You¡¯re just too cute. Too cute, I swear.¡± I could understand how Dang Gyu-young felt, but I still wanted to finish the conversation we were having. So I subtly leaned my body to the opposite side and asked, ¡°But what about the rest? Just having the cube won¡¯t be enough.¡± Using the cube to store prohibited items was only possible after reaching the temporary storage. If we got caught by the disciplinary committee before then, it would all be for nothing. On top of that, there was no way to know what awaited inside C Exchange, which was occupied by the disciplinary committee members. Whether their members would be lying in wait or if additional traps had been set beyond the formations, no one could tell. Navigating that middle stage was up to the thieves¡¯ club. Dang Gyu-young countered with a question. ¡°For now, Kim Ho, you can break through the formations, right?¡± ¡°Most of them, yes.¡± ¡°Knew it. That makes things much more doable.¡± Thanks to my stagnant water sense, I could pinpoint the weak points in most formations and break through them. Even the disruption formation that a graduate had once installed at C Exchange had been easy enough for me to handle. Even if the disciplinary committee had reinforced it, the result would likely be the same. Even so, there were still mountains of issues to deal with, but Dang Gyu-young grinned confidently. ¡°This time, we¡¯ve got reinforcements. Go ahead and put that in for now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± When it came to the Cube of Life, the fewer people who knew about it, the better. So I stored it in my inventory as Dang Gyu-young sent a message to someone. Not long after, as if they had been waiting nearby, two third-year seniors appeared and joined us. One of them was a familiar face. It was Hong Ye-hwa, the president of the Ruby Magic Tower. The other was a man wearing glasses with an intellectual air about him. Hong Ye-hwa greeted us with a faint smile and a wave, while the man in glasses glanced at me briefly before turning to Dang Gyu-young and asking, ¡°Is this the first-year you mentioned?¡± ¡°Yeah, that first-year.¡± I wasn¡¯t entirely sure what ¡°that first-year¡± was supposed to mean. Still, judging by the attitude of the two seniors, it seemed Dang Gyu-young had told them I would be playing a significant role. I bowed my head first as a greeting. ¡°Hello, seniors. My name is Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Jeong Chong-myeong.¡± The man replied with a brief introduction of his own. Then Dang Gyu-young added an additional comment. ¡°He¡¯s the president of the White Magic Club.¡± The White Magic Club was a large organization rivaling the Swordsmanship Club in influence. And now, its president has joined our operation to infiltrate the temporary storage. Chapter 256: Book of Chaos The Magic Tower Association only recognized members belonging to Magic Towers, such as Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. In contrast, the White Magic Club allowed anyone to join as long as they had learned White Magic regardless of their affiliation. Much like the Swordsmanship Club. Furthermore, the club permitted dual membership which meant that many mages from the Magic Tower Association also had one foot in the White Magic Club. Even Hong Ye-hwa standing right in front of me was the president of the Ruby Magic Tower but seemed closely tied to the White Magic Club. There was always a significant reason when influential figures like these supported a group like the thieves club, and I could guess that reason was almost certainly prohibited items. Jeong Chong-myeong adjusted his glasses, glanced at me briefly, and then asked Dang Gyu-young, ¡°Did you tell him?¡± ¡°Not yet, I was about to.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Jeong Chong-myeong turned to me and asked, ¡°Kim Ho, do you know what the [Book of Chaos] is?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± The Book of Chaos. It was a book composed of dozens of magic scrolls called [Scrolls of Chaos] that were bound together into one volume. Each scroll could be torn out and used individually, and its effects were: Increasing the uncertainty of a dungeon. The dungeon¡¯s storyline could deviate from its established structure, the terrain might change, or mutant monsters could appear. Basically, the variables increased dramatically. Of course, the additional rewards made it worthwhile to take the risk. With every dungeon raid, there was potential to earn additional rewards dozens of times over. This was why it was managed at the club level. However, this uncertainty couldn¡¯t be controlled at will, and sometimes the dungeon¡¯s difficulty would skyrocket. For example, if someone tore a Scroll of Chaos in a C-rank dungeon and its difficulty suddenly rose to A-rank, Everyone dies. Of course, the chances of that happening were infinitesimally low, but since lives were at stake here, the academy couldn¡¯t afford to take even the smallest risk lightly. That¡¯s why the Book of Chaos was registered on the list of prohibited items. Jeong Chong-myeong continued speaking. ¡°Well, that makes things easier. No need for further explanations. The Book of Chaos has fallen into the hands of the disciplinary committee.¡± Originally, the Book of Chaos was supposed to pass from the White Magic Club to the Ruby Mage Tower. However, the member tasked with transporting it had carelessly stored it in their inventory and got caught in a sudden ban wave that activated without warning. This time, I was the one to ask a question. ¡°Can¡¯t you recover it through other means, senior-nim?¡± ¡°Of course we can. But there¡¯s no rush for that.¡± The White Magic Club, being as large as it was, also had considerable influence, so if they bargained properly with the disciplinary committee, they might be able to get a prohibited item or two back. Even so, negotiation had been relegated to Plan B. There was enough time to spare, and there was always a slim chance the talks could fall through. Naturally, Plan A involved collaborating with the thieves club. It was a reasonable decision, so I nodded my head in understanding. ¡°I see. Understood.¡± ¡°I think that covers the general overview. Let¡¯s move on to the details.¡± At that, Dang Gyu-young spread out photos of the C-Exchange building, maps of the surrounding area, and blueprints of the buildings on the table. Jeong Chong-myeong carefully examined them before speaking. ¡°You secured the surveillance?¡± ¡°Yes, Da-bin did the hard work.¡± Thanks to Chae Da-bin¡¯s exceptional magical engineering skills, she had obtained access to the surveillance crystal balls installed in the downtown area. This had been done during the Black Market event too, though Jeong Chong-myeong and Hong Ye-hwa had no way of knowing that, which gave Dang Gyu-young an opportunity to subtly take credit. ¡°If the surveillance is secured, then....¡± Jeong Chong-myeong narrowed his eyes as he stared at the sketch of the area near the C-Exchange, then pointed to a building a little farther away. ¡°We¡¯ll provide support from here.¡± ¡°This distance should be fine.¡± Hong Ye-hwa agreed with a nod. The plan was to provide support from a distance using battery-type mages. Too close and they risked being discovered by the disciplinary committee, but too far and the effect of their magic would diminish. They chose a place that struck the right balance. Dang Gyu-young spoke up. ¡°Do whatever works best. Long-range support is fine at this distance, but I¡¯d like to have a few all-rounders join us too.¡± It was important to prepare for the possibility of encountering the disciplinary committee inside the C-Exchange. Even just two or three members of the second or third-year disciplinary committee could easily overwhelm the club members from the thieves club. Jeong Chong-myeong seemed to think the suggestion made sense. After mulling it over, he named two people. ¡°What about Gyeol-woo and Han-gil?¡± ¡°That¡¯s perfect.¡± However, according to Chae Da-bin who had been keeping watch through her crystal balls, there were no further movements. This meant that while they might know about tonight¡¯s plan to infiltrate the temporary storage, they didn¡¯t know about the detailed strategy. Jeong Chong-myeong gave a small nod of his chin and called out a few names. ¡°Alright. Han Gyeo-wool, Choi Han-gil.¡± At his call, a female student and a male student who both looked to be third-years stepped forward. They seemed to be the all-rounders mentioned during the strategy meeting. Judging by the atmosphere, Han Gyeo-wool likely belonged to the Sapphire Magic Tower, and Choi Han-gil to the Guild Union. Choi Han-gil gave us a quick once-over before asking Dang Gyu-young. ¡°When are we going?¡± ¡°As soon as you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been ready for ages.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head out now.¡± With that, Dang Gyu-young glanced at the thieves, and they naturally split into two groups. Most joined the mages, while a smaller number came to our side. The roles had already been assigned. The first group would stay behind to help conceal the mages as much as possible and assist with evacuation in case of an emergency. The second group, of course, would infiltrate the C Exchange with us. The lineup was nearly identical to the last mission, with the addition of Choi Han-gil and Han Gyeo-wool, and Chae Da-bin taking on the role of control tower. The team included the twins, the male student with the short wand, and Shin Byeong-cheol. As we descended the stairs, Dang Gyu-young contacted Chae Da-bin. ¡°Da-bin.¡± ¨C Yes, President. ¡°We¡¯re about to go in.¡± ¨C The direction at eight o¡¯clock looks weak. Chae Da-bin¡¯s view through the crystal balls was broader than ours at the scene. Following her guidance, we moved stealthily. The C Exchange was a four-story abandoned building that looked like a small shopping mall. Similar buildings of the same height surrounded it. Since the disciplinary committee closely guarded the area, it was almost impossible to enter from the ground floor. The plan was to cross from the second or third floor of a neighboring building. Of course, the disciplinary committee had likely anticipated this and might have prepared some form of countermeasures. Before stepping inside, Dang Gyu-young stopped the group and gave Choi Han-gil a subtle nod. After a swift chant, faint waves of mana rippled outward from around him. He had cast a detection spell. ¡°One person on the roof, another on the second floor... they¡¯re moving upward.¡± ¡°Any traps or alarm spells?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol and the male student with the wand answered this question. ¡°None, noonim.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t any.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go.¡± At Dang Gyu-young¡¯s signal, everyone rushed into the building. We climbed the stairs cautiously and reached the second floor. There were no signs of the disciplinary committee, but like Choi Han-gil had mentioned, it seemed they had moved further up. Still, there was no telling when they might return, so we had to act quickly. When we moved toward the windows, the C Exchange came into full view. From there, Dang Gyu-young contacted Jeong Chong-myeong this time. ¡°We¡¯re in. Can you run a scan for us?¡± ¨C Wait a minute. A short reply came through, and while waiting, the members of the thieves club began preparing to cross over. Shin Byeong-cheol shot a black rope toward the C Exchange and secured it to the windowsill, while the male student with the wand neutralized the alarm spells set up nearby. At the same time, Dang Gyu-young summoned shadows and prepared her skill. Soon, a discreet magic circle formed in one corner of the C Exchange building. Flash! For a brief moment, it felt as if the entire building glowed blue. Jeong Chong-myeong had scanned the building with a large-scale spell. There was a risk that the disciplinary committee might notice, but it was a better option than barging in blindly. As Dang Gyu-young listened to the detailed internal information being relayed, she frowned as if she sensed something unusual. ¡°What? There are way too few of them.¡± Where did the rest go? Chapter 257: Breakthrough Chapter 257: Breakthrough At the same time. Kwak Seung-jae was walking through the forest in the dead of night, pushing through the underbrush. The faint almost inaudible sound of footsteps on either side told him he wasn¡¯t alone. I knew something was off. The first time he sensed this unease was at the Black Market. The thieves club¡¯s behavior this year was drastically different from the previous one. Normally, they wouldn¡¯t even be noticeable, and on the rare occasions they were discovered, they slipped away like eels and vanished without a trace. It felt as if they were watching his every move and acting accordingly. If that were true, what could they possibly be using to observe him...? ...Crystal balls. Could they be using surveillance crystal balls? When he reconsidered this hypothesis, so many things began to align perfectly. This year, Dang Gyu-young had been heavily relying on Chae Da-bin, and with her genius-level magical engineering skills, such a feat was entirely possible. From the perspective of the disciplinary committee, this posed a very serious problem. If we don¡¯t solve this, we¡¯ll be constantly outmaneuvered. Whether or not they had clear surveillance was a monumental difference in information. The thieves club would always stay one step ahead, and even the disciplinary committee¡¯s delayed responses would likely be anticipated. Neutralizing Chae Da-bin had thus become one of the disciplinary committee¡¯s key objectives for this operation. In some respects, it was as high a priority as guarding the temporary storage. The disciplinary committee also had several members skilled in intelligence work. By deploying all of them to track her down, they managed to pinpoint Chae Da-bin¡¯s approximate location, which was why they were now advancing through the dense foliage. There it is. Eventually, a dilapidated three-story building came into Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s view. The glass windows were all shattered, and ivy covered its walls, so it was clearly an abandoned building. But Kwak Seung-jae and the other disciplinary committee members were certain they had found the right place. Members of the thieves¡¯ club stood guard around the building and on the roof. Some were concealed, but they couldn¡¯t escape Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s notice. At that moment, one of the thieves spotted the disciplinary committee members and widened his eyes in alarm. Just as he opened his mouth to shout, ¡°Se¡ª!¡± A member of the disciplinary committee dashed forward like lightning and subdued him. Another member fired a crossbow bolt toward the rooftop, Crackle! The thief on the roof, who had been scanning the area, collapsed as if hit by a jolt of electricity and his body stiffened. Following Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s signal, the rest of the disciplinary committee members began silently taking down the remaining thieves. ¡°Guhk.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± The student disciplinary committee was a group composed of the most skilled students in the Dragon Slayer Academy. Even among them, those participating in this operation were an elite selection of the best. As a result, the thieves were taken down in quick succession. They couldn¡¯t even scream before falling. Soon, one of the disciplinary committee members approached Kwak Seung-jae and reported. ¡°All clear. Shall we proceed?¡± Kwak Seung-jae gave a slight nod to signal his approval, then stared at the abandoned building as he spoke. ¡°Using surveillance crystal balls for personal gain is a serious violation of school rules and a criminal act. Everyone involved should be punished. Apprehend them without exception.¡± The members of the disciplinary committee leaped effortlessly to the second and third floors. They shattered the partially broken windows as they entered the building. Crash¡ª! *** ¨C We¡¯ve been exposed. ¡°What? Who¡¯s here?¡± ¨C ....... Dang Gyu-young asked in shock, but there was no reply from Chae Da-bin. It was likely that they could no longer maintain communication. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression turned bitter. ¡°Damn it... We got hit hard.¡± As expected, they weren¡¯t an easy opponent. The disciplinary committee was composed of carefully selected elites. Someone must have suspected the crystal balls, and from there, they had tracked them step by step until they finally caught a lead. Judging by the fact that Kwak Seung-jae had yet to appear, it seemed like he was the one behind the plan. They struck us precisely where it hurts. The most crucial area, the temporary storage room, was located on the top floor which was the fourth floor. Since we had entered from the second floor of the adjacent building, it was only natural that we¡¯d need to use the stairs to go up. As we moved quickly, Dang Gyu-young who was leading the group suddenly came to a halt and called out to me. ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve hit a formation.¡± Sure enough, I felt an unsettling sensation emanating from up ahead. If we had pressed forward blindly, we would have wasted time wandering aimlessly. As planned, this was my task to handle. I stepped forward and spoke. ¡°Tie us all together.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s shadow stretched into the form of a rope and connected the group in a single file, like a train. She then gave instructions. ¡°Ignore everything else; just follow the direction the rope pulls.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Yes, noonim.¡± Choi Han-gil and Shin Byeong-cheol replied. When I took a few steps forward, the corridor shimmered and split into two. Of course, using my stagnant water senses, I knew both paths were wrong. The correct choice was to go straight. I ignored the split and kept walking, and just as I was about to hit the wall, the two paths merged again of their own accord. After taking a few more steps, the corridor stretched out and abruptly twisted to the left. However, I stopped in place and refused to move. After a few seconds, the corridor seemed to realize it wasn¡¯t working and returned to its original state. Just observe carefully and move through. After that, I continued to rely on my stagnant water senses and quickly advanced, and in no time, I had broken through the formation. Shin Byeong-cheol exaggerated his amazement as he mimicked Go Hyun-woo¡¯s voice. ¡°Hoho, Kim-hyung¡¯s sharp eye is truly remarkable. To break through such a tricky formation so effortlessly!¡± ¡°Hey, Shin Byeong-cheol. Is now the time to be joking around?¡± Dang Gyu-young scolded, but I simply chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It lightens the mood. I think it¡¯s nice.¡± ¡°Take my side.¡± ¡°Byeong-cheol, are you here for a picnic?¡± ¡°Pfft, haha!¡± However, we all quickly stopped chatting when we spotted a staircase not far ahead. We approached little by little with our guard up, but we noticed there was still no sign of the disciplinary committee. Dang Gyu-young seemed slightly deflated. ¡°Seriously, how have we come this far without seeing a single one of them?¡± Through Jeong Chong-myeong¡¯s scan, we confirmed that there were very few people inside. Even those few must have been affected by the large-scale magic cast by the White Magic Club. Still, having made it this far, we should have encountered at least one of them by now. This isn¡¯t good news. If they weren¡¯t here, it most likely meant they were near the temporary storage. Perhaps others had reached the same conclusion, as the atmosphere grew even heavier. In contrast, Choi Han-gil placed his foot on the staircase without much concern. ¡°What¡¯s the point of worrying? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re turning back now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Dang Gyu-young nodded her head in agreement and began climbing the stairs with the rest of the group. But just as we passed the third floor and stepped onto the stairs leading to the fourth, we froze in place as soon as we looked upward. A female student was standing there while calmly gazing down at us. On her arm was the disciplinary committee armband, and her gold tie pin gleamed in the light. She was a third-year member of the disciplinary committee. So, there was one here after all. Since reaching the top floor required using the stairs, it made sense for them to station at least one person there. ¡°......¡± Without a word, the girl drew a slender rapier from her waist. She held it upright in front of her chest. She put her other hand behind her back and assumed the graceful posture of a swan. Then, in an instant, she rushed down the stairs toward us with terrifying speed. Swishhh! Chapter 258: Time’s Up (1) The disciplinary committee member descended the stairs at a terrifying speed as she thrust her rapier toward us. Swiiish! At that moment, Han Gyeol-woo who had been silently following us all this time spoke for the first time. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this.¡± She stepped forward and instantly unleashed her magic. [Ice Wall] [Triple Layer Wall] [Triple Layer Ice Wall] Boom! Three thick ice walls erupted, blocking the opponent¡¯s path. The disciplinary committee member responded swiftly. Flashes of light danced, accompanied by the sharp sound of something slicing through. Shhk¡ªSlash¡ªShhk! One of the ice walls was reduced to pieces in an instant. At this rate, the remaining walls wouldn¡¯t last more than a few seconds. But Han Gyeol-woo remained calm, as if she had anticipated this. Without hesitation, she placed her hand on the ice wall and cast her next spell. [Shatter] Cha-ching! The entire ice structure shattered into hundreds of shards. Each shard was the size of a fingernail as they scattered into the air. Then, with a snap of her fingers¡ª [Ice Prison] The shards in the air instantly converged toward the disciplinary committee member before trapping her in ice. She was trapped in mere moments, frozen inside a sculpture of jagged shards. Great skill synergy. She erected walls of ice, shattered them, and then reassembled the shards to trap her opponent. It was a seamless flow of magic, as natural as water running downstream. Crackle. However, judging by the fissures already spreading across the ice, it didn¡¯t seem like it would hold for long. Perhaps she was aware of this herself, Han Gyeol-woo murmured softly. ¡°Go on ahead.¡± Her intention was clear. She would stay behind even after the ice shattered and buy everyone time by holding off the disciplinary committee member. If we fought together, we could probably bring her down, but even that brief amount of time felt too precious to waste. After all, wasn¡¯t she assigned to our group by the White Magic Club precisely for situations like this? After exchanging brief glances with Han Gyeol-woo, everyone passed her and went up the stairs. Still, I¡¯ll take this with me. [Activated ¡®Copy-Skil¡¯.] [The skill ¡®Ice Wall (B)¡¯ has been registered in your slot.] ? Copy ¨C Skills [3/3] 1. Thief¡¯s Step (B+) 2. Overheat (C) 3. Ice Wall (B) Ice Wall was a B-rank spell. With my current C+-rank core, its mana consumption was too high to be used frequently. Still, it had its merits, and compared to the near-useless [Shadow Sanctuary] that had been taking up a slot, this was far more practical. So I copied it without hesitation. r??¦Á? As we hurried up the stairs and reached the fourth floor, another formation awaited us. Just like before, I took the lead while Dang Gyu-young extended her shadow to tie the group together. Although we entered the formation, there was no visible change to our surroundings. But that itself was the trap. With both our vision and sense of direction distorted, continuing to walk aimlessly would only lead us to circle in place. I reminded the group of what to do and gave them a simple instruction. ¡°Just follow the pull of the rope.¡± Then, I sharply adjusted our direction and walked straight toward the wall. Just as I was about to crash headlong into the wall, the hallway twisted on its own to align perfectly with my path. In the end, nothing beats experience. This was the stagnant water sense I had honed through countless encounters with such formations. All the hard work from back then had paid off now. We were able to break through the formation with ease this time as well. Meanwhile, I had a thought. I have a feeling they¡¯ll be waiting right outside... At the moment, the distorted view made it seem like there was nothing beyond the formation. However, this area was the perfect spot for the disciplinary committee to lie in wait. They could observe anyone breaking through the formation and easily launch an ambush. They had even stationed someone on the staircase earlier. Would they really leave such a prime location unguarded? Whoosh! In anticipation of this, I had already set up a Wind Barrier and Choi Han-gil who had also noticed something covered the barrier with additional defensive magic. Sure enough, the moment we stepped out of the formation¡ª Prioritize high-value and low-volume items. Dang Gyu-young darted to one side, grabbed a prohibited item, scurried back, and dropped it neatly into the Cube. ¡°This one~.¡± Then, she dashed to another spot, picked up another item, and slipped it into the Cube. ¡°And this one too~.¡± She ran again to another place again and repeated the process. Each item was undoubtedly a high-risk prohibited item, yet her demeanor made it feel oddly like she was grocery shopping. In the middle of filling her metaphorical shopping cart, she suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Found it.¡± She returned holding a thick, hardcover book. Its dark purple cover was worn, with a few pages torn out. [The Book of Chaos (A)] It was the very item requested by the White Magic Club. When she casually flipped it open, it was clear that only a few pages were missing. This meant that the book had likely been recently acquired. It was confiscated before they could even use it properly, so it was no wonder they wanted it back. After carefully tucking the Book of Chaos into a corner of the cube, she resumed her ¡°shopping¡±. I should pick out some things for myself too. Back at the first temporary storage and the black market, I had focused on items that negated elemental penalties while relying on my S-rank Elemental Resistance. Now, though, there was a new category added to my list. Poison. With poison resistance to minimize damage and the Hoodie of the Hidden Master to remove harmful effects, I could handle poisons with relative ease. Plus, to fully achieve Thousand Poisons Immunity, I needed to consume every poison I could find, whether it was mild or deadly. So I filled the cube with all kinds of poisonous items. From poison vials, pills, herbs. Anything I could get my hands on. [Regicide Toxin (B+)] [Blue Hemlock (C+)] [Cute Deadly Poison (C)] [Fruit of Condemnation (B)] ...... I had no idea what someone had been planning with all these before they were confiscated, but the stash turned out to be far more impressive than I had anticipated. On the other hand, I looked around with the intention of picking up any useful elemental penalty items. Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t anything this time that caught my eye. I supposed it wasn¡¯t realistic to expect something on the level of the Inferno Fist or the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger every time. This time, I¡¯ll settle for poison. Besides, the items currently stored in the cube couldn¡¯t exactly be called mine yet. Infiltrating the temporary storage was only half the battle; escaping safely was still ahead of us. When Dang Gyu-young added yet another prohibited item to the cube, I closed the lid and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough for now.¡± ¡°Just one more.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already full, and we¡¯re out of time.¡± Though she seemed a bit reluctant, she appeared to agree that time wasn¡¯t on our side. We immediately connected to Jeong Chong-myeong. ¡°We¡¯ve got everything.¡± ¨C The book? ¡°Of course, we secured it. Now get us out of here.¡± ¨C Lock in the coordinates. ¡°I already did.¡± A device resembling a camera tripod had already been set up in one corner of the temporary storage room. It was a coordinate stabilizer. That was an item that made using spatial magic much easier. Dang Gyu-young turned to me and asked, ¡°Do you know how to use this?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± ¡°Then you go first.¡± Since I was holding the Cube of Life, it wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to say I was the key to this operation. I waited with the coordinate stabilizer clenched tightly in my hand. Fzzzzzzzzzt. Moments later, the mana began to ripple more violently, and soon it started to pull me somewhere. This was the activation of a medium-to-long-distance teleportation spell for a single user. However, just as my vision was about to shift, a space resembling the night sky opened outside the temporary storage room. The Dimensional Severance had been undone. ¡°Ugh!¡± Choi Han-gil let out a pained groan and collapsed to the floor. He hadn¡¯t even been inside for a few minutes, yet his entire body was covered in minor wounds. Right after that, two third-year disciplinary members trudged out and fixed their gazes on us. Time¡¯s up. Chapter 259: Time’s Up (2) Flash! The teleportation magic circle shone brightly, and Kim Ho appeared. The same thought flashed through Jeong Jong-myeong and Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s minds when they saw him. He¡¯s calm. He¡¯s so calm. Though a fair amount of time had passed since the semester began, Kim Ho was still a first-year student. This was an operation involving numerous seniors, and he was tasked with a critical role. It would have been natural for him to feel the pressure, yet there wasn¡¯t the slightest sign of it. His expression remained calm and composed. He even approached them directly, met their gaze, and said what he needed to say. ¡°Please prepare the next teleportation.¡± ¡°.......¡± Jeong Chong-myeong¡¯s eyes deepened. The fact that he was urging them immediately upon arrival meant that the situation in the temporary storage area must have grown urgent. He was curious about what exactly had happened, but that could wait until later. After exchanging a glance with Hong Ye-hwa, Jeong Chong-myeong infused the teleportation magic circle with mana. At the same time, he sent a communication to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Dang Gyu-young, we¡¯re activating it again.¡± ¨C Hurry! Quickly! A desperate voice responded. The two mages focused their minds even further, and¡ª Flash! Dang Gyu-young stepped out of the brilliantly glowing magic circle. When he saw the slight frown on her face, Jeong Chong-myeong asked her, ¡°Should we prepare another teleportation?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s enough.¡± Dang Gyu-young shook her head. The disciplinary committee members had been released from Choi Han-gil¡¯s Dimensional Severance and started fighting the thieves who were rummaging through the temporary storage facility. In the midst of it, even the coordinate stabilizer had been destroyed. Hong Ye-hwa asked, ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°...We can only hope they make it out on their own.¡± Of course, the chances of those left behind safely escaping the C-Exchange building were exceedingly slim. The opponents were two third-year disciplinary committee members, and on top of that, there were defensive formations set up everywhere. Dang Gyu-young said, ¡°Still, they¡¯ll buy us some time. They¡¯re pretty good at slipping away.¡± ¡°You¡¯d know your people best.¡± Jeong Chong-myeong nodded his head and moved on to the next topic. ¡°The book is with Kim Ho, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. Want it now?¡± ¡°After it¡¯s all over.¡± Taking it now would be meaningless if they got captured by the disciplinary committee. Leaving it with Kim Ho and Dang Gyu-young until the very last moment to focus on assisting their escape was the better option. The problem was the escape itself... Jeong Chong-myeong glanced lightly beyond the rooftop and remarked, ¡°Most of the escape routes are blocked.¡± The original plan had been to raid the temporary storage, slip into the downtown area, and return after the disciplinary committee withdrew. With Cha Da-bin providing vision, it would have been possible to move unnoticed. However, with the control tower now occupied, that plan was no longer viable. The disciplinary committee was also steadily tightening their encirclement. And so, there was only one option worth considering. Jeong Chong-myeong infused mana into the teleportation magic circle once more. ¡°No time to waste; both of you get on.¡± Dang Gyu-young asked in confusion. ¡°Wait, can this thing even handle two people at once?¡± ¡°It can¡¯t, but we¡¯re going to try anyway.¡± Teleportation was a long-distance spatial movement spell. The number of targets you could move, with the distance, accuracy, and such, increased with rank. However, due to the extreme difficulty of mastering it, even a president of the White Magic Club like Jeong Chong-myeong was only at C-rank. At his current level, teleportation was highly unstable without using tools like the magic circle and coordinate stabilizer, and it was barely capable of transporting one person at a time. But they didn¡¯t have the luxury to use it twice in succession. With the disciplinary committee possibly storming in at any moment, they had no choice but to risk sending two people at once. Dang Gyu-young also understood that fact, so she grabbed Kim Ho¡¯s arm and tugged him closer with an uneasy expression on her face. Then, as if determined not to let go, she locked arms with him. When he saw this, Jeong Chong-myeong¡¯s expression shifted slightly. There¡¯s no need to cling that tightly... Standing on the magic circle together would have sufficed. He glanced at Hong Ye-hwa who wore a similarly strange expression on her face. Still, it wasn¡¯t the time to focus on such trivial stuff, so they concentrated solely on powering the teleportation magic circle. Test Subject No. 4, Dang Gyu-young, seemed to find the Kim Ho mattress quite comfortable. With this, everyone except Test Subject No. 3, Hong Ye-hwa, had shown positive results. But now wasn¡¯t the time to leisurely conduct experiments. Ignoring the fact that Dang Gyu-young was on top of me, I raised myself up. ¡°Save it for later. For now, let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Mhmm, you¡¯re right.¡± With Dang Gyu-young suddenly serious again, I began making my way through the forest with her. Thanks to the two-person teleportation, we had skipped a considerable distance and managed to escape the disciplinary committee¡¯s encirclement. But it¡¯s never truly over until it¡¯s over. There was still a chance someone was lying in wait in this forest. Until we reached the dormitory, we couldn¡¯t let our guard down. As expected, after advancing a little further, a familiar face came into view. Song Cheon-hye. Song Cheon-hye looked a little bored, probably from having to spend time in such a remote place. But she still kept a serious eye on her surroundings, as if she considered this her duty. Though her skills were significantly inferior to Dang Gyu-young¡¯s, she had no idea we were hiding nearby. Still, it didn¡¯t look like we could slip past her easily. Fzzzzt, Thin strands of nearly invisible electrical currents filled the area, drifting around like a web. Lightning Thread. She had used that skill to catch Seo Ye-in¡¯s invisible ghillie suit in the placement test. As expected from a mana monster. She had spread it over a ridiculously wide area. No matter how well we hid, the moment we brushed against just one of those strands, we¡¯d be exposed. Circling around wasn¡¯t an option either, so I turned to Dang Gyu-young and said, ¡°Let¡¯s take her out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably the best option.¡± The best option was to subdue Song Cheon-hye and move past her. It would cause some commotion, but that was a risk we had to take. Soon, two black butterflies fluttered from Dang Gyu-young¡¯s hand. [Shadow Butterfly] The butterflies soared high into the sky and started flapping gently, before plummeting straight down onto Song Cheon-hye¡¯s head. ¡°!!¡± Song Cheon-hye flinched in shock and tried to react, but by then, the shadow butterflies were already exploding. When she glanced at Song Cheon-hye who was now tightly bound in shadowy ropes, Dang Gyu-young spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± We began running across Song Cheon-hye¡¯s designated area. The strands of lightning brushed against us and crackled constantly, but this level of interference wouldn¡¯t affect even Shin Byeong-cheol. After all, it wasn¡¯t magic designed to harm or restrain anyone. But before long¡ª ¡°Stoooooooop!¡± Song Cheon-hye¡¯s shout rang out from behind us. We exchanged glances as we kept running. ¡°Why did she get free so quickly?¡± ¡°...I have no idea.¡± Even if it wasn¡¯t for very long, it should have held her for at least three to five minutes. It seemed she¡¯d managed to acquire some high-rank item or skill. Fzzzzt! With her entire body covered in lightning, Song Cheon-hye charged at us with ferocious speed. Just like during the 4 vs 4 mentor duel, it looked like she was aiming for a full-on lightning tackle. She was surprisingly fast, and the distance between us was shrinking little by little. Dang Gyu-young glanced back over her shoulder and asked, ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to take her down completely.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± I had been running at a steady pace when I suddenly turned my body and reached out toward Song Cheon-hye. [Ice Wall] Boom! In an instant, a wall of ice rose in front of Song Cheon-hye¡¯s eyes. It was the Ice Wall skill I had copied from Han Gyeol-woo. It was a B-rank skill, so it was remarkably thick and sturdy. ¡°!!¡± Song Cheon-hye looked startled by the wall that had appeared so suddenly, but it was already too late for her to react. She had gained too much speed to stop or change direction. In the end, she crashed directly into the Ice Wall. Bang! A loud impact echoed through the forest in the dead of night. Dang Gyu-young glanced back again. ¡°That must¡¯ve hurt.¡± ¡°I do feel a little bad, but hey, we¡¯ve got to survive too.¡± Whoosh! At that moment, something faintly white flew toward us from up ahead. Chapter 260: The Disciplinary Committee President Whoosh! At that moment, something faintly white flew toward us from ahead. We quickly stepped aside, and as it passed by, we managed to catch a faint glimpse of its form. It was a hammer glowing brilliantly white. Dang Gyu-young turned her head sharply to look ahead as if she had identified who had thrown the hammer. Soon, the bushes rustled, and a male student stepped out. A sturdy build like a bear, slightly curved eyes that seemed to smile faintly, and a soft yet ambiguous expression. It was none other than the disciplinary committee president, Oh Se-hoon. Although we were still wearing black uniforms and masks, he seemed to have seen through our identities at a glance and spoke to us. ¡°Gyu-young, I have to admit, I¡¯m a little surprised. This was a plan we prepared for a long time, but I didn¡¯t expect you to break through all the way to here.¡± Dang Gyu-young immediately removed her mask. She seemed to decide that there was no point in denying it. After all, breaking past someone as skilled as the disciplinary committee president would inevitably require shadow magic, so it was only a matter of time before our identities were exposed. ¡°You definitely put a lot of effort into it. Got me good. Was this Seung-jae¡¯s idea?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. These days, Seung-jae handles all the major plans.¡± ¡°I figured as much. But what are you doing here?¡± It was a pointed question, asking why someone as important as the disciplinary committee president wasn¡¯t participating directly in the operation but instead lurking in a corner of the forest. Oh Se-hoon¡¯s lips curved into a gentle smile. ¡°Seung-jae handled things so well that I didn¡¯t have much to do. So I decided to take a stroll and prepare for any unlikely situations. Judging by the fact that we¡¯ve run into each other like this, it seems I made the right call.¡± After glancing briefly at Dang Gyu-young who frowned in annoyance, Oh Se-hoon turned his gaze toward me. ¡°Kim Ho, I¡¯m very disappointed. If you keep breaking school rules, we¡¯ll have no choice but to impose disciplinary action.¡± ¡°Why do you think this is Kim Ho?¡± It could be someone else. Dang Gyu-young tried to throw up a smokescreen, but it didn¡¯t work on Oh Se-hoon. ¡°I think I¡¯ve mentioned this before, but the two of you give off a very similar vibe.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± Dang Gyu-young seemed pleased for a moment but quickly masked her expression and feigned indifference. ¡°That¡¯s just your opinion, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°True, it¡¯s my intuition. But we¡¯ll find out soon enough, won¡¯t we?¡± It seemed Oh Se-hoon was getting ready to start, as he began to prepare for battle. Fwoosh¡ª Light gathered in his hands, forming a large shield in one and the shape of a hammer in the other; it was the same hammer he had thrown at us earlier. This confirmed his class beyond a doubt. Hammer Paladin. The Paladin was a branch of the Holy Knight class. It was a class known for its solid defense and skillful use of divine magic, making it a formidable opponent. The key difference from a typical Holy Knight was that it sacrificed some defensive capabilities as a knight in favor of focusing on divine magic. To put it simply, he¡¯s like a magic swordsman. Oh Se-hoon smiled faintly and spoke. ¡°How about a proposition? In a little while, the others will get here, but if you can break through me or evade me before then, I¡¯ll act like none of this ever happened.¡± ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you to say something like that?¡± When Dang Gyu-young asked with a hint of surprise, the smile on his lips deepened slightly. ¡°Well, since we¡¯re already fighting, I thought it¡¯d be nice if you put in some effort. It seems like this might be a good motivator.¡± Although he didn¡¯t say it outright, he probably had confidence that he could win even if Dang Gyu-young and I teamed up against him. It was a proposal that wasn¡¯t disadvantageous for us. After all, it was a given that we would face Oh Se-hoon in some way. So, after exchanging glances with Dang Gyu-young, we both nodded at the same time. Then, drawing upon our mana, we began to prepare for battle. A tense atmosphere enveloped the area. It¡¯s better not to use prohibited skills. Unless I was certain it would take him down, a Paladin at the level of a third-year disciplinary committee president would likely withstand even Inferno Fist. Not to mention, he¡¯d probably withstand the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger with a debuff removal skill. That would mean exposing the existence of prohibited skills for no gain. Therefore¡ª Win or lose, I¡¯ll have to settle this with wind-type skills. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú A+)] [The rank of ¡®Wind Force¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú A+)] [The rank of ¡®Spiral Explosion¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú A+)] [The rank of ¡®Chillwind¡¯ has increased. (E+ ¡ú C+)] [Duration: 00:09:59] [Cooldown: 21:19:59] Although I had used Amplification through Octopus Limbs multiple times, there was only one trait I could immediately grant through Enchantment. In reality, even as Oh Se-hoon busily exchanged attacks with her, he occasionally hurled hammers in my direction. Whirrr! By now, more than ten hammers were orbiting around me. Looks like it¡¯s about time. With so many hammers gathered, it was the perfect setup for a chain attack. I kept my speed steady, staying ready to react at any moment, and just as expected, faint ripples of mana began emanating from behind me. [Detonate Light] Fwoosh! The glowing hammers exploded simultaneously, flooding the area with blinding white light. At that moment, I stepped forward. [Ghost Dance] Swoosh... With a fluid, gliding movement, I slipped out of the explosion¡¯s radius. Oh Se-hoon looked slightly startled. He was clearly not expecting me to evade his chain attack. What¡¯s more, thanks to Ghost Dance, he momentarily lost track of me. If I¡¯m going to counterattack, this is my chance. I planted the sapling in the ground and extended my hand forward. [Earth Line] [Chillwind] [Wind Force] [Spiral Explosion] Whooosh¡ª! A fierce whirlwind blew around Oh Se-hoon and Dang Gyu-young. Having suffered repeatedly from my wind magic in the past, Dang Gyu-young quickly realized what was about to happen. She hastily used Shadow Leap to escape. Moments later, the wind that had been gathering and compressing erupted in a huge explosion. Boom! ¡°Well done.¡± The next moment, Oh Se-hoon¡¯s voice echoed from above me. I immediately kicked off the ground and retreated backward¡ª Crash! A hammer slammed into the spot where I had been, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Of course. If Dang Gyu-young could use Shadow Leap, it stood to reason that someone as skilled as Oh Se-hoon would have a similar ability. Sure enough, just before he could be caught by Spiral Explosion, he had moved above me. He had used Blink which was a short-range teleportation skill. Oh Se-hoon who was close by swung his hammer at me. As he did, he continued to praise me. ¡°Your skill and psychological tactics are flawless. I¡¯d believe it if someone told me you were a second-year.¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± Soon after, Dang Gyu-young rejoined the fight using Shadow Leap, and the three of us began a two-against-one close-quarters battle. Shadow daggers, glowing hammers, wind imbued with physical force, holy energy, sapling attacks, and a radiant shield clashed in a chaotic whirlwind. But it wasn¡¯t long before Oh Se-hoon suddenly stopped in place. The hammers that had been circling him without pause were all withdrawn. He spoke with a gentle smile. ¡°Shall we call it a day?¡± From all directions, presences were closing in. It was undoubtedly the disciplinary committee members. Blinding flashes of light and deafening roars echoed around us. It would have been impossible not to notice. Failing to shake them off in time meant we had effectively lost. I bowed respectfully to Oh Se-hoon. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot from you, senior.¡± ¡°Yes, Kim Ho, you fought well. You too, Gyu-young.¡± In contrast, Dang Gyu-young merely pouted with her lips jutting out in displeasure. Soon, members of the disciplinary committee swarmed around us and surrounded us completely. Rumble... A wooden door rose from the ground not far away. Through the open door, the interior of the disciplinary committee¡¯s room came into view. Moments later, Kwak Seung-jae stepped through and bowed to Oh Se-hoon. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯ve had the hardest job here. Let¡¯s head inside.¡± Following their lead, we stepped into the disciplinary committee¡¯s room. Chapter 261: Magnifying Glass Rumble.... The disciplinary committee¡¯s room was nothing short of a bustling marketplace. With disciplinary committee members, the Thieves¡¯ Club, the White Magic Club, and even the Ruby Magic Tower all gathered here due to their involvement in the incident, the large crowd was only normal. Oh Se-hoon who had stepped into the room maintained a reserved stance. This confirmed the fact that he delegated most of the important work to Kwak Seung-jae. In fact, this operation had been led by him as well. Soon, Kwak Seung-jae stepped forward. He glanced at Dang Gyu-young and me in turn before leading the way. ¡°This way, please.¡± He guided us through a door on one side of the office and led us to an adjacent room. It was the disciplinary committee¡¯s exclusive interrogation room which was known as the ¡°Room of Truth¡±. Once inside, everyone comes out a better person... Typically, the Room of Truth accommodated no more than three or four people at a time for their ¡°nice talk¡± but today, even this space was crowded. The scale of the incident involved several clubs. So it was inevitable. As we entered, Jeong Chong-myeong and Hong Ye-hwa both turned to look in our direction. Jeong Chong-myeong smirked faintly. ¡°So you got caught?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it went~ Oh Se-hoon was lying in wait.¡± Dang Gyu-young replied nonchalantly, then plopped down onto an empty folding chair. I moved to take the seat beside her, but then I felt an intense, almost stinging gaze on me, which caused me to turn my head. That was when I met the sharp eyes of Song Cheon-hye staring straight at me. A large bump had formed on her forehead, and she had tissues stuffed into both nostrils, likely from a double nosebleed. This was the result of her charging full speed into the ice wall. And since I was the one who had summoned that ice wall, I offered an apology. ¡°Sorry, I went a bit overboard, didn¡¯t I?¡± Song Cheon-hye grimaced and spoke in a nasal tone. ¡°Thad¡¯s enough. Hurry up and dake out the prohibited itens.¡± ¡°Prohibited items? What prohibited items?¡± I feigned confusion and acted as though this was the first I¡¯d heard of it. At that, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s expression shifted to a mix of disbelief and rising anger. She quickly spun around, pulled the tissues from her nose, and then whipped back to glare at me. R ¡°You¡¯re seriously going to deny it even now?¡± ¡°Denial is for people who actually have something to hide. How am I supposed to claim something exists when it doesn¡¯t?¡± ¡°Why are you lying when it¡¯s obviously going to come out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. Why would I tell a lie that¡¯s so easy to find?¡± If I were to lie, it would be about something impossible to reveal. Like right now, for instance. Perhaps because I was so brazenly confident that Song Cheon-hye appeared momentarily shaken. But she quickly steeled herself and hardened her expression. ¡°Fine. Then let¡¯s confirm it.¡± Song Cheon-hye took out a terminal with a crystal ball embedded in it. The device functioned similarly to a Ban Wave detector. If the target possessed or stored a prohibited item in their inventory, the ball would glow red. Song Cheon-hye immediately pointed the device at me. However, contrary to her expectation that the crystal ball would light up red right away, it remained unchanged. There was no way it would detect anything. I had stored everything inside the Cube of Life. Song Cheon-hye¡¯s pupils quivered violently. ¡°Wh-What... There¡¯s really nothing?¡± ¡°I keep saying there¡¯s nothing. Can¡¯t you trust what someone says?¡± ¡°No, no, not yet.¡± Song Cheon-hye turned to look at Dang Gyu-young. It seemed she thought if I didn¡¯t have them, then Dang Gyu-young must have them. She quickly excused herself and held the terminal out to her. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± ¡°Well, sure.¡± Dang Gyu-young nodded her head casually. Some time passed in that state, but... ...The crystal ball remained silent. Song Cheon-hye became even more flustered and started stammering her words. ¡°N-No, this, this can¡¯t be...¡± The reactions of those watching were similar. They had been certain that one of the two of us must have prohibited items. Jeong Chong-myeong and Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest, while Oh Se-hoon smirked silently. Even Kwak Seung-jae stared intently at me as if trying to figure something out. I calmly met their eyes and spoke to Song Cheon-hye. ¡°Do you understand now? I¡¯m innocent. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Kim Ho, you can just refuse. Why agree to this?¡± Dang Gyu-yeong tried to persuade me with a worried expression on her face. After all, there was absolutely no value in revealing inventory information for something like this. No matter how well the prohibited items were hidden inside the Cube of Life, there was still a high chance that the magnifying glass could expose them. However, I smiled lightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just trust me this once.¡± ¡°...Aah.¡± Dang Gyu-yeong still looked uneasy, but perhaps deciding it was pointless to argue further, she sighed deeply and gave up. Kwak Seung-jae asked, ¡°Let¡¯s hear your conditions.¡± ¡°First, I¡¯d like to minimize the number of onlookers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s only fair.¡± The purpose of using the magnifying glass was solely to check for the presence of prohibited items. There was no reason to reveal one¡¯s inventory in front of a dozen or so spectators. ¡°And if the magnifying glass is used and you find no prohibited items, I ask that there be no further pursuit regarding the stolen items.¡± Kwak Seung-jae exchanged a quick glance with Oh Se-hoon before nodding his head in agreement. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll let it go.¡± ¡°And finally...¡± I looked directly at Song Cheon-hye as I voiced my final condition. ¡°If you¡¯ve wrongly accused someone, you should take responsibility. If no prohibited items are found, I¡¯d like to receive a wish ticket from Song Cheon-hye.¡± ¡°A wish ticket?¡± ¡°Yes, a promise to help me with something in the future, no matter what it is.¡± At the moment, Song Cheon-hye still had three ¡°small¡± wish tickets left from the mentoring bet. But this was on an entirely different scale. This was a powerful, so-called ¡°large¡± wish ticket. With the seniors watching, there would be no room for her to feign ignorance later. Kwak Seung-jae turned to Song Cheon-hye and asked, ¡°Song Cheon-hye, will you accept?¡± At this point, it seemed Song Cheon-hye had realized something strange was happening here, but it was already too late to back down. Having started this herself, could she retreat now after coming this far? Her pride wouldn¡¯t allow it. ¡°I-I accept. The wish ticket.¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s proceed.¡± Kwak Seung-jae exchanged another glance with Oh Se-hoon before quickly chanting a spell. Rumble, rumble... A wooden door suddenly rose from the ground. Taking the lead, Kwak Seung-jae turned to Song Cheon-hye and me and spoke. ¡°Follow me.¡± Crossing through the door, we found ourselves standing in the middle of a forest. It was slightly removed from the place where Oh Se-hoon¡¯s intense battle had occurred. The surroundings were dark, illuminated only faintly by the moonlight filtering through the trees. Kwak Seung-jae gave a final confirmation. ¡°Are you both ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, I¡¯m ready.¡± Song Cheon-hye¡¯s voice trembled slightly. Moments later, a magnifying glass emerged from Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s inventory. Under the moonlight, it gleamed with a golden light. [Pure Gold Magnifying Glass ¨C Inventory (B)] ¡°Song Cheon-hye.¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± Song Cheon-hye carefully took the golden magnifying glass and cautiously pointed it at me. Her fingertips trembled visibly, which betrayed how nervous she felt. However, after taking a deep breath, Song Cheon-hye infused mana into the magnifying glass. Moments later, a notification message appeared at the edge of her vision. [Failed to use the magnifying glass.] ¡°H-Huh...?¡± Song Cheon-hye¡¯s eyes widened in shock; she was clearly flustered. Thinking she might have made a mistake, she tried using the magnifying glass again. [Failed to use the magnifying glass.] [The magnifying glass has been destroyed.] Crack. Fractures spread across the surface of the magnifying glass, and in an instant, it crumbled into pieces and scattered as fine dust. Song Cheon-hye stared blankly at the scene and was unable to process what had happened. Gradually, her expression shifted as tears began to well up in her eyes. Chapter 262: Kwak Seung-jae’s Grand Plan Items or skills that extract information about others, such as magnifying glasses, were classified as ¡°mental interference¡± category. This was because they worked by reading the necessary information from the target¡¯s unconscious mind and displaying it. And I possessed a trait that resisted such mental interference. Monarch. The mental barrier of a Monarch was particularly strong, making it nearly impossible to penetrate unless the one attempting interference had an exceptionally high rank. They¡¯d need to be at least two ranks higher just to have a chance. The magnifying glass prepared by the disciplinary committee was, in all likelihood, B-rank, or A-rank at best. When [Monarch] was C-rank, there had been a slim chance that an A-rank magnifying glass could breach my defenses. But now that it had risen to B-rank, it would take an S-rank item to get through. And the probability of the disciplinary committee possessing a rare S-rank magnifying glass was practically zero. Even if they had one, they¡¯d hesitate to use something so precious. With all this in mind, I had placed my bet and easily beat the magnifying glass Song Cheon-hye used. To be honest, I hadn¡¯t intended to destroy it, but it must have already been on the verge of breaking. ¡°Se-Senior...¡± Song Cheon-hye¡¯s voice trembled as she glanced at Kwak Seung-jae; her eyes were welling up with tears. She was probably feeling utterly defeated. She had confidently brought up the magnifying glass, accepted the bet, and not only failed to use it but even ended up breaking it entirely. I do feel a little bad. After all, she had simply been trying to fulfill her duties as a member of the disciplinary committee but ended up bearing the brunt of the failure. This was why you shouldn¡¯t accept bets recklessly. Especially when your opponent is me. Meanwhile, Kwak Seung-jae had fixed his gaze on me ever since the magnifying glass was destroyed. After a moment of silent observation, he finally spoke. ¡°Judging from your reaction, I guess you expected this to happen.¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± I readily admitted. If I didn¡¯t have [Monarch], I would have flatly refused to use the magnifying glass, just as Dang Gyu-young had done. ¡°Looking back, there was a flaw in the conditions you set. ¡®If the magnifying glass is used and you find no prohibited items¡¯....¡± If I had wanted to make it more precise, I could have worded it more precisely, such as, ¡°if no prohibited items are listed¡±. For the list to appear, the magnifying glass would need to function properly in the first place. But instead, I had left it intentionally vague and phrased the condition as, ¡°if it¡¯s used and you find no prohibited items¡±. It¡¯s not technically wrong. Failing to use it also meant no prohibited items were revealed, after all. Kwak Seung-jae looked straight at me and spoke firmly. ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like word games.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware, aren¡¯t you, that we could play the same game if we wanted to?¡± The first condition for allowing the use of the magnifying glass had been to reduce the number of observers. Since there was no condition that they couldn¡¯t talk about it, they could easily spread the word of what had happened here if they felt like it. ¡°However, that¡¯s not my style. What happens here will remain here.¡± True to his straightforward nature, Kwak Seung-jae chose not to act otherwise. When Kwak Seung-jae sent a glance toward Song Cheon-hye, she nodded as if in agreement. This condition had been set from the start while taking their personalities into account. ¡°And as promised, I won¡¯t pursue the matter of the stolen prohibited items further. However...¡± Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s gaze grew even sharper. ¡°...Because of this incident, you¡¯ve officially made it onto the list of people to watch. At the very least, the two of us will be keeping a close eye on you.¡± ?? ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful in the future.¡± Though the suspicion had been cleared, there was no escaping their watchful eyes. If anything, the fact that the magnifying glass didn¡¯t work on me would make me seem doubly suspicious. It was something I¡¯d expected ever since acquiring [Monarch]. Since it was inevitable, I had wagered on the situation to reap as much benefit as possible. After staring at me for a while longer, Kwak Seung-jae finally shifted his gaze to Song Cheon-hye. ¡°Song Cheon-hye.¡± Dang Gyu-young grumbled as she asked, ¡°I figured it¡¯d be something like this. When is it going to start?¡± ¡°You can start as early as tomorrow.¡± ¡°Is that even possible? This is the duel battles week.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve obtained permission from the academy. The dungeon building will be opened for this week only.¡± The sooner, the better, huh? The dark Ooblecks, even at this very moment, were devouring everything in sight and growing stronger. The more time they were given, the harder it would become to bring them down, so rather than waiting until the strategy battle week, it was better to deal with them as soon as possible. Hong Ye-hwa and Jeong Chong-myeong nodded and made brief remarks. ¡°Well, sure. Cleaning a dungeon sounds better than cleaning sewers.¡± ¡°What exactly do we have to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything now.¡± Kwak Seung-jae began laying out the detailed plan. *** By the time we were released from the disciplinary committee room, dawn was already breaking. Everyone was visibly exhausted and returned to the dormitory, but Dang Gyu-young and I still had unfinished business. It was time to distribute the prohibited items. I separated my share, emptied the cube, and handed the rest of the items over to Dang Gyu-young. At this, she forgot her fatigue and started grinning widely. ¡°Heheheh.¡± ¡°Are you that happy?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m happy. We made a huge profit this time too~¡± ¡°You do realize it¡¯s all thanks to me, right?¡± ¡°Of course~ I know~¡± Dang Gyu-young replied with a big smile. The prohibited items we had retrieved from the temporary storage were mostly highly valuable ones. On top of that, we would also receive a commission from the White Magic Club, so a little dungeon cleaning as punishment didn¡¯t seem like much at all. If the disciplinary committee had kept pressing the issue about the missing prohibited items, our punishment might have been worse, but even that had been swept under the rug thanks to the magnifying glass bet I orchestrated. From Dang Gyu-young¡¯s perspective, this was an undeniable win. She waved the Book of Chaos in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll deliver this one. I need to meet with them anyway to collect the commission.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± ¡°No rush, right?¡± ¡°Yes, take your time.¡± Thanks to the commission, I gained permission to borrow the Book of Chaos, though I couldn¡¯t raid dungeons without permission for the time being. The threat of the Witch of Corruption still lingered, and as a result, the dungeon building¡¯s security had been tightened. I planned to borrow it once things settled down. Dang Gyu-young spoke with a hint of disappointment. ¡°I guess we can¡¯t share the punishment. It¡¯s fun when we go into dungeons together.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do about it.¡± According to Kwak Seung-jae, the cleanup of the dungeon buildings would be carried out with selected people targeting specific dungeons as assigned by the disciplinary committee. And unless the disciplinary committee had completely lost their mind, there was no way they¡¯d put first-years and third-years in the same dungeon. I replied casually, ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of time. Let¡¯s go together when things calm down later.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Dang Gyu-young nodded her head with a smile, then asked again, ¡°When are you planning to go in?¡± ¡°After resting a bit. Maybe Friday or over the weekend.¡± ¡°What will you do while resting?¡± ¡°Even if I say resting, it¡¯s more like training. Strengthening my foundation.¡± While working on dungeon cleanup, there was a good chance I¡¯d encounter Dark Oobleck at least once or twice. This wasn¡¯t just a simple punishment; it had ties to the main quest as well. If that was the case, I needed to boost my stats as much as possible beforehand. I have plenty of materials. My inventory was already filled with various poisonous stuff. Chapter 263: Remodeling the Villa In reality, I wanted to gulp down a heap of poisons and dive straight into mana cultivation, but there was something I had to take care of first. I need to return the cube. The Cube of Life was only a borrowed item from Park Na-ri and Bum. Two days had passed already, so it was only right to return it. Of course, as promised, I would finish the remodeling before handing it back. Building trust like this would make it easier to borrow from them again next time. So, after school, I headed toward the Magic Engineering Workshop. As always, Workshop No. 1 was bustling with activity, leaving no time to catch a breath. While I waited outside, a few seniors passing by recognized me and gave me polite nods of acknowledgment. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Having come and gone here many times, we¡¯d become familiar with each other¡¯s faces. Perhaps guessing why I was here, one of them turned immediately to call for Bong Jae-seok. Before long, Bong Jae-seok dropped whatever he had been doing and came rushing out. The anticipation in his eyes was impossible to hide. ¡°I was thinking of calling you soon anyway. What brings you here?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s this.¡± I didn¡¯t disappoint his expectations. As I answered, I casually took out the Cube of Life and Bong Jae-seok¡¯s lips curled into a wide grin. ¡°...Are you returning it?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m returning it today, but I want to make a few adjustments first.¡± ¡°You did well bringing it. Come on in, come on in.¡± Bong Jae-seok and the Magic Engineering Club¡¯s ultimate goal was to create a fully functional S-rank Cube of Life. Of course, it was an incredibly distant and difficult objective. In such circumstances, the chance to examine a sample was like rain during a drought. It was a rare and precious opportunity. Even just watching me work from over my shoulder would likely yield them significant insights. On top of that, I added a suggestion. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try it yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯d love to, but what if I mess it up by tinkering with it?¡± Naturally, Bong Jae-seok wanted to examine and study it in greater depth, but the risk of breaking it was too high to take lightly. I reassured him as he hesitated. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll fix it myself.¡± ¡°Really? In that case, I¡¯m all in.¡± Bong Jae-seok quickly took a seat in front of the Cube of Life and pulled over a few magic engineering tools. As he activated his skill, the tools and his hands glowed faintly blue. I pointed to one corner of the cube and gave him instructions. ¡°Start from here.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Following my lead, Bong Jae-seok began carefully repairing the Cube of Life step by step. To be honest, I could have just copied [Magic Engineering] and done the work myself. There weren¡¯t any particularly challenging parts, so it would have saved a lot of time, too. Even so, I deliberately chose this more difficult approach because, I can¡¯t waste my slots. ? Copy ¨C Skills [3/3] 1. Thief¡¯s Step (B+) 2. Overheat (C) 3. Ice Wall (B) All three were valuable skills with no room for compromise at the moment. If I copied [Magic Engineering], I¡¯d have to overwrite one of the three slots above. Once the job was done, I¡¯d then need to track down either Dang Gyu-young or Hong Yeon-hwa to copy their skills again. R As for Han Gyul-woo, she was someone I barely knew, so she was completely out of the question. Even setting aside the trouble of finding them, it felt awkward to suddenly ask someone to demonstrate their skills just for this purpose. Even Dang Gyu-young who knew quite a bit about my secrets didn¡¯t fully understand how my copying worked. ¨C Could you use Thief¡¯s Step for me just once? ¨C Huh? Why all of a sudden? It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine a scene like that happening. In the end, dealing with all that hassle felt like more trouble than it was worth. So I decided not to touch my copy slots at all and proceed with the current setup. Besides, from Bong Jae-seok¡¯s perspective, it was far more beneficial to get hands-on experience rather than just watching. With that in mind, I kept giving instructions, and Bong Jae-seok continued manifesting [Magic Engineering]. ¡°This section of the inner wall needs particular attention. The amplification effect originates here.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what it is. I saw it in the blueprints.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s save that part for last. If you handle it wrong, it could cause serious problems.¡± ¡°...Really? Got it.¡± Park Na-ri put her head back in the right position with a groan and rubbed her sore chin as she spoke. ¡°Th-The cube, please...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you right away.¡± If I delayed any longer, her chin might not survive the second or third ¡°cat punch¡±. I quickly pulled out the Cube of Life, opened the lid slightly, and spoke in a gentle tone. ¡°Bum-nim, the remodeling is complete. Please, take a look.¡± Bum stared at the cube for a few seconds before leaping down from Park Nari¡¯s arms. I got on one knee to meet his eye level. Bum sniffed all around the cube while pressing his nose against various spots before effortlessly hopping into the box. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Does it suit your tastes?¡± Instead of answering, Bum lightly tapped the box lid with his front paw and shut it closed. I decided to interpret that as a yes. Without hesitation, I handed the Cube of Life that was still closed back to Park Na-ri. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°...Thank you.¡± Park Na-ri let out a sigh of relief, mixing it with her words of gratitude, and started walking away while clutching the cube tightly in her arms. Her retreating figure looked twice as exhausted as usual. Scratch, scratch, scratch! From inside the cube came the constant, enthusiastic sound of claws scratching against its interior. *** At the Training Center, I sat down in the middle of the Mana Cultivation Room. The first thing I did was use the Random Rank Up I received from Bong Jae-seok. Fwoosh... The magical scroll crumbled into black ash and a notification appeared. [Rank Up failed.] Even so, the corners of my lips curled upward slightly. Finally. [Stamp Coupon (C)] ? Stamps: 10/10 ? Reward for 10 Stamps: Rank Up (C) It was because I had completed the Stamp Coupon by accumulating ten failed attempts. I had already decided in advance where to use the Rank Up. [Activated ¡®Rank Up (C)¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Amplification¡¯ has been increased. (C¡úB)] [Duration: 10 minutes ¡ú 15 minutes.] [Cooldown: 1 hour 20 minutes ¡ú 50 minutes.] Amplification was the most powerful and versatile skill I had, so it was the first choice worth investing in. Recently, I had been extending its duration with the Skill Tuning Scroll, which also increased its cooldown, and with the addition of Octopus Limbs, it had become increasingly difficult to manage. Now that it had risen to B-rank and the cooldown had decreased again, I could finally breathe a bit easier. I still had two Random Rank Up scrolls left, but I decided to save them for the next Stamp Coupon. ¡°Time to give it a try.¡± I prepared to consume the poisons I had packed from the Temporary Storage and take on the Thousand Poisons Immunity. While wearing the Hoodie of the Hidden Master, I reached into my inventory. The first thing my fingers touched was a small glass bottle filled with pink liquid. At first glance, it looked harmless, but that was far from the truth. [Cute Deadly Poison (C)] An item that occasionally appeared from the slot machine on the Dragon Slayer Academy train. Back then, I had tried to avoid it since I had no countermeasures against poison. Now, if it¡¯s poison, it¡¯s all good. When I removed the glass stopper, a sweet smell of cotton candy wafted into my nose. It seemed like it was tempting for me to drink it. So, as I intended, I downed the contents of the glass bottle in one gulp. Ugh, bitter. An unimaginably bitter taste overwhelmed my taste buds. The Cute Deadly Poison didn¡¯t stop there. It burned its way down my esophagus to my stomach and tried to melt everything it touched. A stinging sensation spread throughout my body, but I had already anticipated as much. Well then, let¡¯s get started. I adjusted my posture and closed my eyes. Then, I focused my mind entirely on mana cultivation. Chapter 264: Disciplinary Action (1) The White Magic Club. The club president¡¯s office. The seated Jeong Chong-myeong was facing two guests. Those guests, of course, were Dang Gyu-young and Hong Ye-hwa. Although they had all received disciplinary action for their recent infiltration of the temporary storage, the atmosphere between the three club presidents was unexpectedly cheerful. This was because the rewards they gained far outweighed the consequences. Jeong Chong-myeong and Hong Ye-hwa had managed to recover most of the prohibited items that had been confiscated from their members, including The Book of Chaos. Dang Gyu-young had received ample compensation for getting involved, and the profits from selling the remaining prohibited items would surely be substantial. Of course, if Kim Ho and Dang Gyu-young hadn¡¯t smuggled out the prohibited items through some undisclosed method, they would have been left with nothing but disciplinary actions. So Jeong chong-myeong snickered as he recalled that night. ¡°I thought it was all over when I saw you two getting caught.¡± ¡°Same here. I¡¯d half given up, but you held on to the end.¡± Hong Ye-hwa chimed in as well. As a club president, she had her pride to maintain, so she hadn¡¯t shown it outwardly, but when Song Cheon-hye had aimed the prohibited item detector at the two of them, her heart had been pounding nervously. When the magnifying glass came out after that, she¡¯d thought it was truly over. But then, shortly after putting on the magnifying glass and returning, Kwak Seung-jae had only uttered a single sentence. ¡°We¡¯ve decided to let it go.¡± Even Song Cheon-hye¡¯s expression had turned pale by that point. What exactly had happened beyond that door? The curiosity in the eyes of the two presidents gleamed brightly. ¡°How did you pull it off?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret. We have to keep some tricks up our sleeves, don¡¯t we?¡± Dang Gyu-young brushed it off with a calm demeanor. Though inwardly, she was actually thinking the same thing. I¡¯m the one who wants to know that the most. Even if the prohibited item detector had been beaten by the Cube of Life, how did he deal with the magnifying glass? She was curious, so she had asked Kim Ho directly.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¨C Young Monarch, how did you manage it? ¨C I used a cheat skill. ¨C How many cheat skills do you even have? Her questions only grew, leaving her even more perplexed. Still, believing that she would find out someday, Dang Gyu-young decided to set her curiosity aside for now. The two club presidents also seemed to think it was rude to keep prying about his skills, so they let the matter drop. Of course, even if it wasn¡¯t about prohibited items, there was still plenty to say about Kim Ho. ¡°He¡¯s a real piece of work.¡± ¡°The more I look, the more it feels like he¡¯s someone who had been held back a year.¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯m not the only one who thought that, am I?¡± For once, all three club presidents were in complete agreement. In particular, Jeong Chong-myeong seemed almost excessive in his praise. ¡°The kid¡¯s composed. He¡¯s got guts too.¡± Even in the middle of a crisis, he had shown no signs of nervousness. He¡¯d been dragged into the Room of Truth, confronted with the magnifying glass, yet he hadn¡¯t been scared in the slightest. Instead, he had calmly turned the situation around by making a bet and winning. Hong Ye-hwa added her own comment as if to agree. ¡°He seems like he¡¯d be perfect to excel as a mage.¡± ¡°Right? Right, right.¡± Jeong Chong-myeong nodded enthusiastically. Dang Gyu-young too found herself nodding in satisfaction. It was clearly Kim Ho receiving all the praise, but somehow, she couldn¡¯t help feeling pleased as well. In the midst of it all, Jeong Chong-myeong adjusted his glasses and spoke up. ¡°So, Dang Gyu-young.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Kim Ho¡¯s main focus is wind magic, right?¡± ¡°...Probably?¡± Dang Gyu-young answered in a somewhat uncertain tone. Based on what she had observed so far, it seemed like he dabbled in various skills but his main focus was definitely wind magic. Jeong Chong-myeong nodded his head knowingly as if he had expected that. ¡°So, it¡¯s safe to say he¡¯s not into dark magic.¡± ¡°...Hey, wait a minute. You...¡± Surely, he wasn¡¯t about to bring that up? Sensing an ominous turn to the conversation, Dang Gyu-young narrowed her eyes. The fact that he wasn¡¯t a dark mage meant he met the requirements to join the White Magic Club. And just as she feared, Jeong Chong-myeong¡¯s lips curved into a sly smile. Who knows how much time passed as I remained in this state? By the time the poisons I had stored in my inventory were nearly depleted, another notification message appeared. [You have acquired the ¡®Thousand Poisons Immunity (B)¡¯] Thousand Poisons Immunity. I had now reached a level where I wouldn¡¯t even suffer poisoning from most types of poison. This alone would give me a fair chance against the Witch of Corruption. If her difficulty level had once been hell mode, it now felt more like normal mode. However, some of the witch¡¯s spells were A-rank, so the danger hadn¡¯t disappeared entirely. To lower the difficulty to easy mode, I¡¯ll need to prepare for Poison Immunity. Fortunately, I was only one step away from completing it. Once I secured the pin to fix my poison resistance permanently, it would be done. Now, where could I acquire that important pin? [Main Quest 2-3] (In Progress...) ?Objective: Collect the sample. ?Reward: Rewards will vary based on achievement level. As I progressed steadily through the chain quests, I knew the reward would eventually come. I pulled out a small test tube from my inventory. It had been provided along with the quest, and I needed to defeat the Dark Oobleck to collect a sample in it. To defeat the Dark Oobleck, I would first need to search through dungeon after dungeon to track them down. Perfect. The disciplinary punishment will fit the task. Honestly, I didn¡¯t mind it at all. This disciplinary punishment was unusual in several ways, particularly because it required ¡°entering a dungeon¡±. No matter how severely a student violated the school rules, it wouldn¡¯t make sense to throw them into a life-or-death dungeon without any preparation. Since there was a significant chance I¡¯d encounter the Dark Oobleck during the search, I needed to prepare thoroughly. For this reason, even the disciplinary committee showed some flexibility, and coordinated the schedule rather than simply ordering, ¡°You¡¯re going to the dungeon starting tomorrow, no exceptions!¡± I had chosen to begin my punishment today, Friday. *** After school. While the other students poured out of the classroom in droves, I leisurely walked over to Song Cheon-hye. At that moment, Song Cheon-hye who had just risen from her seat turned to look at me after she seemed to have noticed my gaze. Her expression was anything but pleasant, but I asked her casually, ¡°Who¡¯s on the team?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a four-person group. You, me, and two others.¡± I was about to ask who the other two were when a familiar voice came from behind me. ¡°Well, well, look who we have here!¡± It was none other than Shin Byeong-cheol, a disciplinary committee regular. Not only had he recently had a pile of prohibited items confiscated during the latest ban wave, but he¡¯d also brazenly broken into the temporary storage area without showing a hint of remorse. It¡¯s a wonder he hasn¡¯t been expelled yet. I didn¡¯t know the details, but it was safe to assume he¡¯d take disciplinary actions for the rest of the semester. Despite his bleak future, Shin Byeong-cheol grinned from ear to ear and said, ¡°You should¡¯ve told me we¡¯d be carrying out punishment together!¡± ¡°I just found out myself.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Anyway, let¡¯s get along, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®get along¡¯ with me. Just pull your weight.¡± ¡°Oh, of course! I¡¯ll definitely pull my weight.¡± Song Cheon-hye watched the two of us with a disapproving look on her face before cutting into the conversation. ¡°This isn¡¯t a day off. Take it seriously, please.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol and I, as if on cue, immediately hardened our expressions with exaggerated seriousness. ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we already look serious?¡± ¡°Wow, man, why does your face look so serious?¡± ¡°You¡¯re no different.¡± With a common enemy, we were perfectly in sync. Song Cheon-hye sighed and started shaking her head as though giving up on the conversation. At that moment, I threw the same question back at her. ¡°So, who¡¯s the last one?¡± ¡°That¡¯d be me!¡± This time, the answer came from somewhere else. Han So-mi appeared with a bright cheerful voice. It was as if the sound effect of ¡°Ta-daa!¡± was echoing. Chapter 265: Disciplinary Action (2) On the way to the dungeon building, I was reenacting the brief fight with Oh Se-hoon at Han So-mi¡¯s request. I also added light gestures to emphasize. ¡°The hammer flew at me like this while spinning around.¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm! And then?¡±No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°So I barely dodged it. But instead of just flying past, it started circling nearby and came back at me again.¡± ¡°Whoa¡ª¡± Han So-mi responded with constant admiration and encouraging sounds. Oh Se-hoon tended to let his team members handle most of the fights rather than stepping in himself. Because of that, even though Song Cheon-hye and Han So-mi had been active as lead disciplinary members, they had never actually seen him fight. But for some reason, on that night, Oh Se-hoon decided to challenge Dang Gyu-young and me to a match, and naturally, the three of them couldn¡¯t help but be immensely curious about the experience. ¡°So? Then what happened?¡± Not only was Han So-mi eagerly pressing for more of the story, but Song Cheon-hye who was pretending not to listen had her ears perked up, and even Shin Byeong-cheol who was usually chattering nonstop had gone quiet to focus on what I was saying. I continued with the story. ¡°¡ªDang Gyu-young and I barely managed to tie him up, but then he suddenly disappeared.¡± ¡°What? Where did he go?¡± ¡°He just poof disappeared, then reappeared above us. He used Blink.¡± ¡°Blink! What happened next?¡± Han So-mi¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. I mimicked the motion of slamming down a hammer. ¡°After that, of course, boom happened.¡± ¡°Poof! and then boom!¡± Han So-mi¡¯s enthusiastic reactions always made storytelling enjoyable. By the time I finished sharing my experience, we were already quite close to the dungeon building. Just as I was about to speak again, Song Cheon-hye smoothly cut into the conversation. ¡°Can I talk to you for a moment?¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± I didn¡¯t see any reason to refuse, so I gave her a small nod. Song Cheon-hye turned to Han So-mi. ¡°Go wait for us over there.¡± ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°A secret? I want to hear it too!¡± ¡°It¡¯s something important.¡± ¡°An important secret? I really want to hear it!¡± Curiosity practically shot out of Han So-mi¡¯s wide eyes like lasers. Even so, Song Cheon-hye firmly shook her head. ¡°Not this time.¡± ¡°Then later!¡± ¡°...We¡¯ But judging by Song Cheon-hye¡¯s evasive tone, it was doubtful whether she would share it later either. Once Han So-mi and Shin Byeong-cheol had walked far enough away, Song Cheon-hye spread her mana widely to create a soundproof barrier. She was taking precautions against the possibility of anyone eavesdropping. Since it seemed like she was finally ready to talk, I asked, ¡°So, what is it?¡± ¡°...Have you decided?¡± ¡°Decided what?¡± ¡°How you¡¯re going to use your wish ticket.¡± The ¡°wish ticket¡± she was talking about wasn¡¯t the small wish ticket I had earned from the mentoring bet but the big wish ticket I won from the magnifying glass bet. ?? Although there hadn¡¯t been any clear boundaries set, it basically meant I could ask Song Cheon-hye for almost anything¡ª Even if it violated school rules. For her, it was an enormous source of anxiety, so she was probably desperate to resolve it as quickly as possible. Better to face the music sooner rather than later. But I had no intention of using it anytime soon. ¡°Is there any reason I have to use it right now?¡± ¡°What if you don¡¯t use it now?¡± ¡°I thought I¡¯d hold onto it for a while.¡± ¡°...How long?¡± ¡°Maybe until third year?¡± As bright as Song Cheon-hye¡¯s future was, the value of the wish ticket would only grow over time. Right now, as a first-year, she was just an ordinary member of the disciplinary committee, but who knew what she might become by her third year? She could end up leading the Topaz Maguc Tower, or she might become the president of the disciplinary committee or even the student council president. The more authority she gained, the broader the range of wishes I could demand, so there was no reason to waste it now. Perhaps because my unexpected response had thrown her off guard, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s voice began to tremble slightly. ¡°Th-That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± In the end, combat was unavoidable and Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s expression turned sour again. But at this point, there wasn¡¯t much he could do. If he wanted to survive, he had no choice but to give it his best effort. Before long, we exited the circular staircase and entered a hallway. We passed countless dungeons waiting with their entrances wide open and finally reached our first destination. [No. 886] [Mole Mine] Shin Byeong-cheol stood in front of the teleportation portal and spoke with a determined tone. ¡°Phew... Looks like I¡¯ll have to take charge of reconnaissance here. I¡¯ll go in first.¡± ¡°Huh? But we¡¯re going in right after you though?¡± When Han So-mi tilted her head and asked, Shin Byeong-cheol snapped back at her. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s just a figure of speech! Count to thirty and then come in.¡± With that, he put on airs until the very end and entered the dungeon. As soon as Shin Byeong-cheol disappeared, Song Cheon-hye stepped forward, not even a second later. ¡°There¡¯s no time for jokes. Let¡¯s enter right away.¡± ¡°Still, you could¡¯ve let the kid save face for at least 20 seconds.¡± ¡°...10 seconds. Not a second more.¡± Then she counted exactly 10 seconds and crossed the teleportation portal. I looked at Han So-mi. ¡°She¡¯s really heartless, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°But Cheon-hye¡¯s still nice!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. She just lacks flexibility. Shall we go in, too?¡± ¡°Mhmm! Let¡¯s go!¡± One by one, we crossed the teleportation portal. The first thing that came into view was a long tunnel. Lights were sparsely installed, and the path split into multiple branches, so it was impossible to see what lay far ahead. Tracks were laid on the ground, and several mining tools, including minecarts, caught my eye. This was a clearance dungeon, right? [Clearance] Rule. The goal was to explore the mine and eliminate monsters like giant moles, bats, and insects. Although it was somewhat tedious to search through the vast and complex mine, the overall difficulty was on the easier side. However, what we saw next was¡ª ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Help! Someone help!¡± It was Shin Byeong-cheol running toward us as if his feet were on fire. Chasing behind him was a black mass that wasn¡¯t clear whether it was liquid or solid. It was the Dark Oobleck. In Winterhalt Fortress, it had taken the form of an ice witch mixed with a golem, but now it resembled a giant mole. This was because its shape changed depending on the monsters it devoured. Of course, in addition to the mole, it also had bat wings and insect forelegs attached to it. Looks like it ate quite a variety of monsters. I exchanged glances with Song Cheon-hye. ¡°It came out right from the start, huh.¡± ¡°This works in our favor. Let¡¯s take care of it.¡± Song Cheon-hye put on black gloves on both hands, and Han So-mi cheerfully drew the sword from her waist. Meanwhile, Shin Byeong-cheol was still running desperately and shouting. ¡°Quick, quick! Help! Someone help me, please! It¡¯s gonna catch me!¡± The two members of the disciplinary committee took a step forward, but I raised a hand to stop them. ¡°Hold on for a moment.¡± Then I placed the sapling against the ground and stretched my hand forward. [Ice Wall] A thick wall of ice suddenly rose up between Shin Byeong-cheol and the Dark Oobleck. The creature couldn¡¯t stop its momentum and rammed straight into the ice wall. Thud! A deafening boom echoed through the mine, and dust trickled down from above. Even if the two had joined the fight, separating the creature from Shin Byeong-cheol wouldn¡¯t have been easy. If everyone had gotten tangled up together, cutting it off with the ice wall would have been even harder, so I held them back for a moment. Works like a charm. As expected of the B-rank core, the wall formed quickly and had impressive durability. Even though the Dark Oobleck had crashed into it at full speed, there wasn¡¯t even a crack, let alone a complete break. At that moment, I felt a gaze on me, so I turned my head slightly. Song Cheon-hye was staring at me with a clearly dissatisfied expression on her face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s nothing.¡± Song Cheon-hye brushed it off as if it was no big deal. But she started gently rubbing her forehead with her hand. Chapter 266: Disciplinary Action (3) Unlike Song Cheon-hye who was visibly shaken as if her trauma had been triggered just by watching, the Dark Oobleck seemed completely unfazed after slamming into the ice wall. Though it now had a grotesque form that mixed features of a giant mole, a bat, and insects, it was originally a slime-type monster. It must have a great resistance to impact. Squirm, squirm. The Dark Oobleck immediately began moving while slithering around the edge of the ice wall. However, at that moment, Han So-mi had already closed the distance. As if trying to sweep away an annoying obstacle, the Dark Oobleck swung its forelimb which resembled an insect¡¯s front leg. Han So-mi dodged by stepping skillfully, all while swinging the sword in her hand. For an instant, the blade seemed to blur and disappear. Ssssshrk! The limb it had swung was sliced cleanly into pieces. However, it didn¡¯t seem to deal significant damage even this time. The Dark Oobleck swayed its body a few times, and the severed limb regenerated almost instantly. As if that weren¡¯t enough, the scattered fragments on the ground gathered back together and were reabsorbed into its body. Not a good matchup for a swordsman. Ordinary slashing attacks wouldn¡¯t be very effective. If she went all out and used her special techniques, she could likely take it down, but for now, all Han So-mi could do was prevent it from advancing further. Just as it was about to swing its forelimb again, a bolt of lightning shot through the air and struck it squarely between the eyes. Boom! The one who had fired the lightning, of course, was Song Cheon-hye. It seemed the attack had worked, as the spot where the Oobleck was hit twisted grotesquely. Song Cheon-hye observed the creature closely for a moment before speaking. ¡°I¡¯m going to use large-scale magic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the standard move.¡± ¡°You two should help So-mi hold it down.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± The plan was simple. The rest of the party would pin the creature in place while Song Cheon-hye unleashed a large-scale spell to take it out in one blow. This had worked back in Winterhalt, so there was no reason it wouldn¡¯t work now. First, I need to block its escape routes. With that thought, I began casting Ice Wall repeatedly. The ice walls rose and merged, sealing off every passage without leaving any gaps. Considering the nature of the Dark Oobleck, if the battle became unfavorable, it would immediately try to escape, but this dungeon was so large and complex that there were many places to run and hide. Rather than risk letting it get away and doubling our trouble, it was better to prepare in advance. While I was casting ice walls, both Song Cheon-hye and I turned our gazes toward Shin Byeong-cheol. He was still catching his breath in a corner and was panting heavily. ¡°Huff, keuk, hah, cough, hah.¡± ¡°Ahjussi, your stamina is awful. If we¡¯d run just a little farther, you¡¯d have thrown up.¡± ¡°I-I ran in a hurry... haah, th-that¡¯s why... huff...¡± ¡°Alright, deep breaths. Inhale, exhale. You heard the plan, right?¡± ¡°......¡± Instead of replying, Shin Byeong-cheol simply raised his hand and made an OK sign with his fingers. It seemed like he needed a little more time to recover, so I decided to leave him be for now. Turning my focus back to the fight, I summoned yet another ice wall to trap the Dark Oobleck further. Ssssshrk! Meanwhile, Han So-mi was effortlessly cutting down the enemy on her own. Normally, she seemed worlds away from anything involving combat with her ever-cheerful smile and gentle demeanor, but once she drew her sword, she showed no mercy. Perhaps because she had trust in her skill, Song Cheon-hye began chanting a spell without hesitation. On one hand, intricate runes floated up and assembled themselves. While her other hand was extended forward, sending out arcs of lightning that gathered above the enemy¡¯s head. Crackle! Perhaps it sensed the threat instinctively. The giant mole raised its head and followed the path of the lightning with its gaze. Eventually, it locked eyes with Song Cheon-hye. Ignoring Han So-mi, it attempted to charge straight at her. Screeeech! At that moment, long chopsticks flew through the air and embedded themselves deeply into various parts of its body. The chopsticks didn¡¯t stop there; they connected with each other via threads of mana, forming a web that trapped the creature. I turned to Shin Byeong-cheol who had thrown the chopsticks and asked, ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± ¡°Ghhhk.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol responded with a strange sound as if to say he still wasn¡¯t quite fine. Still, he kept throwing the chopsticks while half staggering. Surprisingly, his aim was remarkably accurate. Perhaps sensing danger, the Dark Oobleck¡¯s form began to collapse slightly. Its body twisted grotesquely and its shoulder bulged unnaturally before dozens of bats burst forth flying straight at us. But Han So-mi wasn¡¯t about to let them go just like that. There were several parties besides ours assigned to clean up dungeons and the list was updated to avoid any confusion. She then immediately turned and took the lead. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The next dungeon was both numerically and geographically quite close. [No. 870] [Elemental Hill] Shin Byeong-cheol confidently stepped up to the portal. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be scouting again this time. Thirty seconds¡ª¡± ¡°Hold it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± But just as he was about to step forward, I stopped him in his tracks. I spoke to Shin Byeong-cheol who looked at me with a puzzled expression. ¡°This time, come in last. You don¡¯t need to scout.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It feels like you¡¯re jinxed.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol laughed sheepishly and waved his hands dismissively. ¡°Oh, come on, where¡¯s the logic in that? Everyone has a little bad luck sometimes, right?¡± ¡°No, you have it far too often.¡± There were too many examples. The countless teacups he earned as a future cafe? owner; the hidden boss ¡°White Snake¡± that he somehow encountered during the Black Death Dungeon even though meeting it was supposed to be rare. And in the Gathering of Villains, the sudden appearance of the Twin Demons who changed their route and crossed paths with him. Until now, I had thought Go Hyeon-woo was just unlucky, but what if the truly unlucky one was actually Shin Byeong-cheol? ¡°If we send him in first, there¡¯s a chance another Dark Oobleck could get summoned.¡± ¡°Hey, this is unfair. Can you really treat an innocent person like this?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s settle it coolly with a majority vote.¡± We decided to let the disciplinary committee make the call. Song Cheon-hye glanced at both of us briefly before opening her mouth. ¡°From my perspective, the whole idea of being jinxed doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°See? Look at that. For once, Song Cheon-hye is siding with me¡± Shin Byeong-cheol said while grinning from ear to ear. But Song Cheon-hye wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°But more than that, scouting itself seems useless. It just makes things more dangerous for one person unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Just come in later.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol fell silent for a moment, then turned his hopeful eyes to Han So-mi. He was clinging to the possibility of a 2:2 tie. Han So-mi smiled brightly before speaking. ¡°Come in last!¡± ¡°Wait, you too? At least give me a reason.¡± ¡°Just because!¡± ¡°That¡ª¡± Shin Byeong-cheol started to say something but stopped, as if realizing it would be futile and closed his mouth again. He resigned himself to the rule of majority vote. After things had settled to some degree, Song Cheon-hye spoke. ¡°Then, let¡¯s proceed.¡± We stepped one by one into the teleportation magic circle. Naturally, Shin Byeong-cheol went in last. The scene shifted abruptly, and we found ourselves standing in the middle of a dense forest. When we looked further ahead, the terrain undulated up and down in a way befitting the word ¡°hill¡±. The elevation wasn¡¯t particularly steep but it was immediately clear that this was no ordinary hill. Whoosh! Crackle! Here and there, flames roared up or lightning flashed unpredictably. It¡¯s an Elemental Hill, after all. It was a dungeon where spirits of various elements clashed against one another. The main rule of this place was [Crystals]. We needed to locate and charge the crystals scattered somewhere within the area. On the way, we¡¯d have to either avoid or defeat the spirits we encountered. Though, there¡¯s no real need to clear it entirely. Our objective was simply to confirm whether Oobleck had infiltrated this dungeon or not. So how would we confirm it? Just then, Song Cheon-hye pulled out a device resembling a radar scanner. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll use this.¡± Song Cheon-hye immediately activated the scanner. Beep¡ª Chapter 267: Disciplinary Action (4) The four of us stared silently at the detector for quite some time. Yet, the screen displayed nothing. Naturally, everyone¡¯s gaze shifted to Shin Byeong-cheol and I held out an imaginary microphone toward him. ¡°Any words to share?¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t say for sure yet. If we go deeper, we might find something, right?¡± Even now, Shin Byeong-cheol refused to back down. To be fair, he wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. The detector only sensed Dark Oobleck within a certain range. In other words, even if it was inside the dungeon, it might not register if the distance was too great. Song Cheon-hye must have had similar thoughts because she took the lead and started walking. ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡± She likely planned to reactivate the detector after covering more ground. We followed Song Cheon-hye without saying a word. Occasionally, we encountered elemental spirits like lightning or ice along the way. Crackle! But against a lightning specialist like Song Cheon-hye, they didn¡¯t stand a chance. Most were dealt with effortlessly using her Hummingbird skill. She¡¯s definitely hit C-rank. Though I found Hummingbird to be an excellent control skill, I decided to hold off since it didn¡¯t quite compare to my B-rank Ice Wall. We repeated the same process. We reached a target hill, activated the Oobleck detector, and then moved on to the next hill. Beep¡ª Yet, the screen remained blank every time. Eventually, Song Cheon-hye drew her conclusion. ¡°Looks like there¡¯s nothing here.¡± ¡°Mhmm, seems that way.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± With that, she pulled out an emergency escape scroll from her inventory and tore it in half. Rumble... The air split open as if forcibly twisted, revealing an exit slightly smaller than a typical teleportation portal. As soon as we stepped outside, Song Cheon-hye deleted number 870 from her list. Meanwhile, I exchanged a meaningful look with Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°It didn¡¯t come out, did it?¡± ¡°...Looks like it didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Guess you¡¯ll have to go in last from now on, right?¡± ¡°No, what¡¯s the point? Isn¡¯t it one-on-one now? We should try it again.¡± There still wasn¡¯t enough evidence to confirm the hypothesis that Shin Byeong-cheol was a magnet for bad luck. Since his argument made sense, I nodded in agreement. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s settle this. Loser buys dinner?¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Song Cheon-hye looked at the two of us with a baffled expression on her face. ¡°You¡¯re betting on something like that?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol and I, as if we hadn¡¯t just been arguing moments ago, simultaneously turned serious and stared at Song Cheon-hye. ¡°...Something like that?¡± ¡°Do you even realize how important this is?¡± ¡°A man without pride is as good as a corpse.¡± Unable to withstand our united front, Song Cheon-hye gave up on continuing the conversation. On the other hand, Han So-mi seemed inexplicably delighted and smiled the entire time. ¡°I¡¯m cheering for you two!¡± Of course, in the next dungeon and the one after that, the battle of pride always ended with my victory. There was no way Dark Oobleck would show up so frequently. ¡°...I guess you¡¯ll have to buy dinner?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not over yet. Not over yet.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s expression grew darker with every loss, but for a while, our dungeon-cleaning remained peaceful. We carefully avoided dangerous areas and powerful monsters. We circled the dungeon and stopped periodically to use the detector. If nothing showed up, we would escape using a scroll and repeat the process. In this way, numbers like 860, 850, and 840 gradually dwindled until we stopped in front of the next dungeon. [No. 833] [Trident Lake] As usual, Song Cheon-hye casually stepped toward the portal, but I stopped her with a question. ¡°Do you know the strategy for this place?¡± ¡°...Not exactly. I do have the guidebook, though.¡± With that, she pulled out a thick stack of documents. It was better than knowing nothing at all, but it also meant she hadn¡¯t reviewed it thoroughly yet. So I made a suggestion. Although oars were attached, there was no real need to use them. ¡°Wow~!¡± Despite that, Han So-mi excitedly grabbed the oars and began rowing back and forth as if testing them out. She seemed to be fascinated. Meanwhile, Shin Byeong-cheol opened his inventory and pulled out something piece by piece, then installed it at the edge of his log boat. Buuuung¡ª It was none other than a boat motor. I stared at him in disbelief and asked, ¡°Why on earth are you carrying a motor around?¡± ¡°You never know when it might come in handy. Life is all about good gear.¡± ¡°Give us one too.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one, sorry.¡± Buuuung¡ª Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s log boat gradually picked up speed and began pulling ahead. He taunted us as he sped forward. ¡°See you later! Take your time catching up!¡± I turned to Han So-mi with a determined expression. ¡°We can¡¯t let this slide.¡± ¡°Is this a competition?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a competition. Let¡¯s show him the power of human effort.¡± ¡°Mhmm!¡± With our resolve solidified, the two of us sprang into action. Han So-mi began rowing furiously, her strokes accelerating at an incredible pace. Chwacha-chwacha-chwacha! At first, her movements were a bit clumsy, but as expected of someone with a physical-class job, she quickly got the hang of it and transformed into an expert boatwoman. On top of that, I used Wind Force to propel the boat forward, and the small log boat shot ahead at an unbelievable speed. Seeing this, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s face twisted in disbelief. ¡°Is it really worth going that far...?¡± Of course, it was worth it; this was about a man¡¯s pride. Song Cheon-hye quickly fell far behind until she was out of sight, and soon after, we caught up to Shin Byeong-cheol and overtook him as well. Now it was his turn to be shocked. ¡°Why are you wasting a skill on something like this?¡± ¡°Life is all about good skills.¡± ¡°See you later~!¡± We returned Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s earlier remark almost word for word. Before long, even his motorboat became smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight. Only then did we slow down. ¡°We won. High five.¡± ¡°High five!¡± Slap! Han So-mi smacked my palm with such force that it stung. Then she tilted her head curiously and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°For now, nothing at all.¡± The real exploration would only begin when the lake split into three branches. Until then, there wasn¡¯t much need to rush, so we sat back and leisurely enjoyed the surrounding scenery. As I was taking in the view, Han So-mi suddenly raised her hand high. ¡°I have a question!¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°What did you talk about with Cheon-hye?¡± ¡°It was an important secret.¡± ¡°Tell me!¡± Curiosity sparkled in her eyes like lasers, but I firmly shook my head. ¡°No. That wouldn¡¯t be polite to her.¡± ¡°Aw, really? You¡¯re not gonna tell me?¡± ¡°Really, I can¡¯t.¡± The truth was, from my perspective, it didn¡¯t matter if the secret about the wish ticket got out. But from Song Cheon-hye¡¯s perspective, it was a serious weakness. Even if it was Han So-mi asking, she¡¯d want to keep it confidential, so I answered with her feelings in mind. At that, Han So-mi¡¯s expression gradually turned serious and she spoke hesitantly. ¡°I have an important secret to share too.¡± Maybe she had been testing just how tight-lipped I could be. So I gave her the response she was waiting for. ¡°All right, let¡¯s hear it. I promise I¡¯ll keep it a secret.¡± Chapter 268: Disciplinary Action (5) Chapter 268: Disciplinary Action (5) Han So-mi looked at me for a while before finally opening her mouth. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Mhmm?¡± ¡°What do you think about Cheon-hye?¡± I had somewhat expected it, but as I thought, the topic of conversation was Song Cheon-hye. To be honest, there wasn¡¯t much else that connected Han So-mi and me. I gave her an honest answer. ¡°We¡¯re probably closer than just acquaintances. We took the mentoring program together.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t dislike her?¡± ¡°Why would I? She works hard at what she does. What about her, though? What does she think of me?¡± What does Song Cheon-hye think of me? At that, Han So-mi tilted her head back and forth, as if she was sifting through her memories. Then she pointed straight at me and declared, ¡°When it¡¯s just the two of you, she gets angry a lot!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bad thing?¡± ¡°No, no, Cheon-hye doesn¡¯t get angry at other people. She only says what¡¯s necessary; even when she¡¯s upset, she just ignores it.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying she treats people in a businesslike manner.¡± ¡°Right, businesslike!¡± Han So-mi nodded her head rapidly as if the word was a perfect fit. That does seem about right. Looking back, there was quite a difference between how Song Cheon-hye treated Shin Byeong-cheol and how she treated me. Shin Byeong-cheol was practically a walking rule violation machine, but I couldn¡¯t recall seeing Song Cheon-hye openly express her emotions toward him. Though there were times when she would scold him through a Hummingbird. ¡°Well, that makes sense, but what¡¯s so great about her getting angry often?¡± ¡°Cheon-hye gets angry at me a lot too!¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Now, I thought I had a good sense of what Han So-mi was trying to say. Han So-mi = Song Cheon-hye¡¯s friend = Song Cheon-hye gets angry often Kim Ho = Song Cheon-hye gets angry often = Possible friend? It seemed she believed this kind of syllogism made sense. However, from my perspective, it seemed sloppy and overly simplistic so I couldn¡¯t help but comment. ¡°Well, there could be all kinds of reasons for getting angry. She might just be mad because she doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Just because!¡± ¡°Is it your intuition?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my intuition!¡± If her intuition told her so, there wasn¡¯t much I could do about it. This wasn¡¯t a matter of logic, and it could very well be something only Han So-mi who had observed from the sidelines could sense. So I decided to let it be and continued the conversation. At this point, I started to guess why Han So-mi had brought up this topic. ¡°You¡¯re saying I should get along with her, right?¡± ¡°......¡± Han So-mi¡¯s expression settled into a calm seriousness again. Then, she looked off into the distance and spoke again. ¡°...You know, the disciplinary committee members don¡¯t have many friends.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. That position makes it easy to be disliked.¡± The main goal of the disciplinary committee was to guide students onto the right path and make sure they followed the school rules. And conflicts arising from that were unavoidable. Even during the recent ban wave, there must have been resistance from those whose prohibited items were confiscated. And violations of school rules certainly aren¡¯t limited to just that. Students breaking into restricted areas like the depths of the dungeon building or the old school building, damaging school property, or dueling outside the arena... These were just some of the school rules that got violated. When the disciplinary committee caught students breaking these rules, it was inevitable that their relationships with those students would sour. Of course, the students themselves probably realized they had broken the rules, but still... People¡¯s feelings don¡¯t change that easily, do they? Most would end up distancing themselves from the disciplinary committee without even realizing it. Perhaps someone with a softer, more easygoing personality might still manage to make friends, even while being part of the disciplinary committee. But expecting that from Song Cheon-hye who was strict, serious, and unyielding in every matter seemed impossible. I turned to Han So-mi and asked her, ¡°She¡¯s not close to the other disciplinary committee members either?¡± ¡°Mhmm, she¡¯s not close to any of them.¡± ¡°What about Jo Byeok? He seems relatively normal.¡± ¡°He¡¯s normal, but he doesn¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Well, if he didn¡¯t talk, it wouldn¡¯t be much fun to hang around him anyway. I looked at Han So-mi and said, ¡°Anyway, I understand. Whether she gets along with others or not is up to her, but I¡¯ll at least give it a shot.¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm! I¡¯ll try talking to Cheon-hye too!¡± So how were we supposed to overcome this obstacle? The others would have to handle their parts well. The Trident Lake was a cooperative dungeon, after all. If Song Cheon-hye or Shin Byeong-cheol completed their tasks in their respective areas, the blocked path on our side would clear, and when we completed our task, the path on Song Cheon-hye or Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s side would open. Since it was Song Cheon-hye¡¯s turn now, I sent her a message. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Can you handle it?¡± Rumble! Crash! Boom! ¨C Yes, I think I¡¯ll wrap it up soon. Her response came back through the ceaseless lightning. Her tone was calm, completely devoid of any sense of urgency. It seemed that being part of the disciplinary committee meant that even handling tasks for two people alone wasn¡¯t much of a challenge for her. Just as she had said, it wasn¡¯t long before the situation on her side seemed to settle. Ruuumble... The entire area trembled as if an earthquake had struck and the countless rocks that had been blocking our path suddenly sank into the depths of the lake. The way forward had opened. Even so, we didn¡¯t board the boat immediately but kept our eyes fixed on the lake. ¡°Get ready. It¡¯s coming up soon.¡± ¡°Mhmm!¡± The first boss was about to appear. It was a giant catfish monster, and it bore a slight resemblance to Kim Gap-doo. Anyway, we needed to defeat it to move forward and open Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s path. With that, I planted the sapling firmly into the ground while Han So-mi unsheathed her sword and stood ready. She was prepared for battle at any moment. ¡°........¡± ¡°........¡± Yet, despite the passage of time, the lake remained eerily still. Han So-mi tilted her head as she looked at me. ¡°Huh? Why isn¡¯t it coming out?¡± ¡°...Good question. Hold on a second.¡± I walked to the water¡¯s edge, drove the sapling into the ground, and cast a Spiral Explosion downward. Then a whirlpool formed violently in the water a short distance away. Thud! A dull sound echoed from beneath the surface. I couldn¡¯t help but narrow my eyes. At this point, it should have shown itself. The lack of any response suggested the possibility of a different explanation. With that in mind, I immediately contacted Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°Is your path clear?¡± ¨C Yeah, just now. If it had just happened, that meant it occurred when Song Cheon-hye had wiped out the monster horde. Normally, Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s path would only open after we had defeated the boss, but if that step had been skipped, then¡ª ¡°Looks like the boss might already be taken care of.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Han So-mi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as well. The boss which should have been here had already been dealt with by something else. And in a cooperative dungeon like this, leaving out just the boss was inefficient and not cost-effective. So it was unlikely that a person was responsible for this. Which meant, there was a big chance¡ª ¡°A Dark Oobleck might have made its way in.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I contacted both Song Cheon-hye and Shin Byeong-cheol to share my hypothesis. ¡°So, from now on, let¡¯s proceed more cautiously. If anything feels off, retreat immediately and keep communicating.¡± ¨C Yes, I will. ¨C Understood. Next, I took out a detector from my inventory. When I pressed the center button, Beep! The radar began spinning in circles on the screen. I stared at it for a while, but nothing notable appeared. Han So-mi tilted her head again. ¡°Nothing¡¯s showing up?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± The detector could only sense Oobleck within a certain range; if it was too far away, it wouldn¡¯t register. This was why, even in previous dungeons, we had to scan multiple times before using an escape scroll. And this dungeon was annoyingly linear in structure. Just because it wasn¡¯t showing up now didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t there. In any case, we had only one option. I climbed into the wooden boat and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go for now. We¡¯ll know more as we move.¡± ¡°Mhmm!¡± We slowly started to move forward across the lake. Chapter 269: Disciplinary Action (6) Not long after, the second island came into view. Its size was as narrow as the previous one. Beyond it, dozens of large and small whirlpools were churning violently. If the boat got too close, it would be sucked in immediately, leaving us as drowned corpses. So we docked the boat at the island and started up the detector first. Beep¡ª ¡°There¡¯s nothing here either.¡± ¡°Looks like it!¡± Next, I connected with Shin Byeong-cheol to communicate. He needed to solve a puzzle on his end for the path on our side to open. ¡°How far along are you?¡± ¨C Almost done, just wait a little longer. ¡°It¡¯s really almost done, right? If you¡¯re stuck, just say so.¡± ¨C No, I¡¯m serious. Have you always been this distrustful? ¡°Coming from someone who lies the moment he opens his mouth.¡± ¨C That¡¯s slander. This time, it¡¯s really the truth. For once, Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s voice was brimming with confidence. Well, it wasn¡¯t surprising. We had sent him a guidebook to help with the puzzle, so solving it shouldn¡¯t have been difficult. Sure enough, after waiting a little longer, there was a change. The whirlpools that had been covering the area ahead gradually began to diminish, and eventually, they disappeared completely. We stared at the now-calm lake and contacted Song Cheon-hye. ¡°Is your side open?¡± ¨C It just opened now. Normally, we would have had to clear the boss battle on our side, and only after Gap-doo No. 2 was defeated would the path on Song Cheon-hye¡¯s side open. The fact that the process had been skipped probably meant the creature had already been dealt with. Han So-mi seemed to have the same thought as she asked, ¡°Do we leave right away?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± We boarded the wooden boat again and began to move forward. As we drifted along with the flow of the lake, Han So-mi suddenly raised her hand high. ¡°Question! I have a question!¡± ¡°Alright, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t all the bosses gone now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably not the case.¡± The bosses in Trident Lake numbered three in total. There were two mid-level bosses and one final boss. The two mid-level bosses could sometimes be eliminated for various reasons, most commonly when a previous party had entered the dungeon but left halfway through. In such cases, their absence could be overlooked, but the final boss was practically the core of this dungeon. The moment the final boss was completely defeated, the dungeon would be cleared and reset. ¡°So, it has to still be alive.¡± ¡°I see!¡± In other words, the next encounter would inevitably involve a boss fight. Whether it turned out to be Gap-doo No. 3 or the Dark Oobleck, we¡¯d face it soon enough. Amidst the quiet, the wooden boat drifted gently downstream. Then, Han So-mi turned her head this way and that as if she was trying to confirm something. She then raised her hand again. ¡°Another! I have another question!¡± ¡°Alright, what else are you curious about?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we go over there?¡± The spot Han So-mi pointed to was a steep cliff. It was a cliff that divided the lake into three parts, so high that it seemed steep and unscalable. Its surface was slick with moisture so that even a single step would cause one to slip. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re determined, it might be possible to scale it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as impossible for humans, after all.¡± If we managed to climb it, we could cross over to the lake where the other party members were, and conversely, they could come to our side as well. But I shook my head slowly. ¡°Even so, there¡¯s a good reason why no one does it.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a trap.¡± Atop that cliff was an incredibly powerful spatial magic that didn¡¯t match the level of an F-rank dungeon. Even if one somehow succeeded in scaling it after tremendous effort, they would be instantly swept away by a teleportation spell and sent flying far away. Han So-mi¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°Where would they get sent?¡± ¡°To the starting point. And here¡¯s what¡¯s really important.¡± I lightly tapped the wooden boat we were riding in. ¡°You¡¯d be sent there without this.¡± ¡°What?¡± In other words, to return to the original position, you¡¯d have to swim back without a boat. It was clear that attempting it would be a foolish endeavor. Unless you could resist it, of course. If someone had the extraordinary skills to ignore the spatial magic and do what was forbidden inside the dungeon, they could freely roam atop that cliff. Moreover, they might even claim a very special hidden piece. But naturally, that kind of talk was far beyond our current capabilities. I asked Han So-mi, ¡°Does that satisfy your curiosity?¡± ¡°Totally!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s start preparing.¡± While we chatted, the third and final island was drawing closer. Before reaching it, I pulled out the detector and pressed the button. Beep¡ª The radar began spinning in circles across the screen. Han So-mi leaped toward the ice wall. As soon as I conjured the next one, she deftly landed on it. ¡°¡ª!¡± Noticing her intent, the Dark Oobleck concentrated its water magic on her. Jets of lake water surged upward, forming into spheres that shot toward her. Han So-mi nimbly hopped between the ice walls and dodged the incoming attacks. At one point, she slipped slightly and lost her balance. ¡°Oh, ohhh~?¡± She wobbled unsteadily with her arms spread wide but managed to steady herself again. Even in the middle of battle, there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of tension on her face. She really does have the mindset of someone who enjoys the fight. Still, that was far better than being intimidated. I continued conjuring ice walls in succession, and Han So-mi used them to gradually close the distance toward the Dark Oobleck. ¡°¡ª!¡± Perhaps sensing the growing threat, the Dark Oobleck seemed to react. Its three tridents merged into a single, much larger weapon, which it aimed squarely at Han So-mi. The surface of the lake churned violently before¡ª Swooshhh¡ª! A wave taller than a person surged toward Han So-mi, threatening to engulf her. Having anticipated this attack pattern, I immediately shouted instructions as soon as I saw the wave. ¡°Jump high. Now, jump!¡± ¡°Jump!¡± Han So-mi kicked off the ice wall with ease and leaped into the air. At the same moment, compressed air exploded beneath her feet. Boom! ¡°Ooooh~¡± Han So-mi floated in midair with a bright smile on her face. As soon as the wave subsided, she landed gracefully on the ice wall and moved to another one that I had just summoned. In doing so, the distance between her and the Dark Oobleck narrowed significantly. Judging that she was now close enough, Han So-mi finally spoke. ¡°Got it~!¡± With that, she began to unleash her full energy. An icy, bone-chilling aura gathered around her blade. I, in turn, supported Han So-mi¡¯s ultimate move. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú A+)] [The rank of ¡®Spiral Explosion¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú A+)] Whooooosh¡ª! Just in case Han So-mi got hit by any water magic, I cast a barrier around her and simultaneously launched the upgraded Spiral Explosion at A+ rank. A fierce whirlwind, like a raging typhoon, trapped the Dark Oobleck tightly. ¡°¡ª!¡± The Dark Oobleck seemed to instinctively realize that this was the end. Its trident absorbed huge amounts of lake water before transforming into the shape of a thick whip. At last, the watery whip lashed out with great force, just as Han So-mi¡¯s blade slashed downward. Flaaash¡ª! Rather than cutting through, it appeared as though the immense pressure crushed it entirely. Right after, the Spiral Explosion detonated, unleashing winds compressed to their absolute limit. Boom¡ª! When the explosion subsided, the Dark Oobleck had completely evaporated without a trace. Only patches of the lake were left stained black. The only problem now was that Han So-mi¡¯s figure was nowhere to be found. She must¡¯ve fallen. It seemed the impact of the explosion had knocked her off the ice wall. Sure enough, a section of the lake suddenly bulged upward, and then¡ª ¡°Puh¡ª!¡± Han So-mi¡¯s head popped out of the water. Her hair was a tangled mess of algae as she looked around to confirm what had happened to the Dark Oobleck. ¡°Did we defeat it?¡± ¡°We did. Stay right there.¡± I slowly steered the wooden boat toward her. After helping her climb aboard, I took a glass bottle from my inventory and collected some of the darkened lake water. A notification appeared immediately. [Main Quest 2-5] (Completed) ? Objective: Collect an additional sample. ? Would you like to claim your reward? [Yes/No] As expected, I chose ¡°No¡± this time as well. Then, I handed the collected sample to Han So-mi. ¡°Here, you need this, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm! Thanks!¡± Han So-mi stored the glass bottle in her inventory. As soon as she did, the next quest in the chain appeared and was instantly completed. However, instead of asking whether to claim the reward, the system calculated everything that had been postponed all at once. [Main Quest 2-6] (Completed) ? Objective: Deliver the sample to the Disciplinary Committee. ? Reward: Fixed pin Finally, it¡¯s here. Chapter 270: Poison Immunity The fixed pin could wait for later. For now, getting outside was the priority. Since the final boss, the Dark Gap-doo, had been defeated, the dungeon had begun to collapse. Rumble... The once calm lake trembled violently and the waves crashed chaotically in every direction. At the same time, an exit appeared on the small island and we steered the wooden boat toward it before landing on the shore. But before we crossed the portal, ¡°Take this with you.¡± ¡°Mhmm!¡± [Trident Lake Random Box (F)] Although we had defeated the boss, only one drop appeared. Of course, Song Cheon-hye and Shin Byeong-cheol would have gotten one each as well, so it wasn¡¯t too little. We passed through the portal and returned to the dungeon building¡¯s underground floor. Shortly after, Song Cheon-hye and Shin Byeong-cheol emerged as well. Song Cheon-hye looked at us and spoke. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, everyone.¡± ¡°You too. Fortunately, we worked well together.¡± In a dungeon split into three groups, if even one had failed to fulfill their role, we would¡¯ve struggled immensely to cover for them. However, both Song Cheon-hye and Shin Byeong-cheol had carried their weight flawlessly. This allowed us to focus entirely on the boss battle. I asked, ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°For today, let¡¯s stop here.¡± It was clear that fatigue had piled up for everyone, even if no one outright said it. We had entered quite a few dungeons and faced two Dark Ooblecks along the way. Song Cheon-hye, in particular, was lightly tapping her arm as if testing it. ¡°Is your arm hurting?¡± ¡°...No, I¡¯m fine.¡± She pretended to act like nothing was wrong, but it was clear that the effort of rowing hard had left her arms sore with muscle pain. I turned to Han So-mi. ¡°Give her a massage.¡± ¡°Mhmm! I¡¯m good at massages!¡± With a swift motion, Han So-mi moved near Song Cheon-hye and began vigorously kneading her arms. ¡°!!¡± Song Cheon-hye jumped back with a yelp as if she was in pain and put some distance between them. Han So-mi tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°I-I can handle it myself.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m really good at giving massages! Even Master said so!¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t come near me.¡± Han So-mi tried to approach again, but Song Cheon-hye strongly resisted. She was so adamant that static electricity seemed to crackle around her. Keeping a safe distance, Song Cheon-hye finally spoke in the calmest tone she could muster. ¡°Really, it¡¯s fine. I appreciate the thought.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Song Cheon-hye was still wary and approached cautiously. She was clearly reluctant to let her guard down, and she resumed speaking after a brief pause. ¡°We¡¯ll handle the remaining quota this weekend.¡± At that moment, Shin Byeong-cheol who had been quietly lingering in the corner stepped forward. ¡°So... how are we dividing the rewards?¡± ¡°We got five items today, right?¡± Two from the Mole Mine and three from Trident Lake. Song Cheon-hye glanced at Shin Byeong-cheol and continued. ¡°We¡¯ll take three, and you two can take one each. Does that work for you?¡± ¡°Sounds fair.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol nodded his head without hesitation. Given the circumstances, he was already grateful for such an even split during disciplinary action. Without delay, Shin Byeong-cheol pulled out one of the random boxes. ¡°Shall we open it now?¡± ¡°You really need to work on your patience.¡± I scolded him lightly. Rushing to open the box right after dividing the rewards....it was very typical of him. However, Shin Byeong-cheol shook his head wildly. ¡°No, I can¡¯t wait. I have to open it now.¡± ¡°You always end up with teacups when you do this.¡± ¡°Not today, okay? I have a good feeling about this!¡± It was a serious case of random box addiction. By this point, convincing him with words was no longer an option. The figure was a woman perfectly dressed in a suit. Her expression was as rigid as her attire, making her seem as if not a drop of blood would spill if she were pricked. Of course, the two recognized her face which made Seo Cheong-yong greet her with a friendly smile. ¡°Vice Principal.¡± ¡°Teacher Seo, Teacher Lee. Please follow me.¡± The vice principal responded with a brief bow before turning to lead the way. Now, the sound of footsteps in the hallway increased to three. They continued walking in silence for a while until, unexpectedly, the vice principal broke the silence. ¡°The first semester is almost over. It¡¯s good to see you both seem to be adjusting well.¡± ¡°Haha, teaching suits me better than I expected. If I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve started earlier.¡± Seo Cheong-yong replied with a bright smile. Lee Soo-dok, on the other hand, gave a curt response. ¡°It¡¯s just a job.¡± After all, it had been none other than the principal who personally visited and persuaded him to take on the teaching position. Lee Soo-dok was notorious for his brutal methods, yet his reputation for flawlessly completing any task he was assigned was unmatched. The faculty and staff were well aware of this, though his appointment wasn¡¯t without its controversies. ¨C Is it right to hire a teacher based solely on skill? ¨C Can someone nicknamed the ¡°Human Butcher¡± really teach kids? ¨C What if he snaps and breaks a student¡¯s arms and legs because they annoy him? However, contrary to all the concerns and worries, Lee Soo-dok carried out his duties flawlessly without a single problem. The vice principal slightly bowed her head. ¡°I look forward to your continued efforts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Once again, Seo Cheong-yong replied softly, while Lee Soo-dok gave a half-hearted nod. His mind had long since left the Dragon Slayer Academy behind. Only one month left in the first semester. The task he had accepted from the principal was to work as a teacher at the Dragon Slayer Academy for one year. Initially, the proposal was for three years, but he had firmly refused, reducing it to one year. Now that he thought about it, even one year felt too long. Time really does crawl. For the first time in a while, Lee Soo-dok found himself regretting his decision. He should have declined the offer altogether. The only silver lining was the promise of an opportunity to put his specialty to use soon. Catching and killing bad guys. The three of them were heading deep into the old school building precisely for that reason. Eventually, they stopped in front of a door marked with a large sign that read, ¡°No Entry¡±. The vice principal retrieved a bundle of keys from her pocket, selected one, and unlocked the door. Beyond it lay a large empty room. The only thing inside was a single thick wall, as though it had been torn straight out of some ancient temple. Mysterious characters appeared and vanished repeatedly on the wall, radiating a faint glow each time. In front of the wall sat a man slouched carelessly. He had a scruffy, half-shaven beard, wore a shabby tracksuit, and had slippers on his feet. Despite his appearance which resembled that of a neighborhood fool, this man was none other than the former hero and the principal of the Dragon Slayer Academy. ¡°......¡± The principal, with a cigarette in one hand, stared intently at the wall. As if he was trying to read something hidden within it. The vice principal approached him and spoke sternly. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? No smoking indoors.¡± ¡°I know, I know, but I¡¯ve had a lot on my mind lately.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s your excuse?¡± The vice principal let out a small sigh and abruptly handed him something. It was an ashtray. The principal extinguished his cigarette in it without hesitation, as if this exchange were a common occurrence to them. The principal then stood up and scratched his back as he greeted Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-ryong. ¡°You¡¯re here, Teacher Lee, Teacher Seo.¡± ¡°Hello, sir.¡± ¡°Did you bring it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lee Soo-dok gave a short reply and pulled out a small briefcase. When he opened it, it was filled with test tubes containing a dark liquid. These were samples of Dark Oobleck collected by students who had explored the dungeons thoroughly. ¡°Is this enough?¡± ¡°This is more than enough. Please tell them they did a great job.¡± The principal took the samples and stepped closer to the wall, one step at a time. As if in response, the wall began to emit an increasingly intense light. Chapter 271: The Wall of Wisdom Chapter 271: The Wall of Wisdom Traditionally, the position of principal at the Dragon Slayer Academy was filled by a retired S-rank hero. Of course, stepping back from the frontlines didn¡¯t mean the strength of an S-rank hero simply vanished, and each principal in the academy¡¯s history had dedicated their formidable strength entirely to a single goal. To make the Dragon Slayer Academy a better school. Because the principals¡¯ personalities were so varied, the directions they pursued were equally diverse. Some principals focused on improving the facilities. Some established regulations and even developed the Ban Wave. Others dealt with external threats. And some ventured into the deepest levels of the dungeon building. Among the thousands of dungeons, only ten were considered the most dangerous of all. These principals had challenged the S-rank dungeons. The wall standing before them now was one such relic from those raids and was referred to by insiders as the ¡°Wall of Wisdom¡±. The Wall of Wisdom had consistently offered solutions whenever danger loomed over the Dragon Slayer Academy, and this time was no exception. As the principal stepped closer, the chaotic characters scattered across the wall converged and formed the shape of a large eye. It seemed as though it were examining the samples. At the same time, a single word appeared. [Observation] Soon, the eye disassembled back into scattered characters, leaving behind two words in its place. [Confirmation] [Offering] There was a corresponding price to pay for borrowing such transcendent power. Naturally, this wasn¡¯t the first time it had happened, and the necessary offerings had already been prepared. Two items emerged from the principal¡¯s inventory. A pair of gleaming golden boots and a bracelet encrusted with jewels. Both were A-rank items. ¡°Here you go.¡± When it was held forward, the chaotic characters on the Wall of Wisdom busily gathered again and formed the shape of two hands. The hands then mimicked a grasping motion. ¨C Purseok¡ª The A-rank equipment turned to dust and scattered into the air. They had been destroyed as sacrifices. Once more, two words appeared on the wall. [Nom nom] (TN: sound of eating.) ¡°Ugh, do you have any idea how much just one of those costs?¡± The principal felt a pang of pain in his chest. Even for a legendary hero, each piece of A-rank equipment held immense value. And now, two of them had been destroyed in an instant. It was only natural for him to feel the sting. But no matter how precious the items were, could they really outweigh the value of a human life? Their priority was to stabilize the Dragon Slayer Academy as quickly as possible and minimize harm to the students. So, putting aside his regrets and heartburn, the principal turned to the wall. ¡°Tell me where the Witch of Corruption is.¡± The Wall of Wisdom functioned this way. It answered questions if presented with suitable offerings. Moreover, if the offering was an item related to the subject of the question, it provided even more detailed answers. For example, after the midterm exams, they had used a Blood Fury Syringe as a medium to pinpoint the locations of the Witch of Corruption and the Blood Cult Elder. Although they had failed to capture them back then, I won¡¯t let it happen twice. That was why he had gathered the Dark Oobleck samples. It was to use them as a medium to demand the same information. But something seemed off. Instead of an answer, only a single word appeared on the wall. [Insufficient] At the same time, the characters reformed into the shape of a hand and the hand wiggled its fingers. The principal furrowed his brow. You¡¯ve got quite the appetite today, huh? It was asking for three A-rank items. However, the Wall of Wisdom always demanded only a fair price. In other words, asking for more sacrifices meant it was offering equally valuable information in return. Enduring the ache in his chest, the principal opened his inventory and retrieved a blood-red dagger. When he extended it forward, ¨C Purseok¡ª The dagger too disintegrated into dust and scattered away. [Belch] The principal sighed deeply as he ran a hand over his face. The principal tilted his head slightly toward the vice principal and whispered. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°...I¡¯m not sure either.¡± ¡°Is it someone¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± They couldn¡¯t figure it out immediately. Seo Cheong-yong, however, seemed to recall something and spoke. ¡°Teacher Lee, I think there¡¯s a student named Kim Ho in your class.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s correct.¡± Lee Soo-dok was uncharacteristically caught off guard but he confirmed it. Kim Ho was indeed in his Class 3, and it was true that the student had been on his mind for various reasons. But why had that name appeared here? Just when I¡¯m about to forget, it comes up again. The principal who was listening to their conversation asked, ¡°Since this student is in your class, does that mean he¡¯s a first-year?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± The principal hummed thoughtfully. A name appearing on the Wall of Wisdom meant that the individual would play a key role in subjugating the Witch of Corruption. Bringing him along would be a significant advantage in some way. But why? For what reason, out of all the many faculty members and senior students, was a first-year student singled out? His curiosity grew and the principal subtly gestured with his eyes. The vice principal understood the unspoken request and she immediately pulled up Kim Ho¡¯s information. First, the academic record. ¡°In terms of combat performance, except for the placement test and the mentoring program, he has won every match. His dungeon strategy grades are among the highest.¡± ¡°And his background or affiliation?¡± ¡°Both are unknown.¡± The principal was puzzled and asked, ¡°...Then how did he even get admitted into the academy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look into it further.¡± The principal turned his head and this time directed his question to Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong. ¡°What do you both think?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t stand out much. Though his written test scores are quite good.¡± For Seo Cheong-yong, ninety-nine out of a hundred encounters with Kim Ho took place in the classroom. Kim Ho was the kind of student who kept quiet and concentrated on his lessons. He never drew attention to himself. Naturally, his observations of the boy were limited. On the other hand, Lee Soo-dok took a moment longer to answer. It was because his thoughts had wandered to the night the Black Market had opened. He remembered the time they had dealt with the sudden appearance of the Blood Cult elder and then interrogated Kim Ho. That night, Lee Soo-dok had used his information-type skill, [Truth or Lie], and to his surprise, he received an unexpected system message. [??? detected.] ...There¡¯s no need to mention this now. Lee Soo-dok decided to keep that detail to himself for the time being. This decision was heavily influenced by his own curiosity and desire to investigate Kim Ho more thoroughly, much like the Witch of Corruption. Instead, he provided different information. ¡°He often hangs out with two unaffiliated classmates. One of them happens to be the young lady of the Hye-seong Group.¡± ¡°Hye-seong Group, you say...¡± ¡°He also seems to have great connections with the president of the Thieves¡¯ Club. It appears he frequently receives their help for unauthorized raids in the underground floors.¡± ¡°A first-year conducting unauthorized explorations?¡± ¡°Recently, he has been receiving disciplinary action for breaking into the temporary storage room and violating several school rules.¡± ¡°...Interesting.¡± The principal stroked his chin with a look of interest on his face. The two teachers had presented opposing views, but it was likely that both were true. That¡¯s what makes it even more interesting. On the surface, the boy played the role of an unremarkable Student A, yet behind the scenes, he was busily working toward some goal. The school rules violations were probably just the tip of the iceberg. Undoubtedly, there were far more incidents that had gone unnoticed. After mulling it over briefly, the principal reached a conclusion. In reality, the decision had already been made the moment Kim Ho¡¯s name appeared on the Wall of Wisdom. ¡°I think it¡¯s time I met this student, Kim Ho.¡± Before placing him in the subjugation team, he decided to see for himself face-to-face. Chapter 272: The Principal’s Office The sample collection had been completed, but the dungeon cleanup was far from over. Since the Dark Oobleck posed a significant risk during the raid, it was necessary to hunt down and eliminate every last one of them. And so, the disciplinary action continued through the weekend. We entered the dungeon, ran detectors at major checkpoints, used escape scrolls if nothing appeared, and occasionally defeated any Dark Oobleck that popped out. It was tedious work, but it wasn¡¯t entirely without reward. Specifically, there were the random boxes distributed as my share. All of them were F-rank, so there was no need to involve Lucky Charm¡¯s hand, and even if stamp coupons appeared later, they wouldn¡¯t apply, so I opened them right away. Fortunately, they yielded some fairly useful items. [Rank Up (F)] [Random Rank Up] x2 Including the ones I received from Bong Jae-seok and set aside, there were now a total of four Random Rank Up scrolls. Since items related to rank were always better to have in abundance, I decided to store them safely. Meanwhile, Shin Byeong-cheol kept drawing F-rank wooden chairs and eventually completed a full wooden furniture set. ¨C Hey, can we sit on these? ¨C No, get lost. All of you, get lost. ¨C I want to sit too! Amid such small incidents, the disciplinary action continued without issue. By Sunday morning, the endless dungeon list had finally dwindled to just two remaining entries. Song Cheon-hye spoke with a face mixed with exhaustion and satisfaction. ¡°We¡¯re almost done now. Next is¡ª¡± But then, the remaining dungeon number erased itself, leaving the list completely empty. It seemed another party had finished the cleanup. Han So-mi was overjoyed and began jumping up and down. ¡°It¡¯s! Done! At! Last!¡± ¡°Y-Yeah, it is.¡± Song Cheon-hye paused for a moment but soon wrapped up the dungeon cleanup with a pleased expression. I asked, ¡°Can we leave now?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you for your hard work. Just remember to follow the school rules.¡± ¡°Of course, of course.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Though Shin Byeong-cheol and I nodded coolly, Song Cheon-hye still gave us a doubtful look. She quickly softened her expression, as if deciding it wasn¡¯t worth ruining the good mood. Han So-mi who was cheerful as ever waved her hands vigorously in farewell. ¡°Great job! Bye-bye!¡± ¡°Yeah, you worked hard too.¡± I waved back before turning to leave. But then¡ª ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°.......?¡± Both members of the disciplinary committee suddenly froze and summoned floating windows in mid-air. It looked like they were checking a message. After a moment, they both turned their gazes toward me at the same time. I asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°We¡¯re supposed to bring you in.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°The principal¡¯s office!¡± So, it¡¯s finally come. It had been a few days since I delivered the sample, so by now, they must have used the Wall of Wisdom. And the Wall of Wisdom always presented the most efficient solution. Since I could halve the Witch of Corruption¡¯s power just by my presence, there was a very high chance that I would be mentioned. So I asked again, ¡°When do they want me to come?¡± ¡°They said to come as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head over right away.¡± Meanwhile, Shin Byeong-cheol, perhaps sensing the gravity of the situation, had gone pale. ¡°I, uh, don¡¯t have to go, right?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re all set. Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Okay, then! Take care, everyone! Have a great weekend!¡± With that, he quickly made his escape, as if worried someone might change their mind. What a spineless guy. May he keep drawing nothing but tea sets from now on. Song Cheon-hye¡¯s brow twitched slightly as if she shared the same thought, but she soon composed herself and took the lead. ¡°Follow me.¡± *** We soon stopped in front of a door marked . Song Cheon-hye who looked slightly tense knocked on the door. ¡°...That¡¯s how it¡¯ll likely turn out.¡± I made a face that clearly showed I was already reluctant. ¡°I¡¯d like to hear more details.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll explain.¡± This time, Seo Cheong-yong answered in the principal¡¯s stead. The Witch of Corruption had hidden herself in an A-rank dungeon, the Teleportation Labyrinth. Furthermore, it was highly likely that she had fortified the place, which was why a subjugation team was being formed. The Teleportation Labyrinth, huh? As expected, given the change in the players involved, she had hidden herself somewhere I hadn¡¯t anticipated. I could roughly guess her intent, though. Still, since my bargaining process wasn¡¯t over yet, I lowered my head with an even more reluctant expression. ¡°If it¡¯s the Witch of Corruption in an A-rank dungeon, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m up to the task. My apologies.¡± ¡°...I suppose that¡¯s to be expected. I understand.¡± The principal spoke with a tone of disappointment. Participating in the subjugation team was a matter of life and death, so it wasn¡¯t something that could be forced upon a student. All the more so if that student was only a first-year. However, the moment I met the principal¡¯s gaze, I realized it instinctively. As expected, he hasn¡¯t given up. His eyes were still brimming with curiosity and interest. He hadn¡¯t said anything, but he must have done some digging into my background. And whatever he discovered had likely interested him even further. The principal raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said, ¡°Still, I¡¯d like to hear if you¡¯ve got something.¡± I could have wriggled out of it here, but if I did, they would genuinely plan the operation without me. It was time for me to prove my worth. ¡°I have a countermeasure for poison.¡± ¡°She does use poison techniques. But an ordinary countermeasure won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than enough.¡± Rather than explain with words, I decided to show them directly. Since it would be revealed during the subjugation anyway, there was no need to keep it tightly under wraps. [Activated ¡®Enchantment¡¯.] [You have granted ¡°Poison Immunity¡± to the target.] ¡°Immun¡ª!¡± The principal¡¯s expression froze solid. It was astonishing enough that a student possessed an ability like Poison Immunity, something even graduates and faculty members hadn¡¯t mastered, but the fact that I could bestow it on others was beyond belief. He immediately shared the notification message with the other teachers who reacted similarly. Their attitudes shifted entirely. Just moments ago, they had been half resigned to leaving me out of the subjugation team, but now their gazes carried an almost desperate determination to include me no matter what. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you reconsider? That skill would be of great help.¡± When the principal asked this, I once again put on my ¡°reluctant expression¡±. ¡°As I mentioned, my abilities alone aren¡¯t enough. Just because I have Poison Immunity doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m invincible.¡± At that, Seo Cheong-yong and Lee Soo-dok chimed in. ¡°The teachers and seniors will make sure you don¡¯t get even a scratch.¡± ¡°We can guarantee that much.¡± Then the principal made an offer. ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re going to risk your life to join us, it should be worth it. Tell me what you want.¡± ¡°After the subjugation is over, I¡¯d like to make a small request of you, Principal.¡± There¡¯s nothing more certain than a blank check. And if the person granting it is the principal, that makes it all the more solid. ¡°......!¡± The principal¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply. He realized that the reason I had been negotiating up until now was precisely for this moment. Even so, he seemed to ponder what could possibly be so unreasonable before nodding in agreement. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do that. If it¡¯s something I can manage, I¡¯ll take care of it. So, you¡¯re joining us?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°The subjugation team will be led by Teacher Seo and Teacher Lee, so make sure to coordinate well with them.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± *** After Kim Ho left and even Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong had gone, Only the principal and vice principal remained in the principal¡¯s office. The principal who was lost in deep thought for a while finally spoke. ¡°...That one, he¡¯s a Monarch, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Yes, without a doubt.¡± ¡°A Monarch, Poison Immunity, and even can bestow his abilities...¡± Where in the world did someone like that come from? While the Witch of Corruption subjugation would undoubtedly end in success this way, the principal couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had invited a tiger into the fold just to catch a fox. Chapter 273: 15th Week Strategy Battle? Since there needed to be more discussion about the subjugation team, I followed Lee Soo-Dok and Seo Cheong-Yong as we moved along. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± No one spoke during our walk. The risk of someone overhearing us was too great. Even so, the two teachers¡¯ gazes stayed fixed on me the entire time. Lee Soo-Dok¡¯s stare grew so intense it was almost piercing, while Seo Cheong-Yong¡¯s expression remained gentle as always. However, I could sense subtle changes in his demeanor that were hard to notice otherwise. Eventually, we entered an empty conference room. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and with the addition of powerful soundproofing magic, there was no risk of our conversation leaking outside. As soon as we sat down, Lee Soo-Dok and Seo Cheong-Yong each made a comment. ¡°So you were hiding an ace up your sleeve all along.¡± ¡°I have to admit, I was surprised. For a first-year, your level is far too advanced.¡± It¡¯s only natural that they¡¯d be shocked. They probably had some anti-poison measures of their own, but at most, they would have been at the B-rank level with immunity to basic poisons. The wall of invulnerability I¡¯d reached was on an entirely different level. Without using tricks like copy, poison resistance, and fixed pins, I likely wouldn¡¯t have gained it until my third year. That¡¯s if I ever managed it at all. The Enchantment skill is even more ridiculous. Even among the faculty, and likely the principal as well, this skill would be unheard of. Its acquisition difficulty was so astronomical that no one in this world had likely ever mastered it. I remember vividly when I first acquired [Enchantment]. It had been after I¡¯d established myself at ¡°Dragon Slayer Academy¡±. I also remember struggling for a long time even after dragging S-rank heroes along to get it. [Copy] and [Amplification] were no different. The reason I had already obtained so many of these overpowered skills was simple. They were mine to begin with. I hadn¡¯t ¡°learned¡± them anew. Rather, I reclaimed them while progressing through my reincarnation quest. Of course, I had no intention of revealing any of this, so I responded naturally to the teachers¡¯ comments. ¡°To be honest, I wanted to keep it hidden a bit longer. But considering the situation, I decided to reveal it after much deliberation.¡± ¡°You made a tough decision. But it would be best to keep it as concealed as possible moving forward.¡± Seo Cheong-Yong said with a nod. The ability to grant Poison Immunity would definitely play a crucial role in this subjugation, and my reputation would soar to unprecedented heights as a result. But that would also make me an easy target for enemies. They¡¯d want to nip me in the bud before I could grow stronger. This was why Seo Cheong-Yong believed it was better for me to keep a low profile, especially as a first-year. I fully agreed with his opinion. After all, I couldn¡¯t completely trust the faculty, either. The only reason I revealed a portion of my abilities was that they were bound by various magical constraints. Seo Cheong-Yong turned to Lee Soo-Dok. ¡°We¡¯ll need to prepare a disguise item. Something even the other teachers wouldn¡¯t recognize.¡± ¡°Do as you see fit.¡± Lee Soo-Dok replied casually. Then, as if he had been waiting for the right moment, Lee Soo-Dok met my gaze directly and got to the point. ¡°Even if we keep your identity hidden, you¡¯ll need to share more about that skill.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± It was a basic principle to assess each team member¡¯s strengths and abilities. The more crucial the role, the more detailed the assessment needed to be. Since this was within my expectations, I answered Lee Soo-Dok¡¯s questions without resistance. ¡°How long does it last?¡± ¡°Fifteen minutes.¡± ¡°Fifteen minutes... Not bad. What about the cost or penalties?¡± ¡°It has a cooldown period.¡± ¡°How long?¡± ¡°It¡¯s long. You can consider it a one-time use.¡± The cooldown period for the C-rank Enchantment was 35 minutes. That alone was already quite long, and it was uncertain how much more it would increase if it was cast on all team members. Still, just in case, I decided to add a suggestion. ¡°If there¡¯s a way to manage the cooldown, I could use it again.¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t. That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Lee Soo-dok shook his head firmly. Cooldown management items or skills were usually time-based, starting at a minimum of A-rank and often reaching S-rank. Not only that, but their rarity far exceeded other A-rank items, so it was uncertain whether even the principal would possess one. That was why I hadn¡¯t expected much and had only thrown the idea out there. ¡°¡ªAlso, starting tomorrow, Teacher Lee Soo-Dok and I will be absent for a few days. Like before, Teacher Jo Ok-Soon will be covering for us.¡± A collective groan rose from all sides. Jo Ok-Soon was practically a walking sedative. No matter what class she taught, she had the uncanny ability to put students to sleep. Monster Ecology was already mind-numbingly boring, and the thought of that dullness extending to Strategy Battles and Duel Battles was enough to make anyone sigh. Perhaps interpreting the groans differently, Seo Cheong-Yong chuckled in amusement. ¡°Why, do you miss me already? It feels nice, like I¡¯ve become a popular teacher. I¡¯ll finish everything quickly and be back soon. That¡¯s it for today¡¯s class!¡± After casting a brief glance in my direction, he left the classroom. When the classroom gradually filled with noise, a message unexpectedly popped up. It was from Hong Yeon-Hwa, of all people. [Hong Yeon-Hwa: (Waving Puppy Emoji)] [Kim Ho: (Waving Puppy Emoji)] [Kim Ho: What¡¯s up?] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: Uh, well...] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: (Puppy Looking Around Emoji)] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: Have you chosen your partner for the strategy battle?] For some reason, the image of a puppy approaching with a ball in its mouth came to mind. She must have mustered up some courage to send that message. Unfortunately, the strategy battle was already over for me. So I replied honestly. [Kim Ho: I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible this time.] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: Oh... I see.] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: (Sad Puppy Emoji)] It seemed like that was the end of the conversation, but another message arrived not long after. [Hong Yeon-Hwa: Then...] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: What about going down....?] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: (Tail-Wagging Puppy Emoji)] It seemed like she was talking about tackling an ice-theme dungeon as part of her Aqua Flame training. Thanks to the thorough clearing of dungeons we did over the weekend, there was no risk of encountering Dark Oobleck anymore. However, a new obstacle had unfortunately arisen. Because I¡¯ll be entering the Teleportation Labyrinth. Entering the Teleportation Labyrinth on a Tuesday meant that clearing it would take at least a full day, or up to three or four days at the longest. I couldn¡¯t be certain when I¡¯d emerge, nor could I guarantee my condition when I did. Making plans right now wasn¡¯t possible. So, once again, I sent an honest reply. [Kim Ho: This week¡¯s going to be tough.] [Kim Ho: Sorry, sorry.] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: (Droopy Puppy Emoji)] [Hong Yeon-Hwa: Got it...] It felt like the ball the puppy had brought over was now rolling away limply. I did feel a bit guilty, but what couldn¡¯t be done simply couldn¡¯t be done. The real problem is that I¡¯ll probably have to explain this all over again. With that thought, I turned my head. On one side was Go Hyeon-Woo approaching confidently with steady strides. ¡°Hey, Kim-hyung.¡± On the other side was Seo Ye-In, with a sleepy look on her face as if she had just woken up, tugging lightly on my sleeve. ¡°...Let¡¯s go together.¡± Both of them had the same goal as Hong Yeon-Hwa. They wanted to team up with me for the strategy battle. In most cases like this, I would side with the lucky charm, but today was a little different. The strategy battle had already ended. What could I do? Well, I should at least explain the situation to them. So, while alternating my gaze between Go Hyeon-Woo and Seo Ye-In, I finally spoke. ¡°You two will have to handle this strategy battle together.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-In tilted her head in confusion. Chapter 274: Briefing Seo Ye-In kept holding onto my sleeve and looking up at me intently. Then, after glancing briefly at Go Hyeon-Woo, she looked back up at me and spoke. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No.¡± Go Hyeon-Woo who had just been rejected twice without even making a suggestion let out a bitter laugh and asked, ¡°I imagine Kim-hyung has a reason for saying that. May I hear it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± However, since there were still too many ears in the classroom, I took the two of them to a quieter spot where fewer people were around. There, I carefully explained the current situation. I told them that I¡¯d be participating in the Witch of Corruption¡¯s subjugation team and that I was taking a break from this week¡¯s strategy battle to manage my condition. Go Hyeon-Woo nodded his head in understanding. ¡°I see. That makes sense. If you¡¯re facing such a strong opponent, it¡¯s wise to conserve your energy. Then he added with another faint bitter smile, ¡°Still, it¡¯s a bit disappointing. The thought of not being able to help Kim-hyung nags at me. I suppose it¡¯s because my skills are still lacking.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel too bad about it. This time, I¡¯m just tagging along myself.¡± Compared to the third-years and the staff, my skills weren¡¯t up to par either. In the subjugation team, I was basically just a transport for antidotes. I continued speaking. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush. We¡¯ll go at our own pace, and in a year or two, we¡¯ll be able to handle things on our own.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Meanwhile, Seo Ye-In had been listening quietly from the side. When our eyes met, she stepped closer and gently tugged on my sleeve. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± ¡°My hand?¡± Although I wasn¡¯t sure why she suddenly asked, I offered my hand without hesitation. Seo Ye-In removed the fluffy cloud bracelet from her wrist and fastened it onto mine. ¡°Use this.¡± ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± Since the Witch of Corruption dealt with magic, the fluffy cloud bracelet would indeed be far more effective than the dark cloud one. Whether she gave it to me because she knew this or because of her instinct as the Lucky Charm, I couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°Then you take this one.¡± This time, I removed the dark cloud bracelet and fastened it onto Seo Ye-In¡¯s wrist. Since most of the bosses in the upcoming strategy battle would likely rely on physical attacks, the dark cloud bracelet would probably be more useful for her. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-In turned the dark cloud bracelet around on her wrist and seemed to be satisfied. In the meantime, Go Hyeon-Woo watched us like this with a pleased fatherly smile. Ignoring him, I asked Seo Ye-In another question. ¡°Should I lend you the hoodie too? I won¡¯t be able to use it anyway.¡± Since I wouldn¡¯t have much time to focus on my mana circulation training while inside the dungeon, I didn¡¯t mind lending out the Hoodie of the Hidden Master as well. Contrary to my expectation that she would eagerly accept, Seo Ye-In shook her head. ¡°Later.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s surprising.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to train.¡± With those words, I glanced toward Go Hyeon-Woo. Though his expression didn¡¯t reveal it, it seemed he was stimulated by the remark. It was as if he heard Seo Ye-in say, ¡°I can¡¯t help you because my skills are still lacking, so I¡¯m going to train.¡± If the sloth was willing to train on her own, it wasn¡¯t a bad deal for me. Since things had come to this, I decided to offer a little carrot as well. ¡°Alright, do your best. When you¡¯re done, how about we go to the downtown area next weekend or the one after that?¡± ¡°Bakery.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go to the bakery too.¡± ¡°Arcade.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll visit the arcade as well.¡± ¡°......!¡± A spark of enthusiasm lit up in her gray eyes. *** The Teleportation Labyrinth was an A-rank dungeon, so there likely weren¡¯t many successful raids on record. There probably weren¡¯t many replays saved, either. As a result, the strategy document which had been created by analyzing those few available records was inevitably incomplete. Still, it¡¯s better than nothing. There was a world of difference between charging in blindly and having even a half-finished strategy guide. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard to improve on this. Of course, given that I had gone to the trouble of using a totem to conceal my identity, there was no need to draw attention here. Handling this quietly was the best approach. While I was lost in thought, Seo Cheong-yong continued his explanation about the Teleportation Labyrinth. On the screen beside him, hundreds of large and small rectangles were scattered in a chaotic pattern. This was the dungeon map. ¡°¡ªAs you can see, the interior is divided into countless rooms.¡± Each room was completely isolated, with not a single connecting passage. The only way to navigate between the many rooms was to use the teleportation magic circles installed in each one. The problem, however, was this. ¡°There isn¡¯t just one magic circle in each room. And since their activation conditions vary, you¡¯ll need to proceed with caution.¡± Some magic circles were triggered just by stepping on them, like a trap. Others required breaking objects to reveal them, or they activated automatically after a certain amount of time. And each magic circle teleported you to a completely different location. That¡¯s why they call it a teleportation labyrinth. Of course, it wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless from the perspective of the raid party. Seo Cheong-yong displayed various types of magic circles on the screen and pointed at them as he spoke. ¡°By analyzing the runes and patterns inscribed on the magic circles, we can predict their destinations. These examples are all documented in the strategy guide, so make sure to study them thoroughly.¡± The method was to use the correct teleportation magic circle to move to the next room, and then the next, and so on. In a way, it was similar to a puzzle game where you had to figure out the password to progress. Soon, the screen returned to the dungeon map, and one particularly large rectangle among the many was enlarged. ¡°The Witch of Corruption is most likely stationed here, in the boss room. The moment you enter, a full-scale battle will start, so make sure to prepare thoroughly beforehand.¡± The objectives of the raid could be summarized as follows: Find the appropriate teleportation magic circles in each room, use them to navigate through the labyrinth, and get as many members as possible into the boss room to defeat the Witch of Corruption. Of course, the process would be far from simple. There would undoubtedly be people who got lost along the way and others who would be injured or even killed. ¡°Still, I believe we can do it.¡± Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s tone was filled with strong confidence. *** After the briefing ended, I left the meeting room and began walking alone. Soon, I heard footsteps rapidly approaching from behind. ¡°Excuse me.¡± I slowed my pace and turned around to see Dang Gyu-young standing there. She walked closer and immediately said, ¡°Let me check something real quick.¡± ¡°......¡± Then, without another word, she began scrutinizing me from head to toe. Even during the meeting, she had been watching me with a strange look in her eyes, and now it seemed she had caught onto something. As expected, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes narrowed further and further until she finally said, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Her tone had become casual as if she was now completely certain of who I was. There was no point in pretending otherwise, and I had planned to reveal myself eventually anyway, so I took off the necklace. Immediately, Dang Gyu-young smirked. ¡°Knew it, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°How did you figure it out?¡± I thought back carefully but couldn¡¯t recall doing anything particularly suspicious. The smile on Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face deepened. ¡°I just had a feeling~ Like, ¡®Oh, this guy has graduated over 200 times!¡¯ or something~¡± ¡°Dang Gyu-young, how is your intuition so good?¡± *** TN: Best girl! Chapter 275: No. 50 Teleportation Labyrinth (1) I had briefly wondered if the totem¡¯s performance was unexpectedly not that great, but it seemed Dang Gyu-young had spotted something crucial. Would anyone else have noticed if they¡¯d used the totem? Probably not. ¡°Hey, by the way, that suit¡¯s really working for you today.¡± ¡°Do you like the all-black look?¡± ¡°Hmm, maybe a little?¡± Despite her casual words, Dang Gyu-young seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. She was smiling brightly as she admired my battle suit. ¡°...Huh?¡± Suddenly, she paused, grabbed one of my arms, and looked down at it closely. Specifically, at the fluffy cloud bracelet around my wrist. With my all-black outfit, it stood out even more. ¡°...Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, noona?¡± ¡°...Why is your bracelet white?¡± Her gaze turned sharp and she silently demanded an explanation. The lighthearted atmosphere quickly grew tense. Instead of stammering or making excuses, I chose to answer confidently. ¡°I switched it just this once. The effects are different.¡± ¡°Wait, was that a couple¡¯s item?¡± ¡°They¡¯re a matching pair.¡± ¡°Who did you switch with?¡± ¡°Seo Ye-in.¡± ¡°.......¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s lips pursed into a pout. Then she asked while clearly sulking, ¡°What about me? Don¡¯t I get one?¡± ¡°Shall we get a matching set too?¡± ¡°I think we should.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s consider it step by step.¡± After all, items like that don¡¯t just magically appear because you want them. Seeing her mood improve slightly, I quickly changed the topic. ¡°So, about tomorrow¡¯s dungeon...¡± ¡°You¡¯re really, really good at switching topics, aren¡¯t you?¡± She lightly tapped my shoulder and asked with a slightly grumpy look, ¡°...What about the dungeon tomorrow?¡± ¡°I need to revise the guidebook a bit.¡± ¡°That would be great, but is it even possible?¡± ¡°It is.¡± I wouldn¡¯t have brought it up otherwise. The revisions were already complete, anyway. I pulled out a stack of papers that were thicker than the guidebook Seo Cheong-yong had distributed. Dang Gyu-young flipped through the pages and remarked, ¡°This is way better.¡± The original guidebook covered about 30-40% of the dungeon while this one mapped out over 70%. It addressed the parts that the original guidebook had overlooked and improved it overall. The reason it wasn¡¯t 100% complete was that certain details had been intentionally left out. Only the essentials need to be shared. The subjugation team¡¯s goal was to reach the boss room as efficiently as possible. Mentioning hidden pieces would only cause unnecessary confusion. Besides, I had plans to return to the dungeon someday, so it was better to keep some things to myself. There was also another reason why I brought this up to Dang Gyu-young first. It didn¡¯t take him long to catch on, as she casually waved the revised guidebook in her hand. ¡°You want me to distribute this?¡± ¡°As you know, I can¡¯t move around freely.¡± While increasing the subjugation team¡¯s efficiency with the revised guidebook was necessary, I needed to keep my abilities under wraps. Even Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong only knew about the Poison Immunity and Enchantment. They had no idea I was the one behind the creation of the guidebook. Revealing more of my capabilities now wouldn¡¯t be a smart move. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it.¡± The reasoning was convincing enough, and Dang Gyu-young nodded her head in agreement. However, she seemed to have another question in mind. ¡°But even if I hand this out, I doubt anyone will believe it.¡± The original guidebook was already the product of Seo Cheong-yong and several other faculty members putting their heads together. Even if this one was better, there was still the issue of whether people would trust a guidebook of unknown origin. I replied nonchalantly, ¡°If they don¡¯t want it, they can leave it.¡± It made no difference to me. I had nothing to lose, and I certainly wasn¡¯t going to beg them to believe it. The original guidebook wasn¡¯t entirely useless, after all. However, the corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly. Soon, Seo Cheong-yong surveyed the surroundings carefully before speaking. ¡°It looks like everyone is here. We¡¯ll depart immediately.¡± He then took the lead and stepped onto the underground floor. Following him, the subjugation team members began to move at the same time down the spiral staircase. The descent, however, didn¡¯t last long because Seo Cheong-yong soon changed direction and guided us into a large room. The perimeter of the room was filled with a complex array of magical tools and mechanical devices, while at its center, a large magic circle glowed faintly. The intricate formula felt strangely familiar. Mass Teleport. Given the immense distance from the F floor to the A floor, the plan was to transport everyone at once using it. Back when I moved with Shin Byeong-cheol, my lack of authority meant I could barely use elevators, let alone teleportation magic circles. But now, moving with the subjugation team afforded such luxuries. As the subjugation team entered the room, the waiting staff exchanged greetings with Seo Cheong-yong. ¡°Teacher Seo, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Thank you for your continued efforts. We¡¯ll be heading down right away.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll prepare immediately.¡± The staff then busily manipulated the magical devices, while some sent messages elsewhere. Meanwhile, the subjugation team, following Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s instructions, stepped onto the magic circle. The circle began to emit an increasingly brilliant glow until it became almost blinding. Whoosh! When the light finally faded away, we found ourselves standing in a room similar to the one we had just left. Waiting staff there also bowed their heads to Seo Cheong-yong. ¡°Welcome.¡± After exchanging brief pleasantries with them, Seo Cheong-yong led the subjugation team out of the room. When we stepped out, the view of the A floor unfolded before us. Compared to the other floors, the area was somewhat smaller, but each gaping dungeon emanated an oppressive aura that couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°......¡± Perhaps because of this, nearly half of the third-year students already showed signs of nervousness. Even Dang Gyu-young who was standing nearby took a small, deep breath. On the other hand, Lee Soo-dok gave me a peculiar look, as if he was wondering why I remained unfazed. After walking a short distance, the subjugation team stopped in front of a teleportation portal. [No. 50] [Teleportation Labyrinth] ¡°Faculty members first, followed by close-combat types in sequence.¡± Following Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s instructions, the faculty and staff members disappeared into the portal one by one. My turn came somewhere in the middle, as I moved with Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong. Taking a few steps forward, my vision was suddenly engulfed in darkness. We had been transported to a pitch-black location where not even a glimmer of light could be seen. There should at least be some torches here. It seemed even those had gone out. Soon, someone cast a spell, causing a glowing orb of light to illuminate the surroundings. Whoosh! The first thing that caught my eye was the wall constructed of worn bricks like those of a medieval castle. The walls encircled us entirely, making it clear we were in an enclosed space. And directly ahead¡ª Clank, clank... Dozens of knights clad in heavy armor were advancing toward the subjugation team. Despite being armored, their forms were irregular and they were coated in a dark dull sheen. Completely consumed. As everyone suspected, this dungeon had already been fortified by the Witch of Corruption. Every monster inside had been devoured by the Dark Oobleck. Given the strong foundation, these were clearly a different kind of Dark Oobleck from those we had faced before. ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± At Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s command, everyone swiftly moved into their designated positions. The front line formed a defensive wall, while the rear line readied their ranged attacks. Even those entering shortly after were startled for a moment but quickly adopted combat stances. Clank, clank, clank! In the meantime, the Dark Oobleck knights accelerated their charge and collided directly with the front line. Boom! The result of the clash was one-sided. The subjugation team sustained no damage, while most of the Dark Ooblecks were crushed or sent flying in a single strike. Given that only the most skilled members were selected, the outcome was only normal. Ranged attacks followed immediately, decimating the formation of the advancing enemies. Of course, it was impossible that the Witch of Corruption hadn¡¯t anticipated this. Just as the armored knights¡¯ forms began to crumble and collapse¡ª Boom! Boom! They all exploded at the same time, scattering black liquid in every direction. Chapter 276: No. 50 Teleportation Labyrinth (2) Rattle, rattle. Fragments of Dark Oobleck rained down like a torrential shower. Everyone knew there was nothing good about coming into contact with it, and the mages quickly deployed protective barriers in time. Sizzle¡ª Each time the black liquid touched the barrier, a continuous sizzling sound echoed, accompanied by acrid smoke. As expected, it seemed to be strongly acidic and toxic. Once the black rain stopped, Seo Cheong-yong waved his hand in the air, and the filth filling the room rapidly disappeared. ¡°Let¡¯s take a moment to regroup.¡± The battle had been so one-sided that there were no injuries and little need for rest. Still, everyone checked their condition to rule out any potential surprises. In the meantime, Seo Cheong-yong spoke to Lee Soo-dok. ¡°She must have noticed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure of it. The scouts were taken out, after all.¡± The Ooblecks they had just faced were akin to gatekeepers or scouts. They would wait in the first room and would rush forward to self-destruct as soon as anyone entered the dungeon. And that information would inevitably be relayed to the Witch of Corruption. ¡°She¡¯ll try some tricks from the next room onward.¡± ¡°Not that it changes anything for us.¡± ¡°True enough.¡± Lee Soo-dok¡¯s calm response earned a nod of agreement from Seo Cheong-yong. After all, they had entered fully aware that the Witch of Corruption had fortified this place and would resort to any strategy. The only option was to keep pressing forward. Seo Cheong-yong addressed the group. ¡°We¡¯re moving to the next room. Prepare yourselves.¡± As the mages spread their mana outward, magic circles began to emerge gradually on the floor. Some were just large enough for one person to stand on. Others were vast, filling the entire room. The bigger, the better. The larger and more complex the magic circle, the more powerful it becomes. The teleportation magic circle, like others of its kind, allowed more people to move at once as it grew larger. To transport all the dozens of members of the subjugation team, they naturally chose the largest magic circle available. Since everyone had already mastered this basic strategy, we channeled mana into the largest magic circle in the chamber. Before long, the ground beneath my feet began to glow brightly, Fwoosh¡ª! And my vision flashed blindingly before plunging into sudden darkness. We had arrived in the next room. This space, at least, wasn¡¯t entirely dark. Torches hung along the walls and they cast light throughout the chamber. The room was much like the one before it, with old, weathered walls enclosing them on all sides. The difference was that this room was completely empty. ¡°......?¡± ¡°......What? Nothing here?¡± Just as everyone began to lower their guard, I pointed upward and shouted. ¡°Above us!¡± ¡°!!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes shot to the ceiling, where they spotted dark masses clinging above them. In an instant, the Dark Ooblecks dropped down between the members of the subjugation team. They transformed into knight-like forms and swung their swords. Clang! The battle began with the first clash of swords as one member blocked an enemy¡¯s attack. Two dark Dark Ooblecks fell to my sides. One was slashing diagonally while the other lunged to stab. I shifted my body slightly and stepped back half a pace, dodging their strikes. The creatures pressed their attacks, trying to follow up, but¡ª Slash! One was cut to pieces by Dang Gyu-young¡¯s twin shadow blades, while the other was obliterated by Lee Soo-dok¡¯s sweeping slash, leaving no trace. The rest of the subjugation team, though initially startled, quickly regained their composure and engaged the Dark Ooblecks. Overwhelming them wasn¡¯t difficult. However, just like in the first room, the Dark Ooblecks¡¯ forms began to crumble and their bodies dissolved into black sludge. Boom! They exploded in unison, scattering black liquid everywhere. Because the explosions occurred deep within their formation, a few members were unable to dodge and were splattered with the substance. Sizzle¡ª ¡°Damn it...!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± Their armor melted away almost instantly, and their skin turned black as the poison seeped in. Boom! In an instant, they were completely obliterated, leaving not even a drop of their black liquid behind. As expected, he¡¯s strong. The strength of an A-rank hero. It was clear why the academy had entrusted the subjugation to Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong. ¡°.......!¡± ¡°.......!¡± Everyone around looked on, half-shocked and half in awe. But Lee Soo-dok who maintained his usual stoic tone merely said, ¡°Move out.¡± *** Boom! Each time Lee Soo-dok unleashed his blade, the Dark Ooblecks were erased without resistance. However, even an A-rank hero couldn¡¯t continuously execute such powerful attacks indefinitely. He needed time to recover his strength. Yet we couldn¡¯t stay in one place for long, as there were magic circles that activated automatically after a certain time. When that happened, no one could predict how many people would be transported or to which room they would end up. Rather than staying idle, constant movement was the better choice. And while Lee Soo-dok recovered his strength, the rest of the subjugation team engaged in combat with the Ooblecks. Fwoosh! Each time the teleportation magic circles activated, our numbers dwindled little by little. Sometimes half of the group was abruptly separated, and at other times only two or three people were taken. As we continued to advance through the labyrinth, the number of remaining members dwindled to just seven. Me, Lee Soo-dok, Dang Gyu-young, Jegal So-so, and a few faculty members. ¡°Move out.¡± Lee Soo-dok commanded again, and the magic circle lit up brightly. Fwoosh! Everyone expected the next encounter to follow a similar pattern, but this time, the room was exceptionally spacious. It was the ¡°mid-boss room¡±. Sure enough, more than twice the number of Oobleck knights and mages surrounded us, and among them emerged a huge knight. He carried a shield in one hand and a mace as large as a person¡¯s body in the other. ¡°.......¡± Lee Soo-dok locked eyes with the knight for several seconds. Then his energy surged dramatically, and he swung his blade diagonally toward the knight. Crashhh! The Dark Ooblecks nearby were all swept away, but the huge knight endured behind his shield which was expected from a mid-boss. He then charged at incredible speed before slamming his mace down with devastating force. Boom! As Lee Soo-dok and the knight clashed, the Oobleck knights surrounding us began to close in from all directions. I have to use it. This was no time to worry about prohibited skills. I clenched my fist and focused my energy. A crimson flame engulfed my fist, and I thrust it forward with all my might. Whoooooooooooosh! A blazing storm of fire tore through the enemies, leaving a gaping hole in their formation. But their numbers remained overwhelming. Some of the knights quickly filled the gap and closed in, but¡ª Slice¡ª They were suddenly sliced apart and cut cleanly into pieces. Jegal So-so intervened and swung her sword. Dang Gyu-young and the other faculty members also held their ground, fending off the relentless attacks from their positions. Meanwhile, a little farther away, a group of Dark Oobleck mages was infusing mana into a teleportation circle. There were more of them compared to the previous rooms, and as a result, the circle was being completed much faster. It looks like it¡¯ll go through. Still, I had to try. With that thought, I unleashed my Inferno Fist. As expected, the Dark Oobleck knights swarmed together, forming a thick wall as if determined to protect the circle at all costs. Boom, boom, boom¡ª! The storm of flames dissipated before it could reach the mages, and the teleportation circle was completed. A bright light burst forth, engulfing me. Flash¡ª! So they did it. Up until now, the Ooblecks had activated countless teleportation circles but always stayed close to Lee Soo-dok. It seemed this time, they had finally succeeded in separating us. At least I¡¯m not alone. I exchanged glances with Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so. Chapter 277: No. 50 Teleportation Labyrinth (3) I was wearing the Totem of Disguise along with the battle suit, so I looked exactly like faculty member K. However, Jegal So-so gave me a curious look and spoke. ¡°Inferno Fist.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°You¡¯re Kim Ho, aren¡¯t you?¡± I had anticipated that someone with sharp observation skills might figure it out, and as expected, her position as the vice president of the Swordsmanship Club wasn¡¯t for nothing. How she connected the dots to reach that conclusion would have to wait for another time. Clink. For now, we needed to deal with the enemy before us. Apparently sharing the same thought with me, both Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so turned their gazes forward at the same time. There stood a lone and large knight. Looks like the difficulty is increasing. We had involuntarily cleared the mid-boss room, and from this point onward, the monsters that appeared would shift to small, elite groups. Naturally, the Dark Ooblecks that consumed those monsters would become even stronger. It seemed they had fused two or three knights into one, as this creature now had four arms. The two arms on its right held huge greatswords, while the two on its left carried a longbow. The knight slightly twisted its body before suddenly nocking an arrow and shooting it in one swift motion. Whizz¡ª! I dodged the arrow aimed at the center of my forehead and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the damage-dealing. You two tie it down.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Jegal So-so and Dang Gyu-young readily agreed. They likely had their own B-rank offensive skills, but compared to Inferno Fist, they might fall a bit short. Inferno Fist, though penalized with heavy drawbacks, was overwhelmingly powerful. Since it was a fire area-of-effect skill, it was especially effective against Dark Ooblecks. Whizz¡ª! The Oobleck knight loosed another arrow, and then immediately charged toward us. Its speed was astonishing, to the point that ogres seemed sluggish by comparison. At the same time, it swung its greatswords in wide arcs. As we ducked or lightly leaped to evade the blades¡ª Whizz¡ª! The creature¡¯s left arms fired arrows once again, this time aiming at Dang Gyu-young. ¡°......!¡± Caught in the motion of evading the greatswords, Dang Gyu-young nearly lost her balance as the arrows closed in. But she succeeded in evading it with acrobatic, flexible movements. I called out to her. ¡°They¡¯re coming from behind, too.¡± Screeeeech! Sure enough, the arrows the creature had fired were now flying back toward us. Though they took the shape of arrows, they were essentially parts of the Dark Oobleck itself. Each one moved as if it were an independent entity. Shadow butterflies intercepted them mid-flight and knocked them down one by one. However, the Oobleck knight¡¯s relentless barrage meant the number of arrows continued to grow. Dang Gyu-young frowned slightly. ¡°This isn¡¯t something we can drag out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s finish it quickly.¡± I replied as I leaned to dodge the greatsword¡¯s swing. Taking a step back, I clenched my fist tightly and black flames began to ignite from it. The Dark Oobleck swung its greatsword again as if determined not to give me an opening, but Jegal So-so stepped in and thrust her sword in response. Her thin, delicate rapier collided with the huge thick greatsword that was nearly the size of a human body. The greatsword froze in place as if caught in an invisible lock. Moments later, shadows rippled at the Oobleck¡¯s feet, and spikes like skewers burst forth, piercing through it repeatedly. Though it was a slime-type monster and wouldn¡¯t take significant damage from such attacks, Dang Gyu-young had anticipated this. The shadow spikes that were still impaling the creature shifted and connected together to form a net that trapped it. Seizing this brief moment when its movements were restricted, I thrust my fist forward. A fiery storm surged forth, engulfing the creature completely. Whooooooooooosh! Even so, I tightened my fist again. ¡°Once more!¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so who had been starting to relax immediately tensed and refocused on the front. Sure enough, through the flames, a black silhouette flickered. Despite taking the Inferno Fist head-on, the creature hadn¡¯t fallen. Soon, the Oobleck knight emerged with its form partially collapsed. Its greatsword which was also crumbling swung wildly. ¡°...So, if they don¡¯t spot us, we¡¯re fine?¡± Dang Gyu-young grinned as she caught on to my meaning. If we could avoid being noticed by the Dark Ooblecks, we could move to the next room without engaging in battle. And as the president of the thieves¡¯ club, she could surely hide the three of us without any trouble. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s get moving.¡± Finally, I chose one of the teleportation magic circles and began pouring mana into it. Fwoosh! Bright light erupted from the circle, and Dang Gyu-young cloaked the group in shadows. Our vision soon cleared, revealing the next room. It was one of the countless rooms we¡¯d seen before, surrounded on all sides by old, crumbling bricks. At the center stood a large Oobleck Knight. Clank. The knight stirred briefly when it saw the glow of the teleportation magic, but it quickly settled back into place, showing no further hostility. Dang Gyu-young mouthed the words with a curious expression on her face, ¨C It really doesn¡¯t move? ¨C Let¡¯s move on immediately. ¨C Mhmm, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. When I scattered mana widely again, the knight flinched for a moment but soon went still. I chose another magic circle in the corner and poured a significant amount of mana into it. It wasn¡¯t until the circle began radiating intense light that the Dark Oobleck finally charged at us with frightening force. Clank, clank, clank! ¡°See you later~!¡± I waved casually in farewell. Before the knight¡¯s attack could land, the radiant light engulfed us. Fwoosh! *** We continued moving from one room to the next while maintaining our stealth all the while. The speed at which we moved forward was incredible since we weren¡¯t wasting time on battles. As we continued, Dang Gyu-young tapped me on the shoulder and asked, ¡°Where exactly are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± Rather than explaining, I decided it would be faster to show her. Once again, I infused mana into the magic circle. Fwoosh! A scene very different from anything we had seen so far unfolded before us. The surroundings were still enclosed by aged walls from all four sides like a castle. However, unlike the previous areas, this one had no torches or other sources of light, yet it was as bright as day. The floor was covered with thick grass. In front of us stood a solitary, ancient tree. The tree appeared unremarkable, save for its twisted and gnarled branches and its sparse withered leaves. Jegal So-so stared at it for a while before speaking. ¡°This place wasn¡¯t mentioned in the guide.¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t. It¡¯s a hidden room.¡± I had deliberately left it out of the strategy guide, planning to visit it later if the opportunity arose. Now that it was just the three of us, there was no reason to skip it. Might as well grab everything we can. It would definitely prove useful for the strategy guide later. ¡°What¡¯s this place for?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough. For now, let¡¯s take a break.¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡± ¡°Yes, this place is specifically designed for resting.¡± Most other rooms would activate a teleportation magic circle after a set period, forcing you to keep moving whether you wanted to or not. But this hidden room was an exception. You could rest here for as long as you wanted before leaving. So we all settled down comfortably on the grass floor and passed the time with lighthearted conversation. I wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed when I stood up and announced, ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± ¡°...What?¡± Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so also got to their feet, and together we walked toward the ancient tree. Soon, the air above the tree began rippling like disturbed water, and a dark shape suddenly emerged. ¡°Caw¡ªCaww¡ª!¡± Chapter 278: No. 50 Teleportation Labyrinth (4) chapter 278: no. 50 teleportation labyrinth (4) its true identity was, of course, the dimensional crow. the creature circled once through the air before settling on a branch of the ancient tree. for beings that traveled dimensions, spatial dungeons like this one were both a homeland and a vacation retreat. the teleportation labyrinth was no exception. the crows make their own hideouts in a few very remote rooms among the hundreds of rooms and stop by every now and then to rest. of course, this time, this dimensional crow hadn¡¯t come to rest. it had sensed someone trespassing in its retreat and had come to investigate. the creature before me looked slightly different from the ¡°tailor¡± i had encountered at the rainbow lake. this one wore an old pointed hat on its head and held a crooked wooden staff in one hand. the ¡°grand sage crow¡±. among the various kinds of dimensional crows, it was the most adept at magic. if ranked, it would likely be s+ or even ex-class. even so, the grand sage¡¯s reaction upon seeing me wasn¡¯t all that different from the tailor¡¯s. it flapped its wings in apparent curiosity and asked, ¡°caw. young monarch, how did you find your way here?¡± ¡°i didn¡¯t come here on purpose.¡± in situations like this, it was better to maintain an air of mystery than to admit to any ulterior motives. ¡°i just happened to pass by and decided to stop in when i noticed something.¡± ¡°caw, is that so? a young monarch is still a monarch, indeed!¡± the grand sage crow seemed to accept my explanation easily. one small perk of being regarded as a monarch was that even unusual actions could be dismissed with a casual, ¡°because they¡¯re a monarch.¡± before it could ask me another question, i decided to take the initiative. feigning interest, i looked at the ancient tree and asked, ¡°so, what is this place for?¡± ¡°it is a place for studying magic, caw.¡± the crow lightly tapped the branch it was perched on with its staff. at that moment, the ancient tree revealed its true nature. its appearance shifted. it grew translucent and dark, yet it was faintly glowing which was a paradoxical sight. it was like gazing into the night sky itself. it must be some kind of medium for spatial magic. such things had been planted not only here but also in other hidden rooms and dungeons. this just went to show the dimensional crows¡¯ incredible power. still, i nodded nonchalantly. ¡°that makes sense. but this place seems to have bad energy.¡± ¡°caw, it was good until recently. now, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°because of the witch?¡± ¡°that¡¯s right.¡± this dungeon must have been left unattended for a long time. being an a-rank dungeon, its difficulty was immense, so unless a team of exceptionally skilled individuals was gathered, no one would even dare to attempt it. and being a labyrinth only makes it less appealing. in such a peaceful place, the sudden invasion of the witch of corruption, releasing hordes of dark ooblecks, would certainly have been unpleasant to the dimensional crows. i asked as if the answer were obvious. ¡°why not just blow her away? you could do it easily.¡± ¡°caw. young monarch, you speak so recklessly. that is not our way.¡± dimensional crows were neutral by nature. even someone like the witch of corruption would be no match for them if they decided to fight, but unless the other party crossed the line first, they wouldn¡¯t attack. the witch of corruption knew this, which was why she left the hidden rooms untouched. ¡°still, she seems to be bothering you.¡± ¡°that¡¯s true. will you take care of it for us?¡± ¡°i could, as long as i¡¯m properly compensated.¡± after all, taking care of annoying tasks for others always came with a price. the grand sage crow seemed to agree and asked, ¡°caw, what do you want in return?¡± ¡°nothing too much. just one branch from the tree. it¡¯d be even better if you gave it upfront.¡± at my words, the grand sage crow flapped its wings as if it was startled. then, in a tone of growing curiosity, it asked,no?v(el)b\\jnn ¡°how did you know about that?¡± ¡°who do you think i am?¡± i couldn¡¯t exactly tell it that i was a stagnant water of this game, so i deployed the usual ¡°monarch¡¯s vague authority¡± strategy once more. ¡°as you might have guessed from what i said, it¡¯s partly an investment. and even if the dungeon¡¯s going to be cleared anyway, it¡¯s better to do it efficiently.¡± ¡°hmm, that makes sense too.¡± dang gyu-young nodded her head in agreement. currently, the subjugation team was scattered, fighting ooblecks across various locations. in the process, casualties could occur at any time. if we used the crow branch to clear the dungeon more efficiently, we could reduce the damage accordingly. jegal so-so raised an important question next. ¡°how do we use it?¡± ¡°there aren¡¯t any specific conditions, but since it¡¯s single-use, it¡¯s best to save it for a truly critical moment.¡± ¡°you mean in the boss room.¡± ¡°that would be best.¡± with the crow branch secured, it was time to refocus on the original goal. to reach the boss room as quickly as possible. *** after finishing our preparations, we left the hidden room and began navigating the dungeon once more. just like before, thanks to dang gyu-young¡¯s stealth ability, we managed to bypass most rooms without engaging in combat. but tricks like that always have their limits. as soon as we stepped into the next room via the teleportation portal¡ª clank. a hulking oobleck knight spun around to face us. the knight which had likely absorbed several others had six arms. five of them held longswords, while one gripped a staff. a mage mixed in, huh? despite dang gyu-young¡¯s stealth still being active, the creature walked directly toward us, as if it could see through the ability. dang gyu-young asked cautiously. ¡°...do you think we¡¯ve been spotted?¡± ¡°yes, we¡¯ve been spotted.¡± this was a type that could detect stealth. once the oobleck knight determined we were within its range, it began swinging all five longswords wildly. whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! pitch-black sword energy rained down in every direction. we dodged by throwing ourselves out of the way. jegal so-so deflected some of the incoming sword energies while dodging others, and then asked, ¡°do we tie it down again this time?¡± ¡°yes, same plan as before.¡± just as we had done against the greatsword-archer combo, dang gyu-young and jegal so-so would immobilize the enemy while i attacked with inferno fist. this one looks like it¡¯ll be harder, though. unlike before, the creature¡¯s type was closer to a ranged fighter. instead of using its longswords for melee attacks, it launched sword energy from them while darting around the room at incredible speed to control the distance. whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! to make matters worse, its numerous arms created an overwhelming barrage of sword energy, leaving barely any gaps to evade. the staff appeared to be for support, casting buffs like increased sword energy and enhanced movement speed. jegal so-so weaved through the oncoming sword energy using her movement technique. she steadily closed the gap between herself and the oobleck knight. she struck smoothly with a combination of thrusts and slashes, but the creature merely staggered momentarily before quickly retreating to widen the distance again. next, dang gyu-young made a gesture, causing the ground beneath the creature to ripple as shadow spikes erupted upwards. however, the knight¡¯s rapid movements allowed it to narrowly avoid them, leaving only scratches on its armor. ¡°this isn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°stay calm.¡± ¡°i know.¡± jegal so-so continued her relentless pursuit while i used wind magic to restrain the creature, and dang gyu-young summoned more shadow butterflies one by one. together, the three of us gradually pressured the oobleck knight and started cornering it bit by bit. flash! suddenly, a brilliant light filled one corner of the room, and from that radiance, three people emerged. it was a faculty member, jeong chong-myeong, and kim gap-doo. by some stroke of luck, their teleportation portal had opened into this very room. whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! the blind sword energy flew toward them, but jeong chong-myeong calmly raised a translucent barrier to block the attack. kim gap-doo quickly surveyed the scene. he glanced between the oobleck knight and us, then stepped forward decisively after assessing the situation. ¡°so there were others here already. allow me to join you.¡± Chapter 279: No. 50 Teleportation Labyrinth (5) chapter 279: no. 50 teleportation labyrinth (5) kim gap-doo shot forward in an instant and arrived directly in front of the oobleck knight. as if it intended to swat away an annoying obstacle, the creature frantically swung its five arms, but kim gap-doo narrowly dodged each attack and pressed in even closer. then, at a distance so close he could almost touch it, he thrust his fist forward like lightning. boom! a resounding explosion echoed as the huge oobleck staggered backward. perhaps deciding that a frontal confrontation offered no chance of victory, the creature reverted to the same tactics it had used against jegal so-so. it quickly increased the distance and launched sword energy in retaliation. whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! jegal so-so continued the pursuit alongside kim gap-doo. at the same time, she swiftly assessed the newly joined allies and issued orders. ¡°jeong chong-myeong, you are the battery.¡± ¡°okay.¡± the battery position was best assigned to the person with the greatest firepower. if jeong chong-myeong put his mind to it, he could deliver an even stronger attack than inferno fist. there was also the matter of keeping my identity as hidden as possible. though i had already used inferno fist in front of a few people, increasing the number of people who knew wasn¡¯t ideal. after all, it¡¯s a prohibited skill. unless the situation became truly dire, it was best to keep it under wraps. before long, jeong chong-myeong took a position in one corner and began chanting a spell. the faculty member at his side appeared to be of a support class and provided support. he intercepted the occasional stray blade of sword energy and enhanced the power of jeong chong-myeong¡¯s magic. as their combined incantation progressed, a huge magic circle began to form on the ceiling some distance away. jegal so-so pointed to the area within the magic circle¡¯s range and gave the next order. ¡°drive it over there.¡± ¡°understood.¡± kim gap-doo replied curtly before forcefully kicking off the ground and shooting forward again. once more, he closed in on the oobleck knight and delivered another devastating punch. bang! the dark oobleck was pushed back, sliding toward the magic circle. sensing the need to create more space, the creature began to retreat quickly. however, just as it was about to step beyond the edge of the magic circle, a thick wall of ice suddenly erupted behind it. i had cast ice wall. the creature failed to evade and crashed straight into the wall. thud! the ice wall cracked heavily and looked as though it might shatter at any moment. one more strike would likely do the job, but the oobleck knight seemed unwilling to waste even that much time. it abruptly changed direction and dashed off toward another area. but, of course, jegal so-so was already there blocking its path. she didn¡¯t dodge the incoming longsword swings; instead, she deflected each one with precision. it might have seemed like an unnecessary move, but it kept the creature¡¯s arms occupied and prevented it from launching sword energies elsewhere. in addition, shadow spikes suddenly shot up from beneath its feet, piercing the creature and further restricting its movement. dang gyu-young wore a triumphant smile on her face. ¡°now it¡¯s properly caught.¡± as expected, restraining is best done with multiple people. with so many of us, there was no room for it to escape. kim gap-doo, dang gyu-young, jegal so-so, and i blocked all its escape routes, forcibly pinning it within the magic circle. a short while later, jeong chong-myeong seemed to have finished his casting. a blue pillar of light descended from the magic circle etched into the ceiling. boom¡ª! the oobleck knight was crushed flat beneath the pillar of light and soon disintegrated without a trace. even so, jegal so-so stared at the spot for a while longer. only after confirming that the creature had been completely eradicated did she lower her sword. ¡°we¡¯ll regroup.¡± everyone readily followed jegal so-so¡¯s instructions. this indicated tacit approval of her authority as the leader. while the support staff cast light recovery magic on everyone, kim gap-doo glanced at the three of us in turn and remarked, ¡°looks like none of you are hurt.¡± kim gap-doo¡¯s group, however, had accumulated numerous injuries, both large and small, from continuous battles and were visibly fatigued. in contrast, the three of us were completely unscathed and relatively relaxed, thanks to the rest we¡¯d taken in the hidden room. unlike the others we had encountered, this knight had a normal set of limbs, two arms and two legs, and its equipment was relatively simple. still, not a single person in our party underestimated it. kim gap-doo narrowed his eyes and glared at the oobleck knight. ¡°...it speaks.¡± ¡°is that so strange?¡± ¡°well, not strange exactly. just surprising.¡± the fact that it could communicate meant it was a higher-level entity with more intelligence. the oobleck knight continued, ¡°your surprise is understandable. i was told that my master put considerable effort into creating me.¡± ¡°i¡¯m sure she did.¡± after all, creating a creature capable of consuming even an a-rank monster would not have been an easy feat, even for the witch of corruption. still, with over a month at her disposal, she had evidently succeeded. the oobleck knight bowed politely again before speaking. ¡°of course, my role is simple; to stop you, or at the very least, deplete your resources as much as possible.¡± ¡°that¡¯s only to be expected.¡± ¡°yes, so i hope you¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°...understand what?¡± ¡°that my methods might be a bit cowardly.¡± with that, the knight suddenly kicked off the ground and hurtled toward us at an incredible speed. its target was the rear of our formation. it was the location where jeong chong-myeong, the support staff member and i were positioned. how cowardly. i like it. if the mage group could be wiped out, it would weaken both their firepower and sustainability. so it was the best choice for the enemy. i silently acknowledged its cleverness. of course, the frontline wasn¡¯t foolish enough to simply let it pass unchallenged. kim gap-doo and jegal so-so blocked its path and launched a coordinated attack. however, just as they were about to clash, multiple long, thick arms suddenly extended from what was once a single arm of the oobleck at incredible speed. whooosh! ¡°...what the¡ª!¡± ¡°.......!¡± kim gap-doo and jegal so-so were forced to retreat hastily. considering the opponent was a slime-type monster, they must have anticipated some unconventional moves. however, the sheer power behind the attack far exceeded their expectations, and both were flung to the sides. at that moment, the oobleck knight broke through the frontline and rapidly closed the distance toward us. an ice wall abruptly rose in its path, but the creature immediately swung its arm down. crash! the sturdy ice wall shattered in an instant, scattering shards everywhere. until now, such defenses had been effective, but with this mid-level a-rank boss, it was inevitable that it would break through so easily. of course, my intention was never to stop it outright. it¡¯s to obscure its vision. not just its vision, but my companions¡¯ vision as well. [inferno fist] [overheat] the flames enveloping my fist channeled tremendous power throughout my body. with my physical abilities heightened to the limit, i leaped into the midst of the scattering ice shards. the creature instinctively swung its arm, but i narrowly dodged it. at the same time, without anyone noticing, i discreetly extended my index finger. thud. then, with a swift kick to the ground, i pulled back and retreated from the monster. my index finger which had been frozen solid like an icicle quickly melted and returned to its original state. this tactic works surprisingly well. chrrrk. a part of the creature¡¯s arm rapidly froze over. Chapter 280: No. 50 Teleportation Labyrinth (6) chapter 280: no. 50 teleportation labyrinth (6) ¡°you got me. that was an excellent move.¡± the oobleck knight spoke in a mechanical tone. it was as if being struck by the mysterious yin jade demon finger was not something that had happened to it at all. honestly, i wanted to throw in some trash talk, but i couldn¡¯t reveal my identity at this point, so i decided to hold back. when it comes to concept play, consistency is key, after all. crackle, crackle. meanwhile, the cold energy of the mysterious yin jade demon finger was rapidly expanding its range. it seemed like the oobleck knight was trying to suppress it in its own way, but if even the blood cult elder couldn¡¯t manage it, there was no way a mere monster could. before long, it withdrew all its outstretched arms and returned to a normal form. only then did it seem to regain better control of its body. thanks to that, most of the cold appeared to be subdued, but the sound of freezing could still be faintly heard. crunch, crackle. while the creature¡¯s movements slowed, dang gyu-young moved jeong chong-myeong and the support staff member to the opposite side of the room before rejoining us. she cast shadow leap and emerged right beneath my feet. meanwhile, jegal so-so and kim gap-doo were closing the distance at a ferocious pace from behind. judging that he had to deal with them first, the oobleck spun around and charged toward them. he collided with kim gap-doo, who launched a powerful fist strike. boom! with the impact, kim gap-doo staggered back two steps, while the oobleck knight retreated one step. despite being at a disadvantage, kim gap-doo didn¡¯t shrink back; instead, he charged forward with even greater ferocity. jegal so-so also assisted from the side. she was stabbing and slashing with her sword. the oobleck¡¯s two hands softened and morphed; one turned into a longsword, and the other into a shield. with the sword, it parried jegal so-so¡¯s attacks, and with the shield, it blocked kim gap-doo¡¯s strikes as it spoke. ¡°so it¡¯s come down to a direct confrontation after all.¡± ¡°being more cowardly than humans isn¡¯t as easy as it sounds.¡± ¡°you have a point.¡± the oobleck knight glanced over at us slyly as it said this. for a creature to engage in subtle mockery...it was almost human now. of course, i could understand why it might feel that way. crunch, crackle. the sound of freezing was still echoing faintly from within its body. each time it happened, its movements became awkward and full of gaps that allowed kim gap-doo and jegal so-so to land attacks. the mysterious yin jade demon finger technique was truly a terrifying martial art. on top of that, the others joined the battle and started steadily putting more pressure on the oobleck knight. shadow butterflies flew in one by one, and fist-sized orbs of magical energy struck the creature and exploded. boom! the one launching the orbs, of course, was jeong chong-myeong. the most effective way to deal with the dark oobleck was to unleash a concentrated burst of firepower all at once, but the situation didn¡¯t allow for that right now. you never know when it might break through again. if the defensive formation was broken through again, lives would immediately be in danger, and even retreating would mean having to cancel the spells. so, jeong chong-myeong chose to maintain some degree of mobility while taking an all-rounder approach to the battle. boom! once again, the magical energy orbs struck the oobleck and exploded. explosive magic. a wise decision. since it was a slime-type monster, piercing or slashing attacks weren¡¯t nearly as effective as this kind of damage. as expected of someone at the rank of a third-year club president, he handled it well on his own. but i have nothing to do. as for me, i couldn¡¯t obstruct their vision or use prohibited skills, and using wind magic would instantly give me away. and so, i started erecting ice walls around the room. it might have seemed pointless at first glance, but... it never hurts to have insurance. meanwhile, the tide of battle was steadily turning in our favor. crackle, crackle. the cold continued to wreak havoc inside the oobleck knight. at the front, jegal so-so and kim gap-doo attacked in unison. on top of that, dang gyu-young and jeong chong-myeong occasionally launched shadow butterflies and magical energy orbs, steadily chipping away at the enemy. as expected of an a-rank opponent. even after taking so many hits, the creature showed no signs of weakening. in fact, it occasionally launched fierce counterattacks that sent jegal so-so or kim gap-doo flying. of course, though it didn¡¯t show, the accumulated damage was evidently taking its toll. as the intense battle continued, the oobleck knight suddenly stopped and spoke. ¡°but our master has one proposal for you.¡± ¡°...what kind of proposal?¡± jegal so-so asked, and one of the knights spread its mana widely. as hidden magic circles revealed themselves, one in particular glowed with a distinct red hue in a corner. even at a glance, it was clear where it led. the boss room. however, the circle was incredibly small, barely large enough for one person to enter. once someone went in, it was unlikely to activate again. the oobleck knight continued speaking. ¡°our master says you may send someone ahead if you wish. no one will stop you.¡± ¡°what about the rest of us?¡± ¡°of course, you¡¯ll have to defeat us and proceed to the next room to enter.¡± it was clear that a larger magic circle capable of accommodating the entire group wouldn¡¯t appear until after several more rooms. even just getting there would take considerable time, and the odds of someone surviving alone in the boss room until then were slim. and so, the proposal had no real value. it was obvious to everyone that the best approach was to progress carefully as a group and reach the boss room together. that¡¯s what everyone must have been thinking. not bad at all. but from my perspective, it was an incredibly tempting offer. my top priority was to shorten the time required to complete this raid. to achieve that, i needed to enter the boss room as quickly as possible, and now they were saying no one would stop me if i went alone. several potential risks came to mind, but i was confident i could handle them. so i made my decision and stepped forward. ¡°i¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°........!¡± ¡°........!¡± all eyes turned to me. ¡°why is the quiet guy suddenly acting like this?¡± that was the look in their eyes. moreover, it wasn¡¯t just any decision; it was practically a suicidal move. why on earth was i volunteering for this? as i brushed off their stares and kept walking, dang gyu-young hurriedly ran forward and blocked my path. ¡°you can¡¯t go...yo!¡± it was only after she opened her mouth that she seemed to remember she was supposed to hide my identity. hastily, she added a polite ¡°yo¡± at the end. (tn: ?? ¡°yo¡± is added at the end of a sentence as a polite speech level marker.) even so, she worked hard to persuade me. ¡°we just need to stick together for a little longer, okay...yo?¡± i stepped closer to dang gyu-young. and then i looked straight into her eyes and said. ¡°it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°.......¡± maybe she caught the firm resolve in my eyes, or perhaps she just decided there was no stopping me anymore. slowly, dang gyu-young stepped aside. when i passed her, she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear, ¡°...just wait until this is over. i¡¯m going to rip your cheeks off.¡± but despite her words, her eyes were still filled with worry. the oobleck knights also stepped aside to let me through. as i stepped onto the magic circle, they gave me a polite bow. the red magic circle soon grew brighter and brighter, painting my vision red. fwoosh! in the next moment, i found myself standing in a room dozens of times larger than anything i had seen before. however, the boss room didn¡¯t quite match my memory. it was completely empty, and everything from the floor to the walls to the ceiling was pitch black. occasionally, there were faint writhing movements in the room, which meant that... she¡¯s really gone all out decorating, huh? it meant that all that blackness was oobleck. i shrugged it off and calmly scanned the area. suddenly, a soft, melodic voice tickled my ears. ¡°welcome.¡± i turned toward the sound, and there she was. a woman cloaked in robes as black as the room itself. the mastermind behind all of this chaos and the second main quest boss. the witch of corruption. Chapter 281: The Witch of Corruption chapter 281: the witch of corruption as expected, she doesn¡¯t attack right away. i had considered the possibility of a battle breaking out the moment i entered the boss room, but the witch of corruption didn¡¯t seem inclined to do so. instead, she looked at me with an interested expression and spoke. ¡°you¡¯ve got some guts. i¡¯ve made similar proposals to others, but no one else accepted.¡± other teams besides ours must have also approached the boss room. apparently, the witch of corruption had made the same offer to them. if only one person entered, she wouldn¡¯t stop them. of course, from their perspective, it was essentially sending someone to their death, so they all refused, leaving me as the only one who entered. though if it were lee soo-dok or seo cheong-yong, they might have come. for some reason, they seemed to be running a little late compared to the others. i responded nonchalantly. ¡°i understand. people naturally want to choose the safest and most reliable path.¡± ¡°then why did you make a different choice?¡± ¡°to me, both options seemed the same.¡± if both were equally safe and reliable, why not take the shortcut rather than go the long way around? the confidence behind my words brought a soft curve to the witch¡¯s lips. ¡°i¡¯m looking forward to it. let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve prepared.¡± ¡°you won¡¯t be disappointed. i¡¯ve prepared something that¡¯ll leave you speechless.¡± ¡°we¡¯ll see soon enough. but before that, could you spare me a moment?¡± it seemed she wanted to satisfy her curiosity before the battle began. since she was an a-rank opponent, i also needed to find the right moment to act rather than jump into a fight. so, i gave a casual nod. ¡°if it¡¯s just a moment, i don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°it won¡¯t take long.¡± the witch of corruption guided me to one side of the boss room. with a simple wave of her hand, a table and two chairs appeared out of nowhere. we sat facing each other, and soon, a teapot and two teacups materialized on the table. this was the kind of skill that shin byeong-cheol would probably find incredibly useful if he could learn it. as she tilted the teapot to pour tea into the cups, the witch spoke. ¡°if you don¡¯t mind, i¡¯d like to see your true form.¡± whether it was because she was exceptionally skilled for an a-rank or as perceptive as someone like jegal so-so, she had seen through my disguise. since it wasn¡¯t a difficult request, i briefly removed the totem of disguise. when my appearance shifted from faculty member k back to kim ho, the witch¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect you to be this young. are you a student?¡± ¡°yes, i¡¯m a first-year.¡± ¡°...this just got more interesting.¡± after all, a mere first-year had cleared an a-rank dungeon and entered the boss room. alone, no less. the witch of corruption offered me a cup of tea. ¡°have a drink.¡± ¡°thank you.¡± normally, one shouldn¡¯t carelessly consume something offered by others. but i took the cup without hesitation and drank a sip. the witch of corruption asked for my thoughts. ¡°how is it?¡± ¡°it¡¯s quite an unusual flavor. i think one of my friends would enjoy this.¡± i wondered if this was what hong yeon-hwa¡¯s favorite espresso, the one overloaded with an oil-like bitterness, tasted like. of course, since my taste buds had long been numbed by exposure to various poisonous plants and cores, it wasn¡¯t difficult to maintain a straight face. the witch of corruption smiled faintly. ¡°it¡¯s one of my favorite teas.¡± ¡°it¡¯s... unique.¡± ¡°that¡¯s a comment i hear often. now, shall we have a conversation? i have a lot i¡¯m curious about.¡± ¡°go ahead, ask me anything.¡± the witch of corruption pondered briefly before speaking. ¡°you mentioned a friend as soon as you sipped the tea. you must be quite close?¡± ¡°they¡¯re precious companions.¡± ¡°could you tell me more about them?¡± since there was no reason not to, i shared what came to mind. ¡°the first friend i made is a swordsman. he¡¯s a typical model student. but at the same time, he¡¯s flexible in his thinking and remarkably perceptive.¡± ¡°those traits are ideal for excelling as a swordsman.¡± ¡°that¡¯s why i have high hopes for him.¡± the witch¡¯s eyes widened in shock. she immediately shot to her feet, but by then, i had already pulled an ugly branch from my clothes. with a flick of the crow branch through the air, i began chanting an incantation. ¡°caa¡ªaaaw¡ª!¡± at that moment, the ugly branch took on the colors of the night sky. the colors spread throughout the room in an instant, and teleportation portals began appearing one by one in various places. beyond the portals, different rooms became visible along with the startled faces of the subjugation team members. a summoning portal. it was a spatial magic ability imbued into the branch by the grand crow sage. its effect was to summon allies by opening portals at the current location, no matter where they were scattered throughout the dungeon. this was the reason i had entered the boss room alone. before long, the subjugation team members began stepping through the teleportation portals. some burst in, clearly in the middle of battle, while others walked in calmly. lee soo-dok was among the latter, though he had probably been anticipating this moment more than anyone else in the room. when he bared his teeth in a grin, the scars covering his face twisted, making him look like a demon. ¡°at last, we meet again.¡± seo cheong-yong seemed just as pleased about the reunion as lee soo-dok was. meanwhile, the witch of corruption paid no attention to the two teachers; her gaze was fixed solely on me. ¡°you¡¯ve really prepared something incredible, haven¡¯t you?¡± she had likely invested considerable effort into taking control of the entire dungeon and setting traps. in the early stages, she manipulated teleportation portals to scatter the subjugation team. and in the middle and later stages, she introduced increasingly powerful dark ooblecks to wear down their strength. her calculation must have been that the subjugation team would eventually reach the boss room, but they¡¯d be in tatters and few in number, making it easy to pick them off one by one. but all of that crumbled to pieces because of a single item i had used. she was probably feeling both astonished and deflated. this is when you¡¯re supposed to trash talk. my mouth itched to speak, but with so many eyes watching, i pretended to be indifferent and avoided drawing attention. i had already reequipped the totem of disguise as well. i also put away the crow branch and brought out the sapling disguised as an iron staff. actually, there¡¯s one more surprise left. it was time to reveal the decisive reason i had joined the subjugation team. it was time to use the poison immunity. [activated ¡®octopus limbs¡¯.] [activated ¡®enchantment¡¯.] [you have granted ¡®poison immunity¡¯ to the target.] [you have granted ¡®poison immunity¡¯ to the target.....] [you have granted...] [duration: 00:14:57] [cooldown: 21 days 20:59:57] so, the enchantment will be on cooldown for a while. a cooldown of over three weeks. it had increased exponentially because i had overused octopus limbs so much. still, sacrificing three weeks was more than worth it. the subjugation team members checked the notification messages that popped up and were collectively astonished. ¡°.......!¡± ¨C what is this? ¨C poison immunity was granted?! ¨C who did this? of course, only a handful of people in the room knew i was the source of it: lee soo-dok, seo cheong-yong, dang gyu-young, and probably je gal so-so. they seemed relatively less shocked, as they had been informed beforehand. sensing the need to restore order, seo cheong-yong stepped forward and spoke. ¡°we can win. don¡¯t be afraid and fight!¡± ¡°.......!¡± at that, everyone stopped murmuring and their eyes began to gleam with confidence. they were confident because they were armed with the perfect traits to deal with dark oobleck. the witch of corruption likely couldn¡¯t even imagine that they had gained poison immunity, but she seemed to sense that the suddenly changed atmosphere was unusual. she ground her teeth in frustration. ¡°fine. let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± with a casual wave of her hand in the air, the entire boss room began to shake violently. Chapter 282: I’ll Just Exchange Two Moves chapter 282: i¡¯ll just exchange two moves the pitch-black floor, walls, and ceiling spewed out oobleck knights in droves. they surrounded the subjugation team while simultaneously positioning themselves as if to protect a single entity, and that entity wore a crown on its head instead of a helmet. it¡¯s the oobleck king, just like it looks. it was the boss-level monster of the entire dungeon. one of the faculty members gazed at it and spoke to lee soo-dok and seo cheong-yong. ¡°both of you, please handle the witch. we will protect the main force.¡± if not enough people had gathered in the boss room, then one of them would have had to remain with the main force. however, thanks to the crow branch, that was no longer necessary. and so, lee soo-dok and seo cheong-yong gave a slight nod. ¡°of course.¡± ¡°understood.¡± then, as if they had been waiting for just this moment, they shot toward the witch of corruption at the same time. the oobleck king also raised its sword and pointed it at the subjugation team, and with that the boss fight finally began. all around, oobleck knights closed the encirclement with alarming speed, while the subjugation team formed up at their assigned positions. when the two forces collided together, a deafening roar rang out. booom! first, i carefully scanned the dark oobleck ranks. she definitely prepared a lot for this. each oobleck knight was on par with the ones we had faced in the previous room. there was also an enormous number of them. just counting the ones in plain sight pushed the total close to the hundreds. on top of that, even at this very moment, the walls continued to spit out knights without pause. still, we won¡¯t lose. we had done just as much preparation on our side. the mages took out parchment scrolls that had been rolled up tightly in their inventories. they were magic scrolls we had saved for this final showdown. high-rank scrolls that were about a-rank were ripped neatly in half, releasing large-scale spells that had been sealed within. flaash¨C! the burst of light soared upward, forming a huge orb over the subjugation team¡¯s heads. then, like a sun, it began to brightly illuminate the entire boss room. next, pillars of light rose up beneath it, and a temple was constructed. we¡¯re practically beating them with money. if the environment was unfavorable¡ª ¡ªyou just changed it to your advantage. of course, it wasn¡¯t as simple as it sounded, but the dragon slayer academy had the means to make it possible. the effect took hold immediately. the oobleck knights visibly weakened. their movements were sluggish, and even the long swords they swung lacked real force. meanwhile, the subjugation team that was further strengthened began cutting them down like bundles of straw. several ooblecks tried self-destructing here and there in an attempt to deal more damage, but it was a pointless gesture. we have poison immunity after all. boom! another oobleck knight exploded, splattering black liquid all over kim gap-doo, who was in the front line throwing punches. if he had been the same as before, his entire body would have turned black and rotted away from the poison. ¡°...hmm.¡± the ink-covered gap-doo paused briefly, then resumed fighting as if nothing had happened. the rest of the subjugation team, upon confirming their total immunity to poison, pressed the attack even harder. in the midst of it all, i felt a hand grab me firmly. when i turned slightly to look, sure enough, it was dang gyu-young. just like when i went through the boss room portal alone, she looked at me with equal parts of annoyance and worry. ¡°now, seriously, just stay put.¡± ¡°i intend to.¡± my role ended with the crow branch and granting poison immunity. i planned to remain in spectator mode unless something truly extraordinary happened. however, there was one exception. ¡°if something comes our way, we have to respond.¡± ¡°who, the witch? why?¡± ¡°i did something a bit irritating to her.¡± from the witch of corruption¡¯s perspective, the plan she had painstakingly devised had collapsed entirely because of me. she probably didn¡¯t just find it annoying; she likely wanted to tear me to shreds. moreover, the fact that i was only a first-year student who had managed to topple her plan meant she would realize i could become a fearsome opponent in the future. it was best for her to strike me down or at least injure me in some way now. hence, there was a high chance she would make a reckless move at least once. dang gyu-young tensed up as she drew on her shadows. ¡°alright, i¡¯ll try to block her.¡± ¡°no, don¡¯t block her. let her come.¡± ¡°why again?¡± i opened two fingers to show dang gyu-young, who was frowning in confusion. ¡°i¡¯ll only exchange exactly two moves with her. after that, pull me back out.¡± ¡°...really just two moves?¡± ¡°yes, any more than that is too much for me.¡± in moments like this, the solution was, don¡¯t dodge. i simply thrust the mysterious yin jade demon finger straight forward. fwoop, this time, i felt at least some resistance at my fingertip. although it was reduced by some kind of defensive trait, the mysterious yin jade demon finger was s-rank, so it managed to pierce through. meanwhile, her claws which had been aiming for me, [¡®distortion¡¯ has been activated.] [cooldown: 23:59:58] they got distorted on their own before they could touch my body. the witch of corruption¡¯s eyes flew wide in shock. ¡°you...!¡± that makes it two moves. dang gyu-young darted out of the shadows and pulled me back in. in the next instant, we had moved quite far away. as agreed beforehand, the moment i exchanged exactly two offensive and defensive moves, she used shadow leap. ¡°i did well, right?¡± ¡°you did very well.¡± but at that moment, first aid mattered more than compliments. crackle-crackle-crackle, because of the penalty from the s-rank mysterious yin jade demon finger, the cold and demonic energy had already spread up to my forearm. i immediately took out a basic elixir and chugged it, causing the fierce frost to slowly subside. of course, the power was just as extraordinary as the penalty. the witch of corruption tried to use blink to follow us, crackle-crackle-crackle¡ª but the spot where the demon finger had pierced her froze at a terrifying speed and interrupted her spell. she hesitated for a moment, and in that instant, a flash of light sliced past her. split, one of her arms dropped to the floor with a thud. the witch of corruption let out a wail of agony. ¡°kyaaaah!¡± ¡°you sure you can afford to look away?¡± it was lee soo-dok who had unleashed that flash. and it still wasn¡¯t over. seo cheong-yong charged forward at an incredible speed and struck the witch of corruption with full force. boom! the witch who got flung backward rolled across the floor. seo cheong-yong spoke to her with a friendly smile. ¡°you¡¯ve underestimated us far too much.¡± the witch of corruption planted her remaining hand on the ground to push herself up. she hurriedly attempted to cast a counterspell, but even that wasn¡¯t easy. crackle-crackle-crackle, the ice energy rampaging through her body severed her mana flow, leaving her vulnerable to lee soo-dok¡¯s next attack. a sharp sword energy slashed diagonally through her body. slash, her upper body was severed and slid to the floor. her flesh which seemed to be made of something like oobleck revealed a black, slimy substance at the cut. ¡°guh...!¡± ¡°it¡¯s over.¡± lee soo-dok pressed his boot firmly on the writhing witch of corruption. amidst her struggles, she twisted her body in frustration and glared in my direction and started speaking rapidly in a spiteful tone. ¡°this is just my doppelga?nger! i¡¯ll return someday! with my master! when that day comes, you and your friends¡ª!¡± crunch! ¡°be gone.¡± lee soo-dok ground the remains beneath his boot. like the witch had claimed, the one we had just defeated was merely a doppelga?nger. she had set up a backup plan, which was the only reason she dared infiltrate dungeon island alone. though the proportion was a bit excessive. calling it a doppelga?nger was an understatement; she had invested over 90% of her power into it, making it practically indistinguishable from her true form. recovering from this would likely take her a very long time. and in the meantime, we would grow strong enough to face her head-on, even without the help of our teachers. i repeated her words silently to myself. yes, come back if you can. it would be even better if you brought your master along. after confirming that the witch of corruption was utterly defeated, lee soo-dok and seo cheong-yong immediately rejoined the subjugation team. the battle that was already turning in the subjugation team¡¯s favor, shifted even more decisively. the oobleck king was soon brought to the ground as well. at that moment, a notification message appeared in the corner of my vision. [main quest 2] (completed) [beginning calculations.] Chapter 283: Let’s Eat in My Room [Beginning calculations.] If everything had gone according to the Witch of Corruption¡¯s plan, it would have taken the subjugation team much longer to reach the boss¡¯s room. It would also have taken even longer for all the members to gather. In effect, that long stretch of time had been completely skipped thanks to a single crow branch. [You drastically reduced the raid time.] [Your reward has been increased.] During the boss battle, I anticipated the Witch of Corruption¡¯s arrival, lured her in, and stabbed her with the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger twice. Because of that, the witch could no longer use her magic properly, and she ended up helpless against the two teachers. It was true that Lee Soo-dok dealt the final blow, but I had contributed a great deal as well. [You inflicted a huge amount of damage upon the Witch of Corruption.] [Your reward has been greatly increased.] Thanks to those factors snowballing, the boss battle proceeded unusually smoothly for an A-rank dungeon, and it ended with far fewer injuries than expected. [Number of injured: 16] [Number of deaths: 0] [Your reward has been greatly increased.] The reward kept getting increased and increased, and as a result: [You have acquired ¡®Hardship¡¯.] I had recovered yet another powerful ability. [Hardship] was a non-combat skill. However, it was among the skills that earned me the nickname ¡°S-rank Hero Factory¡±. I planned to check it out later. After the battle ended, the subjugation team was in a very happy mood. ¡°Everyone, you worked so hard.¡± ¡°Defeating that infamous witch with barely any losses was truly miraculous.¡± Simply bringing down the Witch of Corruption was already a huge achievement, yet no one lost their life or even sustained serious injuries. It was impossible for anyone to feel gloomy in such an atmosphere. However, there were quite a few people who felt some curiosity. ¡°But what were those portals?¡± ¡°I was also startled when they suddenly opened.¡± ¡°It all worked out in the end, but I found it suspicious. I wondered if it was yet another trick by the witch.¡± I feigned ignorance and pretended not to know anything. After all, I couldn¡¯t just blurt out, ¡°I opened them! Caw¡ª!¡± to everyone. And so, while everyone¡¯s suspicions were growing, ¨C Caw¡ª! The members of the subjugation team all turned in the direction of the crow¡¯s call they heard from somewhere. A tree branch extended into the empty air, and perched on it was the Great Crow Sage. Someone exclaimed in surprise. ¡°A-A Dimensional Crow?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re seeing a crow here.¡± Dimensional crows were like mythical creatures. They hopped between dungeons so freely that you needed extraordinary luck to spot even one. I, however, had accumulated a wealth of big data from other community users, so I could guess when and where they might appear. I also knew the secrets behind hideout rooms, but the rest of them didn¡¯t. ¡°.........¡± The Great Crow Sage preened its feathers with its beak as it looked this way, or more precisely, at me. Then, without any warning, it suddenly flapped its wings and flew away to another dungeon. To those who didn¡¯t know the full story, it only looked like it stopped by for a moment and then took off. However, I actually received something from it. It¡¯s an after-sales service. So I casually checked my inventory, [Crow Branch (S)] ?You can feel a strong dimensional energy from it. The one-time skill [Caw¡ª!] had disappeared and was now replaced by an incomprehensible description. So it changed it into a material item. It was a powerful spatial-type material that, if used in item crafting, would completely imbue it with its power. Of course, it wasn¡¯t easy to find a craftsman who could handle it, but that was a problem for later. It also seemed to inadvertently resolve the subjugation team¡¯s questions. ¡°I think I know what those portals were earlier.¡± ¡°It seems the Dimensional Crow helped us.¡± ¡°Maybe it wanted to clear out the commotion in its home?¡± Since their explanation made enough sense, most people accepted it and moved on. On the other hand, there were some who weren¡¯t quite convinced. Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so sidled up to me from both sides and whispered mischievously. ¡°Hey, young monarch~¡± ¡°Aww, young monarch~¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this outside. Outside¡± It wasn¡¯t something I wanted them broadcasting around town. Regardless, it was time for us to leave anyway. Rumble... The boss monster had fallen, and the dungeon¡¯s core was destroyed. I decided to just go with the flow. Even if I got reprimanded, that would be a problem for tomorrow¡¯s me. And since Dang Gyu-young needed a bit of time to prepare, I dropped by my own dorm for a moment before heading to the girls¡¯ dorm at the appointed time. And right there, in front of it, I unexpectedly ran into Shin Byeong-cheol. He raised his eyebrows when he saw me. ¡°What are you doing here at this hour?¡± ¡°What about you?¡± When I asked him back, Shin Byeong-cheol slyly showed me something he was holding. It was a neatly wrapped package that seemed to be emitting hot steam. There must have been food inside. ¡°I¡¯m running an errand for Dang-noonim.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really working hard. Have you always been this diligent?¡± ¡°I have to make up for my screw-up.¡± During the last ban wave, Shin Byeong-cheol had been caught lugging around prohibited items and lost them all. Although Dang Gyu-young and I managed to recover quite a bit from the temporary storage, the club as a whole still took a loss. That explained why he was now running errands for the thieves club late at night. He has no choice if he wants to stick around in that club. I didn¡¯t think Dang Gyu-young would go so far as to squeeze him for more compensation, but how one performed in the thieves club heavily influenced whether they could join the Thief Guild after graduation. A reputation for causing huge losses would be a significant black mark. So, naturally, Shin Byeong-cheol wanted to leave a record of himself at least trying to be useful. This time, he asked, ¡°So what about you? Who are you here to see?¡± I was about to answer when a voice came from somewhere else. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Noonim, that...¡± Shin Byeong-cheol offered up the packaged food and started looking from her to me. Dang Gyu-young casually nodded her head. ¡°Mhmm, I was planning to eat with Kim Ho.¡± ¡°A-Aah! Please enjoy your time together.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol quickly assessed the situation and made his exit. Dang Gyu-young watched him out of the corner of her eye and then spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside quickly. It¡¯ll get cold.¡± She then took the lead and began to move forward. Though it wasn¡¯t as closely monitored as the dungeon building, the girls¡¯ dormitory still had watchful eyes here and there. Of course, for the president of the thieves club, evading those eyes was hardly a problem. As a result of using various Shadow spells at maximum power, including Shadow Cloak and Shadow Leap... We soon found ourselves on the third-year floor, standing in front of a door. Dang Gyu-young opened it and stepped inside before saying, ¡°Come in.¡± I followed her in and glanced around the room. It was spotless. It didn¡¯t look like it had been hastily cleaned; rather, it seemed she just didn¡¯t keep much in the room to begin with. Most of the prohibited items, I assumed, were probably stored either in the clubroom or her inventory. Next, she took a wooden table and chairs out of her inventory. They looked strangely familiar. ¡°Are those Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s?¡± ¡°Mhmm, they are.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t even let me sit on them.¡± Dang Gyu-young let out a mysterious smile. ¡°Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s assets are the assets of the thieves¡¯ club.¡± The misery of being in debt hit hard. I resolved right then and there not to join the thieves club. With that thought, I sat across from Dang Gyu-young at the wooden table. Just as I was about to unwrap the food containers, Knock, knock, knock. A knock came at the door. ¡°........?¡± ¡°........?¡± We exchanged glances quickly. Questions raced through my mind. Who could it be at this hour? We hadn¡¯t been spotted on the way here... had we? Knock, knock, knock, knock. The knocking continued. It was persistent and steady. We couldn¡¯t just sit there frozen, so Dang Gyu-young raised a finger to her lips, signaling for me to stay silent. She tiptoed toward the door and asked in a deliberately calm tone, ¡°...Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me! Qyu!!¡± The voice of Jegal So-so rang out from behind the door. *** TN: Oh shit! Chapter 284: Ho-Gyu-So (TN: It might appear at first glance that the ¡°Qyu¡± and ¡°Sho¡± nicknames are actually ¡°Gyu¡± and ¡°So¡± for Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so. But no, the nicknames really are spelled Qyu and Sho. I think because the two girls thought they were cuter this way.) *** Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so argued for quite some time with the closed door between them. ¡°Hey, you could¡¯ve at least sent me a message.¡± ¡°You always barge in without a word.¡± It seemed that barging in without warning had become half a daily occurrence for them. While it showed how close they were, one could also say this was the price Dang Gyu-young had to pay. Dang Gyu-young was still gripping the doorknob when she spoke. ¡°Hey, Sho. I¡¯m really sorry, but I don¡¯t think I can eat with you tonight. I¡¯m feeling a bit under the weather.¡± ¡°What? Open up. What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Everything just feels off. Go on in.¡± ¡°Wait, at least open the door first. Let me see your face.¡± Worried that refusing any longer would look suspicious, Dang Gyu-young opened the door halfway. Jegal So-so¡¯s voice became clearer. ¡°You look fine to me.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m tired. I just want to rest.¡± ¡°Eat and then rest. I brought something you like.¡± Judging by the rustling sound, Jegal So-so seemed to have brought some late-night snacks as well. However, Dang Gyu-young kept declining. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but really, not tonight. You can eat with Pang.¡± Sensing something odd, Jegal So-so¡¯s tone changed. ¡°Why are you blocking me? Is someone inside?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? There¡¯s no one here.¡± ¡°No, this is suspicious. Also, you¡¯re not set up for sleeping yet. You look a bit dressed up.¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± They fell silent for a moment. From this side, it sounded as though they were exchanging a tense look. Then Jegal So-so sighed and stepped back. ¡°...All right, I¡¯ll just go for today.¡± ¡°Mhmm, sorry.¡± ¡°But let me come in for just a moment. That should be fine, right?¡± It turned out she was taking one step back to take two steps forward. As expected of the vice president of the swordsmanship club, she was formidable. Dang Gyu-young was caught off guard and began to stammer. ¡°Ah, no. I¡¯m going straight to bed.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t even let me step inside? Qyu, are you really going to do this?¡± ¡°Just for tonight, okay? Just tonight.¡± After that earnest plea, Jegal So-so¡¯s presence seemed to retreat a little. But in the next instant¡ª Tap-tap!! She dashed into the room as quick as lightning. She even used her movement technique to get past Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Sho¡ª!!¡± ¡°Hehen.¡± Jegal So-so ignored Dang Gyu-young¡¯s outcry and smiled triumphantly. But the moment her eyes met mine, she froze like a statue. The takeout food she had been carrying dropped onto the floor with a thud. She remained motionless, so I broke the silence by bowing my head. ¡°Hello, senior-nim.¡± Hearing that, Jegal So-so seemed to snap back to reality and quickly regained her composure. Then she flashed her usual gentle smile. ¡°...Kim Ho was here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I begged her to see the room for a bit.¡± Dang Gyu-young, who had come in behind her, quickly nodded her head in agreement. Jegal So-so didn¡¯t look entirely convinced, but she seemed to realize I was trying to cover for her. Immediately, she shot a sharp, piercing glare at Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Qyu, you¡¯ll really get kicked out of the dorm if you keep this up!¡± ¡°Well, if they kick me out, I¡¯ll just find a place in the downtown area. Or pitch a tent in the woods. I can sleep anywhere.¡± Come to think of it, Dang Gyu-young always seemed to be a camper type (hopefully). Jegal So-so shook her head and continued. ¡°Still, you have to follow the rules. You can¡¯t do this. Hurry up and send him away.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I will. But since he¡¯s here, let¡¯s feed him before he leaves. He¡¯s had a rough day.¡± ¡°...Ugh.¡± Jegal So-so let out a deep sigh, looked conflicted, and began setting out the late-night snacks she had brought on the wooden table. Then she checked again. ¡°You¡¯re not going to do bad things with him, are you?¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®bad things¡¯?¡± ¡°Bad things are bad things. Why are you acting like you don¡¯t know?¡± After watching us for a moment longer, she moved on to the next topic. ¡°Then, can I ask you something else?¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°That thing at the end, with all those boss room portals opening....was that you?¡± Even Dang Gyu-young seemed curious about this and glanced in my direction. If it had been anyone else, I might have feigned ignorance, but these two were exceptions. Dang Gyu-young had earned my trust after all we had been through together, and Jegal So-so had proven her discretion by keeping the Black Death dungeon incident a secret. Besides, we had entered a hidden room together in the Teleportation Laybrinith, so there was no reason to withhold the rest of the story from them. I pulled out the Crow Branch. ¡°Yes, that was me. I used this.¡± I explained that I had used the [Caw¡ª!] skill to summon the gathering portals. It was a one-time-use ability, so now the item was no more than crafting material. Both Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so nodded their heads and seemed to be satisfied, but their expressions soon changed as another question came to mind. Their eyes narrowed at the same time. ¡°But, young monarch, why didn¡¯t you tell us about this earlier?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, young monarch. You just went in without a word.¡± ¡°We were really worried, you know, young monarch!¡± They must have been upset that I entered the one-person boss room portal without providing a proper explanation, even though the talking Ooblecks had opened it for me. Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so each grabbed one of my cheeks and started pulling. ¡°Explain yourself, young monarch!¡± ¡°Yes, young monarch! Hurry up and explain!¡± ¡°Yesh... I¡¯ll shell you, jush le o¡¯ of my cheeksh firsh. (Yes... I¡¯ll tell you, just let go of my cheeks first.)¡± Only then did the two finally release their grip. However, their hands stayed poised like claws, as if ready to attack again at any moment. So, I quickly began to explain. ¡°I wanted to minimize the risks as much as possible.¡± When I played Dragon Slayer Academy as a game, the Witch of Corruption mainly occupied B-rank dungeons. This time, however, she appeared in the Teleportation Labyrinth, which was likely due to the reincarnation quest. Since it was an A-rank dungeon, I couldn¡¯t guarantee my survival with my current abilities. Plus, there were too many uncertainties about how the Ooblecks might act. For example, it was completely unexpected that the talking Oobleck Knight let me in without resistance. To account for such variables, I had decided to keep the existence of the [Summoning Portal] skill a secret until the very end. Dang Gyu-young tilted her head in puzzlement. ¡°What does keeping it a secret have to do with the risks?¡± ¡°Well, if I had told you, who knows? You might¡¯ve decided to use it yourselves instead of letting me handle it.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s true. And that wouldn¡¯t have been okay?¡± ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t. You don¡¯t have the Poison Immunity.¡± The only reason I was able to meet the Witch of Corruption one-on-one, drink tea with her, and walk away unscathed was because I trusted my Poison Immunity. If not, the only chance I¡¯d have had to use [Caw¡ª!] would have been the moment I walked in, and even then, failure wouldn¡¯t have been unlikely. If I hadn¡¯t been prepared from the start, I wouldn¡¯t have even taken the one-person portal. ¡°You always try to handle everything by yourself.¡± Dang Gyu-young understood my reasoning, but she still seemed a little dissatisfied. *** As we continued chatting about all sorts of trivial things, the crispy fried chicken and Inferno Tteokbokki eventually disappeared completely. Time passed as well, teetering between late night and early morning. Dang Gyu-young looked outside and talked to Jegal So-so. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap it up here for today. I¡¯ll take him back.¡± ¡°Alright, I need to sleep anyway.¡± Jegal So-so, seemingly of the same mind, helped tidy up the table and left the room. Then she waved her hand with a soft smile. ¡°Kim Ho, get home safe.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± I bowed my head in farewell and followed after Dang Gyu-young. Since I had snuck in, I¡¯d have to sneak back out as well. Once again, Dang Gyu-young used her Shadow Magic to the maximum and cleared the path for us. Before long, we were outside the dormitory. Looking up at her window, Dang Gyu-young let out a small laugh. ¡°We were planning to eat quietly, just the two of us, but then Sho showed up out of nowhere.¡± ¡°It was fun, though. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get another chance to eat alone.¡± ¡°Huhum, right?¡± Just as I was about to say goodbye, Dang Gyu-young took a few steps past me, and then turned back. ¡°I think I¡¯ll walk a little more.¡± We could have parted ways here, but she insisted on walking me all the way to the men¡¯s dormitory. Judging by her expression, she seemed to have something else to say. That must have been her intention from the beginning when she invited me to her room. It felt like something I should hear today, so I nodded my head. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡± And with that, I began walking in step with Dang Gyu-young. Chapter 285: Hardship It seemed as if Dang Gyu-young was about to bring up a heavy topic, because her expression grew increasingly serious. However, she appeared to struggle to get the words out and kept hesitating. This isn¡¯t something that can be rushed. So I decided to wait patiently until she was ready to speak. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± We continued walking in silence, and before I knew it, the men¡¯s dormitory was right in front of us. Thinking that she might not bring it up after all, I was about to say my goodbye when Dang Gyu-young slowed her steps and looked at me. ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, noona.¡± ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Anything.¡± I nodded my head readily, but Dang Gyu-young hesitated again for quite some time before finally managing to ask her question. ¡°In the eyes of a senior who¡¯s graduated over 200 times... what do you think of my skills?¡± ¡°Before I answer, I¡¯d like to know why you¡¯re asking that.¡± Dang Gyu-young let out a deep sigh. ¡°...It¡¯s just that, lately, things have been complicated for me. My skills don¡¯t seem to be improving, yet strong opponents keep appearing. Meanwhile, you¡¯re getting ridiculously stronger at such a quick pace. Even this time, you ended up contributing more than I did.¡± ¡°In simpler terms, you¡¯re worried about falling behind, right?¡± ¡°...Honestly, yes.¡± The truth was that while Dang Gyu-young excelled in utility skills such as stealth and teleportation, her combat contributions had been relatively limited. In a direct confrontation, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against disciplinary committee president Oh Se-hoon, nor even against other third-year disciplinary committee members. Even during the battle at the Gathering of Villains where we defeated the Twin Demons, my contributions had been significant. I granted poison resistance and used techniques like Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger and Ghost Dance. Having gone through such experiences, it was only natural that anxiety had begun to take root in her heart. Someday, won¡¯t Kim Ho catch up to me and surpass me? When that day comes, will I still be needed? Will someone else end up taking my place? The recent subjugation mission must have been the breaking point. Even though I had exchanged only two moves with the Witch of Corruption, I had done so on equal terms and even gained the upper hand. It was something Dang Gyu-young wouldn¡¯t have dared attempt, and my success meant that, in some ways, I had already surpassed her. This had shaken her confidence even further, and she likely felt the need to hear my honest opinion at this point. Well, this day was bound to come. It was an inevitable conversation that we would have to face eventually. As such, I looked at Dang Gyu-young seriously and began to speak. ¡°I¡¯ll give you my thoughts honestly, without holding back.¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± ¡°If you continue training diligently even after graduation, I believe you will be able to reach A-rank.¡± ¡°A-rank... What about beyond that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the ceiling for you.¡± A shadow fell across Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face. She cautiously asked again. ¡°What if I train like that and face the Witch of Corruption?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s one-on-one, you¡¯ll lose. No exceptions.¡± ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression darkened further. Even if she were to train relentlessly from now until after graduation, A-rank would still be her ceiling. And to make matters worse, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to defeat the Witch of Corruption. Her abilities were nowhere near sufficient to keep up with me. The vague sense of anxiety she had been feeling now took a definite shape. Still, Dang Gyu-young forced a smile, as if trying to pretend it didn¡¯t bother her. But it didn¡¯t seem to work. Her smile appeared heartbreakingly fragile. ¡°Well, I still have to try my hardest if I want to at least make it to A-rank. Thanks. I¡¯ll be going now.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not done yet.¡± At my words, Dang Gyu-young paused mid-turn. She stopped in her tracks and asked in a defeated tone, ¡°...What is it now?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say there¡¯s no way to surpass your limit.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. As the saying goes, you should always hear someone out until the end. While sheer effort alone might not be enough to break through her limits, there were other ways to do it. Like I had told the Witch of Corruption, if something is lacking, you just have to find a way to make up for it. ¡°And I happen to have one such method. To be precise, I recently acquired it.¡± ¡°...What is it?¡± ¡°Before I tell you, let me ask you one last thing.¡± I looked straight into Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes and asked in a serious tone. ¡°This won¡¯t be an easy path. Are you sure you won¡¯t give up?¡± Her deliberation didn¡¯t last long. For the time being, Dang Gyu-young would be busy with that Hardship quest. And I had quite a few matters of my own to handle as well. Among them, the most important was managing the aftermath of the latest subjugation mission. The next day, as soon as I received a message from the academy administration, I headed straight for the principal¡¯s office. Just as I was about to raise my hand to knock, the door swung open on its own, as if it were automated. Beyond the door, I could see the principal waving me in. ¡°Come on in.¡± As usual, he sat slouched in his chair, dressed in his typically sloppy clothing. The only difference this time was that he had both legs propped up on the desk. The vice principal was glaring at him with a look of utter disapproval, but the principal seemed completely unfazed as he spoke in a calm tone. ¡°I heard from Teacher Lee and Teacher Seo. They mentioned the witch shook them off and targeted you once during the battle, but you still managed to recover. How did you do that?¡± ¡°Yes, I figured she¡¯d target me at least once, so I prepared for it.¡± ¡°Well done. Still, what¡¯s a mistake is a mistake.¡± He then mentioned that both Lee Soo-dok and Seo Cheong-yong had admitted their own mistakes, and he offered an apology on their behalf. Though to be fair, it really wasn¡¯t their fault. After all, the witch had used Blink to break in. Even if they¡¯d anticipated it, it¡¯s questionable whether they could have stopped her. In fact, I had deliberately left an opening to lure her in. Of course, there was no need to bring that up and devalue my contribution, so I decided to follow the age-old saying: Silence is golden. The principal continued speaking. ¡°So, let¡¯s hear what your ¡°small favor¡± is. Considering the teachers¡¯ mistake, I¡¯m willing to grant something a little more extravagant. Go ahead, tell me.¡± With that, it was practically guaranteed that he¡¯d agree to my request. If I wanted, I could ask for new equipment, skills, or traits, possibly even something up to the A-rank level. I could even request access to the Prohibited Item Storage. Of course, there would be several limitations on what I could take out of there. Though those options were tempting, I had already decided what to ask for. I raised a fist in front of the principal. ¡°This is what I want.¡± ¡°A spar? Quite combative, aren¡¯t you?¡± The principal chuckled and rose from his seat. But I shook my head. ¡°Not a spar.¡± ¡°...Then what is it?¡± He looked puzzled, so I flashed him an innocent smile. ¡°Please let me hit you.¡± ¡°How many times?¡± ¡°Just ten.¡± The principal¡¯s face twisted into an odd expression. ¡°I naturally assumed it would be a spar.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯d lose if it were.¡± Challenging a former hero to a spar? It would be no different than signing the blank check to get beaten up. I only fight battles I can win. Battles where I stand to gain something. At that moment, the vice principal who had been silently observing quietly chimed in. ¡°I think that¡¯s an excellent idea. Go ahead.¡± She was normally a strict woman. Strict to the point of being described as 2.5 times as strict as others. But now she seemed particularly pleased with my suggestion this time. Did she secretly want to hit him, perhaps? The principal glanced at the vice principal with a betrayed look, then turned back to me and made a counterproposal. ¡°Sorry to go back on my word about granting unreasonable requests, but I can¡¯t just let you hit me for nothing. How about this? One question per hit. You answer them honestly, no lies.¡± I had a feeling he¡¯d say something like that. He clearly had a lot of questions about me. No matter what I asked for, he¡¯d probably have found some excuse to attach conditions. I nodded my head and made a counterproposal of my own. ¡°Then I¡¯d like to add one condition too. No items or skills.¡± ¡°...You really want to hit me that badly? Did I do something to upset you?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no personal grudge.¡± I simply want to hit you, that¡¯s all. The principal¡¯s face contorted even more strangely. He stared at me as if trying to gauge my true intentions, but he didn¡¯t seem to find anything. In the end, he gave up and confirmed the terms one last time. ¡°Fine then. No items, no skills; only traits. Ten hits, and for each hit, you answer one question honestly. Deal?¡± ¡°Deal.¡± I followed the principal and vice principal to another location. *** TN: Lmao....Also, Qyu is the best Chapter 286: Attack on the Principal The place we arrived at shortly after was the faculty training room. Its structure was similar to that of the training center. The difference, perhaps, was that it was built far sturdier, considering that its users were much more powerful. Before long, the principal positioned himself across from me and began deactivating his skills one by one. They were various enhancement spells he usually carried around as if they were part of his body. Next, he stored all the equipment he had been discreetly wearing into his inventory. Bracelets, watches, tie pins, even the pen in his front pocket... Then, he looked at me and spoke. ¡°Only my traits are left. Satisfied?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m satisfied.¡± The reason I had insisted on the condition of ¡°no skills or items¡± was simple. It was to focus on his traits. Traits are hard to notice. It¡¯s not easy to determine whether a trait has been activated, and gauging its exact rank is even trickier. If skills and item abilities were mixed in, it would become even more confusing, so I had excluded both of them right from the start. Once I figured out the principal¡¯s trait and its rank, I¡¯ll copy it. ? Copy ¨C Trait [1/2] 1. (Empty) 2. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown Originally, the first slot had been occupied by [Poison Resistance], but after fixing it with a fixed pin and completing Poison Immunity, an empty slot had opened up. My goal was to register a new trait here. I wanted a defensive trait, which is why I had declared that I¡¯d be hitting him one-sidedly. While we were facing each other, the vice principal stood by the wall and assumed the position of a bystander. She¡¯s not just here to watch idly. It was likely that she intended to assess my skills and intervene if necessary. The condition of not using skills or items only applied to the principal, so the vice principal could use them as much as she wanted. It might seem like a loophole, but I had no reason to complain. I need to leave at least one safety net. That way, I could hit him without worrying. [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Inferno Fist¡¯ has increased. (B ¡ú S)] To deal meaningful damage, I needed to raise my own rank as well. Considering the principal¡¯s level as a former hero, his resistance traits were likely top-notch. Just the elemental resistance alone would be at least B-rank, maybe A-rank or higher. At least, that had been the case with the heroes I had trained. ¡°I¡¯ll begin now.¡± ¡°Come at me whenever you¡¯re ready.¡± The principal gave a casual nod as if it were no big deal. I clenched my fist tightly, and dark red flames like blood began to blaze from within. As I thrust it forward with all my strength, Whoooooooooosh¡ª! A fiery storm roared fiercely, swallowing the principal whole in an instant. One side of the training room was engulfed in flames, and a dark silhouette flickered faintly within the fire. Seeing that, I thought to myself, It didn¡¯t work. As expected, the principal emerged moments later and was completely unscathed. Not only was he not burned, but there wasn¡¯t even a single scorch mark on him. As solid as ever. If you looked closely, he was surrounded by a faint light, as if he was wearing it like armor. It was his defensive trait. That alone had been enough to endure the S-rank Inferno Fist. The principal looked at me and gave a sly smile. ¡°I heard you¡¯d learned it, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be true. Inferno Fist.¡± This was something Lee Soo-Dok and Seo Cheong-Yong must have already reported, so I didn¡¯t bother denying it. ¡°My opponents have been tough, so I¡¯ve needed stronger skills.¡± ¡°Even so, you should manage the penalties when you use them. Look at your hand; it¡¯s completely burned.¡± ¡°This much is fine.¡± Just as he said, one of my hands had turned completely black, charred like a lump of coal. Since the penalty was S-rank, even my S-rank elemental resistance hadn¡¯t been enough to fully negate it. Of course, I anticipated this outcome when I activated the amplification and had already prepared a countermeasure. I still have the elixir. It was a basic elixir I received from Kim Gap-Doo. The Gap-doo Elixir Even so, the fact that the vice principal didn¡¯t intervene meant that the situation hadn¡¯t yet escalated to a truly serious level. This ability might turn out to be a dud. As I shifted my gaze back to the front, the principal staggered out of the flames at just the right moment. ¡°Urgh... Maybe I should¡¯ve gone with a different request. This is a bit spicy.¡± His entire body was blackened, and faint burn marks were visible here and there. But in the blink of an eye, all of his injuries healed completely. On the outside, I maintained a calm and indifferent expression, but inside, I was genuinely impressed. This is crazy. I had expected him to have several overpowered abilities, given that he was an S-rank hero and all, but I never imagined he would have that trait. This was something I absolutely had to acquire, no matter what. Without hesitation, I activated my copy ability. [Activated ¡®Copy-Trait¡¯.] [Registering the target¡¯s trait, ¡®Retrocovery (S)¡¯, in the slot.] ? Copy-Trait [2/2] 1. Retrocovery (S) 2. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown [Retrocovery (S)] ? Automatically activates when taking damage. ? Restores health to 100% when triggered. ? Cooldown: 3 days The activation condition was both an advantage and a disadvantage. It would trigger even from minor injuries, such as a light scratch or a pinprick, and the three-day cooldown would still apply. Of course, it would also activate and fully heal you even if your body was split in two or your forehead was pierced by a sniper¡¯s bullet. Additionally, Retrocovery was categorized as a ¡°time¡± skill. Because it was classified as a ¡°reversal¡± effect rather than a ¡°healing¡± effect, it could easily bypass various debuffs that interfered with recovery. There was a reason why the cooldown was as long as three days. [¡®Retrocovery¡¯ has been activated.] [Cooldown: 2 days, 23:59:58.] As expected, Retrocovery activated immediately after I copied it and started healing the burns caused by the Inferno Fist penalty. To avoid suspicion, I sprayed the elixir on my hand. While I looked down at my rapidly regenerating hand, the principal¡¯s question came flying at me. ¡°Continuing from earlier. Are you really here to study? No other objectives?¡± ¡°I do have other objectives. Like helping my friends grow alongside me.¡± ¡°...Friends?¡± ¡°Yes, as you know, this year¡¯s first-year students are exceptionally talented.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but what¡¯s in it for you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I enjoy doing.¡± The principal¡¯s curiosity seemed to deepen even further. ¡°You¡¯re more and more peculiar the more I hear. Anyway, let¡¯s continue.¡± However, contrary to his expectations, I released the strength from my hand. ¡°This will be it for today. Thank you for your efforts.¡± ¡°...What? You¡¯re not going to hit me anymore?¡± ¡°No, I think ten hits would be a bit too much.¡± Even just copying Retrocovery was already a sufficient achievement. I could copy one more and overwrite it in the [Sovereign¡¯s Crown] slot, but¡ª It¡¯s not cost-effective. A faint glow was beginning to reappear around the principal¡¯s body. This meant that his [Armor of Valor] had recharged. To break through that, I would need to unleash Inferno Fist twice more. But Retrocovery was already on cooldown, and I only had one elixir left. I needed to keep that last one as an emergency reserve. I can¡¯t afford to make him ask too many questions too. From the beginning, I never intended to hit him ten times or give him ten opportunities. Doing so would mean I¡¯d have to reveal too many of my hidden cards. Until now, he had been focused on me as the Monarch, but soon, he would start asking questions that would hit closer to the core. For several reasons, it was better to step back now. On the other hand, the principal who was perhaps expecting things to go all the way seemed noticeably flustered. ¡°Wait, that¡¯s it? You¡¯re just stopping here? You should keep going. After all the trouble I went through to ask you for this. I still have plenty of questions to ask.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come to realize my lack of skill. I think it would be better to continue the Q&A another time. Thank you.¡± I bowed politely, and while the two of them seemed a bit taken aback, they didn¡¯t try to stop me. As I walked away, I could hear the principal muttering in an uneasy tone behind me. ¡°Feels like I¡¯ve been robbed of something...¡± Chapter 287: 16th Week Duel Battle (1) The principal remained in place for quite some time even after Kim Ho had left. Eventually, he turned to the approaching vice principal and asked, ¡°Feeling satisfied?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Not at all? Your face looks completely refreshed and pleased.¡± In reality, these two had known each other since the days when the principal was a hero. There was no way he couldn¡¯t notice even the slightest change in her expression, and compared to usual, the vice principal¡¯s face looked not just bright but practically glowing. She replied with a neutral expression on her face, ¡°To be honest, I feel a bit disappointed.¡± ¡°Disappointed? About what?¡± ¡°He only hit you three times.¡± She had hoped to see him go the full ten. The principal palmed his face with his hand and let out a faint chuckle without realizing it. Then he turned his gaze back toward the door. ¡°What can you do? If he says he¡¯s stopping, I can¡¯t very well tell him to finish all ten before leaving.¡± He too felt a twinge of regret but was also somewhat relieved. Even though this situation had come about due to Kim Ho¡¯s request, it was still rather embarrassing for someone of his stature as a school principal to be hit by a student. There were plenty of questions he still wanted to ask, but did it really have to be today, and while taking more hits? Besides, though some of the questions had been a bit surface-level, he had managed to grasp a vague understanding of Kim Ho through their brief exchange of words and actions. In a way, he had achieved some measure of success. The principal turned to the vice principal to confirm. ¡°For now, I think it¡¯s okay to leave him be. What do you think?¡± ¡°I feel the same way.¡± Currently, Kim Ho had mastered Inferno Fist and another prohibited technique that appeared to be the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger. Both were ranked high on the prohibited skills list. Yet, instead of imposing sanctions or bringing the matter to a faculty meeting, the principal and vice principal chose to put the issue on hold. ¡°It seems like he knows where the line is.¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s clever.¡± At Dragon Slayer Academy, the main reason certain items and skills were prohibited was because of the penalties associated with them. Even if one gained immense power in the short term, it would inevitably lead to losses in the long run. What was the point of unleashing such immense firepower if it only ended up burning one¡¯s own hands? On the other hand, Kim Ho had managed to cast Inferno Fist repeatedly without facing severe penalties. It seemed he had prepared some sort of buffer in advance. He also demonstrated restraint. He knew knowing to step back without pushing himself too far, which significantly reduced the likelihood of any problems arising. The goals Kim Ho had disclosed were just as modest. ¨C I¡¯m here to learn. ¨C To grow alongside my friends while helping them out. ¨C That¡¯s what I enjoy doing. Since mental interference skills didn¡¯t work on a Monarch, it was impossible to determine whether he was being honest. Still, based on the conversation they had while facing each other directly, it didn¡¯t seem like a lie. And if it turned out to be a lie, they could deal with it then and there. ¡°If it¡¯s true, then it¡¯s something to celebrate.¡± After all, it would mean that such a powerful being as a Monarch would eventually join their side. Kim Ho had already proven his capabilities by defeating the Witch of Corruption without losing a single life. In that regard, helping him and those around him grow seemed like an excellent choice. Of course, the principal and vice principal couldn¡¯t get too involved due to their positions. ¡°But we can at least act as a safety net.¡± They would make sure that he could grow freely without interference. At that moment, something crossed the principal¡¯s mind and he asked, ¡°What about the Blood Cult?¡± ¡°They were confirmed to have left Dungeon Island just a few days ago.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve got an uncanny sense for timing, don¡¯t they?¡± The Blood Cult had gone so far as to sneak in two Elder-rank members during the mentoring program on the Dungeon Island. One of them had been caught in an utterly ridiculous manner during the final week of the program at the Black Market in the downtown area. On top of that, their meticulously planned ¡°Blood Fury¡± incident, into which they had poured significant resources, was resolved without yielding any meaningful results. This had weakened their momentum. And now, during their retreat, even their ally the Witch of Corruption had been taken down, which forced them to decide to pull out completely. After all, they knew they could be next, and getting caught without achieving anything would only mean a meaningless death. ¡°Because you couldn¡¯t match the sloth¡¯s tempo.¡± Given their skills, the two of them should¡¯ve been able to crush an F-rank boss with ease. In that case, they should¡¯ve focused on maintaining their condition and taken things at a more relaxed pace. Seo Ye-in popped her head out from behind my shoulder and added her own comment. ¡°Disqualified as a butler.¡± ¡°The sloth¡¯s tempo... I see. I hadn¡¯t considered that. As expected, Kim-hyung seems like the right person to lead Miss Seo.¡± Even though I had half-jokingly thrown that out there, Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head as if he was fully convinced. Seo Ye-in stared at me and declared, ¡°Qualified as a butler.¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not doing it.¡± She just wouldn¡¯t give up. *** The duel battle class. Teacher Lee Soo-dok scanned the room and uttered a single word. ¡°Final exams.¡± ¡°.......!¡± ¡°.......!¡± It seemed like the timing was about right to make the announcement, so the students weren¡¯t as shocked as they had been during the midterm exam announcement. Still, the weight of the word ¡°final exams¡± carried a lot of significance, and a heavy tension hung in the room. Regardless of their reactions, Lee Soo-dok continued his explanation in an almost casual manner. ¡°Starting in two weeks, on the 18th week, we¡¯ll begin the final exams. The format will be similar to the midterms. Everything you¡¯ve learned and experienced so far will come into play. Of course...¡± A slight smirk curled the corner of Lee Soo-dok¡¯s lips, and the scars crisscrossing his face seemed to twitch. ¡°...hostile environments will be waiting for you in the final exams as well. For those of you who still haven¡¯t adapted, you¡¯re in for a treat.¡± Not a single person brightened at those words. Lee Soo-dok¡¯s eyes scanned the room again as he took in the reactions, though his eyes lingered on me for a moment before narrowing slightly. It was as if he were silently saying that I had spoiled his fun. Well, it made sense. After all, I had returned unscathed even from an A-rank dungeon. Since I hadn¡¯t done anything wrong except being a ¡°stagnant water¡±, I calmly met his gaze until he finally looked away and resumed the lecture. ¡°This week is no different. Among the hostile environments, there are natural ones, but there are also quite a few artificial ones.¡± With that, he snapped his fingers and a word appeared on the blackboard: [Traps] The students¡¯ reactions were strikingly divided. The majority displayed expressions layered with disgust, while a small minority looked delighted with their faces lighting up in excitement. That small minority, of course, included Shin Byeong-cheol and the members of the thieves club. Well, it made sense. What could be more fitting for thieves than setting and dismantling traps? Next, Lee Soo-dok displayed the rules and environment for the test on the board. MAP: [Trap Labyrinth] RULE: [Double][Three-Way Battle][Blind] ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need to explain the environment. You¡¯ll experience it for yourselves.¡± After all, there wasn¡¯t much more to say beyond ¡°a labyrinth filled with traps.¡± What¡¯s more, if my memory served me correctly, the terrain was random and the locations of the traps were random. And to make matters worse, the number of traps increased as time went on. Therefore, there was no point in showing it in advance, and watching other people¡¯s replays would just be a waste of 100 points. ¡°You¡¯ve all experienced both double battles and three-way battles at least once before. Think of this as a combination of the two.¡± In short, it was 2:2:2. The rankings were determined by how long each team could hold out. The key point here was that even if one teammate became incapacitated, as long as the other teammate managed to hold out until the end, there was still a chance to finish in first or second place. ¡°Lastly, for this week, no information will be displayed.¡± The [Blind] rule. Previously, the scoreboard kindly displayed the names of opponents and their health gauges, but this time, the scoreboard itself wouldn¡¯t exist. This meant you had to enter and see for yourself who your opponents were and how much health they had left. Because in real battle, there¡¯s no such thing as displayed information. Duel battles and strategy battles weren¡¯t sports; they were nothing more than practice drills for actual battle scenarios in the future. When I heard this, I nodded my head with great satisfaction. This is my favorite type of week. Chapter 288: 16th Week Duel Battle (2) After class was over, Most students stuck with their usual partners, but there were also quite a few who paired up flexibly. And naturally, the latter group flocked to the thieves. ¡°Hey, hey! Partner with me!¡± ¡°Shin Byeong-cheol, you don¡¯t have a partner yet, right?¡± ¡°If you team up with me, we¡¯ll win for sure!¡± Depending on the type, traps could deal damage or cause various status effects when triggered. For those stepping on them, neither outcome was desirable. However, if you paired up with a thief-class student, you could worry less about traps. It was no surprise they were in high demand. Among them, Shin Byeong-cheol was particularly popular. While he might not have excelled in every area, his skill in handling various devices was on par with second- and third-year students. Even in the Black Death Dungeon, Shin Byeong-cheol had bypassed all the mechanical traps, and he had also participated as a key member of the thieves¡¯ club during the temporary storage room operation. But for some reason, Shin Byeong-cheol ignored all the offers pouring in and walked over to this side. Seeing him, Go Hyeon-woo spoke up. ¡°Shin-hyung¡¯s skill with mechanical devices is truly unrivaled. It¡¯s only natural he¡¯s so popular.¡± ¡°My time has come, that¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol said with a smirk before quickly shifting to a more serious expression. ¡°However, as a man of honor and romance, Shin Byeong-cheol does not turn his back on those who lend him a hand in difficult times.¡± Even when Shin Byeong-cheol was considered the weakest in other duels or midterms, Go Hyeon-woo had always teamed up with him. So this time, it seemed Shin Byeong-cheol intended to prioritize forming a pair with Go Hyeon-woo. I thought he would chase after his own interests and immediately team up elsewhere, but this was unexpected. It was a surprisingly heartwarming moment, but now Go Hyeon-woo wore an awkward smile. ¡°Shin-hyung, I really appreciate your offer, but I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t accept it.¡± ¡°...What?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s face stiffened as if he couldn¡¯t believe he was being rejected. ¡°I already have a prior arrangement. I¡¯ll take your feelings to heart, though.¡± ¡°What? With who?¡± The answer came from elsewhere. ¡°Hurry up! Hurry!¡± Beyond the classroom door, Han So-mi was waving her hand energetically. We all turned to look at her and then shifted our attention to Go Hyeon-woo. I asked him, ¡°How did you end up teaming up with her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of those things. Sometimes, things just take an unexpected turn.¡± ¡°For now, just go. Don¡¯t keep her waiting any longer.¡± ¡°Okay. See you later.¡± With quick steps, Go Hyeon-woo walked off. Shin Byeong-cheol who was left behind looked at me this time, but of course I was already spoken for. ¡°.......¡± Lucky Charm had already grabbed hold of my arm. As if to make it clear that she had no intention of letting me go, she gently but firmly started pulling me toward her. As I was slowly being dragged along, I spoke to Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°I think you¡¯ve done more than enough to prove your loyalty. Now, it¡¯s time for you to set off in search of a new connection.¡± ¡°......There¡¯s no helping it, is there? But you¡¯ll regret turning down my offer.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol replied with a dramatic, chivalrous tone before turning on his heel. The others who had been watching quickly realized that Shin Byeong-cheol was back on the market. Like a school of piranhas sensing prey, they swarmed toward him. After observing the scene for a moment, I turned my attention to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Shall we get going?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± *** The moment we arrived at the arena, we scanned our student IDs on the terminal. While waiting for the match to be assigned, I checked this week¡¯s side quest. [Side Quest: 16th Week Duel Battles] (In Progress...) ? Objective: Complete 2 duel matches (-/2 matches) ? Deadline: ~ midnight on Sunday. ? Reward: Vary based on achievement Maximum achievement would be coming in first place in both matches. It wouldn¡¯t be easy. Since it was a two-person three-way battle, there were a total of six participants, which meant there would be many variables to consider. Of course, because of that, the rewards were likely set higher than those of other duel battle weeks. It should be pretty rewarding. If things went well, there was a decent chance of earning a Rank Up or a high-rank Stamp Coupon. As I was lost in these thoughts, a notification message appeared. [Kim Ho: 789 points, Seo Ye-in: 801 points] vs [?] vs [?] Because it was under blind rules, all information about the opponents was completely hidden. Including their names and scores, After all, opponents in similar score brackets were often evenly matched, so revealing the scores could make it easy to identify who they were. Since I was already aware of this, I brushed it off without much thought, and Seo Ye-in and I stepped into the teleportation magic circle. The place we arrived at was a small room enclosed on all sides by walls. ¡°......?¡± Or magic circles that engulfed an entire passageway in flames. With so many different types of traps around, Seo Ye-in¡¯s curiosity didn¡¯t seem to die down just yet. This time, she was staring intently at a faintly engraved magic circle on the floor. Fine, do whatever you want. I maintained my position as an observer, while Seo Ye-in, perhaps a little more cautious now, decided to prod the magic circle with the tip of her magic gun instead of stepping on it herself. But that wasn¡¯t a particularly wise choice either¡ª Squish¡ª The solid floor in that area instantly turned to mush, flowing like a swamp. Before she could react, Seo Ye-in sank waist-deep into the sludge. ¡°...Help.¡± ¡°Had enough yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to try anything else, right?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Only after receiving her firm answer did I extend my hand. Seo Ye-in grabbed hold of it, and I pulled her out of the swamp. For a moment, I locked eyes with her pale gray ones, then shoved her back in without hesitation. Squish¡ª Seo Ye-in, once again waist-deep in the floor, looked up at me. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes seemed to ask, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°I just felt like being mean¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mean.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t. Take my hand.¡± Just as I had done moments before, I pulled Seo Ye-in out of the trap. From then on, Seo Ye-in became more cautious, and we carefully avoided the traps as we moved forward. Occasionally, we encountered traps so widespread that they would activate no matter how close we got. In those cases, we simply treated them like walls and looked for another path. Who knows how much time passed like that? I feel like we should run into someone soon. It had been quite some time since the match started, so I figured at least one of the teams would cross our path by now. As if on cue¡ª Screeeeeech¡ª! A familiar sound of projectiles tearing through the air echoed in my ears. Turning my head in the direction of the noise, I saw a few arrows flying toward us from the other end of the corridor. ¡°......¡± A wisp of black mist rose from Seo Ye-in¡¯s wrist. It darted through the air before nudging the arrows off course. As expected, rounding the corner of the corridor were Cha Hyeon-joo and a male student I¡¯d never seen before. Cha Hyeon-joo glared at me and started grinding her teeth audibly. ¡°...Kim Ho.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Where¡¯s Hee-chan?¡± ¡°I ditched him.¡± ¡°How cold-hearted of you.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Of course, I couldn¡¯t say I didn¡¯t understand Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s reasoning. Kang Hee-chan¡¯s skills were far from impressive for someone considered a promising student. It¡¯s human nature to want even slightly better teammates when given the choice. On top of that, Kang Hee-chan¡¯s repeated losing streaks had caused his score to drop significantly. If paired with him, the average score would lower, making it less likely for someone like me to end up as her opponent in the match. In that sense, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s plan had worked out for her. After all, I was the one matched against her in this duel battle. Of course, whether it was a good decision or not was a different matter altogether. Cha Hyeon-joo glared at me and said, ¡°Don¡¯t run away. Let¡¯s settle this once and for all.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± I rested my chin on my hand, pretending to think deeply for a moment. Everyone focused their gaze on me, waiting for the next words to come out of my mouth. At last, I opened my mouth to speak. ¡°Let¡¯s settle th¡ª¡± But before I could finish, a wall of ice suddenly shot up and completely blocked the corridor. I had cast Ice Wall. ¡°¡ªsettle this? What are you even talking about, you brat? Do you know how many times I¡¯ve wiped the floor with you already?¡± ¡°Get rid of this!!¡± Thud, thud! Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s shouts and the sound of furious pounding came from the other side of the ice wall. The male student standing beside her must have joined in as well, but breaking it wouldn¡¯t be easy. After all, this was a B-rank Ice Wall I had copied from one of the high-ranking members of the White Magic Club. I reinforced the wall of ice with Chilwind and spoke again. Whiiirrr¡ª ¡°You two can go ahead and deal with that. We¡¯ll be on our way now.¡± ¡°Get¡ª! Get rid¡ªof¡ªthis¡ª!!¡± With that, I turned and walked off with Seo Ye-in to another place. Chapter 289: 16th Week Duel Battle (3) Chapter 289: 16th Week Duel Battle (3) I¡¯ve confirmed Cha Hyeon-joo with this. I also identified the location, composition, and near-perfect condition of Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s team. Even if I didn¡¯t directly fight them, it was always beneficial to gather as much information about the opponent as possible. Especially since most information had been blocked off by the blind rule. Depending on the situation, I could adjust by either widening the distance between us or going on the offensive. Next, I need to check on Team 3. Whether I fight and take them down or drag this into a long-term battle by using the environment is a decision I can make later. That¡¯s exactly why I left after erecting just one ice wall against Cha Hyeon-joo. If we clashed now and wasted health, it would only work to Team 3¡¯s advantage since we haven¡¯t even encountered them yet. On top of that, there was another card I was playing here¡ª Thud, thud! The fact that Cha Hyeon-joo was making a ruckus trying to break the ice wall. Even though we had put a good amount of distance between us, I could still hear the sound of her pounding on the wall. If Team 3 happens to be nearby, their attention would naturally be drawn to the commotion. And if the two sides end up clashing and exhausting themselves, that¡¯s even better. Meanwhile, we needed to keep moving without pause. This labyrinth is already a headache to navigate, and it¡¯s riddled with traps. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just hole up in one spot, whether it works out or not? It¡¯s a thought that anyone might have. Of course, the academy anticipated such ¡°endurance¡± or ¡°turtle¡± strategies and prepared plenty of ways to counter them. In a very blatant way, no less. Right on cue, a wave of mana rippled through the area, sweeping across the surroundings. I could hear the metallic grinding of gears from the walls, ceiling, and floor at the same time. ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in grew curious and looked around curiously before pointing to a spot on the floor a short distance away. ¡°They increased. The traps¡± ¡°They¡¯ll increase even more soon.¡± As time went on, the traps continued to increase in number. And if someone stayed in one spot for too long, the traps would concentrate heavily on that area. In other words, traps could even appear and activate right beneath your feet while you were standing still. Therefore, it was clear that sticking to the original plan of constant movement was the best course of action. However, there was a new problem that had just arisen. ¡°There are a lot, aren¡¯t there?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Looking at the passage ahead, it was almost impossible to find a spot to step on. Magic circles lit up in rapid succession, and the number of various mechanisms scattered everywhere was beyond count. The situation behind us was similar, creating a structure where it was unavoidable to trigger something no matter which direction we took. And this kind of situation was only going to get worse. ¡°What choice do we have? We¡¯ll have to step on them and move forward.¡± If avoiding them wasn¡¯t an option, the best plan was to trigger the safest ones possible. A pitfall trap, for example, would be far less damaging than a fire explosion trap. With that in mind, I pointed to a small gap between the magic circles a short distance away. Even there, there was something that resembled a stepping stone, which clearly seemed like it would trigger a trap as soon as it was stepped on. ¡°That one looks like the least dangerous option. I¡¯ll throw you over there, so step on it and jump forward.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head and took a few steps back. Then she activated Feather Walk and moved quickly forward a few paces. At that moment, I grabbed Seo Ye-in¡¯s wrist, gently hurled her forward, and cast Wind Force at the same time. It was the two-person skill Wind Leap. ¡°Jump lightly! Jump!¡± ¡°Jump!¡± Whoosh¡ª Seo Ye-in soared through the air in a long arc. She landed lightly on the stepping stone I had pointed out earlier. ¡°Jump.¡± Without missing a beat, she kicked off from there and leaped forward once more. Because the trap had been triggered, sharp spears shot out from the walls on both sides. However, Seo Ye-in had already soared gracefully through the air and landed far away. She looked back at me and started waving her hand lightly as if signaling for me to hurry up. I used a similar method by combining Thief¡¯s Step with Wind Force to leap across the distance. Since we still had to explore more of the labyrinth, I figured we¡¯d have to keep doing this repeatedly, but the situation wasn¡¯t too bad. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re the only ones struggling with this. Boom¡ª! A distant explosion echoed, and a faint tremor traveled under my feet. Judging by the direction, it seemed to have come from Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s team. Unfortunately, it looked like they had set off some sort of explosive trap. ¡°You bastard¡ª!!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s refrain from using bad language, please.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head in agreement. ¡°Bad words, not allowed.¡± Even in such an absurd situation, the monk duo remained as calm and carefree as ever, as if this was the most natural order of things. From beyond the ice wall, Ilgong¡¯s voice could be heard. ¡°May I ask for some guidance¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up¡ª!¡± As expected, Cha Hyeon-joo immediately redirected her rage toward Ilgong and Igong. If it were any other team, they probably would¡¯ve formed a temporary alliance to deal with how annoying I was being, but her mind was so clouded with rage that she couldn¡¯t see anything else. She simply attacked anyone who got in her way. Boom! Boom! Leaving the two teams clashing behind, I turned to Seo Ye-in and said, ¡°Let¡¯s come back in a bit.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± In the end, one of the two teams would end up defeated, and I planned to swoop in and reap the rewards like a cunning opportunist. However, because of the dungeon¡¯s nature, staying in one place would only lead to traps being set up all over that spot. Even while waiting, I had to keep moving. So, I strolled through the labyrinth with Seo Ye-in as if we were on a leisurely walk before returning to the same location. Boom! Crash! The Ice Wall was now heavily cracked as if it might shatter at any moment. From the sounds beyond the wall, they seemed to still be frantically hammering away at it. Finally, with a crumble, a corner of the wall collapsed, and Cha Hyeon-joo came into view. ¡°......!¡± The moment she saw me, her eyes filled with killing intent. Despite how utterly exhausted she must¡¯ve been after such an intense battle, her eyes still brimmed with venom. She really is a promising student. That level of determination was what it took to reach S-rank. I met Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s gaze and asked, ¡°What about Hee-chan¡¯s stand-in?¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°Did they lose?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± It seemed her team member had been rendered unable to fight while facing the Ilgong duo. When I nodded and lightly stirred the sapling, the ice wall collapsed with a crumbling sound. But immediately after, a perfectly intact ice wall rose up just a bit ahead. And if that wasn¡¯t enough, I added another layer of ice wall on top of it. With a bright smile, I said, ¡°This time, it¡¯s double-layered!¡± ¡°Stop... Just stop...!¡± Cha Hyeon-joo, having reached her limit, began to sound a little tearful in her rage. Honestly, I was just messing around this time, and since it was about time to wrap things up, I dispelled the Ice Wall. Then I posed a question to Cha Hyeon-joo. ¡°Why are you so determined to fight me?¡± ¡°Why do you keep avoiding it?¡± Cha Hyeon-joo answered my question with a question of her own. I already knew she had a fiery personality, and it wasn¡¯t exactly a difficult question, so I shrugged and responded. ¡°I just don¡¯t waste my energy on pointless things. Besides, you¡¯re too weak.¡± ¡°...What did you just say?!¡± As if I had delivered a grave insult, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s face went rigid. Regardless of her reaction, I continued speaking. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest here. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve just barely lost so far; you¡¯ve been completely overpowered every time. If you¡¯d at least landed a single hit, it¡¯d be a different story, but even that hasn¡¯t happened.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about competition anymore; it¡¯s just recklessness. And I¡¯m not the kind of person who has time to entertain something like that.¡± ¡°......!¡± Cha Hyeon-joo couldn¡¯t say a word; her body started trembling with frustration. Whether she silently acknowledged what I said or was simply too enraged to respond, I couldn¡¯t tell. Then as if a thought suddenly came to her, she took a deep breath, glared at me, and asked, ¡°So you¡¯re saying you won¡¯t fight me?¡± ¡°For now. There¡¯s an order to these things.¡± ¡°What do I have to do, then?¡± At Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s question, I pointed to Seo Ye-in who was standing nearby. ¡°Try taking her down first.¡± Chapter 290: 16th Week Duel Battle (4) Cha Hyeon-joo glared at Seo Ye-in for a moment, then gripped her bow tightly and curled her lips into a fierce smirk. ¡°Well, this works out. I was planning to face her again anyway. Let¡¯s just say we switched the order.¡± Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t avoid her gaze and stared right back, clearly showing her displeasure toward Cha Hyeon-joo. ¡°You keep saying mean things.¡± ¡°Mean things? Hey, try putting yourself in my shoes. Let¡¯s see if you wouldn¡¯t curse too.¡± ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in glanced at me briefly and tilted her head as if she couldn¡¯t understand what Cha Hyeon-joo meant at all. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± A thick vein bulged on Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s forehead. However, as if she had entered battle mode, her eyes remained cold and composed. While the two locked eyes, Click, Somewhere in the passage, a trap was triggered, accompanied by the sharp sound of metal. That seemed to act as the starting signal, and the battle began. Bang-bang-bang-bang! Swish-swish-swish-swish! Seo Ye-in and Cha Hyeon-joo fired at each other. Seo Ye-in with her magic bullets, and Cha Hyeon-joo with her magic arrows. Blue streaks of light crisscrossed wildly in midair. A long-range bombardment. The key was to evade the opponent¡¯s attacks while landing your own to secure victory. Seo Ye-in activated her Feather Walk to dodge the arrows, while Cha Hyeon-joo used her own movement technique and started stepping nimbly to the left and right. But this place had an additional challenge. It¡¯s riddled with traps. While dodging the opponent¡¯s long-range attacks, it was inevitable that one would step into a trap. Would you avoid the arrows but trigger a trap? Or would you avoid the traps but get hit by an arrow? This required the kind of decisiveness only a true daredevil could muster. Bang-bang-bang-bang! Seo Ye-in fired her assault rifle in rapid bursts as she moved diagonally across the passage. But then, the ground beneath her foot sank about the depth of a fingertip. She had stepped on a pressure plate. Immediately, the corridor began to rumble. Rumblee! The walls on either side started closing in. Knowing she¡¯d be flattened like a pancake if caught, Seo Ye-in rushed forward. The arrows she couldn¡¯t completely avoid were deflected using her conjured dark clouds. RA?¦­o?¦Â?S Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t much different. Fzzzzzzzzzzzzzt! As she fired her arrows, she stepped on the edge of a magic circle, and a lightning explosion erupted from its center. Though she managed to avoid being swept up in it, a few stray currents lashed out and hit her.@@@@ ¡°Tch.¡± Clicking her tongue briefly, Cha Hyeon-joo kept her hands and feet moving swiftly. Swish-swish-swish-swish! Bang-bang-bang-bang! Meanwhile, I was observing their exchange from a safe position. Cha Hyeon-joo still has the upper hand for now. Both of them were moving quickly, making it nearly impossible to land a direct hit. But while Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s magic arrows grazed Seo Ye-in two or three times, Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets barely managed to touch Cha Hyeon-joo even once. It was clear that Cha Hyeon-joo had the overall edge in skill. It¡¯s probably because of the gap in their specs. Seo Ye-in might surpass her in terms of control, but her skillset and abilities were comparatively limited. In fact, compared to other promising students, Seo Ye-in¡¯s toolkit still left something to be desired. And it seemed Cha Hyeon-joo had already realized this. Using her advantage, she continued to vary her attacks with every move. Swish-swish-swish-swish! Once again, magic arrows streaked across the air in sharp blue lines. But this time, they weren¡¯t aimed directly at Seo Ye-in. Instead, they were fired toward the walls, the floor, and the ceiling around her. At first glance, it looked like a misfire. But as soon as the arrows struck the surfaces, they ricocheted like rubber balls before shooting back toward Seo Ye-in. Ricochets. These were far harder to read and evade than projectiles that flew straight toward her. ¡°......¡± Even so, Seo Ye-in scanned her surroundings with a calm expression, and with one step, then another, she activated her Feather Walk. She weaved through the gaps between the ricocheting arrows and dodged with remarkable precision. Still, a couple of arrows grazed her despite her deflections with the dark clouds, which left her with minor injuries. But from my perspective, her response was nothing short of impressive. The real problem is that this isn¡¯t over yet.... Rumbleee, Once again, the ceiling began to tremble violently, as if another trap had been triggered, and then it collapsed with a deafening roar. While Seo Ye-in busily moved to avoid the falling debris, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s bow remained steadily aimed at her. A massive amount of mana gathered at the tip of her arrow, causing it to grow larger and more menacing by the second. This is her decisive move. And just as Seo Ye-in barely escaped the danger of the collapsing ceiling, the arrow was loosed from the bowstring. Whoooooosh! Cha Hyeon-joo, in turn, would keep striving and getting stronger to avoid falling behind, which would create a positive cycle of growth. Before long, our second match was assigned, and Seo Ye-in and I stepped into the teleportation magic circle. Our vision shifted instantly, and we were greeted by a small room with walls enclosing us on all sides. After waiting for a moment, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] ¡°Let¡¯s finish the second match quickly, too.¡± ¡°Finish it.¡± We began moving swiftly through the labyrinth. In the previous match, by the time we had reached the later stages, traps were everywhere, leaving hardly any safe ground to step on. But since this match had just started, the labyrinth felt much more open and manageable. Whenever the path split into multiple directions, we relied on our Lucky Charm radar for guidance. ¡°Straight ahead?¡± ¡°Straight.¡± ¡°Right turn?¡± ¡°Left turn.¡± ¡°Good.¡± As we continued advancing at a fast pace, we both slowed down almost at the same time. We had sensed faint signs of movement up ahead. And sure enough¡ª Swiish¡ª! Thin, chopstick-like rods came flying toward us. However, they weren¡¯t aimed directly at us. Instead, they seemed to target the area around us, likely meant to trigger traps. To counter, I combined Wind Force with Twister. Whoooosh¡ª The strong whirlwind changed the chopsticks¡¯ trajectories little by little, causing them to embed themselves harmlessly into random spots. And as for the person who had thrown the chopsticks¡ª ¡°Well, well, who do we have here?¡± As expected, it was Shin Byeong-cheol. Judging by how quickly we encountered him after the match began, it seemed our starting points must have been quite close to each other. I asked him, ¡°Weren¡¯t you in the 400-500 point range?¡± ¡°Yeah, pretty much. To be exact, I have 503 points.¡± ¡°How did you end up getting matched with us?¡± ¡°Fufu, there¡¯s a reason for everything.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol let out a low chuckle and gestured toward a teammate standing behind him. ¡°As you know, I¡¯ve been pretty popular this week, haven¡¯t I? I brought along someone skilled.¡± At Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s gesture, a male student stepped forward a bit. But his face looked strikingly familiar, so I asked, ¡°Are you related to Jeong Chong-myeong, by any chance?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my older brother. I¡¯m Jeong Jin-myeong.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Jeong Jin-myeong was also a mage class, but like Jeong Chong-myeong, he didn¡¯t seem to have any particularly unique characteristics. An attribute-less mage. Most likely, he was a member of the White Magic Club. His score must be pretty high, too. Seo Ye-in and I had an average score in the low 800s. Since we got matched, their average score must be similar. Considering Shin Byeong-cheol revealed that his score was 503, it meant Jeong Jin-myeong¡¯s score was at least close to 1,000. He was practically on the level of promising students or disciplinary committee members. ¡°He¡¯s definitely skilled.¡± ¡°Fufu, didn¡¯t I tell you? I warned you you¡¯d regret it.¡± For once, Shin Byeong-cheol flashed a confident smile. Jeong Jin-myeong, however, didn¡¯t join in his enthusiasm and simply said to us, ¡°Let¡¯s get started. No point wasting time.¡± He was right. There was no room for idle chatter. We didn¡¯t know when additional traps might spring up. And since one of them had a score in the 1,000s, it didn¡¯t look like they had any intention of avoiding the fight. While Jeong Jin-myeong began channeling mana, Shin Byeong-cheol positioned himself slightly in front as if to protect him. But then¡ª [Ice Wall] A thick wall of ice suddenly rose between the two of them and completely sealed off the passage. Shin Byeong-cheol whipped his head around. He grew startled and began fumbling at the ice wall in confusion. ¡°What....hey! What is this?¡± ¡°What do you think it is? It¡¯s a partition.¡± I answered casually and gave a slight nod with my eyes. Seo Ye-in nodded her chin slightly in response. Then she pulled the frying pan out of her inventory and gripped it in her hand. ¡°You¡¯re all alone now...¡± Chapter 291: 16th Week Duel Battle (5) Chapter 291: 16th Week Duel Battle (5) Jeong Jin-myeong¡¯s magic struck the ice wall. Boom, boom! With a score in the 1,000s range, his magic was powerful and he could tear down the ice wall quickly. But, I can just put the wall back up again. Even Cha Hyeon-joo gave up after two layers of walls. What would he do if I kept putting up three or even four layers? Besides, I had no intention of just letting him keep breaking it. When I subtly signaled again, Seo Ye-in began to slowly raise the frying pan in her hand. It was as if she was ready to bring it down the moment I gave the signal. Sensing the threat, Shin Byeong-cheol desperately pounded on the ice wall. ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Stop, stop! Wait a second, pause! Stop!¡± Jeong Jin-myeong must have realized there was room for negotiation because he momentarily stopped casting his magic and called out from the other side of the wall. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°What I want is for you to tell me what you want.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°Do you want second place, or do you want third place?¡± Jeong Jin-myeong caught the meaning behind my words and responded. ¡°You¡¯re saying if I want second place, I should cooperate, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I nodded my head. If he didn¡¯t intend to cooperate, I was ready to make Shin Byeong-cheol the first victim of Seo Ye-in¡¯s frying pan. After that, taking care of the now-alone Jeong Jin-myeong in a two-versus-one fight would be easier than flipping my hand. Especially since Seo Ye-in was a marksman, she already had the advantage over a mage. There¡¯s also the option of not fighting him at all. Taking care of Shin Byeong-cheol and then leaving the area wasn¡¯t a bad option either. Jeong Jin-myeong would have to deal with the traps alone, which would naturally lower his survival rate. In either case, he¡¯d most likely end up in third place. It seemed Jeong Jin-myeong had reached a similar conclusion because he let out a long sigh. ¡°Whew... What a mess. I came here thinking I¡¯d get an easy win, and now look at this. Totally got caught in the wrong situation.¡± His original plan had been to team up with Shin Byeong-cheol and easily handle the traps together. As a bonus, with a lower average score, battles would¡¯ve been easier. But that plan was now in shambles because of one partition I had erected. I spoke casually. ¡°Given the situation, isn¡¯t it better to at least break even?¡± ¡°...Yeah, I guess.¡± In the end, Shin Byeong-cheol and Jeong Jin-myeong accepted the offer they couldn¡¯t refuse. Rather than letting their pride get the better of them, it was smarter to take second place, hold onto their points, and aim for first place in the next match. Still, the voice from beyond the ice wall sounded slightly bitter. ¡°So, how are we doing this?¡± ¡°Byeong-cheol moves with us. As we go, he¡¯ll work hard to clear the traps we come across.¡± ¡°And me?¡± At Jeong Jin-myeong¡¯s question, I answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°You¡¯ll need to move separately, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯d be more efficient for all four of us to move together.¡± ¡°Speed takes priority over efficiency.¡± The next goal was to locate Team 3, who had to be somewhere out there. And splitting into two groups would make the search much faster. Jeong Jin-myeong might sustain some damage, big or small, from traps while moving alone, but that wasn¡¯t my problem. Another sigh came from beyond the ice wall. ¡°Man, I really picked the wrong fight this time. So what happens when we find Team 3?¡± ¡°You know how to use communication magic, right?¡± ¡°I do.¡±@@@@ ¡°Contact us immediately and fight.¡± ¡°...Two against one?¡± ¡°Yeah. Wear them down as much as you can, and we¡¯ll finish the job.¡± After dealing with Team 3, Shin Byeong-cheol who had been working with us would declare forfeit. That way, second place would be guaranteed for them. Shin Byeong-cheol who had been listening quietly cautiously asked, ¡°But what happens if we can¡¯t find them in the end?¡± What would happen if we kept missing Team 3 and couldn¡¯t find them until the match was over? Seo Ye-in answered in my place. She raised her frying pan once more. ¡°Bang.¡± ¡°Ahem... I¡¯ll do my best to find them.¡± Of course, that was half a joke, and we had already accounted for the possibility of not running into them at all. ¡°If it turns into a long match, we¡¯ll have the advantage anyway.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, that¡¯s true.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol would take care of most of the traps, and since we had three people on our side, our chances of survival were significantly higher. ¡°No more questions, right? Let¡¯s get moving.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± As I started to move, Jeong Jin-myeong stopped me for a moment. The sound of an explosion meant a trap had been triggered, and a triggered trap meant someone was there. And that ¡°someone¡± could only be the remaining member of Team 3. ¡°Fufu... Gotcha, you little bastard.¡± With a sly grin, Shin Byeong-cheol led the group forward. As expected, we soon came face-to-face with the remaining member and it turned out to be someone I knew. I greeted him cheerfully while waving my hand. ¡°Hey, Hyeong-taek! How¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°......¡± The moment our eyes met, Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s face twisted into a grimace. It seemed like the painful memories from the battles in the Lava Zone and the Cloud Stairs were coming back to him. Swimming in lava couldn¡¯t have been a pleasant experience for him. To make matters worse, his expression grew even darker when he noticed Shin Byeong-cheol standing beside us. It wasn¡¯t just two people; there were three of us. ¡°So you guys teamed up, huh? What a bunch of dirty cheaters.¡± ¡°Hyeong-taek, are you really in a position to say something like that?¡± After all, back in the three-way battle in the Lava Zone, hadn¡¯t he formed a temporary alliance with Kang Hee-chan to take me down first? And then he turned on Kang Hee-chan and stabbed him in the back too. ¡°......¡± Son Hyeong-taek, while sly, wasn¡¯t shameless, and he seemed at a loss for words as the memory of that time flashed through his mind. Eventually, he must have decided there was no chance of winning. He turned to leave, but¡ª ¡°Hyeong-taek, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± An ice wall suddenly shot up, cutting off his escape route. Son Hyeong-taek clicked his tongue softly and threw a punch with all his strength. ¡°Like this is going to stop me¡ª!¡± Boom! But all he managed to do was leave a dent in the ice wall. Even Cha Hyeon-joo or Jeong Jin-myeong would have trouble breaking through it easily, so how could a single punch possibly do the trick? If it had worked, he¡¯d be considered a promising student by now. I asked him, ¡°That wall¡¯s a bit tougher than you expected, huh?¡± ¡°Grrr!¡± Perhaps deciding that he had nothing left to lose, Son Hyeong-taek finally charged straight at us. I looked at him with pity in my eyes. ¡°Hyeong-taek, I really think that¡¯s a terrible choice.¡± ¡°What the hell else am I supposed to do?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s something you¡¯ll have to figure out on your own.¡± I shrugged my shoulders and reached my hand out in front of me. Whoosh¡ª A whirlwind infused with physical force wrapped around Son Hyeong-taek, locking him in place. As luck would have it, he had just stepped on a magical trap. The magic circle beneath his feet began glowing red, while Shin Byeong-cheol started flinging chopsticks all around. The traps activated and began assaulting him. Flames erupted beneath him, while sharp weapons rained down from above. Whooooooosh¡ª! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! ¡°Aaaagh!!¡± Before long, Son Hyeong-taek was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he had quickly run out of health and become incapacitated. Now, only the three of us remained in the labyrinth. Seo Ye-in silently stared at Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°Finish you off.¡± Then she raised her frying pan and slowly began to approach him. Shin Byeong-cheol stepped back and started waving his hands frantically to keep her at a distance. ¡°Whoa, whoa! Wait a second! Just hold on!¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°Why are you so quick to try and smash someone¡¯s skull in? Can¡¯t I just forfeit instead?¡± Seo Ye-in turned her head toward me and her eyes silently asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I just hit him?¡± I slowly shook my head. There was no need to resort to violence now that it was all over. Seo Ye-in let out a faint sigh of disappointment and lowered her frying pan. As soon as she did, Shin Byeong-cheol hastily declared his forfeit and fled the labyrinth as if he was running for his life. Shortly after, the scoreboard displayed the match results. [Kim Ho, Seo Ye-in 1st Place] ¡°Good work. Let¡¯s get some rest.¡± ¡°Kim Ho pillow.¡± Seo Ye-in looked up at me and spoke. Her gray eyes sparkled brightly. I guess I can make an exception today. Thinking back, Seo Ye-in had even turned down my offer to lend her a hoodie last week and had been cutting back on her sleep to train. On top of that, she tackled this duel battle with energy, so it seemed only fair to offer her some sort of reward. So I nodded readily. ¡°Alright, you can use me as a pillow.¡± But Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes continued to shine as she added an unexpected comment. ¡°Today is the day to do it.¡± Chapter 292: Get Stronger Just by Sleeping Seo Ye-in had a habit of keeping her conversations short while focusing only on the main points, which often led to misunderstandings. And it was always my job to fill in the missing parts. ¡°What kind of day is it today?¡± ¡°A day to rank up.¡± ¡°Rank up? What?¡± ¡°Core.¡± I found this a bit puzzling and kept asking. ¡°Wait, weren¡¯t we talking about you using me as a pillow?¡± ¡°Mhmm, Kim Ho pillow.¡± ¡°Then why does your core rank go up?¡± At this, Seo Ye-in tilted her head slowly to the side, as if she was wondering why I was even asking such an obvious question. ¡°...Because I sleep?¡± ¡°You rank up your core while sleeping?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Mana cultivation typically required maintaining an extreme state of focus, guiding the mana within your body along the proper pathways, and allowing it to circulate. And through this process, you would gradually accumulate mana in your core. Just sleeping can accomplish that? From my perspective, it sounded utterly absurd. But on the other hand, it was oddly convincing. Seo Ye-in had spent most of her time with me since enrolling, and whenever she wasn¡¯t with me, she was usually sprawled out asleep in her dormitory room. Which is to say, I had never once seen her do mana cultivation. And yet her [Core] rank is C. Although it¡¯s the average rank for first-years, it¡¯s not something you could achieve without a significant amount of time and effort. Never seeing her practice mana cultivation yet finding out her core rank was that high? It didn¡¯t add up. I had been curious about this for a while, but... What if her mana control is extraordinarily advanced? If she were capable of performing mana cultivation while sleeping, something that should only be possible in an intense state of concentration, then... Seo Ye-in¡¯s strange growth would start to make a bit more sense. So she¡¯s basically a passive sloth now that I think about it. Her core grows steadily, even if you just leave her be. From my perspective, this was actually a rather welcome revelation. One of the things I had been concerned about in the long term had essentially been resolved. On top of that, as Seo Ye-in had said, ¡°Today is the day to do it.¡± In other words, it was the day she would reach a B-rank core. There was no reason to hold back on supporting her. ¡°Let¡¯s go right now.¡± To become a Kim Ho Pillow. I took Seo Ye-in and moved to another spot. *** ¡°Today, we¡¯ll sleep here.¡± The place we arrived at was none other than the Mana Cultivation Room. Even for a genius sloth who could automatically cultivate mana no matter where she slept, it was still better to have her rest in an environment rich in mana to maximize efficiency. R?AN??§¦?s? Especially at such a critical moment before a rank-up. ¡°.......¡± However, Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t seem too happy with the Mana Cultivation Room. This space was designed mainly for ¡°training¡±. It was about the size of a single room, cramped and narrow, with a hard floor and a consistently cool temperature. Other than the dim lighting, it was far from an ideal habitat for a sloth. Well, of course, I can just improve the environment. I immediately began renovating the Mana Cultivation Room. This was all in preparation, knowing that Seo Ye-in would soon demand to use me as her Kim Ho Pillow. I pulled out the dormitory bedding from my inventory and set up a mini heater in one corner. In no time, the Mana Cultivation Room transformed into a warm and cozy space. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°...Approved.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly. But I still had one last ace up my sleeve. [Hoodie of the Hidden Master (A+)] ? 150% Efficiency for Energy Circulation Training ? Greatly Enhances Sleep Efficiency ¡°I don¡¯t really know much about his skills. He hasn¡¯t shown us much, after all.¡± Even during the infiltration of the temporary storage, Kim Ho hadn¡¯t taken a direct role and had only followed along with the members of the thieves club. He had heard from Dang Gyu-young that Kim Ho played a ¡°key role¡± but what exactly that entailed had never been disclosed. ¡°Still, one thing¡¯s for sure. He¡¯s got potential.¡± This infiltration of the temporary storage had involved a large number of third-years, and the situation had been extremely urgent. Even so, Kim Ho had remained calm and composed throughout. In the end, he had been caught by Oh Se-hoon, the president of the disciplinary committee, but even as he was dragged into the Room of Truth, he hadn¡¯t shown any fear. Instead, he had made a bet and won. Hearing all this, Jeong Jin-myeong¡¯s eyes glimmered with interest. ¡°...So, he¡¯s got something. I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t mess with him after it was all over.¡± ¡°It was good that you didn¡¯t respond emotionally. But don¡¯t let yourself get too intimidated, either.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Whether to view Kim Ho as an enemy or to build a friendly relationship with him was a decision that Jeong Jin-myeong himself would have to make. Jeong Chong-myeong trusted his younger brother to handle the matter wisely. *** Flash! A brilliant light flared, causing Dang Gyu-young to wince slightly. It wasn¡¯t just the blinding brightness; it was irritating as well. Damn, that¡¯s annoying. She was surrounded by iron training dummies. Their stats were set extremely high, making them impossible for most first- and second-years to handle, and even third-years would find themselves in trouble if they let their guard down. Of course, that also meant they weren¡¯t too hard to deal with as long as one went all out. Whooosh! From beneath Dang Gyu-young¡¯s feet, shadow arms erupted and they started swinging various shadow weapons around. The iron dummies were struck and scattered in all directions, only to bounce back up like punching bags and charge at her again. Up to this point, there hadn¡¯t been any issues but¡ª It¡¯s going to explode again soon. Dang Gyu-young looked up at the ceiling of the training room with a displeased expression. To be more precise, she was glaring at the glowing orb of light floating there. Sure enough, the orb of light emitted a brilliant flash, like a camera¡¯s flashbulb going off. Flaaash! In an instant, the shadow arms which had been long and thick like a giant¡¯s arms shrank down to the size of a child¡¯s arms. Some of them grew faint and completely disappeared. Because of that, the iron dummies which should have been knocked down merely flinched for a moment. Then they quickly closed the encirclement again. Dang Gyu-young suddenly found herself on the run. ¡°Ugh, seriously.¡± Even as she dodged their punches in a flurry of motion, Dang Gyu-young kept grumbling. ¡°What am I even doing this for? For what kind of glory?¡± The glowing orb had appeared ever since Kim Ho gave her the [Hardship] quest. It would hover nearby and, as it had just done, periodically release a blinding flash of light. In the face of such intense light, shadows naturally lost their power. And the shadow magic Dang Gyu-young had mastered was no exception. The fact that its power was drastically reduced was already a major problem, but the way the skill¡¯s flow was abruptly severed was an even greater source of stress. This really is a hardship, no doubt about it. Kim Ho¡¯s confidence in the quest suddenly made sense to her. Right now, she was barely holding on. But if she could overcome this ordeal, she was sure to grow significantly stronger. At the same time, Dang Gyu-young realized something else. There was a reason why Kim Ho had repeatedly asked for confirmation before giving her the quest. This is ridiculously difficult. She had expected as much, but this truly was a hardship worthy of its name. And to top it off, this was just the first stage. She couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine what stages 2 and 3 might hold, let alone what lay beyond them. It felt like she hadn¡¯t even climbed halfway up the mountain, yet she could already see even taller and larger peaks looming in the distance. Even so, she was determined to overcome it all in the end. Because I made a promise. ¨C Are you sure you won¡¯t give up? ¨C I will do it. Whatever it takes. I won¡¯t give up. Dang Gyu-young reaffirmed her resolve and drew forth the shadows once more. The shadow limbs surged like a tidal wave before crashing into the iron dummies. Whooooooosh¡ª! Chapter 293: Because I Feel Like It Chapter 293: Because I Feel Like It While Seo Ye-in slept soundly, I took some time to check through things on my own. First, the side quest. [Side Questt: 16th Week Duel Battles] (Completed) ? Objective: Complete 2 duel matches (2/2) ? Reward: Stamp Coupon (C+) I had finished both matches in first place and received the best possible reward. The C-rank stamp coupon I had earned previously allowed for a maximum of 10 stamps, but the C+ rank coupon increased that to 15. Naturally, the rewards improved by an additional tier as well. I saved these just for this. I had four unused random rank ups saved up. I decided to save those for later. Next, I pulled up the skill and trait windows for review. [Skills] ? Chillwind (D+) ? Wind Force (C+) ? Wind Barrier (C+) ? Spiral Explosion (C+) ? Inferno Fist (B) ? Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger (B) ? Ghost Dance ? Amplification (B) ? Enchantment (C) ? Hardship New! ? Copy-Skill [3/3] 1. Thief¡¯s Step (B+) 2. Overheat (C) 3. Ice Wall (B) [Traits] ? Core (B+) ? Monarch (B) ? Blessing of the West Wind ? Distortion ? Elemental Resistance (S) ? Poison Immunity ? Copy-Trait [2/2] 1. Retrocovery (S) New! 2. Crown of the Wise King [Equipment] ? Deep Root Sapling ? Storm Cloud Bracelet ? Cloudstepper Based on all of this, if I had to set a direction moving forward... The first priority is strengthening my foundation. Achieving a B-rank Core had only been a relatively recent development for me. For now, I believe it is more efficient to raise the skills I already possess to B-rank rather than increasing the variety of my skills. After all, if I tried learning something new, I would have had to start from F-rank, which would inevitably be weaker than focusing on bringing Wind Force or Spiral Explosion up to B-rank. It probably won¡¯t take too long.¡± Since I used Wind-type skills often, my proficiency with them was already quite high. In particular, the lower-tier versions of Wind Force and Spiral Explosion were my core combat techniques, so I figured they would soon break through their stagnation period and reach B-rank. The second priority is utility. Among utilities, I needed to secure skills or traits that helped manage penalties. With just an S-rank Elemental Resistance, the highest level of elemental penalty I could neutralize was B-rank. Anything higher than that would inflict some amount of damage. Even though B-rank Inferno Fist or Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger were already formidable, the enemies I would face were only going to grow stronger. In those cases, I would need to amplify them to S-rank, much like I did when I fought the Witch of Corruption. But I couldn¡¯t rely on basic elixirs indefinitely. At least I got Retrocovery. Even if I amplified Inferno Fist or the Demon Finger to S-rank and used them, Retrocovery would at least heal me thoroughly once. Of course, that alone didn¡¯t solve all the problems. Moreover, there was another penalty I had to watch out for: The cooldowns keep getting longer. When my C-rank [Enchantment] had a reuse cooldown of about 35 minutes, it wasn¡¯t a big deal until I used it 30 times in a row with Octopus Limbs. Thanks to that, I managed to pummel the Witch of Corruption into submission, but the cooldown soared to a whopping three weeks. Essentially, it was sealed away until the end of the first semester. On top of that, [Retrocovery] had a cooldown of three days, and [Hardship] was seven days. If I linked those with Octopus Limbs again? It wouldn¡¯t be strange if it stretched to a few weeks or even months. Hence, it became increasingly important to manage these penalties. That was the situation I found myself in. Apparently, the passive sloth mode can be toggled ON or OFF. And from Seo Ye-in¡¯s perspective, it¡¯s probably much more comfortable to sleep without doing any Mana Cultivation. Because she would train off and on like that, the Future Strategy Office had predicted she wouldn¡¯t reach a B-rank Core until well into the second semester. Ahn Jeong-mi continued, ¡°So it¡¯s thanks to you, Kim Ho-nim that she achieved it sooner. You also willingly shared the Illusion Demon¡¯s formation and we owe you a great deal for that. If there¡¯s anything you need, please let us know.¡± ¡°Actually, there is something I need these days.¡± I then relayed the item list I had organized in my mind. The items I needed were related to penalty-reduction skills or traits or materials necessary for crafting equipment using the Crow Branch. Even for the Hye-seong Group, these weren¡¯t things that could be easily acquired. Ahn Jeong-mi remained silent for a moment before making a suggestion. ¡°How about you check out the shops in the downtown area first? We¡¯ll cover all the expenses.¡± In other words, I¡¯d essentially been handed a blank check. If I could find what I wanted, great. If not, there was always the chance I¡¯d stumble upon something unexpected. And if I found nothing at all, Ahn Jeong-mi would figure out another way to procure the items, so there was no real loss. I nodded my head readily. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°When were you thinking of going?¡± ¡°Next weekend seems like the right time.¡± The weekend before the strategy battle week. Essentially, the weekend just before finals week. Since it was right before a big test, students would flock to the downtown area to blow off steam or stock up on items. This also meant that the shops in the downtown area would stock up heavily during this time. But just then, Seo Ye-in suddenly jumped into the conversation. ¡°This weekend.¡± ¡°You heard me. It¡¯ll be more fun next weekend.¡± I calmly tried to reason with her, but for some reason, Seo Ye-in was unusually stubborn. ¡°This weekend.¡± ¡°Why are you so set on going this weekend?¡± If she had a good enough reason, moving it up by a week wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. But Seo Ye-in answered confidently, ¡°Because I feel like it.¡± ¡°Wow, look at you being all talkative for once. Still, no.¡± I was firm. No meant no. Caving in to every whim would only have a negative impact on our long-term relationship. That said, attaching a condition could change the situation. ¡°It¡¯s Monday today, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°If you can hit B-rank for Magic Bullets by Friday, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± I intentionally set an absurd condition. Partly to encourage her to train harder and partly to ensure we¡¯d end up going next weekend as originally planned. But whether she saw through my intentions or not, Seo Ye-in stared at me quietly for a moment before nodding her head. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± No way she pulls this off. Magic Bullets were one of the core skills for a Marksman. It had been a while since Seo Ye-in achieved C-rank in it, so her proficiency must have grown considerably during that time. But no matter how I looked at it, jumping to B-rank in just a few days was an impossible feat. *** Thursday. I had been training in wind magic, sending the iron dummies flying around the training room. In the middle of it, Seo Ye-in sent me a message, so I checked it. [Seo Ye-in: Done.] [Kim Ho: ?] [Seo Ye-in: Magic Bullets.] [Seo Ye-in: B.] [Seo Ye-in: (victorious cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: ??] [Kim Ho: (shocked cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (victorious cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (majestic cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: Let¡¯s go to the downtown area.] She really managed to hit B-rank? And not even on Friday. On Thursday? This is totally cheating. *** TN: You¡¯re one to talk... Chapter 294: Event Boss Chapter 294: Event Boss Saturday morning. I met Seo Ye-in at the shuttle bus stop. Seo Ye-in was usually twice as energetic as normal whenever we went to the downtown area, but today, she seemed even more lively than that. Curious, I decided to ask her a casual question. ¡°How much battery do you have today?¡± ¡°Ninety-one percent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a new record.¡± ¡°Full of energy!¡± She even struck a playful fighting pose. It was clear she was fully prepared to enjoy herself today. At the same time, I wondered if there was a specific reason why she had been so insistent about going downtown this week. Could it be that her lucky instincts were kicking in? For now, though, the ¡°I just really want to have fun¡± theory seemed more plausible. Either way, I figured we¡¯d find out soon enough. We boarded the shuttle bus that arrived shortly after and headed toward the downtown area. Though next week was expected to be busier, downtown was still bustling this week. I went with the flow of the crowd and asked Seo Ye-in, ¡°Where do you want to go most?¡± ¡°...The arcade?¡± ¡°Knew it.¡± Seo Ye-in had so much fun at the arcade every time we came downtown that it seemed like her mind had developed a simple formula: downtown = arcade. Since the arcade also offered small prizes as rewards, I had no reason to object. However, the main goal of this trip was to browse the shops and, if we found something we wanted, to make a purchase. With that in mind, I made a suggestion. ¡°There¡¯s a magic shop on the way, so let¡¯s stop there first. What do you think?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head coolly. The ¡°Long Ears Magic Item Shop¡± was located along the path to the arcade. On our first trip downtown, we had combined some items from that store to create the Fluffy Cloud and Storm Cloud bracelets. The plan for today was to browse the magic shop first, spend time at the arcade, and then visit one more store afterward. We had plenty of time, so the plan could be flexible, and there was no need to rush straight to the magic shop. So, I strolled leisurely with Seo Ye-in, taking in the sights of downtown as though we were on a casual walk. ¡°.......¡± By now, I¡¯d figured out Seo Ye-in¡¯s patterns of behavior during our previous two trips downtown. She would wander around, slow down when something caught her interest, stare at it intently, or gently tug at me to follow her. When that happened, I either followed her to check it out or stopped her if we seemed to be straying too far from our route. Sure enough, her steps slowed into a hesitant shuffle, and she started drifting toward a street vendor. Before long, she came back holding a mini hotdog. ¡°I¡¯ll give you half.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± The two of us quickly finished off the mini hotdogs, And then Seo Ye-in, once again, started inching toward a street vendor. She returned with a bag of mini pastries. ¡°I¡¯ll give you half.¡± ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± After we finished off the mini pastries, I noticed her gaze drifting back toward the street vendors again. This time, I decided to intervene. ¡°Hold it right there.¡± ¡°.......?¡± ¡°If you snack too much, you¡¯ll end up too full.¡± The street vendor snacks were tempting, sure, but I¡¯d recently received a bakery coupon from Ahn Jeong-mi. Since it wasn¡¯t an opportunity that came around often, it seemed wiser to save our appetites for the bakery. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in hesitated for a moment. She glanced back and forth between the street vendors and me. She looked to be clearly torn. After a bit of deliberation, she suddenly seemed to come to a realization, as though a light bulb had gone off above her head. ¡°...I¡¯ll give you half.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s be honest here. You just want to eat it, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...Maybe a little?¡± When I gave her a stern look, Seo Ye-in sheepishly averted her gaze. ¡°...Gray Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Looks like you like this one.¡± ¡°Approved.¡± It seemed Gray Kim Ho, with gray hair and gray eyes, was her favorite. Seo Ye-in stopped handing me any more potions after that. For the record, Seo Ye-in was still in her transformed state. A blonde-haired, blue-eyed sloth. With that, we decided to call it a day for potion tasting. Before leaving, I asked the Alchemy Club senior a question. ¡°How long does this last?¡± ¡°About two hours. After that, you¡¯ll return to normal. Unless, of course, you want to come back to our club.¡± Unless? Did that mean there was a chance I wouldn¡¯t go back to normal? Her comment didn¡¯t inspire much confidence, but it wasn¡¯t something to worry about just yet. It was just hair color, after all. Afterward, as I kept wandering around, taking in the sights, I eventually spotted a shop in the distance. It was the ¡°Long Ears Magic Item Shop¡±. But then Seo Ye-in tilted her head and stared intently at something for some reason. Curious, I turned my gaze in the same direction. And that¡¯s when I saw it. It was something familiar. That¡¯s still here? A masked gentleman was strolling toward us with exaggerated, theatrical steps. He was a field boss and an event boss who liked to challenge anyone he fancied with light quizzes or mini-games. If you won his mini-games, he¡¯d give you hidden rewards. The first time we¡¯d come to the downtown area, Seo Ye-in had seen through one of his tricks and won the [Lucky Trump Card] as her prize. That had been nearly two months ago. I¡¯d figured he would¡¯ve left Dungeon Island by now, but to my surprise, he was still hanging around. ¡°~~! ~~!¡± Like before, the masked gentleman didn¡¯t make a sound, but he waved his arms and gestured excitedly. As if he was clearly delighted to see us again. At the same time, he began rummaging through his pockets, likely searching for a trump card or something similar. But he wasn¡¯t the only one approaching Seo Ye-in. The attention of passersby suddenly converged on one spot, where a clown was merrily dancing his way closer to us. His outfit was extravagant, and like the masked gentleman, he wore a mask over his face. When I saw this, my eyes lit up with interest. That¡¯s an event boss too. The only real difference between him and the masked gentleman was the type of mini-games he offered and the kinds of rewards he gave out. The strange thing, though, was that it was extremely rare for two event bosses to show up in the same place like this. Usually, they would stick to their own zones, and even if they happened to cross paths, one of them would quickly leave the area. But now, despite clearly being aware of each other, they were both eagerly approaching Seo Ye-in in a competitive manner. What¡¯s gotten into them? Normally, if a player didn¡¯t interest them, they wouldn¡¯t even acknowledge their presence, let alone initiate a mini-game. Yet here they were practically desperate to offer Seo Ye-in an event. Guess I¡¯ll just wait and see for now. Although both of them were powerful bosses, they weren¡¯t dangerous. Even if she were to lose a mini-game, it wasn¡¯t like her life would be at risk. Besides, I had a hunch that Seo Ye-in, being the lucky charm she was, would handle this without much trouble. The masked gentleman was the first to reach her. As if ready to start a mini-game right away, he began skillfully shuffling a deck of cards in a flashy manner. But just as he did, the masked clown arrived and put a hand over the cards to stop him. The two event bosses then began to argue with animated hand gestures and exaggerated movements. Judging from their actions, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what they were saying: ¨C I¡¯m going to do it! You back off! ¨C I was here first! You back off! ¨C Why should I care? Seo Ye-in glanced back and forth between them, but she seemed to be losing interest. The moment she tried to move away, the clown and the gentleman abruptly stopped their squabbling and scrambled to block her path. From their frantic gestures, it seemed like they were begging her to spare them just a bit of her time. What could possibly have these two so desperate? I had no idea. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± When Seo Ye-in remained still, the two bosses quickly communicated and reached an agreement in no time. Soon after, the clown stepped back, and the gentleman began shuffling the deck of trump cards. Are they planning to take turns one by one? Shuffle-shuffle! Seo Ye-in stared at the dazzlingly shuffled deck of cards with an indifferent expression on her face. Chapter 295: Surprise Magic Box The masked gentleman eventually spread the cards out like a fan and held them out in front of her. It was as if he was silently asking her to pick one. When Seo Ye-in pointed to a card as instructed, it floated up into the air. [J of Hearts] Next to it, another card rose, showing only its back. ¡°¡ª? ¡ª?¡± The masked gentleman pointed at the two cards, gesturing up and down with his fingers. It seemed like he was asking, ¡°Will this card be higher or lower than the J of Hearts?¡± Based purely on probability, it should be ¡°lower¡±. If A is 1 and K is 13, then J is 11. But without a moment of hesitation, Seo Ye-in gave her answer. ¡°Higher.¡± As soon as she spoke, the facedown card spun around, revealing a Queen of Spades. It was higher than the Jack, so her answer was correct. The masked gentleman slapped his forehead with a dramatic smack! Meanwhile, the masked clown silently pointed at him and mockingly laughed. However, it seemed the mini-game wasn¡¯t over yet. The masked gentleman shuffled the cards again with a flourish before spreading them out in a wide fan. When Seo Ye-in picked another card, it floated into the air, showing its back, and four symbols appeared before it: Heart, Club, Spade, Diamond. This time, the goal was to guess the suit of the card. Though the odds were much lower in this four-choice scenario, Seo Ye-in once again gave her answer immediately.@@@@ ¡°Club.¡± The card spun around, revealing a Seven of Clubs. Having secured her second win in a row in the blink of an eye, the masked gentleman grabbed his head and swayed in despair. On the other hand, the clown who was now even more delighted silently shook with laughter. Before long, the masked gentleman placed the recently chosen Seven of Clubs in midair and began shuffling the cards for the third round. Shuffle-shuffle¡ª The masked gentleman¡¯s flashy hand movements revealed his determination not to lose this time. When he spread the cards out into a fan, Seo Ye-in pointed to one, and it floated into the air, showing its back as it rose next to the Seven of Clubs. R??N?§£¦¥S? Besides the card, four suit symbols and an up-and-down arrow appeared at the same time. This time, she had to guess both the suit and whether the card was higher or lower than the Seven of Clubs. That¡¯s just unfair. Even if it was a mini-game, there were rules about maintaining some semblance of fairness. It seemed the masked gentleman was truly desperate not to lose. Of course, by that logic, Seo Ye-in herself could be considered shamelessly lucky. At this point, one would expect her to hesitate or deliberate a little, but instead, she simply glanced at the card and declared, ¡°Diamond.¡± ¡°~?¡± The masked gentleman leaned forward and cupped his hand to his ear, clearly signaling that he wanted to hear the rest of her answer. Seo Ye-in answered curtly. ¡°Equal.¡± ¡°......!¡± The card that appeared next was the Seven of Diamonds. If she had answered higher or lower, she would have been wrong. She actually got that right. To pick both the correct suit and the exact number out of thirteen options; it was nothing short of incredible. There was no doubt about it: Seo Ye-in¡¯s victory was absolute. The masked gentleman, seemingly resigned to the outcome, slumped his shoulders in defeat. Meanwhile, the clown clapped his hands enthusiastically before stepping forward with a sly grin. Now it was the clown¡¯s turn to host a mini-game. The masked clown rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a toy crocodile head. Its mouth was wide open, revealing eight unevenly spaced teeth. The crocodile tooth game. Also known as ¡°Crocodile Roulette¡±. The game required participants to take turns pressing the teeth. However, one of the eight teeth was a trap. Pressing it would cause the crocodile¡¯s jaws to snap shut with a clamp! The unlucky player whose hand got caught would lose the game. ¡°~~!¡± The clown extended the crocodile head toward Seo Ye-in with a polite gesture. Just as she had done during the game with the gentleman, Seo Ye-in pressed down firmly on one of the teeth without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Click. A small sound echoed, but the crocodile¡¯s mouth remained open. Seo Ye-in took off her Fluffy Cloud Bracelet and handed it to me. The Fluffy Cloud Bracelet and the Storm Cloud Bracelet were a pair. I was confident that if we put them in the Surprise Magic Box, it would return them to us in some form as a set. Although proceeding as-is seemed like a good plan, ¡°Let¡¯s check out the shop first.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that...¡± The was just a few steps away. There was no harm in delaying the box opening until we looked around. Who knew? We might find something useful in there. When we entered the shop, the familiar-looking shopkeeper greeted us. She had a kind face and her ears weren¡¯t pointed at all. Even though we were now in the Gray Kim Ho and Gold Sloth state, she recognized us at a glance. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Welcome!¡± ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Looking for anything in particular?¡± ¡°Today, we¡¯d like to see some A-rank items.¡± Shops typically didn¡¯t expect much from first-year students. After all, how much could a first-year afford to buy, even if they did manage to scrape together some money? However, we¡¯d already proven our buying power during our first trip to the downtown area by using two B-rank exchange coupons. Because of that, the shopkeeper casually guided us to the A-rank section. Compared to other parts of the shop, the A-rank display area was noticeably smaller. The immense value of each A-rank item explained why even a magic item shop located in the downtown area of Dungeon Island couldn¡¯t afford to stock them in abundance. Because of that, it didn¡¯t seem like it would take long to browse through everything. I started by quickly scanning the skill books and trait scrolls. There¡¯s nothing for penalty reduction. Clicking my tongue in slight disappointment, I moved on to check if there were any materials compatible with the Crow Branch. Unfortunately, it was another dead end. I had a feeling there wouldn¡¯t be anything. After all, it wasn¡¯t exactly common to find items compatible with spatial materials. Since I hadn¡¯t expected much to begin with, I wasn¡¯t too disappointed. This was something that would take time, and I had no choice but to be patient. With that thought in mind, I was about to turn away when one particular item caught my eye. It was a transparent glass bottle filled with a shimmering, translucent liquid. [Fairy Queen¡¯s Delight (A)] ...If it¡¯s this. Although it wasn¡¯t directly related to my original goal, it was a fantastic item to use for an impromptu surprise reveal. I didn¡¯t hesitate for long before making my decision. ¡°I¡¯ll take this.¡± *** Despite being a consumable item, Fairy Queen¡¯s Delight carried a hefty price tag, as befitting its A-rank status. Of course, with the promise Ahn Jeong-mi had made to me, I was more than willing to pay that amount. Seo Ye-in and I left the downtown area and moved to a quiet resting spot. It was the same place where we had obtained the Fluffy Cloud and Storm Cloud Bracelets. Sitting side by side, we opened the brilliant surprise magic box and placed the two bracelets inside. Then I poured every last drop of the Fairy Queen¡¯s Delight into the box, leaving none behind. If I had placed the entire glass bottle inside, it might have been classified as a ¡°potion¡±, which would potentially change the surprise box¡¯s result. But if it¡¯s already used, that¡¯s a different story. With these three items now in the box, my first goal was to obtain a ¡°bracelet set¡±. The second goal was tied to the effect of the Fairy Queen¡¯s Delight. The potion I had poured in instantly seeped into the two bracelets, and from them, a fresh, vibrant energy began to radiate. Its powerful enchantment effect would greatly enhance the value of the bracelets. They would likely become at least A+ rank, which meant I could expect even better results. After closing the lid, I handed the surprise box over to Seo Ye-in and asked, ¡°Lucky Charm-nim, are you ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Feeling good about this?¡± ¡°Very Lucky!¡± ¡°Excellent. Let¡¯s see what we¡¯ve got, shall we?¡± Seo Ye-in pulled the box closer, slowly lifted the lid, and then¡ª Boooom! A loud explosion echoed as clouds completely engulfed our view. Chapter 296: Fluffy Fluffy, Soft and Cushy When special items appeared from the random box, they were often accompanied by unique effects. Judging by the clouds, it must be something in a similar category. Considering the effect of the surprise magic box, I anticipated a high possibility that the Fluffy Cloud and Storm Cloud bracelets would be replaced with a different bracelet set. However, perhaps reflecting Lucky Charm¡¯s wish, it seemed that the ¡°cloud¡± theme remained the same. From beyond the dense clouds that blocked all visibility, I could hear Seo Ye-in¡¯s voice. ¡°...Where?¡± ¡°Here. Give me your hand.¡± Seo Ye-in gently took the hand I offered. When I shook her hand lightly as if in a handshake, the clouds gradually began to clear. A pair of bracelets lay where the surprise box had been. They looked almost identical to the previous set. They resembled thin strands of golden thread connecting small, fingertip-sized clouds. The only noticeable difference was the addition of a relatively larger cloud among the smaller ones. When I checked the item effects, it showed: [Fluffy Cloud Bracelet (A+)] ? Summons fluffy clouds. ? Fluffy clouds protect the user from magical damage. ? Fluffy Fluffy (Cooldown: 1 hour) ? Upgradeable [Storm Cloud Bracelet (A+)] ? Summons storm clouds. ? Storm clouds protect the user from physical damage. ? Soft and Cushy (Cooldown: 1 hour) ? Upgradeable Not bad at all. The usefulness of the Fluffy Cloud and Storm Cloud bracelets had already been proven in several duel battles and strategy battles. Now, each had gained an active skill and even an upgrade slot. Depending on what was added, they could potentially reach S-rank. As Seo Ye-in examined the item descriptions, she tilted her head in curiosity. ¡°Fluffy Fluffy?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s test them out here before we go. Give me your hand.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I secured the Fluffy Cloud Bracelet around Seo Ye-in¡¯s wrist, while I wore the Storm Cloud Bracelet on mine. With a soft pop, a fluffy white cloud and a small storm cloud, each about the size of a fist, appeared. They began darting around and chasing each other as if playing tag. r?a??O??E?s? As I watched them for a moment, I gave Seo Ye-in a subtle signal with my eyes. She promptly activated her skill. ¡°...Fluffy, fluffy.¡± Boom! The fluffy cloud instantly expanded. It swelled in size until it looked like a thick white smoke bomb had gone off. So that¡¯s how it blocks magic. Previously, the small fluffy cloud could only absorb individual spells one at a time, and even then, it couldn¡¯t handle too many at once. Now, however, its size had temporarily grown so large that it could almost form a wall, providing much wider coverage. Soon, the fluffy cloud shrank back to its original size. This time, it was my turn to use a skill. ¡°Soft and Cushy.¡± Boom! The storm cloud expanded and started growing to the size of a large pillow. While ¡°Fluffy, fluffy¡± spread wide and thin, ¡°Soft and Cushy¡± had a more compressed form. It covered a smaller area but with greater density. The fluffy cloud had the property of absorbing magical attacks, while the storm cloud absorbed physical attacks which explained the difference in their skills. Seo Ye-in who was interested started poking the storm cloud with her finger. ¡°Soft and Cushy.¡± ¡°Why not lean on it for a bit?¡± Seo Ye-in then replaced her finger with the palm of her hand, cautiously leaned her head against the storm cloud, and soon hugged it with a satisfied look. ¡°...Soft and cushy.¡± She looked as though she might fall asleep right there, but her bliss didn¡¯t last long. The storm cloud quickly shrank back to its original size. ¡°.......?¡± Seo Ye-in turned her gaze toward me with a questioning expression as if to ask, ¡°Why would you ruin this?¡± I shrugged and answered casually, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. That¡¯s just how long it lasts.¡± Both ¡°Soft and Cushy¡± and ¡°Fluffy, fluffy¡± provided immense physical and magical defense, but their duration was short-lived. On top of that, the cooldown was an entire hour, meaning they could only be used once per battle. Still, their power made them more than enough as a trump card. ¡°........¡± Despite the explanation, Seo Ye-in still seemed visibly upset. It looked like she wasn¡¯t too happy about having a pillow given to her, only to have it taken away. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be hard to change the topic.@@@@ After all, we were in the middle of the downtown area. ¡°Shall we go now? To the game center.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± As expected, Seo Ye-in perked up and nodded her head in agreement. *** On top of that, the forest was filled with dense bushes, making it an ideal spot for assassins. Soon, the countdown began, signaling the start of the match. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Seo-sassin 0K/0D/0A] [Ho-sassin 0K/0D/0A] ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. Start your engines.¡± ¡°Vroom vroom.¡± We began moving through the forest, carefully observing our surroundings as we went. Before long, we stopped in our tracks. ¡°Guests incoming.¡± ¡°Guests.¡± Because we saw two shadows walking from the opposite direction. One of them was large and broad-shouldered, while the other was small and slight. I gave Seo Ye-in an instruction. ¡°Hide for now.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± As soon as we activated stealth, the two assassins¡¯ figures turned semi-transparent. In that state, we hid behind cover and waited. Before long, the enemies came into view. A Barbarian was leading the way and he was followed closely by a Mage. I gave another instruction. ¡°Let¡¯s take out the Barbarian first.¡± ¡°........¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod in response. We kept our eyes locked on the enemies while maintaining a state of heightened concentration. The moment they entered our range, we simultaneously leaped out of hiding and charged straight for the Barbarian. Four razor-sharp daggers stabbed into vital points like thorns. Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack! ¡°What¡ª?!¡± A startled shout came from across the student section. It must have been the participant controlling the Barbarian. As expected, the Barbarian died instantly from the ambush. The Mage flinched and tried to react, but his fate wasn¡¯t much different. Before he could even start chanting a spell, a dagger buried itself in the back of his neck. Thwack, thwack. [Seo-sassin 1K/0D/1A] [Ho-sassin 1K/0D/1A] ¡°Strong.¡± ¡°Strong.¡± By the book, we should have targeted the backline Mage first, but with two assassins, our burst damage was overwhelming. Even close-combat characters like the Barbarian couldn¡¯t survive a single coordinated attack. On top of that, it was still early in the match, so we¡¯d correctly guessed that they wouldn¡¯t be prepared to counter an ambush. After securing an easy two kills, I turned to Seo Ye-in and said, ¡°Let¡¯s stay here for a while.¡± ¡°Good place.¡± This spot was perfect for hiding, so rather than continuing to move, staying in the area seemed like the better choice. Even just dealing with the enemies who wandered in would probably be quite rewarding. With that in mind, I hid among the rocks, while Seo Ye-in concealed herself in the bushes. Both of us waited in silence. Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before some ¡°guests¡± appeared. ¡°They¡¯re back again.¡± It was the Barbarian and Mage duo we had just taken down earlier. It looked like they were here for revenge. The Barbarian swung his sword pointlessly at bushes and trees, while the Mage began chanting a spell, ready to fire at a moment¡¯s notice. Their spirit was commendable, but their skills were lacking for challenging the ¡°Minigame Demon King¡±. As they got close, Seo Ye-in and I leaped out of hiding. Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack! Once again, the Barbarian was pierced by four daggers. The Mage managed to unleash the spell he had been chanting, but we dodged it with ease. I then quickly took his head just like before. [Seo-sassin 1K/0D/3A] [Ho-sassin 3K/0D/1A] ¡°Agh! Again?!¡± The victim¡¯s cries echoed through the student section. Coming for revenge only to be taken out without even putting up a fight. It was no wonder they were furious. But then, another thought crossed my mind. That voice... it sounded oddly familiar. Isn¡¯t that Hong Yeon-hwa? Chapter 297: Playing Dirty Hong Yeon-hwa had heard about the game ¡°Weapon Master¡± in passing. She wondered just how fun it had to be to come up in conversation so often and felt the urge to experience it for herself. So, to take her mind off things, she headed to the game center in the downtown area over the weekend. Weapon Master generally encouraged players to participate in teams of two. Solo players would be automatically paired with a teammate, but team-based games were always better when played with someone familiar. Just then, she spotted a second-year senior she knew by face and teamed up with her to enter the game. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s character was a Barbarian warrior, while the second-year senior¡¯s character was a Mage. She had heard that players often ended up with a class completely unrelated to their real-life expertise, and sure enough, she was assigned a close-combat class. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually playing a Barbarian. Her heart pounded with excitement. But that excitement didn¡¯t last long. Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack! Out of nowhere, two dark figures emerged and drove their daggers into her. In the blink of an eye, Hong-barian had become a cold, lifeless corpse. She returned to the same spot for revenge, but the result was the same. Thwack, thwack! [Hong-barian 0K/2D/0A] ¡°Agh! Again?!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa trembled with rage. Seeing her frustration, the second-year senior cautiously asked, ¡°What do you want to do? Should we go somewhere else?¡± ¡°.......¡± The two assassins were clearly more skilled than them and even had the advantage of the terrain. Considering these factors, retreating to another area and continuing the match elsewhere would have been the rational choice. But Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t accept that. Run away? Me? To her, running away felt no different from giving up on the match itself. What was the point of racking up 10 or even 20 kills elsewhere? They would still be beneath those assassins anyway. So, Hong Yeon-hwa decided to let her stubbornness take over. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a few more tries.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Her second-year senior smiled faintly and nodded. The outcome was obvious, but it didn¡¯t matter. She had come to the game center for fun, not for prizes, and besides, she owed a debt to the Ruby Magic Tower. Wasting a few points was nothing. And so, for the third time, the Barbarian and the Mage returned to the same spot. With her senses sharpened more than ever, Hong Yeon-hwa pushed through the forest. Come out... Come on... Let¡¯s fight... Maybe her wish had been granted. A rustling sound came from up ahead. Then, two knights in heavy armor emerged. One carried a greatsword, and the other carried a sword and shield. No, not you guys. Why was it knights appearing instead of the assassins she was looking for? She wished they would step aside, but unaware of her frustration, the knights charged forward. Hong Yeon-hwa had no choice. If she didn¡¯t want to die, she had to fight. Whoosh! The knight in the lead swung his huge greatsword. The Barbarian barely dodged in time but didn¡¯t counterattack. The sword-and-shield knight right behind had already begun slashing with his longsword. Only after dodging that as well did the Barbarian finally bring down his axe. Crash! But the longsword knight wasn¡¯t going down so easily. He barely managed to block with his shield. Just as Knight A was about to swing his greatsword again at the Barbarian, he suddenly pulled back. Boom! An instant later, a fireball crashed into the spot where he had just stood. It was a spell cast by her second-year senior. As the four of them clashed fiercely¡ª Swish! From somewhere, two arrows whistled through the air. One struck the barbarian, the other hit the knight. Right after that, a second Barbarian and an archer revealed themselves. Hong Yeon-hwa was dumbfounded. What the hell now? Two more had joined the fight? She had come to hunt down and kill the assassins, yet somehow, she found herself caught in an all-out brawl. Of course, just like before, she had no other choice. Once again, two knights came at her, slashing with a greatsword and a longsword. Hong Yeon-hwa pushed her focus to the absolute limit and started narrowly dodging their strikes. R§¡?o???E?S Swish! Arrows continued to rain down. Meanwhile, the enemy barbarian also charged in, eager to join the fray. On the screen, two assassins darted nimbly across the battlefield, leaving gaping holes in their enemies. It¡¯s them! The ones who had thrown her into utter despair. A gray-haired male student and a blonde female student. Something about their backs felt oddly familiar, but she was sure she had no memory of anyone dressed like that. Let¡¯s at least see their faces. Hong Yeon-hwa decided to wait until the match was over and just watched. It wasn¡¯t like she was going to vent her frustration on them; it was just a game, after all. She was simply curious about what they looked like. Before long, the assassin duo wrapped up the match with an overwhelming score and slowly turned around. The moment she saw their faces, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mouth slowly fell open. Huh...? It was Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in. No wonder their backs had seemed familiar; they had dyed their hair. Kim Ho recognized her instantly and gave a casual wave. ¡°Knew you¡¯d be here.¡± ¡°Uh... uh? Uh...¡± He knew I was here all along? Looking back, she realized she had blurted out quite a few things during the game without thinking. If they had heard her, they might have recognized her voice. Hong Yeon-hwa darted her eyes around and started searching for the right words. ¡°Uh... you were... pretty good.¡± ¡°We did play a bit dirty, huh?¡± ¡°N-No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face turned pale. She even praised them! Kim Ho let out a deep sigh and admitted, ¡°I just really wanted to win. The prize was too tempting...¡± ¡°N-No, I didn¡¯t mean it like that¡ª¡± Flustered, Hong Yeon-hwa tried to smooth things over, but before she could, Kim Ho turned to scold Seo Ye-in. ¡°You can¡¯t play that dirty. Look, she¡¯s mad.¡± ¡°........¡± Seo Ye-in stared at Hong Yeon-hwa with an unreadable expression. That alone made Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s stomach tighten. After getting beaten down in every match, the hierarchy had naturally been established. Then Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly and asked, ¡°...Are you mad?¡± ¡°No? No! Not at all! Not even a little!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa frantically waved her hands. To be honest, she had been pretty mad just moments ago, but the second she saw the two of them, her anger dissipated almost instantly. Seo Ye-in continued to stare at her in silence. Then she turned to Kim Ho and said just one word. ¡°Bread.¡± ...Bread? What was that supposed to mean? She had tossed out a single random word, making it impossible to understand her intent. Kim Ho, on the other hand, seemed to get it after a brief moment of thought. He looked directly at Hong Yeon-hwa and said, ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm?¡± ¡°She wants you to go buy bread.¡± ¡°......?¡± For a moment, Hong Yeon-hwa was utterly blank. Then, anger surged through her. What? Buy bread? Hey! There¡¯s a limit to how much you can treat someone like an errand girl! I¡¯m Hong Yeon-hwa, the promising student of the Ruby Magic Tower! You go buy the bread! Right now!! ...Of course, that was all in her head. What actually came out of her mouth was, ¡°Uh... what kind of bread? From where...?¡± At that, Seo Ye-in tugged on Kim Ho¡¯s sleeve and shook her head. It seemed that wasn¡¯t what she meant. Kim Ho who was already aware of this turned back to Hong Yeon-hwa and said, ¡°It was a joke.¡± ¡°Oh....¡± ¡°She wants to eat bread together.¡± He pulled out a bakery coupon as he spoke. It was a coupon that allowed up to four people to dine and order a variety of foods beyond just bread. Considering the bakery¡¯s prestigious reputation in the downtown area, it was practically equivalent to a meal ticket for a high-end restaurant. Naturally, getting one required overcoming intense competition, so Hong Yeon-hwa had never actually been inside to eat before. Faced with this unexpected stroke of luck, she suddenly felt hesitant. ¡°Are you sure... it¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay with it.¡± Judging by Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in¡¯s demeanor, they seemed to be making the offer with genuine goodwill. So after a brief moment of hesitation, Hong Yeon-hwa gave a small nod. ¡°...Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 298: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Lucky As we walked, Hong Yeon-hwa kept glancing at my hair before cautiously asking, ¡°Um, your hair color...¡± ¡°You mean how it ended up gray?¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± I explained casually. The alchemy club had held a dye potion tasting event, and I had participated, which temporarily changed both my hair and eye color. At that, Blue eyes and Gold hair Seo Ye-in added proudly, ¡°Gray Kim Ho.¡± ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to understand, but she still couldn¡¯t stop sneaking curious glances at me. I let her be, and before long, we arrived at the bakery. When I handed the coupon to the waiting staff at the entrance, he performed a brief verification process before guiding us inside. As soon as we sat down at our table, we opened the menu. ¡°Let¡¯s order first.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Since it was around lunchtime, everyone was bound to be hungry. We flipped through the menu and ordered a few dishes¡ª Salmon salad, seafood pasta, chop steak... However, there was something a bit concerning about the dish Hong Yeon-hwa picked. ¡°I¡¯ll have this...?¡± The more I observed, the clearer it became. She really had a thing for spicy, salty, bitter, and intensely flavored foods. Even I might struggle with that one. Back during Ho-Qyu-Sho¡¯s late-night snack party, even the Inferno-flavored tteokbokki that Jegal So-so had brought was pretty spicy. And Hellfire flavor was a step above that. It was infamous even at this upscale bakery in the downtown area. Ahn Jeong-mi had once eaten a Hellfire pizza bun and ended up feeling unwell. Yet Hong Yeon-hwa was already licking her lips in anticipation. Her face was brimming with excitement. Might as well let her order it. If she liked it that much, there was no reason to stop her. She was good with spicy food, so she could handle it herself. Curious, Seo Ye-in pointed at the Hellfire Gratin as well. ¡°I¡¯ll have one too.¡± ¡°No, you won¡¯t, young miss.¡± I cut her off firmly while imitating Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s tone. If you eat that, it¡¯ll be a disaster. With that, we finished ordering. While waiting for our food, we decided to check our rewards. The Seo-sassin & Ho-sassin duo had taken down more than twenty opponents with precise, deadly blows. And zero deaths. So we easily met the reward criteria and received two Random Rank Ups each. Including the ones I had stashed in my inventory, I now had a total of eight. ¡°Since we¡¯re talking about it, let¡¯s use them here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in gave a small nod. Not fully understanding the situation, Hong Yeon-hwa asked, ¡°Random Rank Up? You¡¯re using them together?¡± ¡°I have a Stamp Coupon.¡± [Stamp Coupon (C+)] ? Stamps: 0/15 Each failed Random Rank Up attempt would add a stamp. If we succeeded, we¡¯d gain stat boosts instead, even if we collected fewer stamps. So either way, it was a win. After hearing that, Hong Yeon-hwa hesitated for a moment, then rummaged through her inventory and pulled out two Random Rank Ups. ¡°I-I have some too....¡± She hadn¡¯t earned any from the event since she got beaten up by the assassin duo, but she had apparently been carrying some around. I shook my head. I had only suggested using them now because we had some spare time, not to make it a group activity. ¡°You don¡¯t have to use them right now.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I was planning to use them anyway. And if it helps, even better....¡± ¡°If you say so. In that case, I appreciate it.¡± In reality, Random Rank Ups weren¡¯t influenced by luck-related traits, items, or environmental factors. No matter when or where we used them, the odds remained the same. Ra????o?§£E?s With Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s addition, we now had ten Random Rank Ups in total. If things went well, or ¡°wrong¡±, we might fill all ten stamp slots in one sitting. Since I was the one who brought it up, I went first. The Random Rank Up started glowing brightly before¡ª Fwoosh!¡ª It instantly fizzled out and scattered like ashes. Fsshhhhh.... [Rank Up Failed.] [Rank Up Failed...] [Rank...] ...... ...... Six failures in a row. Figures. This was completely normal. I hadn¡¯t expected much to begin with, but I couldn¡¯t deny that it stung a little. After a few lucky hits, I had secretly wondered, ¡°Maybe this time...?¡± Chance-based items were truly bad for mental health. ¡°Lifetime butler.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a scary thing to say.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t go.¡± To emphasize her point, she even grabbed my wrist, as if she was ready to hold me back. As I playfully shook my captured wrist back and forth, the food we had ordered arrived. The waiter placed the dishes on the table one by one. Seafood pasta, chopped steak, and... Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle... Hellfire Chicken Gratin. It was far too red to be considered just food. It looked as if someone had poured molten lava into a dish, thrown in a few pieces of chicken, and topped it off with cheese. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in stared at the dish with that same curious look in her eyes. Hong Yeon-hwa noticed this and offered, ¡°Wanna take a bite?¡± But before Seo Ye-in could even lift her fork, I cut in. ¡°No way. You can¡¯t even handle spicy food, but you¡¯re always so curious.¡± ¡°......¡± Even so, she clearly wasn¡¯t ready to give up just yet. I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take a little.¡± ¡°Sure, take as much as you want.¡± When Hong Yeon-hwa pushed the dish toward me, I placed a small piece of chicken breast on my plate. Then, just to let her get a whiff, I brought it close to Seo Ye-in. ¡°......?¡± Her eyes widened slightly before she recoiled in the opposite direction. Just the smell alone was enough to make her flinch. ¡°See? If you put it in your mouth, you¡¯re done for.¡± ¡°It¡¯s spicy...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat something else. The salmon¡¯s good. So is the steak.¡± Only then did Seo Ye-in finally give up and focus on the food she had ordered. For the record, I ended up eating the small portion of Hellfire Gratin I had taken. I figured I had to try it at least once to see just how spicy it was. And I immediately regretted that decision. Wow... this is no joke... One tiny piece of chicken breast was enough to make my tongue go numb. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa kept digging into her dish of molten lava. Her face was the picture of pure happiness. She didn¡¯t even seem the slightest bit affected by the spice. *** With everyone satisfied, the meal came to an end. Before we left the bakery, we each packed a few pastries to go. Hong Yeon-hwa grabbed a Hellfire Pizza Bun for her sister, while Seo Ye-in picked out a set of new-release cookies. Seeing that, Hong Yeon-hwa asked, ¡°You like cookies?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod and held up the cookies. ¡°For research.¡± ¡°Research...?¡± Since Hong Yeon-hwa wasn¡¯t yet fluent in sloth language, a single word wasn¡¯t enough for her to grasp the full context. So I added an explanation. ¡°She bakes for me sometimes. They¡¯re pretty good.¡± The taste was good. The appearance, on the other hand, still hadn¡¯t improved. At that, Hong Yeon-hwa alternated glances between the two of us and went into deep thought. ¡°Cookies...¡± Leaving her to her musings, I turned to Seo Ye-in and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your battery at right now?¡± ¡°Fifty-four percent.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s your fuel efficiency so good today?¡± ¡°Fuel efficiency, full power.¡± On a normal day, she would¡¯ve been almost drained by now. Which meant there was no rush to head back. ¡°Should we hang out a little longer?¡± ¡°Shop.¡± ¡°We already did that.¡± After all, we had just bought an A-rank item from the Long Ears Magic Item Shop using Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s blank check to its fullest. With our bracelets upgraded, we¡¯d already gained more than enough. Even so, Seo Ye-in shook her head. ¡°Buy one more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how this works. We agreed to get just one.¡± I wasn¡¯t the type to turn down gifts, but there were still boundaries I needed to respect. Seo Ye-in stared at me in silence for a moment before rummaging through her inventory. Before long, she pulled out a small and thick rectangular black card. A Hye-seong Group Black Card. ¡°My gift.¡± ¡°You¡¯re buying it for me?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°...Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 299: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Curious The place we arrived at was right in front of a large shopping complex. It was a general store in the heart of the downtown area. If the ¡°Long Ears Magic Item Shop¡± focused solely on archery, woodcraft, and nature-type items used by elves, this place dealt in all kinds of items across the board. And the quantity is insane. Of course, that also meant the quality varied greatly, with some items being noticeably inferior. At ¡°Long Ears Magic Item Shop¡±, all we had to do was take a quick look at the A-rank section, and we were done. But here, we had to sift through an entire building filled with items to find anything worthwhile. Naturally, that took time, and luck and a keen eye played a major role. Not that I was too concerned about that. If it¡¯s about having a good eye, that¡¯s my specialty. I was a stagnant water, after all. I could tell whether an item was good or bad at a glance. Besides, I had my lucky sloth with me, so we might finish sooner than expected. And as a bonus¡ª ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°H-Huh...?¡± ¡°Planning to buy something?¡± ¡°No...? Not really...?¡± ¡ªI had a portable lighter Hong Yeon-hwa tagging along too. She had followed us here despite insisting she had nothing to buy. Judging by how she kept glancing at us more than the displayed items, she was probably curious about what we were looking for. Well, no need to chase her off. The items I was after were related to my own power-ups, but it wasn¡¯t like they were some top-secret information that needed to be hidden. Besides, there was always a chance she could help in an unexpected way. So I decided to let Hong Yeon-hwa stick around. I spoke to Seo Ye-in who was standing next to me. ¡°Lucky Charm radar, activate.¡± ¡°Whiiiin¡ª¡± Seo Ye-in imitated the sound of a radar in her usual monotone voice. She slowly looked to the left, then to the right, tilted her head slightly, and finally pointed toward the stairs. ¡°Whiiiin.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying we should go up?¡± ¡°Whiiiin.¡± I stepped onto the stairs, following the direction of the Lucky Charm radar, while Hong Yeon-hwa trailed behind us with a doubtful expression, as if unsure if this was the right way. rA¦­O??BE?S As soon as we reached the next floor, Seo Ye-in adjusted her bearings once again. ¡°Whiiiin.¡± ¡°There, huh?¡± The spot she pointed to had a display of ice-element items. Curious about what had caught her attention, I was about to take a look when Seo Ye-in suddenly stopped in her tracks before reaching the display case. ¡°.......¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± She even took a step back. Since all the ice-element items were gathered in one place, the area around them was noticeably chilly. Considering how much Seo Ye-in hated the cold, it made sense that she wouldn¡¯t want to get any closer. I spoke casually. ¡°Then just wait there. I¡¯ll take a quick look.¡± ¡°Mhmm.......¡± The Lucky Charm radar had already done its job. There was no need to drag her in against her will. So I had her sit on a nearby sofa and walked over to the display case alone to browse through the items. While I was scanning the shelves, Hong Yeon-hwa hesitantly approached me and asked, ¡°What... are you looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m focusing on penalty reduction. Cooldown reduction would be even better.¡± ¡°Cooldown reduction....¡± Hong Yeon-hwa muttered to herself and shifted her attention to the other side of the screen, seemingly trying to help me find something. [Ice Princess Tiara] [Mini Ice Skull] We silently examined various items for a while until I noticed Hong Yeon-hwa suddenly freeze in place. Peeking over her shoulder, I asked, ¡°Did you find something?¡± ¡°Uh, no. I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Even if she had misread something, there must have been a reason she stopped like that.@@@@ Thinking it would be best to check, I moved closer. Hong Yeon-hwa hesitated for a moment before cautiously raising her hand and pointing to a section of the display case. ¡°That one... over there.¡± A chunk of ice, about the size of a child¡¯s fist. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± Hong Ye-hwa took a bite of the Hellfire bun while clearly pleased. She nodded her head slowly as if savoring the taste. Under normal circumstances, she would have been scrambling for water right away. But, as expected, both sisters had an unusually high tolerance for spicy food. It seemed like a warm and pleasant atmosphere was settling in, but suddenly, a thought flashed through Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s mind. ¡°But how did you buy this?¡± ¡°What do you mean, how? I bought it at the bakery.¡± ¡°I mean, how did you even get in?¡± The bakery in the downtown area only sold its goods in very limited quantities at the student cafeteria. Entering the bakery to buy bread or have a meal there was impossible without a special coupon. And those coupons were so rare that even Hong Ye-hwa, a third-year club president, had trouble getting her hands on one. The fact that her sister had somehow managed to get one was bound to raise suspicion. Although Hong Yeon-hwa was starting to sense an ominous feeling from her sister¡¯s tone, she decided to answer honestly. ¡°Well... I didn¡¯t get it myself. I ate there with someone.¡± ¡°With who?¡± ¡°...Kim Ho?¡± ¡°......¡± Hong Ye-hwa blinked twice. Then she put down the half-eaten Hellfire pizza bun, got up, took a step, and then another toward her younger sister. One of her hands slowly began to flicker with flames, as if she were about to unleash her signature Flaming Back Smash. Sensing this immediately, Hong Yeon-hwa quickly took a defensive stance and backed away. ¡°Wh-Why are you doing this? Why?¡± ¡°You said you didn¡¯t like him. And now you¡¯re out on a date in the city?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a date!¡± ¡°If you ate together, just the two of you, that¡¯s a date!¡± Hong Ye-hwa kept closing the distance. Hong Yeon-hwa retreated further and further until she found herself pressed against the clubroom wall. But that didn¡¯t mean she had nothing to say in her defense. She quickly spoke up. ¡°I-It wasn¡¯t just the two of us!¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Then who else?¡± ¡°Seo Ye-in was there too.¡± ¡°Seo Ye-in?¡± Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly. It wasn¡¯t a name she was hearing for the first time. As she carefully traced back her memories, she soon recalled that she was an opponent her younger sister had faced multiple times in duel battles. Since she was a marksman class, most of those matches had ended in Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s defeat due to the unfavorable matchup. Now that she thought about it, she also remembered hearing that Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in often stuck together. Hong Ye-hwa asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on between those two? Are they dating?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°Ask him.¡± This time, Hong Yeon-hwa snapped. ¡°Why should I ask that?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why are you so nosy about other people¡¯s business?¡± ¡°Because of you! You!¡± Who Kim Ho dated was none of Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s concern. However, if Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in really were in a relationship, then her younger sister would have no chance to squeeze in between them. That meant there would be less to worry about when it came to distractions from romance. So, Hong Ye-hwa spoke in a calm, reasoning tone. ¡°It¡¯s something you can bring up naturally in conversation.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°If you really can¡¯t do it, then forget it.¡± She had no intention of forcing the issue if it made her sister too uncomfortable. Besides, there was always the option of finding out later on her own. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa furrowed her brows slightly and was lost in thought. Honestly... I am curious. The two of them were always together, teaming up in both duel battles and strategy battles. If they hadn¡¯t run into her in the city, they probably would have spent the whole time together. By that logic, wasn¡¯t it just like her sister said...a date? Were they really dating? But then, there also seemed to be something going on between him and senior Dang Gyu-young. So what about those two? Should I really ask...? Chapter 300: 17th Week Strategy Battle (1) Chapter 300: 17th Week Strategy Battle (1) Sunday evening. Dang Gyu-young had called me out for a moment. A bench on the outskirts of the walking trail. There, Dang Gyu-young sat with her legs stretched out. She noticed my presence then turned to me and waved her hand lightly. ¡°Young Monarch, come here.¡± ¡°Caa¡ªw.¡± I grabbed two canned drinks from a nearby vending machine, handed one to Dang Gyu-young, and sat at the edge of the bench. She then naturally leaned her back against my arm. ¡°Ah, so comfy~¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t look comfortable.¡± ¡°Nope. Super comfy.¡± As if telling me not to argue, she lightly bumped her head against my shoulder. We sipped our drinks and exchanged casual updates for a while. Then after staring down at her legs, Dang Gyu-young spoke. ¡°...I worked really hard this week, you know?¡± ¡°I know. I saw your effort.¡± The reason she had called me out was obvious; she had completed the Stage 1 Hardship Quest. I had estimated it would take about a week and a half, but she finished it a few days early. Which meant she had pushed herself even harder. Dang Gyu-young grinned. ¡°You should praise me, right?¡± ¡°You worked hard.¡± ¡°Hmph. That¡¯s it? No reward?¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a reward. Stage 2.¡± Once again, she bumped her head against my shoulder. ¡°You really have no sense of atmosphere. None at all. Hey, use it.¡± Without hesitation, I activated the skill. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [Cooldown: 5 days 23:59:58] [¡®Stage 2 Harship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Dang Gyu-young fixed her gaze on empty space for a moment, as if she was reading the quest details. Then she grimaced in disgust. ¡°...Two!? I¡¯m not doing it.¡± ¡°You mean the quest where those light orbs appear?¡± ¡°Yeah, how did you know?¡± ¡°That one goes up to four.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m not doing it! Seriously, I¡¯m not! I¡¯m going home.¡± With that, she really did brush herself off and stand up. I lightly grabbed her wrist. ¡°Where are you going? Since you¡¯re here, stay a little longer.¡± ¡°.......¡± She hesitated for a moment, then glanced down at her captured wrist. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she spoke in a coy tone. ¡°Let go. I¡¯m really leaving.¡± But she showed no real sign of pulling away or taking a step forward. All she did was lightly shake her wrist in my grasp. It was obvious she wanted me to play along, so I decided to humor her. I tightened my grip slightly and spoke in a firmer tone. ¡°Qyu, you¡¯re not going anywhere today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m goi¡ªpfft, hahahaha!¡± Dang Gyu-young burst into laughter and started smacking my shoulder as she cackled. Once her laughter died down a little, I spoke in a slightly more serious tone. ¡°That quest is annoying, right? Your skills keep getting interrupted and canceled.¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm. You get it.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s a necessary step. Now that you¡¯ve cleared Stage 1, you¡¯ve improved a bit, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...I have, yeah.¡± The streetlamp cast a wavering shadow of Dang Gyu-young. Then, a knowing smile formed on Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s lips. ¡°Of course, if that were all there was to it, this dungeon wouldn¡¯t be called Cheese ¡®Trap¡¯ now would it?¡± A mousetrap existed to catch mice. Likewise, the Cheese Room¡¯s reward was merely bait to lure challengers in. Just then, the golden light in the center of the map flickered out, and in its place, red markers began appearing all across the map. ¡°The moment you pick up the cheese, the number of traps will increase significantly. Monsters will also become more active. You¡¯ll have to break through all of that to clear the dungeon. Now then, where do you escape?¡± This time, green door icons began flashing in the four corners of the map. ¡°At a glance, they look like exits, don¡¯t they? Once you take the cheese and leave through any of these, it¡¯s over. It doesn¡¯t matter which one you choose. And finally, one more thing.¡± Four locations on the map lit up in a vivid red. ¡°The Control Room. Destroying it will disable the traps. Of course, it won¡¯t be easy, but any student who succeeds will receive bonus points.¡± To summarize, this week¡¯s strategy battle goes as follows: Fight through a maze filled with traps and monsters to reach the ¡°Cheese Room¡± at the very center. Once you obtain the cheese, additional traps will be triggered, and the number of monsters will increase. You must break through all of that and reach an escape point to clear the dungeon. If you destroy the Control Room along the way, the traps will be disabled, but if memory serves me right, a powerful monster guards it, making it no easy feat. Of course, for me, there was no choice in the matter. [Side Quest: 17th Week Strategy Battle] (In Progress....) ? Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon ? Bonus Objective: Destroy the Control Room (0/1) ? Rewards: Varies based on achievement level To earn the best reward possible, passing through it was unavoidable. While I was lost in thought, Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s explanation continued. Instead of a map, the classroom blackboard now displayed the rules and environment. MAP: [Cheese Trap] RULE: [Three Players] ¡°There are no time or health limits, and as long as you clear it, you¡¯ll get scores and points, so take your time and analyze it thoroughly. I¡¯ve said it multiple times, but this is also connected to the final exam. That¡¯s it for today¡¯s lesson!¡± After Seo Cheong-yong left the classroom, students began grouping up to form parties. Since two-person teams were somewhat set in stone, today¡¯s three-player requirement meant they needed to bring in one more member. Of course, my three-player team had already been decided. Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in approached me from both sides. ¡°Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°Butler.¡± I responded with a single sentence to each of them. ¡°You¡¯re not going to join Han So-mi? And also, I¡¯m not a butler.¡± ¡°I only spent time with Miss Han on a whim last week. She said she had something to test.¡± ¡°What did she test?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. She wouldn¡¯t tell me at all.¡± Just then, I felt someone staring at us. When I turned to look, Han So-mi was glaring at Go Hyeon-woo with her cheeks puffed out. What on earth did he do to make the always-smiling Han So-mi this upset? Go Hyeon-woo let out a strained chuckle and continued speaking. ¡°Besides, it seems she feels more comfortable with you and Miss Seo.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Since Go Hyeon-woo had been one of the key contributors to clearing dungeons with me alongside Dang Gu-young, he was always welcome in the party as long as he was willing to join. Of course, that meant I¡¯d have to give up on Plan B. Hong Yeon-hwa or Shin Byeong-cheol. Just then, Hong Yeon-hwa had asked if there was a spot available, so I sent her a reply. [Kim Ho: Already full.] [Kim Ho: sry sry] [Hong Yeon-hwa: (Sad puppy emoji)] [Hong Yeon-hwa: Okay.......] [Kim Ho: Should we go down tomorrow evening?] [Hong Yeon-hwa: Mhmm.] [Hong Yeon-hwa: (Tail-wagging puppy emoji)] [Hong Yeon-hwa: I¡¯ll wrap up the strategy battle before then!] ¡°You seem busy too, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°You¡¯re this perceptive, so why is Han So-mi acting like that?¡± As I closed the message window and replied, Go Hyeon-woo let out an awkward laugh. ¡°Haha, well, they say even monks can¡¯t shave their own heads.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s the case. Anyway, let¡¯s get going.¡± We moved toward the dungeon building. Chapter 301: 17th Week Strategy Battle (2) Chapter 301: 17th Week Strategy Battle (2) ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been on the ground floor.¡± Go Hyeon-woo said this as he looked around. After the midterm exams, most students had only been venturing into the underground floors. Even at F-rank, random boxes could drop, which explained why. Unless the academy forced us to do otherwise, just like this week, everyone will just keep going deeper and deeper. I looked at both Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in in turn, then spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s head in.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready whenever you are.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As soon as we stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, our surroundings instantly changed. A narrow passage stretched out before us. Old bricks formed the walls, ceiling, and floor, and the torches hanging on the walls lit up the interior. Further along the passage, I could see a fork branching off to the left and right. As we walked in that direction, Go Hyeon-woo posed a question. ¡°Kim-hyung, are you planning to stop by this ¡®control room¡¯ too?¡± ¡°We might as well. There¡¯s extra points in it.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea. In that case, how about we split up?¡± Our main objective was to retrieve the chest from the Cheese Room, then escape. On top of that, we intend to neutralize the control room as well. With two targets, it would be more efficient in many ways to split into two groups, one for the cheese room and one for the control room, so that each could escape separately. However, I shook my head. ¡°Let¡¯s all go together. Chasing efficiency won¡¯t earn us any extra rewards, and this is also a sort of preliminary field trip for the final exam.¡± ¡°Hmm, you have a point.¡± Seo Cheong-yong repeatedly stressed that a similar dungeon would appear in the final exam. It¡¯s likely not just similar, but a higher-level version of this dungeon. With that in mind, it was better to build experience, even if we lost some efficiency. Having settled on that approach, we continued to make our way through the dungeon. We noticed traps here and there, but for Seo Ye-in and me, they were no big deal. I wondered how Go Hyeon-woo would handle them, but surprisingly, he avoided them quite well. He gave an awkward laugh. ¡°I had a rough time with a certain young lady last week.¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve stepped on a lot of traps.¡± ¡°To be honest, yes. But thanks to that, I¡¯ve sharpened my eye a bit. You could call it a blessing in disguise.¡± Last week¡¯s duel battle involved a labyrinth, traps, and even a three-way battle. It was a total disaster. Go Hyeon-woo and Han So-mi, who didn¡¯t have much knowledge about traps or mechanical formations, probably had to brute-force their way through. Could that be why she was upset? That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I chose not to dwell on it. I¡¯d find out eventually anyway. Soon enough, Go Hyeon-woo who was leading the way slowed his steps and pointed at the floor. Barely visible traps were lined up in a row. ¡°We¡¯ll have to jump over them.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± We each took a turn leaping over the traps. Just as Seo Ye-in landed, she tilted her head, and then glanced behind us. ¡°.......?¡± I wondered what she was looking at and turned around to see a translucent humanoid figure sticking halfway out of a wall, as if it had tried to pass through but got stuck. When our eyes met, the creature snickered at us. ¨C Hehehe! ¡°A Poltergeist.¡± It was a ghost-type monster. Despite being incorporeal, it could physically interact with objects. That was its defining trait. Seo Ye-in stared at the thing, then asked me, ¡°Strong?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± Without hesitation, Seo Ye-in fired a rapid series of magic bullets at it. Tudududududu! The Poltergeist tried weaving through the air to dodge, but before long, it was riddled with holes. With a shriek and one final gasp, it vanished completely. Seo Ye-in stared at the spot for a moment, then said, ¡°Weak.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal.¡± They¡¯re not known for having high fighting power. Of course, it did go down rather easily, likely because this is a replica dungeon. The monsters¡¯ durability was presumably scaled down. It also helped that Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets were now at B-rank. Go Hyeon-woo who saw this spoke up. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen something like that. I wonder what it actually does.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Sure enough, as we went a bit farther, another Poltergeist popped out from the ceiling. ¨C Hehehe! Curious about what it might do, both Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in refrained from attacking. It responded by sliding its translucent hand into the wall. We heard a loud click sound of machines interlocking. It had triggered a trap. ¡°This looks like the control room, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Sure seems that way.¡± At the very least, this dungeon didn¡¯t play tricks with its rooms. Maybe it figured the ones we encountered on the way were more than enough. Next, I looked at Seo Ye-in and asked, ¡°Who am I?¡± ¡°Authorized personnel.¡± ¡°And who are you?¡± ¡°Authorized personnel.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Without hesitation, I flung the door open and stepped inside. The control room, much like the cheese room, was simple. At the very center of the spacious room stood a lever designed to be raised or lowered. All I had to do was pull it down, and the traps in the area would be neutralized. No way it¡¯s going to let me do that so easily. Since this was the heart of the dungeon, a powerful guardian was bound to be stationed here. As expected, dark energy swelled near the lever, twisting and taking the shape of a person. A ghost-type monster much like the Poltergeists. The difference? This one was far more powerful in combat. Its sole purpose was to eliminate intruders. At that moment, I felt its gaze lock onto me. Why me of all people? I clicked my tongue inwardly and watched as its shape suddenly changed. Black hair. Sharp eyes....no, they were downright sinister. The Dragon Slayer Academy uniform. It was a perfect copy of me. ¡°A Doppelganger.¡± It was a monster that borrowed its opponent¡¯s appearance and abilities to fight. Go Hyeon-woo looked back and forth between me and the fake Kim Ho. His expression was filled with curiosity. ¡°Huh, it really is identical to you, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in also alternated her gaze between the real Ho and the fake Ho, then repeated the motion once more. She pointed at the fake Kim Ho and spoke. ¡°Doppelgang-Ho.¡± ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly good at coming up with nicknames. First ¡®Gray Kim Ho¡¯ and now this.¡± ¡°.......¡± At my compliment, Seo Ye-in raised her hand and formed a V-sign. Meanwhile, Go Hyeon-woo who was maintaining a relatively serious demeanor asked a question. ¡°Should I assume I¡¯m up against you, Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be a little easier than facing me.¡± A Doppelganger didn¡¯t just copy the appearance of its designated target; it also replicated their skills and traits. Of course, it wasn¡¯t possible to copy everything from A to Z; there were several restrictions. ¡°For starters, it can¡¯t take equipment.¡± I was holding the sapling, wearing the Dark Cloud Bracelet and Cloudstepper shoes, while Doppelgang-Ho stood there empty-handed. It was wearing only the school uniform and shoes. A spot-the-difference game was surprisingly possible. ¡°Its skills and traits will also be significantly weaker.¡± Another key restriction was that the number and rank of skills and traits a Doppelganger could copy depended on its own level. An F-rank doppelganger could copy one skill/trait up to F-rank, And a C-rank doppelganger can copy four skills/traits up to C-rank. Go Hyeon-woo asked, ¡°Then what level is this fake Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°E-rank.¡± If we had encountered it in the original Cheese Trap, it would¡¯ve been C-rank. But this was a replica dungeon. It had likely copied two of my skills and two of my traits, but they would have been restricted to a maximum of E-rank. ¡°Still, don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± I was someone who walked around wrapped in cheat-like skills and traits. Even with an E-rank limit, depending on what it had taken, there was still a chance it could catch us off guard. If that happened, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in would be taken out in a single hit. Perhaps taking my advice to heart, the two of them adjusted their stances with a somewhat serious demeanor. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± The standoff continued for a while.... until suddenly, Doppelgang-Ho clenched one fist. Dark red flames flared up from its hand. I couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh. ¡°Of all things, it had to take that one.¡± Looks like I¡¯ll have to keep this replay private. The moment it thrust its fist forward, a storm of flames surged ahead. Whoooooooooosh¡ª! Chapter 302: 17th Week Strategy Battle (3) Chapter 302: 17th Week Strategy Battle (3) Whooooooooooooosh¡ª! We dove to the sides, dodging the oncoming storm of flames. Even though it was just an E-rank Inferno Fist, with my S-rank elemental resistance, I could have taken the hit head-on without much trouble. Still, I chose to avoid it. Because it might have taken [Copy]. If, by any chance, it had managed to copy a high-rank skill or trait, it would be a disaster. Leaving no openings was the safest choice. Whooooooooooosh¡ª Even with the E-rank restriction, Inferno Fist unleashed power worthy of a prohibited skill. Dark red flames smoldered in the path of the passing firestorm. I felt the lingering heat and looked at the creature¡¯s fist. It had burned pitch-black, reduced to charcoal. That meant it had taken the full brunt of the elemental penalty. No elemental resistance. But in the next moment, the charred fist rapidly regenerated and became as good as new¡ª As if time itself had rewound. So it has Retrorecovery instead. It must have copied skills at random, but the combination was surprisingly effective. However, Retro Recovery had a cooldown of three whole days, and the battle had only just begun. From this point on, it wouldn¡¯t be able to manage its penalties at all. I turned to Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. ¡°At most, it can take three or four more hits.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With brief responses, the two launched their assault on Doppelgang-Ho from both directions. Sword energy slashed forward, while a battle rifle spat blue fire. Swish¡ª! Tutututututututututu¡ª! ¡°......¡± The fake Kim Ho flicked its eyes back and forth, moved through the onslaught with precise footwork, and slipped through the smallest gaps in the attacks. Blades and magic bullets narrowly grazed past. Go Hyeon-woo let out an impressed murmur. ¡°Fake Kim-hyung sure fights like the real Kim-hyung. This won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It dodges well.¡± Maybe because it was my clone, but its movements were sharper than I expected. Of course, without any significant movement skills, it was impossible to dodge every attack using only basic movements. Especially when the opponents were none other than Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. The two coordinated their attacks, steadily pressuring the doppelga?nger and gradually accumulating damage. Before long, Doppelgang-Ho seemed to realize that things couldn¡¯t continue like this and decided to play its next card. Whooosh¡ª A whirlwind erupted around it. The trajectories of the incoming sword energy and magic bullets subtly shifted, creating small gaps in the once-tight offensive. Dodging became a bit easier. Whooosh¡ª Immediately after, Doppelgang-Ho directed the wind toward Seo Ye-in. Judging by the aggressive way it wielded the skill, It¡¯s not Twister; it¡¯s Spiral Explosion. Since it was a combination skill, it essentially meant the doppelga?nger had taken Twister, One Point Explosion, and Air Burst all at once. However, this also confirmed that it hadn¡¯t taken the copy. Which means I can make my move. Whooosh¡ª I generated a counteracting whirlwind, scattering its Spiral Explosion. My rank was far superior, and with the added bonus of the Blessing of the West Wind, there was no way it could compete with me. I was about to rush in and beat down Doppelgang-Ho, but then I changed my mind. Maybe I should wait a little longer. Opportunities like this didn¡¯t come often, so it seemed better to let them gain as much experience as possible. Besides, they were holding their own well enough even without my intervention. So I decided to take a step back and offered advice instead. ¡°One trait left. Just watch out for that.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Its E-rank [Core] must have been there from the start, and one of its traits was [Retrorecovery]. Depending on what the remaining one was, it could still catch us off guard. As its Spiral Explosion was effortlessly dispersed, Doppelgang-Ho clenched its fist tightly once more. Then, it thrust an Inferno Fist straight at Seo Ye-in. Whoooooooosh¡ª! Meanwhile, Go Hyeon-woo was rapidly closing the distance behind the doppelga?nger and stepping swiftly with precise footwork. It seemed he had decided that engaging in close combat would be more effective than sending out sword energy. Anyway, since we had successfully dispatched the doppelganger, it was time to carry out our objective in the control room. I signaled to Go Hyeon-woo, and he smiled softly as he grabbed the lever and applied force. The lever slowly descended, just a little at a time. Crrreeeak, ¡°...It¡¯s heavier than it appears.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t set up like this, people would just pull the lever and run.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Anyone holding the handle would inevitably be vulnerable to attack. The intention was to force us to deal with the doppelganger rather than resort to any underhanded tactics. Before long, the lever reached the bottom and a series of clanking noises echoed from all directions. And then, an almost terrifying silence ensued. Every mechanical device installed throughout the dungeon had come to a stop. I said to the two, who were looking around in wonder, ¡°Let¡¯s move. This thing¡¯s going to start rising again soon.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± The two promptly began to follow me. It appeared that neither Seo Ye-in nor the ever-optimistic Go Hyeon-woo wished to linger in the trap-laden area for long. With the poltergeists constantly poking and prodding at us, their irritation must have doubled. We left the control room and made our way toward our final destination. The exit. The good news was that since we had just pulled the lever, all the traps had been deactivated. Even the poltergeists that had been popping up here and there had completely vanished. ¡°........?¡± Curious, Seo Ye-in cautiously nudged the edge of a trap with her toe. Naturally, nothing happened. ¡°It¡¯s broken.¡± ¡°It will be fixed soon.¡± After a certain amount of time, the control room would restore itself, and the deactivated traps would reactivate. With that in mind, we quickened our pace and pushed through the dungeon. After pressing forward for a while, we finally spotted a green emergency light glowing in the distance. Right beneath it was a teleportation portal leading outside. We had reached the exit. Go Hyeon-woo let out a wry smile. ¡°This was more mentally exhausting than I expected. I didn¡¯t realize my weakness to mechanical traps would be holding me back this much.¡± ¡°Well, what can you do? You¡¯ll have to get used to it.¡± After all, even the upcoming finals would take place in a dungeon that was essentially an upgraded version of the Cheese Trap. ¡°You¡¯re right. I should take this as a learning opportunity.¡± Nodding to himself, Go Hyeon-woo said he was going to seek advice from Shin Byeong-cheol and walked off. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in hugged the Kim Ho, Kim Ho Pot tightly and headed back to the dorms. I watched them leave and pulled up my quest window. [Side Quest: 17th Week Strategy Battle] (Completed) ? Objective: Clear the Strategy Battle Dungeon (1/1) ? Bonus Objective: Neutralize the Control Room (1/1) ?Reward: [Copy ¨C Trait] Slot +1 ? Copy ¨C Traits [2/3] 1. Retrorecovery (S) 2. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown 3. (Empty) I finally had three slots each for skills and traits. Thinking back to how I had barely scraped by with just one skill slot and one trait slot when I first enrolled, this was a huge leap forward. With this, the Strategy Battle was officially complete. The next thing on my schedule was entering the ice-themed dungeon with Hong Yeon-hwa. While she worked on ranking up Aqua Flame, I planned to do some rank training of my own. The rubies I¡¯d receive as compensation were just a bonus. But before that¡ª I should pick up what I left in safekeeping first. With that in mind, I headed toward the Ruby Magic Tower clubroom. *** As always, Hong Ye-hwa greeted me with her business-like smile. ¡°Welcome. Yeon-hwa isn¡¯t here yet. Want me to call her?¡± ¡°No, I actually came to speak with you today, senior.¡± ¡°With me?¡± Surprised by my words, Hong Ye-hwa raised an eyebrow slightly. I nodded and continued. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to use the Book of Chaos.¡± Chapter 303: The Sculptor’s Club The Book of Chaos. A book composed of dozens of [Chaos Scrolls]. It had the effect of increasing both the uncertainty and rewards of a dungeon. Ownership belonged to the White Magic Club, but they secretly shared it with a few other clubs they frequently interacted with. Ruby Magic Tower was one of them, which was why Hong Ye-hwa had it. Normally, borrowing it required being a member of the affiliated club, but I was an exception. I had made a deal allowing me to use up to two pages in exchange for retrieving the Book of Chaos from the temporary storage. Since Hong Ye-hwa had been present during that agreement, she wasn¡¯t particularly surprised when I suddenly brought up the book. Instead, she responded casually as if she had been expecting this moment. ¡°No reason to say no. It¡¯s not really ours to begin with. But do you remember the condition I set?¡±@@@@ ¡°Yes, I remember.¡± ¨C As long as it doesn¡¯t interfere with our raid, you can use it. ¨C I can work around that. I had only secured the right to use it. The priority still belonged to the Ruby Magic Tower. If my plans clashed with their raid schedule, I would have to step aside. Hong Ye-hwa continued. ¡°As you know, things have been a bit chaotic with the Dark Oobleck and the Witch of Corruption. But we¡¯re finally getting back on track. We¡¯re using it for Thursday¡¯s raid.¡± ¡°That actually works out perfectly. I plan to use it tomorrow.¡± Tomorrow was Tuesday. At most, the dungeon run would take less than a day, meaning I could return it with plenty of time to spare. Hong Ye-hwa¡¯s eyes gleamed as if she had realized something. ¡°Oh, right. You¡¯re heading down with Yeon-hwa tomorrow, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I plan to use it in that dungeon.¡± ¡°You sure about this?¡± ¡°Yes, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues.¡± I answered confidently, and Hong Ye-hwa silently stared at me for a while. She seemed to be considering various possibilities. Using the Book of Chaos would inevitably create unforeseen variables, and there was a chance her younger sister could end up in danger. But I had already proven myself capable. Didn¡¯t I handle the Dark Oobleck without much difficulty? After a brief pause, Hong Ye-hwa reached into her inventory and pulled out the Book of Chaos. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you with it this time as well.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°And¡ª¡± She started to say something else but hesitated and closed her mouth again. Then she continued with a small smile. ¡°Never mind. Just take care.¡± ¡°Yes, senior.¡± I didn¡¯t press her for more and simply bowed my head. *** There was one more thing I needed to prepare. At some point, when I crafted an item using [Crow Branch], I would need to prepare something as payment for the Dimensional Crows. Since they liked shiny things, the first thing that came to mind was gemstones. But¡ª A few wouldn¡¯t be nearly enough. Considering that they would be dealing with an S-rank material, a significant amount is needed. Securing that many gemstones was unrealistic, and even if I could, it wouldn¡¯t be efficient. So the alternative I had in mind was¡ª Artwork. Something that sparkled and also held artistic value. If I crafted even just one or two properly, they would be enough to catch the Crow¡¯s attention. And sitting idly in my inventory was an item that fit both criteria. Kraketite. An A-rank rare metal that Lucky Charm had pulled from a random box. It was an absolute jackpot. Originally, it had been a large ingot, but most of it had been consumed when upgrading my weapon into the sapling. What remained was only slightly larger than a fist. R§ÑNO?¦Â?S? The president of the blacksmith club had attempted to refine his skills by shaping it into something resembling a sculpture, but the result was... unimpressive. To put it nicely, it was surreal. To be blunt, it looked like something a Seo Ye-in cookie. In other words, it was a disaster. Bringing it to a Crow as it was wouldn¡¯t earn a good reaction. So my goal was to turn this Kraketite ¡°sculpture¡± (or whatever it was) into a true work of art. It would be a meticulous and time-consuming task, but I wasn¡¯t particularly worried. I could just leave it to someone else. Back at the start of the semester when I had nothing, I had to do things myself. But now I had plenty of cards to play. And so, I made my way to the sculptor¡¯s club. In the neighboring district, a legendary sculptor had carved phoenixes, ice dragons, and even moonlight. But unfortunately, in this area, sculpting was considered a niche class. ¡°Sapphires. Three big ones.¡± She was probably planning to process them and add decorative accents to the sculpture. But from my perspective, it was a rather inconvenient request since I had no real connection to the Sapphire Tower. Han Gyul-woo, who had accompanied me during the infiltration of the temporary storage, seemed to have some ties to the Sapphire Tower, but at best, we had only met once. We weren¡¯t close enough to be exchanging gemstones. So I asked cautiously. ¡°Would rubies work instead?¡± ¡°No. The colors wouldn¡¯t match.¡± The sculptors¡¯ club president shook her head firmly. I wasn¡¯t sure what she was planning to make, but it seemed like she wanted to pair Kraketite¡¯s dark blue color with the deep blue of sapphires. In that case, rubies would definitely stand out too much. Looks like I¡¯ll have to find some sapphires. It would be a bit of a hassle, but if I put my mind to it, getting three shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. However, perhaps misinterpreting my silence, the sculptors¡¯ club president made an offer. ¡°I¡¯ll use mine, so bring me rubies instead.¡± ¡°That would be a huge help. Thank you.¡± I immediately accepted the deal and handed over one ruby first. It was one I had received from Hong Ye-hwa earlier when I stopped by the Ruby Magic Tower. ¡°I¡¯ll get the other two as soon as possible.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better. By the way, is this urgent? Do you have a deadline?¡± ¡°No, take your time.¡± The statue was an offering to be presented to the Dimensional Raven. Since more materials were needed to craft the item, there was still a long way to go. Besides, artworks always turned out better the more time was spent on them. Rather than rushing, it was best to wait patiently. The sculptors¡¯ club president seemed to agree and nodded her head in response. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll take my time starting on it, so drop by now and then to check on the progress. And don¡¯t forget to bring the rubies.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± *** Tuesday evening. As I made my way to the dungeon building, I saw Hong Yeon-hwa waiting for me. She had been staring blankly at the night sky, but when she sensed my presence, she turned to look in my direction. Then she quickly ran over and greeted me. ¡°Ah, hello.¡± I simply waved in response. Hong Yeon-hwa hesitated for a moment before speaking. ¡°I heard... you stopped by our club yesterday.¡± ¡°Yeah, I had something to ask the president.¡± ¡°You mean... Unnie?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll explain the details later.¡± Since the Book of Chaos was strictly a prohibited item, I needed to be careful about mentioning it. Of course, once we entered the dungeon, she would naturally find out, so I had no problem telling her then. However, it seemed her real concern wasn¡¯t my request; it was something else entirely. She glanced around as if she was lost in thought before cautiously asking, ¡°Umm... did unnie... ask you anything?¡± ¡°Nothing in particular. Why?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh! N-No reason! Never mind!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa hastily mumbled something and averted her gaze. Hong Ye-hwa also seemed about to say something earlier but stopped. Did something happen between the sisters again? Just as that thought crossed my mind¡ª ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re here, customer-nims!¡± Shin Byeong-cheol approached us while making a fuss. I simply waved lightly in response. ¡°You look absolutely radiant these days. Your face is glowing!¡± ¡°This is my golden age, my golden age.¡± With the trap duel battle, trap strategy battle, and even the trap final exam, it was indeed a golden age for him. Shin Byeong-cheol glanced between the two of us, but he didn¡¯t seem to pick up on the strange atmosphere that had lingered just moments ago. Then he turned around and took the lead without hesitation. ¡°Let¡¯s head down right away.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± I decided to set my curiosity aside for now. There would be plenty of time to talk once we entered the dungeon, and if there was something to say, it would come up eventually. We followed Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s lead and stepped into the underground floor. Chapter 304: No. 482 Old Sapphire Temple (1) The descent was smooth. Before long, we arrived at the D-floor where a teleportation portal stood open before us. [No.482] [Old Sapphire Temple] Shin Byeong-cheol glanced at it briefly before asking, ¡°Want me to wait up front, or should I come by later?¡± ¡°Come later, at dawn. I¡¯ll be training for quite a while.¡± ¡°Okay, see you then.¡± With a grin, Shin Byeong-cheol vanished like the wind. After exchanging a glance with Hong Yeon-hwa, I stepped into the teleportation portal. In the next moment, a vast, snow-covered mountain range unfolded before my eyes. Soft snowflakes drifted down, settling into the profound silence. ¡°......¡± Perhaps because of that, Hong Yeon-hwa stood still for a while and looked blankly at the snowy landscape. There was no need to rush, so I gave her a moment to take in the view before taking the lead. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm!¡± Startled out of her daze, Hong Yeon-hwa quickly scurried after me. As we approached the snow-covered mountain, the uneven outline of stairs became faintly visible beneath the white blanket. I looked up along the stairs and a snow-covered building, or rather the remains of the building, came into view. That was the Sapphire Temple. Whooosh¡ª Casting Wind Force sent the accumulated snow flying away, revealing the stairs beneath. However, since a thin layer of ice coated them, I gave Hong Yeon-hwa a warning. ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s slippery.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± She cautiously glanced down at her feet and began climbing the stairs. But her efforts were in vain. Within moments, she slipped sideways and tumbled into the snow. ¡°........¡± ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa took my outstretched hand and pulled herself up. Her face was slightly flushed which was likely from a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Perhaps that was why, the moment she got up, she began chanting a spell. The ruby embedded in her staff became engulfed in flames. Whoosh. The fire melted the surrounding snow within a certain radius, making it vanish without a trace. With each step up the stairs, the next step naturally came into view. This is incredibly convenient. As expected, a portable bonfire was the way to go. We murmured our admiration, continued our ascent, and soon arrived at the snow-covered temple. Though the structure had been severely weathered, leaving behind little more than a few pillars, the temple still retained an air of solemnity and reverence. RA?o???E?s? It¡¯s probably because of that. A single important relic had the power to dictate the entire atmosphere of a place. At the end of my gaze stood a grand statue of a goddess carved from solid ice. She wore a benevolent smile as if welcoming us. But that didn¡¯t bother me. I pointed to the statue and gave Hong Yeon-hwa an order. ¡°Burn that.¡± ¡°...Burn it?¡± She blinked as if questioning whether such blasphemy was truly allowed. Still, trusting that I had my reasons, she conjured a ball of fire in her hand and hurled it straight at the statue. Boom! An explosion erupted, engulfing the ice goddess in flames. Considering the overwhelming power of Aqua Flame, it should have melted away in an instant just like the snow Hong Yeon-hwa had cleared on our way up. But the statue remained intact. The surface had become slick with moisture, but its shape held firm. The only noticeable change was its face. The once-gentle smile had vanished. It was replaced by a grotesque snarl as it glared down at us. ¡°It¡¯s mad.¡± ¡°Y-Yeah... I guess so?¡± Thud! The statue stepped forward, breaking free from its pedestal to stand before us. At the same time, a swirling blizzard gathered in both of its hands, freezing into solid weapons. As I watched this unfold, I spoke in a calm and casual tone. ¡°Today, we¡¯re taking that thing down.¡± ¡°Mhmm. Got it.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s voice had settled into quiet determination. The main objective of this dungeon was a boss raid. That is to defeat the Sapphire Goddess Statue. To elaborate on that, ¡°As you just saw, it doesn¡¯t melt easily. It has fire resistance.¡± ¡°What¡¯s its rank?¡± ¡°D.¡± The statue was the guardian of the Sapphire Temple. When I pulled out the Book of Chaos, an exclamation mark practically appeared over Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s head. She turned to me and asked, ¡°Are you planning to use it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the most efficient way to farm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa stared at the Book of Chaos with a mix of anticipation and unease. But since her excitement outweighed her worry, she didn¡¯t object. Without hesitation, I tore out the first page. Fwoooosh! The space around us trembled, sending ripples of energy in all directions. I kept my eyes locked on the Sapphire Goddess Statue, watching closely to see what kind of effect the Book of Chaos would have. And then, I noticed it. The parts that had melted were now regenerating at a visibly faster rate. ¡°It¡¯s got a healing boost now.¡± That actually worked out in our favor. If it healed quickly, that meant less downtime between fights. Soon, the fully restored statue shed its icy cocoon and stepped forward. ¡°Let¡¯s use it now. The boost.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± We both activated Rank Boost at the same time. A bright light flared from the magic scroll, and a system notification popped up. [Activated ¡®Rank Boost¡¯.] [Skill and trait growth speed has greatly increased.] Farming officially started now. We planned to keep repeating this cycle until Rank Boost wore off. Swish! The goddess statue lunged forward, thrusting its trident while launching a flurry of ice spells. I countered with wind magic while red magic circles formed beneath its feet. Kwoooom! *** After repeatedly pummeling the Sapphire Goddess Statue, letting it recover, and pummeling it again... [The rank of ¡®Wind Force¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú B+)] At last, Wind Force had broken through its wall. Now, there was no one in the first-year class who could match me. I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and asked, ¡°Did any of your skills rank up?¡± She hesitated before answering, ¡°...No, not yet.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa slowly shook her head. Reaching B-rank was never going to be that easy. My goal was to raise Twister as well, but there was still no sign of progress. The only option was to keep going. Meanwhile, even though the Book of Chaos accelerated the Sapphire Goddess Statue¡¯s recovery speed, there were still occasional gaps in the cycle. Especially when Hong Yeon-hwa misjudged her firepower and left the goddess statue on the brink of death; it took much longer to recover in those cases. During those breaks, we took the opportunity to rest and chat about random things. At one point, something came to mind, so I asked, ¡°Before we left, you were about to ask me something but stopped.¡± ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa instantly looked startled and her eyes started darting around. But soon, as if she had made up her mind, she laid some groundwork before speaking. ¡°Well... I was just curious about something, that¡¯s all...¡± ¡°Yeah? Go ahead.¡± ¡°Um... are you... dating Seo Ye-in?¡± So this was what it was about. I immediately understood why the Hong Yeon-hwa and Hon Ye-hwa sisters had been acting so cautiously. Of course, there was no reason I couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°No, we¡¯re not dating.¡± When I shook my head, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes widened slightly. It seemed like she had leaned more toward believing that we were. ¡°Th-Then... what about Senior Dang Gyu-young...?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not dating either.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression grew even more confused. But perhaps thinking she might as well go all the way, she continued asking questions. ¡°Then... is there someone you like...?¡± ¡°There are plenty.¡± ¡°P-Plenty...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s pupils wavered from side to side. I smirked and added, ¡°I¡¯m a greedy person, you know.¡± *** TN: Lol! I wasn¡¯t familiar with your game, young monarch~ Chapter 305: No. 482 Old Sapphire Temple (2) I had already come to terms with the fact that I was greedy. Even after raising a thousand S-rank heroes, I was still searching for more. If that didn¡¯t make me a greedy person, then what would? Of course, given the flow of the conversation, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s question wasn¡¯t referring to that kind of greed. It was about something else entirely. But my answer would have been the same regardless. ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa looked visibly flustered. It was only natural. After all, I had just shamelessly and confidently declared, ¡°I¡¯ll take everything!¡± Then as if something had crossed her mind, she hesitated and her lips parted slightly. ¡°Th-Then...¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Then what?¡± She kept hesitating, unable to finish her sentence, so I nudged her a little. At that, Hong Yeon-hwa quickly waved her hands in dismissal. ¡°N-No, it¡¯s nothing! I misspoke!¡± ¡°I see.¡± She certainly looked like she had something to say, but I decided not to press her any further. Crack. Just then, a deep fissure split across the icy cocoon. It was the sign that the Sapphire Goddess Statue had finished regenerating. We immediately shifted back into battle mode, turning to face the statue. As its trident thrust forward and freezing spells rained down, we each unleashed our skills in response. *** Hong Yeon-hwa used her rapid casting speed to chain together fire spells. Pillars of flame erupted, and blazing fireballs poured down like rain. Whoosh! ...And yet, deep down, she was lost in thought. Wow, thank goodness. Seriously, thank goodness. Maybe it was the mood, or maybe it was because she was too tense, but she had nearly asked a question she absolutely shouldn¡¯t have. ¨C You... have a lot of people you like? ¨C Then... what about me? ¨C Do you... like me too? However, the last shred of reason in her mind hit the brakes at the final moment, preventing the disaster of those questions from slipping out. What if she had asked? And what if the answer had been negative? In Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s imagination, Kim Ho wore an awkward expression on his face. ¨C Sorry. ¨C I don¡¯t have those kinds of feelings for you. Then, a colder version of Kim Ho spoke with a stern face. ¨C I don¡¯t understand. ¨C What made you think I liked you? ¨C I have no idea where that confidence came from. Aaaahhh!! Just imagining it made shame wash over her. For the next three years, she would keep running into him at school. Whether in duel battles, strategy battles, or club events. How was she supposed to face him every time? ?¦¡?¦­¦¯BE?? Looking back, swallowing her question had been the right choice. Even so, a small thought lingered in her mind. But still... what if...? What if, by some incredible chance, he actually did like her? Even if it came with the condition that he was greedy, what if Kim Ho showed interest in her? How would she react? Once again, Hong Yeon-hwa let her imagination take flight. Kim Ho took a step toward her. Then another. Closing the distance between them. Unlike usual, a gentle smile played on his lips. ¨C Hong Yeon-hwa. ¨C U-Uh...? ¨C I said I was greedy, didn¡¯t I? ¨C ......! ¨C Now I want you, too. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face turned redder and redder until it nearly matched her hair. And then... they would do this... And that... And maybe even... ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Waaah!! No! I wasn¡¯t thinking that!¡± The flustered Hong Yeon-hwa waved her arms wildly and kept babbling nonsense. Meanwhile, Kim Ho¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you weren¡¯t thinking about, but focus.¡± ¡°...Ah. Sorry.¡± Now that she thought about it, they were in the middle of a battle. She had let her mind wander while facing the Sapphire Goddess Statue, and before she knew it, things had spiraled beyond the point of no return. For example, she apparently hadn¡¯t mentioned the [Tentacle Limbs] and [Amplification] combo I had used against the Dark Oobleck. Since she knew how to keep certain things secret on her own, I figured I could trust her with this as well. Still, despite nodding her head in agreement, Hong Yeon-hwa looked a bit puzzled. This was probably because I had yet to specify what exactly I wanted her to keep secret. I took out the Book of Chaos and answered her unspoken question. ¡°I¡¯m going to use it again.¡± ¡°......!¡± The Book of Chaos increased dungeon variables and boosted rewards. And there was no rule saying I couldn¡¯t use two or even three pages in succession. ¡°Will it be okay...?¡± Rather than curiosity, Hong Yeon-hwa seemed more concerned. Even using just one page carried the risk of unexpected variables appearing....so what would happen with two? In reality, the uncertainty that came with using two pages wasn¡¯t just twice as much; it increased exponentially. Of course, I had already tested the Book of Chaos in countless ways, twisting and turning every possible scenario. I knew exactly what to expect. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Trust me.¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± Perhaps because of how confidently I spoke, Hong Yeon-hwa gave a small nod once again. Since I had her approval, there was no reason to hesitate. Right on cue, the Sapphire Goddess Statue finished its regeneration and began emerging from its cocoon. Crack. I faced the creature, opened the Book of Chaos, and tore out a page. The sealed magic was unleashed, and the entire space began to shake violently. Rumble¡ª! The tremors and distortions were incomparable to when I had used just one page. Soon, the Sapphire Goddess Statue¡¯s body started to swell like a balloon. It had already been massive, forcing me to look up just to take it all in. But now, it grew even larger. So much so that my neck began to ache. ¡°......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa stared up at the giant goddess statue and her lips slightly parted. She looked completely unsure if something that huge could even be taken down. Of course, there was no need for her to step in this time. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just watch.¡± Leaving those words behind, I took a step forward. The giant Sapphire Goddess Statue grinned and looked down at me. Then, wielding a trident that had grown several times larger than a person, it thrust the weapon straight at me. Sweeaaak! If it hit me, my body wouldn¡¯t just be pierced; it would be reduced to dust. Needless to say, I had no intention of letting that happen. [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Inferno Fist¡¯ has increased. (B ¡ú S)] My clenched fist flared up with dark red flames. I drew it back as if drawing a bowstring, then launched it with all my might at the huge goddess statue. Kwoooosh¡ª! A storm of fire swept through everything in its path. In the next moment, the giant goddess statue collapsed to its knees, reduced to nothing but its lower half. Thud. The elemental penalty had been severe, leaving my fist charred and smoldering. But that only lasted for a brief moment. [Activated ¡®Retrorecovery¡¯.] [Cooldown: 2 days 23:59:56] My hand instantly returned to its unscathed state, as if it had never been burned at all. Having a healing trait was definitely nice. I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and said, ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± ¡°......! ......!¡± She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly with her face frozen in shock. It was clear she couldn¡¯t believe what she had just seen. With a skill overwhelmingly stronger than her own and a fire-type skill at that....the enemy had been taken down in a single strike. I smirked slightly and raised a finger to my lips. ¡°Secret.¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded vigorously with her head bobbing up and down. Rumble... Before long, the entire space began to tremble violently, as if an earthquake had struck. Since the boss monster had been defeated, the dungeon was now collapsing. Moments later, a teleportation portal opened, and in front of it, a cluster of small chests appeared. Random boxes. Among them, however, one shone with an especially clear blue light. The rewards got enhanced too. After all, I had torn out two pages from the Book of Chaos. Chapter 306: Hong Yeon-hwa Is Troubled [Chaotic Old Sapphire Temple Random Box (D+)] *2 [Even More Chaotic Old Sapphire Temple Random Box (B)] *1 The default clear reward was three D-rank random boxes. But after being enhanced once with the Book of Chaos, they gained a + rank, and when I tore out another page, they were enhanced again. I distributed the rewards on the spot. ¡°I¡¯ll take the B-rank. That okay?¡± ¡°Mhmm, th-that¡¯s fine.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head, though she still seemed a bit shaken as if the lingering impact of witnessing Inferno Fist hadn¡¯t worn off yet. That might have been why she didn¡¯t voice any complaints, but my method of distribution had its own fair reasoning. I was the one who brought the Book of Chaos. I was the one who borrowed it, used two pages from it, and dealt with the aftermath. So, if anything, splitting the rewards evenly would have been unfair. Hong Yeon-hwa would acknowledge that too. In the end, I kept the B-rank box, one D+ rank went to Hong Yeon-hwa, and the last one went to our guide Shin Byeong-cheol. Of course, since a D+ rank box was quite the reward, this didn¡¯t mean his job as our guide for this dungeon run was fully paid off. He still owed me a couple more trips for free. As soon as we stepped through the teleportation portal and emerged outside, Shin Byeong-cheol who had been waiting for us bowed at a sharp 90-degree angle. ¡°You¡¯ve returned~¡± ¡°Yeah~¡± Of course, the one he was bowing to wasn¡¯t me or Hong Yeon-hwa. It was the random box in my hand. Since we had already agreed on the terms before entering, I handed over the D+ rank box to him. Then I casually asked, ¡°Opening it right away today too?¡± ¡°Well... yeah, I guess.¡± His response was noticeably less enthusiastic than usual. Until now, he had never once hit the jackpot, so his expectations had dropped to rock bottom. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why not just sell the box as is?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol shook his index finger from side to side. Even though selling it unopened would guarantee a certain value, he insisted on opening it himself. Then he added, ¡°I read a book recently.¡± ¡°What book?¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°That title already sounds like a scam. Anyway, what did it say?¡± ¡°If you want to hit the jackpot, never stop trying! How inspiring, right?¡± In other words, just keep opening until you win. When I thought about it, it wasn¡¯t exactly wrong, so I let it slide. If he really did hit the jackpot, it would be something to celebrate. And if not, it¡¯s good because I¡¯ll be collecting stamp coupons. ¡°So are you opening it now?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Keeping his expectations low, Shin Byeong-cheol pried open the random box¡ª Flash! A dazzling light burst forth. It was far too extravagant to be a mere D+ rank random box effect. Noticing this, Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s previously indifferent expression immediately shifted into one of triumphant satisfaction. ¡°See that? I kept trying, and now I¡¯ve finally hit the jackpot!¡± ¡°Looks like your Indian rain dance finally worked.¡± A win was a win, so I congratulated him. I was curious to see what he had pulled so I took a look¡ª [Recipe: Renaissance-Style Tea Party Set (C)] ? Make a tea party set using the following items as materials. ? Teacups (0/2) ? Teapot (0/1) ? Tablecloth (0/1) ? Table (0/1) ? Chair (0/1) I let out an exaggerated exclamation. ¡°Wow, a jackpot is a jackpot. You got a C-rank.¡± ¡°What is it with me and these things?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol, on the other hand, looked dumbfounded. Of all things, even his rare jackpot turned out to be a tea party set. Still, compared to everything he¡¯d gotten so far, this was the best one yet. ¡°You might as well complete the set now.¡± ¡°Ugh, yeah, I guess...¡± The effect of a [Recipe]: If you place the listed items into it, they all transform into their corresponding themed versions. In this case, everything would get the ¡°Renaissance-Style¡± prefix. Like a Renaissance-style table for example. Even if you put in F-rank or E-rank items, the final product would still be C-rank. Another advantage was that it could bundle random items into a single set. Luckily, Shin Byeong-cheol had already gathered most of the materials. If Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in were in a relationship, her younger sister might have given up to some extent. But since they weren¡¯t... Even so, just because there was a possibility didn¡¯t mean she intended to let her sister get distracted by romance. Right now, Hong Yeon-hwa was fiercely competing with other promising students. Hesitation would only mean falling behind. Because of that, Hong Ye-hwa fixed her gaze on her younger sister and emphasized once again. ¡°Don¡¯t let your mind wander. Focus. Finals are next week.¡± ¡°Ah! I know, okay?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa grumbled in response. *** She said that, but she couldn¡¯t shake off her restless feelings. After barely listening to her sister¡¯s nagging, she eventually left the clubroom. Come to think of it, this has nothing to do with me. She had thought the same thing in the dungeon. From the start, Kim Ho¡¯s comment about being greedy wasn¡¯t directed at her. He had simply shared his views on relationships. So there was no reason for her attitude to change. Just like before, she would occasionally team up with him for duel battles or strategy battles, and that would be it when they entered a dungeon. ...Then why does it bother me so much? Why did she feel so unsettled? Why couldn¡¯t she just brush it off and move on? More importantly, what exactly did she want to do about it? She had no clear answers. She wandered aimlessly, lost in thought, but no matter how much she mulled over it, she couldn¡¯t find a solution. This is frustrating. I have no one to talk to. Until now, she had gone to her sister for most of her worries. But this time, that wasn¡¯t an option. Every time she brought up Kim Ho, things took a turn for the worse. And she was always the one who suffered the consequences. Usually in the form of a fiery smack to the back. So she had to find someone else. But who could I even talk to about this? There wasn¡¯t a good option. She knew a lot of people, but none she was close enough with to confide in. The closest person she had was her childhood friend, Baek Jun-seok. But that big oaf is useless. When it came to things like this, talking to him was like talking to a brick wall. She might as well just talk to an actual wall. Moreover, he was surprisingly loose-lipped, so there was a good chance that if she talked to him, word would eventually make its way to her sister¡¯s ears. With yet another concern added to her list, she kept walking, but she still couldn¡¯t come to a conclusion. Hong Yeon-hwa let out a deep sigh. ...I should just drink something first. Maybe a cup of coffee would help calm her down. Just as she reached the campus store, she spotted a familiar face. Go Hyeon-woo. He seemed to have recognized her as well, greeting her with a nod. ¡°Greetings, Miss Hong.¡± ¡°Mhmm, hello.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s impression of Go Hyeon-woo wasn¡¯t particularly bad. Since he was close to Kim Ho, they had naturally crossed paths from time to time. He always had a friendly smile and good manners, so at the very least, she never felt uncomfortable around him. Maybe I should just talk to him instead? They weren¡¯t exactly close, but maybe that was for the best. Besides, from what she had gathered, Go Hyeon-woo was the textbook definition of a model student. People like that often had an unexpectedly naive side. If that was the case, even if she confided in him, he probably wouldn¡¯t realize that she was talking about Kim Ho. Hong Yeon-hwa spoke with her mind made up. ¡°Do you want some coffee? My treat.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the occasion, Miss Hong?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just felt like chatting.¡± Using the need for conversation as an excuse, Hong Yeon-hwa planned to ease into discussing her concerns over coffee. But she failed to notice it. The brief glint in Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes. Miss Hong suddenly offering coffee... They had always maintained a certain distance, yet now she was closing that gap. There had to be a reason. Something more than just idle conversation. And soon enough, he could see it in her expression. She looks troubled. He guessed that she had been struggling with something on her own, unable to confide in anyone, and had approached him thinking he might be a safe option. And he had a pretty good idea of what it was about. This is about Kim-hyung. Go Hyeon-woo was much sharper than Hong Yeon-hwa had expected. Far more than she expected. Chapter 307: An Assassination Attempt? Hong Yeon-hwa and Go Hyeon-woo each bought a cup of coffee and sat down to talk. For the most part, Hong Yeon-hwa did the talking, while Go Hyeon-woo simply listened, occasionally adding brief responses like ¡°Hmm¡±, ¡°I see¡±, or ¡°Is that so?¡± At first, the slightly awkward atmosphere made Hong Yeon-hwa cautious with her words. But once the conversation started flowing, she spoke with ease. ¡°¡ªSo I was like, ¡®If they¡¯re not dating this person or that person, then who do they even like?¡¯ So I asked if they had someone in mind.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°And they said there were a lot. And that they were a greedy person.¡± ¡°I see how it is.¡± Go Hyeon-woo slowly nodded his head. At the same time, he thought to himself. So, in the end, he¡¯s decided to have everything? That¡¯s such a Kim-hyung-like choice. He had vaguely sensed for some time that things would turn out this way. It would undoubtedly be a difficult path, but for some reason, he felt that if anyone could make it work, it would be Kim Ho. Before long, Go Hyeon-woo asked the most crucial question. ¡°Then, what does Miss Hong want to do?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s words trailed off. Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to answer. That, in itself, was as good as an answer, so Go Hyeon-woo spoke in her stead. ¡°You haven¡¯t quite made up your mind yet, have you?¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± In truth, that was the root of all her worries. Go Hyeon-woo tried to put himself in her shoes. The safest choice would be to maintain the status quo. Doing nothing. Changing nothing. But when has the human heart ever been that simple? Even if she had decided to maintain the status quo, the fact that it kept weighing on her mind was proof enough that she was struggling with it. A thought suddenly crossed Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s mind, and he let out a wry smile. I¡¯m really not in such a different situation myself. Lately, Han So-mi had been calling him out much more frequently. Most of the time, they trained in swordsmanship together, but there were also occasions when they simply idled away the time. As someone destined to inherit the sacred relic of his sect, he felt he had to grow stronger as quickly as possible. At times, he couldn¡¯t help but think that spending time like this was a waste. r?A???BE?S? Even so, whenever Han So-mi called, he found himself following along, pretending to be reluctant. Bringing the topic back to Hong Yeon-hwa. Go Hyeon-woo thought to himself. Things should follow their natural course. No matter who Kim Ho chose, whether he chose them all or whatever outcome resulted, Go Hyeon-woo was determined to support them all the same. That was precisely why he wanted to avoid getting directly involved. But at this rate, things will just keep dragging on indefinitely... In the end, he had no choice but to say something. Simply listening to her worries and leaving would feel too insincere. After carefully choosing his words, Go Hyeon-woo finally spoke. ¡°I hope you understand that I can only offer you advice in the most general sense.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head readily. She wasn¡¯t entirely convinced that advice from someone so proper and upright would be helpful, but there was no harm in listening. You never know. Go Hyeon-woo continued. ¡°If nothing is certain, why not introduce small changes little by little? Until at least one thing becomes clear.¡± ¡°That makes sense... but how?¡± ¡°How about showing goodwill?¡± By treating the other person kindly, she could gauge their reaction. If they responded positively, she could continue treating them well, and if things progressed smoothly, that would be ideal. On the other hand, if their reaction seemed indifferent or unfavorable, she could always revert to maintaining the status quo. It was something Hong Yeon-hwa had considered at least once during her deliberations, but hearing it from someone else gave it a different weight. ¡°Goodwill... It does sound like a good idea. But how exactly?¡± ¡°That part is entirely up to you, Miss Hong. I don¡¯t even know who the person in question is.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s true.¡± In truth, Go Hyeon-woo was already 100% certain it was Kim Ho, but he deliberately pretended not to know and stepped back. Not only was it better for Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mental well-being, but keeping this level of distance also helped him avoid getting too deeply involved. Before long, Go Hyeon-woo smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s as far as my advice goes. I¡¯m not sure if such a theoretical answer was of any help.¡± ¡°No, it helped a lot. Thanks.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief. Then, I¡¯ll be off now. Thanks for the coffee.¡± ¡°Mhmm, see you later.¡± After sending Go Hyeon-woo off, Hong Yeon-hwa fell into a new dilemma. She had settled on a direction, but how exactly was she supposed to express this so-called goodwill? Change, goodwill, reaction. Change, goodwill, reaction... Like a dog chasing its tail, she spun in circles on the spot.@@@@ Inside were cookies in a variety of bright colors. ¡°I just thought of it and decided to try making some... Ended up with a few extras... If you don¡¯t mind....¡± ¡°Really? Thank you.¡± At first glance, they were perfect. Round, small, and neatly made. They looked cute. The different colors probably weren¡¯t from artificial coloring but rather from a variety of ingredients. ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in seemed to be curious and stared intently at them. Hong Yeon-hwa held out the paper bag as if telling her to try one. Seo Ye-in picked a red cookie, while I chose a green one. As I examined the cookie up close, a thought crossed my mind. Is it green tea flavored? Green tea was a common ingredient in all sorts of desserts, so it wouldn¡¯t be surprising. There were green tea cakes, after all. So why not cookies? With that thought, I took a bite of the green cookie. And immediately, my face stiffened. No, this is not green tea. A sharp, tingling sensation spread from the tip of my tongue, clearing my sinuses in an instant. Somehow, the taste felt familiar. One thing was certain; this was definitely not green tea. ¡°.......¡± Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa watched me anxiously and was closely observing my reaction. Did she really need to be this nervous over leftover cookies? Before sharing my thoughts, I asked, ¡°What flavor is this?¡± ¡°H-Huh? Uh, it¡¯s... wasabi...¡± I had a feeling. Since Hong Yeon-hwa liked spicy and intense flavors, she had made the cookies that way too. Wait a minute. The next moment, a realization struck me like lightning. I quickly pointed to the red cookie Seo Ye-in had been nibbling on. ¡°What about that one?¡± ¡°Inferno pepper...?¡± ¡°...Oh no.¡± I hurriedly snatched the cookie from her, but it was already too late. Seo Ye-in¡¯s gray eyes were widening by the second. ¡°......! ......!¡± ¡°Drink some water¡ªno, milk! Hurry!¡± *** After the chaos settled, Hong Yeon-hwa who was completely flustered kept apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, really, I am.¡± ¡°......¡± When she took a step forward, Seo Ye-in took two steps back. When she stepped forward again, Seo Ye-in pulled out a frying pan. A clear warning. Come any closer, and she¡¯d swing. It seemed she had earned some serious resentment. ¡°Assassination not allowed.¡± ¡°I swear, I really didn¡¯t know....¡± Hong Yeon-hwa looked like she was about to cry. She probably felt a little wronged. There was no way she could have expected that Seo Ye-in couldn¡¯t handle even the slightest bit of spice. At the bakery in the downtown area, when Seo Ye-in had shown interest in the Hellfire Gratin, I had stepped in to stop her. But since Hellfire was a dish that even I and most people struggled with, it was hard to gauge her spice tolerance based on that alone. Besides, from Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s perspective, things like wasabi or Inferno Peppers didn¡¯t even count as spicy. So she had baked the cookies with little thought, assuming they would be mild. Seo Ye-in probably had some idea of this, but the sheer intensity of the Inferno Cookie¡¯s flavor must have been overwhelming. It seemed it would take some time for things to go back to how they were between them. Hong Yeon-hwa turned to me and apologized as well. ¡°...Sorry.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t it... taste bad?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s actually not bad.¡± In fact, I was still eating the spicy cookies. I was already on my third one. At first, I had been caught off guard because cookies were supposed to be sweet, but the more I ate, the more I realized they were actually pretty decent. Of course, I wasn¡¯t exactly picky about food; I could eat just about anything. ¡°.......!¡± I wasn¡¯t sure how she took that, but Hong Yeon-hwa looked so moved that her eyes welled up with tears. Chapter 308: 18th Week Final Exam (1) Class Time. With the final exam content about to be revealed, heavy tension filled the classroom. Then, out of nowhere, Lee Soo-dok glanced around the room and suddenly spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you an old story.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°There was a time when Dungeon Island wasn¡¯t divided into multiple layers like it is now.¡± A long time ago, back when Dungeon Island was a lawless zone. Back then, dungeons weren¡¯t categorized by difficulty like they are today. Instead, they were all jumbled together. An F-rank dungeon could be right next to a D-rank one, with a B-rank dungeon just beyond it. ¡°And right next to the Cheese Trap, there was another dungeon. Its location was tricky, and its interior was very similar.¡± Since it was right beside the Cheese Trap, it was easy to enter by mistake. If someone realized they had stepped into the wrong dungeon, they would have tried to escape immediately. But because the two looked so alike, even recognizing the mistake wasn¡¯t easy. In other words, adventurers unknowingly entered this unknown dungeon, thinking it was the Cheese Trap and attempted to clear it. As a result¡ª ¡°Many adventurers never returned. It took a long time before the dungeon was finally conquered and its true nature was revealed.¡± With a snap of Lee Soo-dok¡¯s fingers against the blackboard, a dungeon map appeared. Sure enough, structurally, it did resemble the Cheese Trap in many ways. However, the map before them was far larger, more complex, and filled with tightly packed traps and monsters. ¡°A-rank dungeon. Iron Maiden. This is where the final exam will take place.¡± So it¡¯s finally here. I had already expected this, and so had everyone else. The hints had been dropping since last week, and a little research would have made it obvious. Even so, the students¡¯ faces remained grim. Knowing the dungeon in advance didn¡¯t make the difficulty easier. Even the fact that it was a replica dungeon would be of little comfort. The Cheese Trap replica alone had been enough to make people wail in despair. And Iron Maiden was just as difficult if not harder. There was no way it would be any easier. Of course, the academy had no intention of considering the students¡¯ struggles. It was all based on the belief that overcoming harsh adversity forged stronger heroes. Lee Soo-dok seemed to fully agree with that philosophy. Judging by his expression, he was secretly pleased that such a high-difficulty dungeon had appeared. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll explain the differences between the two dungeons. You can already tell just by looking at the map that the scale is completely different.¡± A larger scale meant greater distances between key points. To reach the Cheese Room and the Control Room before finally escaping, the students would have to travel a much greater distance. And along the way, they would inevitably encounter far more enemies and obstacles. ¡°Of course, since the dungeon is bigger, you¡¯ll also come across various other rooms. You might find places to rest. Or even discover useful items.¡± Most of them would be hidden, so they had better search carefully. Lee Soo-dok made sure to leave them with that hint. ¡°The next difference is the monsters. The main enemy in Cheese Trap was the poltergeist.¡± ¡°.......¡± Disgust was written all over everyone¡¯s faces. Even Shin Byeong-cheol and the other thieves looked disgusted. Poltergeists flitted around at high speed, triggering trap after trap as they went. If an attack was even slightly delayed, they would slip away into the walls or ceiling. They were disgusting monsters in every possible way. ¡°In Iron Maiden, poltergeists won¡¯t appear. Instead, you¡¯ll be dealing with different spirit monsters. Though I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll find that to be good news.¡± The dungeon map on the blackboard vanished and was replaced by illustrations of two types of monsters. One was a ghost armed with various weapons and radiating clear hostility. The other was the figure of a screaming woman. The Specter attacked with close-range attacks or long-range magic depending on its weapon, while the Banshee cast area-wide debuffs. Hearing its scream would cause certain skills or traits to drop in rank. Either way, they were no easier to deal with than poltergeists. ¡°Next, if you¡¯ve fought a doppelganger in the last strategy battle, raise your hand.¡± Fighting a doppelganger meant that instead of focusing solely on escaping the dungeon, one had attempted to disable the control room. Only a handful of people had the skill and composure for that, and fewer than ten students raised their hands. The key objective was to go to the cheese room, obtain a box, and carry it to the exit. ¡°Each team is given one box, and submitting it at the exit grants 500 points. That makes a total of 1,500 points. The point multiplier is four times.¡± Just meeting the basic goal would yield 1,500 points and a staggering 6,000 overall points. However, that also meant that even accomplishing the bare minimum would be difficult. Lee Soo-dok curled his lips into a grin and continued. ¡°And from the fourth box onward, each additional box is worth 200 points.¡± ¡°...Is there a limit?¡± At someone¡¯s question, Lee Soo-dok answered with a single word. ¡°None.¡± ¡°.......!¡± That meant there was no cap on how many cheese boxes could be submitted. Four boxes would yield a total of 1,700 points. Six would be 2,100 points. Ten would be 2,900 points. The scoring system openly encouraged plundering. It wasn¡¯t just about reaching the exit. It was about safely protecting the cheese boxes along the way. ¡°Lastly, the control room. I can already see some of you getting scared and giving up just because the teachers are guarding it. But for those with the guts to take on the challenge¡ª¡± Lee Soo-dok glanced over in my direction, clearly hoping I would take him up on it. Lately, he¡¯d been paying an uncomfortable amount of attention to me. I chose not to react for now and Lee Soo-dok continued speaking. ¡°¡ªIf you shave off a certain amount of my health, I¡¯ll pull the lever. And every participating team will receive 1,500 points.¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°......!¡± The classroom buzzed at the shocking point reward. Bold and eager glances darted across the room. They took the bait. Just securing three cheese boxes and neutralizing the control room would net 3,000 points. Grabbing extra boxes would earn even more. It was impossible not to be tempted. Of course, there are plenty of restrictions. The teachers¡¯ ranks would be downgraded to B under the [Fixed Zone] rule. Plus, there was no need to take them down completely. Just reducing their health to a certain level would suffice. At this point, it would seem doable, right? But will it really be that easy? During the mentoring sticker duel battle, Dang Gyu-young had toyed with the first years even with all her skills and traits restricted to C-rank. The sheer difference in equipment, skill count, trait combinations, and overall execution was staggering. If even a third-year club president was that dominant, then a teacher who was not even limited to C-rank but was limited to B-rank instead... It was easy to picture first-years getting wiped out en masse. On top of that, the exact skill and trait composition of Lee Soo-dok and the other teachers were still unknown, meaning even I couldn¡¯t guarantee a 100% victory. Still, I have to try. [Side Quest: 18th Week Final Exam] ? Objective 1: Move the cheese boxes (0/3) ? Objective 2: Neutralize the control room (0/1) ? Reward: Varies based on achievement level Midterms and finals generally offered better rewards than regular side quests. The most notable reward was the Fixed Pin. So, aiming for the highest possible achievement was essential, and that meant the control room couldn¡¯t be ignored. Whether it worked out or not, I had to at least give it a shot. With that in mind, I didn¡¯t avoid Lee Soo-dok¡¯s gaze. I met his eyes directly. He must have picked up on something because he responded with a cold smile. Of course, whether I would end up facing Lee Soo-dok in the control room or run into Seo Cheong-yong, Madam Jo Ok-soon, or someone else remained to be seen. ¡°Today will be spent preparing and forming teams. The final exam begins tomorrow morning, so be sure to gather at the dungeon building on time.¡± Chapter 309: 18th Week Final Exam (2) As soon as Lee Soo-dok finished the lesson and left, the classroom erupted into a buzz of chatter. Everyone was eager to finalize their six-member teams as quickly as possible. If they couldn¡¯t fill all six spots, they¡¯d have to take the final exam with random teammates. And if those teammates ended up losing the cheese boxes, the resulting point loss would be devastating. Of course, from my perspective, gathering enough members wouldn¡¯t be difficult. From both sides, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in approached me. Then, after glancing at Seo Ye-in¡¯s expression for a few seconds, Go Hyeon-woo spoke in a concerned tone. ¡°You look even more exhausted than usual today, Miss Seo.¡± ¡°Just one of those days...¡± Even after sleeping so much over the weekend, her sloth-like battery still hadn¡¯t fully recharged. And to make matters worse, she had fallen victim to an Inferno Cookie right after breakfast. For someone usually considered a lucky charm, today just wasn¡¯t her day. Maybe that was why Seo Ye-in quietly grabbed my arm. ¡°Kim Ho pillow.¡± ¡°Right now?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Was she really so sleepy that she was already asking for a pillow? But then, a thought crossed my mind. ¡°You¡¯re just going to cuddle up and sleep once we go inside anyway.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t it make more sense to recharge later?¡± Seo Ye-in slowly shook her head from side to side. ¡°I need to do it now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I want to.¡± ¡°You only get this talkative at times like this.¡± Feeling a bit mischievous, I gave her nose a light pinch. A few seconds later, she hesitantly shuffled backward. I wonder if she really recharges this way. Would sleeping on a Kim Ho pillow really recharge her sloth-like battery faster and restore her luck? It seemed highly doubtful. Still, if there¡¯s even a chance, it¡¯s worth trying. Since we¡¯d be moving together throughout the final exam, the more energy she had, the wider our range of activity would be. On top of that, if her lucky streak returned, it would be helpful for navigating the labyrinth, finding items, and locating enemies. So once again, I had no choice but to cooperate. ¡°But before that, let¡¯s take care of the important stuff first.¡± She could sleep all she wanted afterward, but we had to fill our six-member team first. While we were at it, we might as well come up with a strategy too. Just then, I happened to glance around and noticed Shin Byeong-cheol hovering nearby. When all three of us turned our attention to him, he spoke in a solemn tone. ¡°I may be a man who was once abandoned, but I have returned to uphold my loyalty.¡± ¡°You, my friend, are a true man of honor.¡± Go Hyeon-woo nodded deeply in admiration. Shin Byeong-cheol was a master of traps. He must have received plenty of offers, yet he still chose our party first. Of course, it wasn¡¯t purely out of loyalty. The fact that every practical exam he had taken with us had resulted in high scores likely played a major role. Not to mention, he had caught a glimpse of my hidden skills. Still, whatever his reasons were, as long as he pulled his weight, I had no complaints. With that, I paired up Shin Byeong-cheol and Go Hyeon-woo to complete the second group. Shin Byeong-cheol then asked, ¡°What about the last members?¡± ¡°I already have someone in mind.¡± There was someone who had been asking if we had an open spot every chance they got. I had always felt a little bad for turning them down, so this time, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to extend the offer first. So, I sent a message. [Kim Ho: There¡¯s an open spot in our team.] [Kim Ho: You in?] [Hong Yeon-hwa: I¡¯m in.] [Hong Yeon-hwa: (Panting puppy emoji)] [Hong Yeon-hwa: (Running puppy emoji)] Before long, Hong Yeon-hwa burst into our classroom. She was panting just like the emoji she had sent. Without paying any attention to the other students¡¯ stares, she rushed straight toward us. ¡°Hah... I¡¯m here...¡± ¡°There was no need to hurry that much.¡± ¡°Still...¡± She must have been worried that I¡¯d change my mind in the meantime. At that moment, Hong Yeon-hwa and Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes met in midair. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in immediately distanced herself with wariness, while Hong Yeon-hwa still looked apologetic. It seemed like this awkward tension between them would persist for a while. After sharing a few more minor but useful tips, we wrapped things up and went our separate ways. And now, I was acting as the Kim Ho pillow in the Mana Cultivation Room. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in was sound asleep, clinging to me as if I were a pillow. After glancing at her briefly, I sent a message. [Kim Ho: Knock, knock.] [Song Cheon-hye: Who¡¯s this?] [Kim Ho: The wish ticket.] ¡°......¡± There was no reply from Song Cheon-hye for a long time. She was probably feeling a sinking sensation in her chest. It was like a long-forgotten debt collector suddenly showing up at her door. Even though it was just a message, I could almost picture her letting out a deep sigh. [Song Cheon-hye: Go ahead.] [Kim Ho: I¡¯m planning to use a small one this time.] The large wish ticket I won from the magnifying glass bet felt too valuable to use just yet. The small wish ticket I won from the mentoring bet would be enough for now. But Song Cheon-hye clearly wasn¡¯t too happy about that. [Song Cheon-hye: When are you going to use the big one?] [Song Cheon-hye: You just keep hoarding it.] [Kim Ho: Don¡¯t rush me.] [Kim Ho: If you keep pushing, I might start having bad ideas.] ¡°......¡± Again, there was a long pause before her reply. She was probably imagining what kind of ¡°bad wish¡± I was referring to. As expected, she quickly backed down. [Song Cheon-hye: Take your time to think it over.] [Song Cheon-hye: ^-^;;] [Song Cheon-hye: So, what¡¯s the small wish?] [Kim Ho: Final exams.] [Kim Ho: I¡¯m planning to challenge the Control Room.] [Song Cheon-hye: Perfect timing.] [Song Cheon-hye: We were planning to do it too.] Since they were part of the Disciplinary Committee, it was only natural for them to take on the challenge. They always had to prove they were the most skilled. And as top students, they probably wanted the personal satisfaction of excelling. [Kim Ho: Since you were going to do it anyway, does that mean I don¡¯t have to use my wish ticket?] [Song Cheon-hye: No take-backs.] [Song Cheon-hye: But how are you planning to join us?] [Kim Ho: I have my ways.] I exchanged messages with Song Cheon-hye for a while, discussing the details. Just as I was about to contact the next candidate, a message arrived first. As if by coincidence. [Jang Moo-geuk: Be careful.] [Kim Ho: Why?] [Kim Ho: Did senior Mak Dae-woong do something again?] [Jang Moo-geuk: Yeah.] That senior really holds a grudge. I had clashed with the Black faction of the swordsmanship club once before. Because of that, my relationship with Mak Dae-woong who was a second-year senior wasn¡¯t exactly great. I thought things had improved somewhat after dealing with the Assassin Duo and Ghost Dance, but if he was making moves now, that clearly wasn¡¯t the case. Maybe he¡¯s been waiting for the right moment all along. An ambush is most effective when the target least expects it. When it¡¯s been forgotten. This kind of persistent grudge felt very fitting for the Black faction. Of course, my response wouldn¡¯t be any different from before. If he comes, I¡¯ll just beat him up and send him back. Hopefully, he¡¯d at least bring a cheese box or some items with him. I expressed my gratitude and asked a question. [Kim Ho: Thanks for the heads-up.] [Kim Ho: But can you help?] [Jang Moo-geuk: It¡¯s something the seniors decided.] [Jang Moo-geuk: I can¡¯t interfere.] [Kim Ho: No, not that.] [Jang Moo-geuk:?] [Kim Ho: Against the teacher.] Wanna run the raid together? Chapter 310: 18th Week Final Exam (3) It seemed that I had dozed off without realizing it while serving as Kim Ho pillow. I was deep in sleep when the sound of movement woke me. Opening my eyes, I saw Seo Ye-in stirring half-awake and rustling around. Since our eyes met, I took the chance to ask, ¡°Did you rest well?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Battery charged up a bit?¡± ¡°65%.¡± ¡°Wow, you really did recharge.¡± She definitely looked less drowsy than yesterday. If a sloth¡¯s battery was at 65%, she might not be energetic enough to roam the downtown area, but it should be more than enough to get through final exams. Checking the time, I realized morning had already arrived. We each headed to our dorms for the final bit of preparation. Then, right on schedule, we met in front of the dungeon building. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s team and Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s team had arrived first and were chatting when they spotted us and walked over. Go Hyeon-woo glanced at Seo Ye-in¡¯s face, then commented, ¡°It seems Miss Seo has recovered quite a bit. That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°The pillow worked well.¡± When Seo Ye-in grabbed my sleeve, a satisfied fatherly smile appeared on Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s face. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa kept sneaking glances our way. Her eyes were filled with a mix of complicated emotions. The atmosphere was pleasant, but with finals right around the corner, we needed to have a more productive conversation. So I turned to Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa and asked, ¡°Did you go over the replays?¡± ¡°I checked the hidden rooms you pointed out, Kim-hyung. I couldn¡¯t find them all, but I managed to locate a good number.¡± ¡°Same here.¡± There was a certain confidence in both of their responses. At this rate, securing items in the early stages shouldn¡¯t be a problem. With that, we headed toward the ground floor of the dungeon building. A large hall the size of an auditorium. The same place where we had taken our midterm exam. At the center of the hall stood a teleportation portal, while countless magic circles beneath our feet flickered as if pulsating. Once the exam began, all the magic circles would activate simultaneously, pulling the participants into the dungeon. Near the teleportation portal, groups of faculty members were gathered chatting amongst themselves. I spotted the homeroom teachers, security staff, and even the vice principal. Among them, only the homeroom teachers would be entering the dungeon, while the others seemed to be there as a precaution in case of emergencies. Meanwhile, every student in the hall was fixated on the teachers. This created an atmosphere distinctly different from usual. They¡¯re looking at them like boss monsters. Fear was natural, but with the promise of huge rewards upon success, it was impossible not to be consumed by greed. The teachers, however, remained utterly composed despite the dozens....or rather the hundreds of ambitious gazes locked onto them. Having already experienced countless battles, these A-rank heroes wouldn¡¯t even consider this level of pressure as real stress. Before long, the teachers stepped onto the magic circles. The circles glowed brighter and brighter until they finally swallowed up the figures standing atop them. Flash! They¡¯ve entered first. This was likely to eliminate any potential threats and secure control of the control room. For a while, the faculty seemed busy communicating with the interior. Then, after confirming that everything was ready, the vice principal spoke into the microphone. ¨C The final exam will now begin. Please step onto the magic circles. Seo Ye-in and I were already waiting on one, and Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s and Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s teams had also taken their positions. Wooong¡ª All the magic circles activated at once, flooding the hall with blinding light. It was so bright that we could barely make out each other¡¯s silhouettes. Just as the scoreboard began its countdown, I exchanged quick words of encouragement with my teammates. ¡°Good luck. See you later.¡± ¡°Good luck to you all.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm! Good luck!¡± [5] [4] [3] [2] [1] [Start!] Flaaaash! A brilliant light engulfed everything. When I opened my eyes, a passageway made of old bricks stretched out before me. Had I not known better, I would have mistaken it for the Cheese Trap dungeon. But everyone here knew the truth. This was an entirely different dungeon. The Iron Maiden. I checked the system notifications first. [Entering the fixed zone.] [The rank of certain skills/traits/equipment will be adjusted.] ? Wind Force (B+ ¡ú B) Of course, there were too many variables to be certain just yet. As we continued making our way through the labyrinth, a familiar figure caught my eye. Jo Byeok stood with his back to us. Geum Jo-han was nowhere to be seen. ¡°......¡± Suddenly, Seo Ye-in raised her magic gun and aimed it at him. Instead of stopping her, I gave the order. ¡°Fire.¡± Ratatatatatata! Jo Byeok immediately charged toward us. He stepped skillfully, dodging some of the magic bullets while deflecting others with a swing of his fist. The distance between us rapidly shrank. ¡°Keep firing.¡± Ratatatatatata! I stepped forward to meet him. Sapling enhanced with Wind Force and Twister. And his fist. The moment they collided¡ª Boom! Jo Byeok¡¯s body stumbled backward. With Wind Force having reached B-rank, the force behind my attacks had grown immense. Of course, the fact that the ¡°Jo Byeok in front of me¡± was weaker than usual also played a role. Ratatatatata! All the while, Seo Ye-in continued her relentless barrage of magic bullets. Exposed openings led Jo Byeok to take a few direct hits. Still, he charged at us once more¡ª Boom! I shoved him far away like before. Seo Ye-in fired again, and when he approached, I pushed him back. Then we kept repeating the cycle over and over again. Eventually, Jo Byeok¡¯s accumulated injuries took their toll, and in the end, he collapsed to his knees on the ground. Then he scattered into the air like dust. It was a slightly different effect from simply being rendered incapacitated. Which meant¡ª ¡°As expected, a fake.¡± He had been a doppelganger, imitating Jo Byeok¡¯s appearance. I had no way of knowing how that had happened. Perhaps Jo Byeok¡¯s team had lost track of it and let it go, or maybe the doppelganger had copied Jo Byeok from a distance. Either way, both Seo Ye-in and I had seen through it at a glance. There were plenty of clues to infer from. For example, it hadn¡¯t been that long since we had parted ways, yet he was alone. Despite the urgency of the situation, he just stood idly in one place. Even when he saw us, he didn¡¯t say a single word. And most telling of all, his gauntlets were cheap F-rank junk. The fact that he had been so easily pushed back by Wind Force was likely due to his overall lower rank. If he had been the real Jo Byeok, he would have found a way to break through or launched a decisive strike with a powerful technique. Seo Ye-in stared down at the remnants of the doppelganger. ¡°Jo-ppelganger.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really getting a kick out of this, huh?¡± She took every chance she got to make up nicknames. Shaking my head at her remark, I also examined the remains, half-expecting a monster to drop some sort of item. Sure enough, a tightly rolled parchment lay on the ground. [Iron Maiden Map (Incomplete)] ¡°A map for our first item? Maybe Lucky Charm is coming back?¡± ¡°Very lucky.¡± But just as its name suggested, the map was incomplete. When I unrolled it, I saw that it only showed the path we had traveled so far. Still, with the full map in my head, I figured I could compare the two and pinpoint our current location without much trouble. And there was more good news¡ª ¡°There¡¯s a hidden room nearby. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± We started walking toward the first hidden room. But we had to stop again when a pitch-black human figure suddenly emerged from the wall. ¡°This is already the second one.¡± ¡°Doppelganger.¡± I got the eerie feeling that it was staring at us, and in an instant, its form shifted. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Standing in its place now was a fake Seo Ye-in. In one hand, it held a cheap F-rank magic gun. ¡°What should we call that one?¡± I pointed at the creature and asked the question. Seo Ye-in took a few seconds to think before answering. ¡°Yein-ganger.¡± Chapter 311: 18th Week Final Exam (4) Yein-ganger stared at us for a moment before stepping back with Feather Walk. At the same time, the clone fired a rapid volley from the magic gun in its hand. Tududududu! Seo Ye-in mirrored its featherlight movements, unleashing her own barrage of magic bullets as the firefight erupted. Rather than stepping in directly, I chose to support her instead. I surrounded her with a Wind Barrier and manipulated Dark Clouds to deflect the incoming magic bullets. Tudududu! Streaks of blue light crisscrossed the air in a relentless exchange. But then, I noticed that Seo Ye-in was gradually advancing. It seemed she intended to finish this in close combat, so I reminded her of one crucial fact. ¡°Young Miss, the inventory is blocked.¡± ¡°.......!¡± An exclamation mark practically appeared over Seo Ye-in¡¯s head. So she was planning to pull something out from her inventory. Unfortunately, the final exams were under [Survival] rules. The inventory was sealed, leaving me with only the Sapling and a Dark Cloud Bracelet, while Seo Ye-in had her Magic Gun and the Fluffy Cloud Bracelet. Curious, I decided to ask. ¡°What were you trying to take out?¡± ¡°The pot.¡± ¡°To make Kim Ho-Yein Kim Ho-Pot?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I wondered just how much that pot would have to be dented before it stopped being a pot altogether. Would it even be a pot in the end? Meanwhile, the Sloth-ganger who was now losing the firefight seemed to decide that retreat was the best option. Its form flickered and blurred, and in an instant, it had pulled away to the rear. It had activated Ghost Dance. We couldn¡¯t afford to lose the items, so both of us tried to follow using Ghost Dance. But at that moment¡ª Ssshhhhh! Dozens of magical arrows rained down from the opposite side, triggering a large explosion. Booom! In the next instant, the Yein-ganger had completely vanished without a trace. There weren¡¯t many first-years capable of that level of destructive power. And if we narrowed it down to archers, there were probably only one or two. So I waved cheerfully. ¡°Hey, Hyeon-joo!¡± ¡°Why are you acting all friendly?¡± ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Cha Hyeon-joo ground her teeth. Standing next to her was the person paired with her instead of Kang Hee-chan. Aka Kang Hee-chan 2. Come to think of it, I hadn¡¯t even exchanged names with this person yet. Regardless, I repeated the same words I had said to the Disciplinary Committee duo. ¡°Let¡¯s keep things peaceful. There¡¯s nothing to gain from fighting right now.¡± However, rather than lowering their weapons, Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s duo burned with even more fighting spirit. That meant they were willing to fight even if there was nothing to gain. Jo Byeok was competitive but still reasonable, whereas Cha Hyeon-joo seemed determined to tear me apart on sight without question or hesitation. Like some kind of hellhound... Cha Hyeon-joo scoffed with a cold expression on her face. ¡°Peace? I don¡¯t know anything about that.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± I let out a quiet sigh. Thinking we could talk this out had been my mistake. So I cast [Ice Wall] to block the passage. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know anything either.¡± ¡°Take down this wall!!¡± ¡°Nooope~ I don¡¯t know anything at all~¡± ¡°Hey!! I said take it down!!¡± Bang! Bang! Cha Hyeon-joo¡¯s duo pounded on the ice wall furiously, cursing all the while. Of course, if I had any intention of removing it just because they demanded it, I wouldn¡¯t have put it up in the first place. Ignoring them, I added another layer to the ice wall, effectively blocking out the noise. Then I collected the items from the remains of the Yein-ganger. [Sleeping Bag] *2 The dropped items being for sleep... Guess that means this doppelganger copied the right person. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± ¡°The pot...¡± ¡°Let go of your attachment to the pot.¡± But Seo Ye-in still looked reluctant. Leaving that brief incident behind, we continued on our way and soon arrived at our first destination. [Calorie Bar (Spicy Flavor)] ¡Á2 [Earplugs] ¡°It says it¡¯s spicy. Want some?¡± ¡°.......¡± When I held out the calorie bar, Seo Ye-in slowly backed away in the opposite direction. She used to show at least a little interest before, but it seemed the trauma from the Inferno Cookie still lingered. I figured I would either have to eat it myself or give it to another teammate. Next was the earplugs. They were a headset-style item worn over the head. As the name suggested, their effect was simple. To block out noise. Usually, cutting off sound brought more disadvantages than benefits, but in this dungeon, they were surprisingly useful. I handed her the earplugs and said, ¡°Let¡¯s test them. Can you hear me or not?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After confirming that Seo Ye-in had put them on, I threw out a question. ¡°Hey, you lazy ugly sloth. Can you hear me?¡± ¨C Shake, shake. She shook her head from side to side. At the same time, she flipped her assault rifle upside down and lifted it¡ª As if she was about to smack me with the stock. She might not have heard me, but she could still read my lips, it seemed. Before things escalated any further, I quickly apologized. ¡°My bad.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lazy.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what bothered you.¡± But honestly, she was lazy. Still, it wouldn¡¯t do me any good to argue any further, so I quickly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, if I tell you to use them, put them on immediately. Okay?¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in stared at me for a few seconds before hanging the earplug headset around her neck. *** The chance to use them came sooner than expected. As we moved toward the next hidden room, a roar and the sound of an impact echoed from somewhere nearby. ¨C Kruooohh! Since there were no beast-type monsters in this dungeon, it was obvious who the roar belonged to without even looking. So we turned in that direction. Sure enough, when we arrived, Park Na-ri, Jeong Soo-ji, and the giant tiger Bum were locked in battle. Their opponents were two pale, human-like figures. One held a sword and shield, while the other held a long spear. Specters. They were basic monsters that appeared in Iron Maiden. The spear-wielding specter lunged repeatedly while thrusting its weapon with precision. Bum dodged with agile movements before counterattacking. Each of his claws shimmered with blue mana. If they landed properly, he could tear the enemy apart in a single strike. However, the sword-and-shield specter intervened at just the right moment, blocking the attack. Bang! It then slid back smoothly before stepping forward again to continue defending. As always, Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji focused entirely on supporting Bum. He was a promising fighter in his own right, and with their help, his endurance became almost limitless. It might take some time, but ultimately, victory was certain. No need to step in. Even so, I decided to stay and watch. The longer the fight dragged on, the higher the chance that other participants might interfere. Besides, I could actually communicate with those two, so there was a possibility we could strike a deal once the battle was over. ¨C Kreuhung! Bum ran with incredible speed. He leaped from wall to wall, then from wall to ceiling, swinging his huge paws in the air. His mana-infused claws tore off one of the sword-and-shield specter¡¯s arms. That¡¯s half the fight done. Their fighting power had dropped significantly. But just then, something suddenly emerged from the wall. It was the figure of a woman dressed in tattered rags. It writhed and twisted its entire body as if in agony. The Banshee. This was a basic monster that appeared alongside doppelga?ngers and specters. Before long, the Banshee¡¯s gaze locked onto Park Na-ri¡¯s duo and the specter. Its previously wavering movements came to an abrupt halt. Without hesitation, I gave an order to Seo Ye-in. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } ¡°Earplugs.¡± ¡°On.¡± The very moment Seo Ye-in put on the earplug headset, the Banshee¡¯s mouth stretched open far beyond human limits. A piercing scream shook the entire arena. ¨C Kyaaaaaah¡ª! Chapter 312: 18th Week Final Exam (5) Chapter 312: 18th Week Final Exam (5) The Banshee¡¯s ability was a wide-area debuff. Anyone who heard its wail would have one of their skills or traits randomly drop by a rank. Although the effect would wear off after some time, losing stats mid-battle was a critical disadvantage. And it didn¡¯t just happen once, either. ¨C Kyaaaah!! The Banshee let out another piercing scream. If we hadn¡¯t prepared for it, system messages would have been popping up one after another by now. ¡°The rank of OOO has decreased¡±, ¡°It has decreased again¡± ... Something like that. Fortunately, Seo Ye-in was wearing high-performance earplugs. They blocked out all sound perfectly, preventing her from being affected by the debuff. As for me¡ª I was a Monarch. My mental barrier was solid beyond measure. Even an original Banshee wouldn¡¯t be able to break through it. A mere replica dungeon Banshee didn¡¯t stand a chance. On the other hand, Park Na-ri¡¯s duo seemed to have taken the full brunt of the debuff. The mana covering Bum¡¯s claws had weakened, and his movements had slowed slightly. They should have been able to finish off the sword-and-shield specter quickly after cutting off its arm, but the debuff was dragging things out. With three of them on that side, the damage was even worse. Since their formation consisted of two people and one beast, the Banshee¡¯s wail meant three ranks dropped at once. And because all their skills were funneled into Bum, the rank drop must have felt even more severe. ¡°Grrr...¡± Perhaps that was why Bum turned his head and let out a frustrated growl. His growl probably meant something like, ¡°What¡¯s my supports doing?¡± Flustered, Park Na-ri hurriedly began chanting a debuff removal spell. ¡°B-Bum, just hold on for a moment.¡± However, it seemed the Banshee would let out a third wail before the spell could be completed. At this point, just standing by and watching wasn¡¯t an option, so I casually spoke up. ¡°If you leave it alone, it¡¯ll just keep doing that.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Jeong Soo-ji responded briefly and began chanting a spell. Her emerald gemstone glowed with a green light, and earthen bullets shot up from the ground. That should have been enough to take down a mere Banshee. Of course, that¡¯s only if they actually hit. ¨CKiiiek? The Banshee twisted its head at an unnatural angle and floated erratically, dodging the bullets with ease. As the attacks kept coming, it suddenly slipped into the wall, only to reemerge moments later with another piercing scream. ¨C Kyaaaaah¡ª! It was making full use of its advantages as a ghost-type monster. Once again, I spoke up casually. ¡°Want me to help out a bit?¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...¡± ¡°Grrr.¡± Park Na-ri and Bum answered at the same time. Only then did I glance to the side, where Seo Ye-in had already aimed her gun at the Banshee. Tududududu! As a gunslinger, her accuracy was far higher than Jeong Soo-ji¡¯s, and in an instant, the Banshee was riddled with bullets. It staggered desperately and tried to retreat back into the wall. Not happening. Whooosh¡ª A gust of wind pinned it in place. Then, as a barrage of magic bullets rained down, the Banshee finally dispersed like smoke. And from where it had vanished, an item dropped with a soft plop. [Earplugs] Again? Leaving the loot for later, we used the momentum to take down the remaining two Specters. As soon as the battle ended, Park Na-ri¡¯s team approached us. They repeatedly expressed their gratitude. ¡°Th-Thank you.¡± ¡°Grrr.¡± The tiger rubbed his forehead against me repeatedly, as if he was pleased to see me. Even a giant tiger was still just a feline at heart. I scratched his head and neck and made a suggestion. ¡°I just got the earplugs. Want to trade?¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Park Na-ri¡¯s team had been hit with the Banshee¡¯s debuff three times over, so they needed the earplugs far more than we did. Seo Ye-in was already wearing a pair, and since I had [Monarch], I didn¡¯t need them at all. Maybe we¡¯d need more if we got additional teammates, but that was a problem for later. For now, trading a useful item made the most sense. ¡°For what...?¡± Park Na-ri showed me the items the two Specters had just dropped. One was a ceramic jar, sculpted in the shape of a Banshee¡¯s head, with the number ¡°0¡± engraved on it. The other was a test tube filled with a hazy translucent liquid. [Screaming Jar (0)] [Phantom Potion] ¡Á2 They¡¯ve got good luck too. How did both drops turn out to be this good? [Screaming Jar] was a PvP item. Every time a Banshee shrieked nearby, the jar would accumulate a stack. The moment it was shattered, all the stored stacks would be unleashed at once. It could inflict a huge area-of-effect debuff. [Phantom Potion] allowed the drinker to take on the same state as ghost-type monsters for one minute, letting them pass through walls. In a maze-like terrain, that meant they could cover a vast distance in an instant. And since there were two of them, they¡¯d be perfect for a pair to use together. Either way, they were far better than a pair of earplugs. The only issue was that I had to pick just one. But I didn¡¯t hesitate for long. ¡°Let¡¯s go with both.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s...¡± Park Na-ri hesitated and trailed off. She clearly wanted to refuse but couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it outright. Then Jeong Soo-ji spoke up and cut straight to the point. ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s not gonna work. Our items are already better, and asking for both in exchange for just earplugs is a bit much, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°It is, yeah. A bit greedy.¡± I admitted it without hesitation. From the start, I had no intention of stubbornly demanding both items for nothing. To balance things out, it was only fair to put something else on the scale. So, I made an offer. ¡°In exchange, I¡¯ll tell you the location of a hidden room and how to find it.¡± ¡°......!¡± No matter how much of a stagnant water I was, time was limited, and we couldn¡¯t visit every hidden room. Rather than trying to explore them all, it made more sense to trade information for valuable items. Especially since those items were quite powerful. Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji fell silent and went into deep thought. They were probably hesitating because there was no guarantee of what they¡¯d find in the hidden room. I tried to persuade them. ¡°The jar and the phantom potion for the earplugs. This is obviously better. It might even be better than whatever you¡¯d get in a hidden room. Besides, aren¡¯t these things just dead weight for you anyway?¡± To use the Screaming Jar effectively, they would need countermeasures against debuffs. On top of that, they would have to actively hunt down Banshees and take them down quickly, which required considerable fighting power. But right now, they were struggling just to get a pair of earplugs. Their combat skills weren¡¯t particularly high. Just moments ago, they had failed to land a hit on a single Banshee and had to rely on us. The same went for the phantom potion. Being able to pass through walls was useful. But since it only lasted a minute, they would need a clear plan on where to go before using it. That meant they had to know their current location and destination like the back of their hand. And with only two potions, if Park Na-ri¡¯s team used them, one of the three would have to be left behind. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± The two exchanged silent glances. Now that they thought about it, my words made sense. It seemed like they were almost convinced, but Jeong Soo-ji made one last check. ¡°What if we go and there¡¯s nothing there? It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but someone might have taken it already.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely there. If it¡¯s really gone, consider it my debt.¡± Whether we met again during finals to settle it or sometime after that. Only then did Jeong Soo-ji nod and hand over the items. I took them and pointed out the location of the hidden room. ¡°It¡¯s not that far, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm, we¡¯ll go check it out.¡± After exchanging brief farewells in a warm atmosphere, we each went our separate ways. *** Even after parting ways with Park Na-ri¡¯s team, we kept moving and searching for more hidden rooms. The only difference was that we now had one more objective. ¨C Kyaaaah¡ª!! ¨C Kieeeeek¡ª!! A Banshee was chasing after us, shrieking relentlessly. Each time it screamed, the number engraved on the jar updated. [Screaming Jar (3)] [Screaming Jar (4)] ...... Gotta keep stacking it. With four stacks of screams, a B-rank skill could instantly drop to F-rank. What if it reached 20 stacks? 30 stacks? Even a promising student could turn into a complete rookie in an instant. It¡¯d be great if it worked on the teachers too... Unfortunately, that probably wouldn¡¯t happen. The teachers¡¯ main role was to guard the control room, but in emergencies, they were also responsible for eliminating potential threats. They were bound to carry all sorts of items. So would they really not have earplugs among them? They probably have mental barriers too. If they were at least A-rank heroes, they would each have their own mental barrier skills or traits, so there was no way the Banshee¡¯s debuff would work on them. Of course, I had already considered this when exchanging for the jar, so it wasn¡¯t a huge disappointment. Even if it doesn¡¯t work on the teachers, there are plenty of other uses for it. On the first day, things usually progressed peacefully. Everyone was too busy trying to survive in the labyrinth, and taking down other participants didn¡¯t offer much benefit. So, at most, people avoided each other or made small trades, like our team and Park Na-ri¡¯s team. But things change on the second day. As participants regrouped with their teammates, they grew more confident, and with cheese boxes being unlocked, the rewards for taking down opponents became much greater. That was when real battles would begin. Of course, over time, more people would obtain earplugs, but¡ª Not everyone will. That meant the Screaming Jar was still a powerful card that could be used at least once. There was no harm in charging it up whenever possible. ¨C Kyaaaaah¡ª! ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in glanced at the Banshee, then at me. Since she was wearing earplugs, I mouthed the words to her. ¡°Act like you¡¯re struggling. Act like it¡¯s hard.¡± That way, it would get excited and keep following us. Seo Ye-in tilted her head, then said, ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m exhausted.¡± ¡°You¡¯re good.¡± ¡°Carry me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not happening.¡± She wasn¡¯t that tired. I coldly pushed away the arms that were subtly reaching out toward me. Meanwhile, the Banshee continued screaming at the top of its lungs. ¨C Kyaaaaah¡ª! However, whether it was because the attack had no effect or because it had screamed too many times in a row, the Banshee¡¯s cries were quieter than before. Somehow, it even seemed to be panting. Do ghosts get hoarse? Before long, it started to lose interest in us and attempted to drift away. But¡ª ¡°You have to drop an item before you leave.¡± Before it could escape, I cast Spiral Explosion. A whirlwind gathered around the Banshee, compressing tightly before erupting into an explosion. Boom! *** Even after that, we continued dragging the Banshee along, stacking up charges. [Screaming Jar (14)] Of course, we didn¡¯t forget our original goal. We moved quickly and swept up items from the hidden rooms. [Calorie Bar (Spicy Flavor)] ¡Á2 ¡°What do we do? We keep getting spicy ones.¡± ¡°Bad luck...¡± [Sleeping Bag] ¡Á2 [Earplugs] ¡°We can give these to the others.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± [Frying Pan] ¡°Why is this even here? It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll be cooking anything.¡± ¡°Give it to me.¡± The determined Seo Ye-in managed to claim it as her secondary weapon. She examined the frying pan from every angle and was clearly pleased. Just then, a faint static sound came from somewhere. I quickly opened my subspace bag and saw that the radio had turned on. Through the crackling noise, a voice came through. ¨C Ah, ah. Can you hear me? The voice belonged to none other than Hong Yeon-hwa. Chapter 313: 18th Week Final Exam (6) Chapter 313: 18th Week Final Exam (6) I immediately spoke into the radio. ¡°I hear you.¡± ¨C ......! Hong Yeon-hwa flinched in surprise before asking a question that implied many things. ¨C So... how is it? ¡°Not bad. What about you?¡± ¨C Same here. Have you contacted Go Hyeon-woo? ¡°No, not yet.¡± It seemed that the Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol duo still hadn¡¯t managed to get their hands on a radio. It was more likely due to bad luck than failing to find a hidden room. Go Hyeon-woo wasn¡¯t particularly lucky to begin with, and with the teahouse owner Shin Byeong-cheol right beside him, their odds weren¡¯t great. Still, I wasn¡¯t too worried. ¡°Those two will manage just fine. If they get one by tomorrow, they¡¯ll contact us.¡± ¨C O-Oh... okay... ¡°How¡¯s the item farming going?¡± ¨C Well... Hong Yeon-hwa briefly listed the items she had gathered from the hidden rooms. She hadn¡¯t maximized efficiency the way we had, but it was clear she had looted thoroughly. A couple of powerful items were mixed in as well. I nodded slightly and spoke. ¡°We should regroup soon.¡± If their farming wasn¡¯t complete, we would¡¯ve continued moving separately, but this seemed sufficient. Besides, sticking together as a group of four would be the safest way to protect our collected items. Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to agree as she asked, ¨C Should we come to you? ¡°We¡¯ll come to you. Just give me your location.¡± ¨C Alright... Hong Yeon-hwa eagerly explained their current position. Got it. The map was also incomplete, so there was bound to be some margin of error. Of course, walking a little more wasn¡¯t a big problem. After ending the communication, I checked the map and set our direction. Then, walking over to one side of the wall with Seo Ye-in, I handed her a [Phantom Potion]. ¡°Here, take this.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Drink it and start running immediately.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The potion¡¯s effect lasted only a minute. We had to move fast to pass through as many walls as possible in that short time. First, we held hands. Moving quickly carried the risk of getting separated. Then we downed the potion at the same time. In an instant, the color drained from our bodies, and we became semi-transparent like ghosts. ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in looked down at herself in fascination, but there was no time for that. Without hesitation, I grabbed her hand and started running. As we passed through the first wall, everything went dark for a moment before the opposite wall came into view. We sprinted toward it, and once again, darkness engulfed our vision before revealing the next wall. Like that, we continued passing through wall after wall. Around us, all sorts of things flashed by in an instant. Traps activated, startled students gasped at the sight of us, and ghost monsters either attacked or tried to chase after us. But we ignored everything while focusing solely on running. ...59 seconds. The moment the count in my head reached a minute, I came to a stop. Immediately, the potion¡¯s effect wore off, and our bodies returned to normal. I checked the map and had a small thought. We really came a long way. Thanks to cutting straight through the dungeon, we had managed to reach a spot incredibly far from our original location in just one minute. We were now quite close to the location Hong Yeon-hwa had pointed out. ¡°Just a little farther to go.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± As she responded, Seo Ye-in reached out a hand. When I looked at her in silence, she gave it a little wave. I had a feeling I knew what she meant, so I spoke. ¡°Young miss, that was the last of the potion.¡± ¡°What a shame.¡± Judging by how eager she seemed, she must have found it quite fun. But there was nothing I could do. We had only had two. It was a fairly rare item, so there was no telling if we¡¯d come across another one anytime soon. After making our way through the labyrinth for a while, I spotted a head of red hair in the distance. Leaning against the wall beside her was Baek Jun-seok. Just then, our eyes met, and I raised a hand in greeting. ¡°......!¡± Seeing that, Hong Yeon-hwa came dashing toward us. But when she was about halfway, I cast Wind Force. Whoosh! The sudden headwind drastically slowed her down. She flailed in place for a moment before losing her balance and falling backward. She then looked over at me. Her eyes were filled with a mix of shock and betrayal. ¡°Why...?¡± The answer didn¡¯t come from me; it came from somewhere else. The ceiling suddenly opened up, and thick stone pillars came crashing down. Boom! Boom! ¡°You should watch for traps.¡± ¡°Ah... Sorry.¡± She must have been so excited to see us that she completely forgot. She had a rather headstrong personality, and once she set her sights on something, she tended to focus on it obsessively. Baek Jun-seok who had been following behind spoke up. ¡°I thought we¡¯d have to wait a while, but you got here fast. Were you nearby?¡± ¡°We were a bit far away, but we used an item.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Baek Jun-seok nodded his head as if that made sense. Then, he asked another question. ¡°What¡¯s the plan now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wrap things up here for today.¡± Looking closely at Seo Ye-in¡¯s face, her eyelids were slightly drooping. Her sloth battery was flashing a warning signal. She had been tirelessly exploring different parts of the dungeon all day and had fought multiple battles. Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Jun-seok were trying not to show it, but they also looked exhausted. We¡¯ve already met today¡¯s quota. Besides, tomorrow would be an even more grueling day. All things considered, taking a break here seemed like the best choice. With that in mind, I led the group toward a hidden room. However, unlike most hidden rooms, this one didn¡¯t have any items inside. That was because its purpose was entirely different. It¡¯s a resting place. Iron Maiden was, at its core, a trap dungeon. Since new traps were constantly being added in real time, resting anywhere carelessly was an easy way to get caught off guard. On top of that, ghost-type monsters frequently passed through walls. What if a banshee suddenly let out a shriek while we were sleeping? Just imagining it was enough to be annoying. In that sense, this hidden room was far safer. There were no traps installed inside, and it was slightly off the usual paths that monsters traveled. The moment we stepped in, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Considering this was a two-person, three-team final exam, the room was spacious enough to fit five or six people lying down in sleeping bags. Other than that, though, it was completely empty. Baek Jun-seok and Hong Yeon-hwa looked around the room and each made a comment. ¡°It¡¯s pretty spacious. The hard floor is a downside, but we¡¯ll be sleeping in sleeping bags anyway.¡± ¡°A few days should be fine.¡± Once everyone settled into their spots, the first order of business was filling their stomachs. The menu, of course, was calorie bars. I handed a spicy calorie bar to Seo Ye-in and said, ¡°Why not give it a try?¡± ¨C Shake, shake. ¡°Then you¡¯ll starve?¡± ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in stared silently at my hand, seemingly torn. Just then, Hong Yeon-hwa hesitantly approached and held out her own calorie bar. ¡°Um, here...¡± It was a mild vegetable-flavored one. Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She had been debating whether to go hungry or sacrifice her tongue to the spicy flavor and now, a lifeline had appeared. ¡°...Accepted.¡± Without hesitation, Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa exchanged calorie bars. Just yesterday, the atmosphere had been awkward, but now, it wasn¡¯t too bad. After quickly finishing off the calorie bars, we gathered and checked the items we had looted. I turned to Baek Jun-seok and asked, ¡°You don¡¯t have earplugs, do you?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t find any. Fighting banshees was a nightmare every time.¡± At least Park Na-ri¡¯s team could dispel debuffs. These two, on the other hand, probably had to endure them until they wore off naturally. ¡°We have one spare. Here.¡± ¡°Oh... thanks.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up as she took the earplugs. Judging by Baek Jun-seok¡¯s words, they must have suffered quite a bit against the banshees. Since their firepower was strong, it only made sense to prioritize giving them the earplugs. About half of the items Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s duo had looted overlapped with ours. Things like backpacks, maps, and radios. But there were also a few unique ones. [Exorcism Talisman] A stiff, yellow talisman. It had incomprehensible words written in red script. The talisman had two effects. 1. When attached, ghost-type monsters would have a much harder time approaching. 2. When torn, its effect would increase dramatically for a limited time. Right now, we were using the first effect. Even though this was a hidden room, there was still a slight chance that specters or banshees could appear. But with this, that chance was reduced to almost zero. Something told me we¡¯d end up using the second effect too. Of course, that was just a gut feeling. I had to wait and see how things played out. The extra sleeping bags we had picked up were gratefully accepted by Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s duo, and as for the Screaming Jar, we decided to hold off on using it since Baek Jun-seok still hadn¡¯t gotten his hands on a pair of earplugs. ¡°Good work, everyone. Let¡¯s get some rest.¡± With everything settled, we each started laying out our sleeping bags. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in tugged at my sleeve and muttered, ¡°Kim Ho pillow.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, do whatever you want.¡± *** Late at night. Hong Yeon-hwa tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She was exhausted, yet sleep refused to come. It was a frustrating contradiction. The biggest reason was the person sleeping right next to her. ¡°Grroooonk... kffft... kff kff.¡± A combination of snoring and what sounded like choking. She had lost count of how many times she had drifted off only to be jolted awake by that noise. I swear, I¡¯m about to fire punch him... Inside her sleeping bag, Hong Yeon-hwa clenched and unclenched her fists. But in the end, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to actually do it and simply swallowed her frustration. If anything, it just made sleep feel even more impossible. Turning her head the other way, she caught sight of¡ª Those two are seriously sleeping like rocks... Seo Ye-in and Kim Ho were completely knocked out. Of course, their sleeping bags were pressed tightly together. She had seen this sight plenty of times since midterms, so it wasn¡¯t exactly surprising. She had even personally experienced the effect of the Kim Ho pillow before. Watching them, a thought suddenly popped into her head. ...Should I? Should I try sleeping on the Kim Ho pillow too? Should I just go over there and push my sleeping bag up against his? But then, a more rational thought immediately followed. That¡¯d make me look crazy. Seo Ye-in was naturally close with Kim Ho and had even received something like permission before going to sleep. On the other hand, Hong Yeon-hwa didn¡¯t think she was that close to him and hadn¡¯t discussed anything about this matter. But if she pushed her sleeping bag up against his, how would Kim Ho see her? That was the rational thought running through Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mind. ...I¡¯m so sleepy. I can¡¯t fall asleep, but I¡¯m exhausted. ¡°Krng-kak-kak, krng-heuk, kak.¡± Extreme fatigue, combined with the irritation from Baek Jun-seok¡¯s snoring, was gradually overpowering her reason. Then, in the midst of it all, a brilliant idea flashed through Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mind. ...What if it was an accident? The distance between her sleeping bag and Kim Ho¡¯s wasn¡¯t that far. In that case, couldn¡¯t she just roll around in her sleep since she had a ¡°bad sleeping habit¡± and accidentally end up with their sleeping bags touching? As soon as that thought took hold, Hong Yeon-hwa began rolling around inside her sleeping bag like a caterpillar on the verge of metamorphosis. When she finally brushed against Kim Ho¡¯s sleeping bag, her heart clenched for a moment, but luckily, he didn¡¯t seem to wake up. She cautiously rested her head against the Kim Ho pillow. ...This is ridiculously comfortable. She wriggled a bit inside her sleeping bag and adjusted herself into an even more comfortable position. Once she settled in, sleep quickly began to wash over her. At some point, Baek Jun-seok¡¯s loud snoring had faded into the background and she couldn¡¯t hear it. In her final moments of consciousness, another safeguard came to mind. I¡¯ll just wake up early and slip away. A perfect crime. If she got up earlier than everyone else, there would be no need for any excuses. She was never a heavy sleeper to begin with, so it wouldn¡¯t be difficult at all. Pleased with her own meticulous plan, Hong Yeon-hwa finally let go of her last bit of tension. Her consciousness soon faded into darkness... And the next morning, Hong Yeon-hwa overslept. Chapter 314: 18th Week Final Exam (7) Chapter 314: 18th Week Final Exam (7) I had a dream. When I opened my eyes, a gray, fluffy cat was sitting on my chest. It was in the so-called ¡°loaf¡± position. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen this one. I don¡¯t think I¡¯d seen it since midterms. There was no real reason to shoo it away, so I just let it be and kept staring blankly at the sky. Then, out of nowhere, a scruffy-looking puppy appeared. It seemed wary of me, but even so, it trotted over with tiny quick steps before curling up right beside me. ¡°........¡± Maybe the cat didn¡¯t like that. The gray-furred cat abandoned its loaf position. Then, it walked up to the scruffy puppy and started smacking it with its little paws. ¡°Woof!¡± The puppy whimpered over and over, but it didn¡¯t run away and just stubbornly stayed right next to me. I couldn¡¯t just sit there and watch, so I stepped in to break them up. ¡°Stop hitting, stop hitting.¡± I kept repeating it, and then¡ª My eyes snapped open. As expected, it was a dream. Was it because I was sleeping in a different place? The same thing had happened during midterms, and now, finals were giving me restless dreams too. I decided not to dwell on it. It was just a dream, after all. When I checked the time, I realized morning had already arrived, so I sat up. That was when Seo Ye-in who had been using the Kim Ho pillow groggily opened her eyes and slowly tugged at me. ¡°Sleep a little more...¡± ¡°No. Get up.¡± Of course, I was firm. I had even let her use the Kim Ho pillow so she could sleep well, so now it was only right that she wake up. But Seo Ye-in wasn¡¯t the only one stuck to my sleeping bag. When I turned my head to the right, I saw Hong Yeon-hwa fast asleep and breathing softly. Why is she here? Her sleeping bag was definitely over there. The best way to figure this out was to ask her myself. And since I had to wake everyone up anyway, I gave the sleeping bag a light shake. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Mmm....¡± She furrowed her brows slightly and mumbled in response. ¡°Don¡¯t wake me up....¡± ¡°It¡¯s morning. You need to get up.¡± ¡°I said don¡¯t wake me up....¡± Even so, I kept shaking the sleeping bag. Eventually, Hong Yeon-hwa who was now at the peak of her irritation opened her eyes. She let out a low growl and grumbled, ¡°Hey, how many times do I have to tell you not to¡ªhuh?!¡± The moment our eyes met, her face turned deathly pale and she shot up. But since she was still inside the sleeping bag, she lost her balance and flopped over in the opposite direction. After struggling for a while, she finally managed to free herself from the sleeping bag. She stood in front of me and began to ramble out excuses. ¡°Th-This.... I was stuck to you because...? It¡¯s not like I did it on purpose, it¡¯s just that, um, my sleeping habits... It was too noisy? Baek Jun-seok was, uh... snoring...?¡± I could kind of understand what she was trying to say....or maybe not. But that wasn¡¯t the important part. Ignoring everything else, I asked just one thing. ¡°So, did you get some good rest?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, uh... yeah....¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s all that matters.¡± What was important was whether she had rested well and whether it would affect today¡¯s activities. The reason her sleeping bag ended up stuck to me was suspicious, but I had no intention of making a big deal out of it. Even after that, Hong Yeon-hwa kept sneaking glances at me, but when she saw that I wasn¡¯t reacting, she looked relieved. Once things settled down, Baek Jun-seok who had been watching spoke up. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan for today?¡± ¡°We¡¯re heading to the cheese room too.¡± On the first day, we had focused on securing items since the number of hidden rooms and the items we could obtain from them were limited. Meanwhile, since we had already gathered most of what we needed, the importance of the hidden rooms had relatively decreased. So now, it was time to shift our focus toward the cheese room, which was the original goal of the final exam. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. If we come across any hidden rooms on the way, we¡¯ll check them out.¡± ¡°Sounds good. What about Go Hyeon-woo?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll contact us.¡± I answered casually. Even if we had lost contact, Go Hyeon-woo was someone who could assess the situation and act accordingly. For all I knew, his team might also be heading toward the cheese room. So rather than worrying about them, it made more sense for us to focus on our own task. I looked at my companions and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡± *** The most efficient way to gather supplies was to do what we were doing: raiding hidden rooms. Of course, the other participants wouldn¡¯t know the locations of the hidden rooms as well as I did. For them, finding one would be pure luck. Still, they must be doing some farming. After all, ghost monsters also dropped items. By picking up whatever they could, teams would eventually manage to regroup or get in contact with their members. And the team we had just encountered seemed to be one of those cases. Just as we were about to turn a corner, a group of four made of two men and two women appeared from the opposite side. The moment they spotted us, they froze in place. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± A tense standoff followed. I took a closer look at them. Each of them carried a sword at their waist, and the energy they gave off was undoubtedly that of martial artists. Judging by that, they were most likely from the swordsmanship club. The opposing team also seemed to be assessing our strength. But when they spotted Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face, their tension visibly deepened. It was only natural. She was a promising student, after all. Before long, the girl who appeared to be their leader finally spoke up. ¡°...We don¡¯t want to fight. We¡¯ll just pass through.¡± At that, Hong Yeon-hwa stepped forward. We had already agreed that she would take the role of leader in situations like this. Her name carried weight, after all. I had also given her the freedom to make decisions based on the circumstances. And it seemed she had decided that now was the time to assert dominance. She asked in a haughty tone, ¡°What if I say no?¡± ¡°......¡± The swordsmanship club team immediately placed their hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw at a moment¡¯s notice. With a hardened expression, their leader asked, ¡°Do we really have to shed blood?¡± ¡°That¡¯s up to you.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa made it clear that she was more than willing to fight. If they wanted to avoid that, they had only one option left. The girl offered a deal. ¡°One item. That should do, right?¡± ¡°Two.¡± ¡°...Fine.¡± She let out a small sigh. If they lost the fight, they wouldn¡¯t just lose everything; they¡¯d be kicked out of the dungeon and forced to sit around doing nothing for hours. She must have decided that giving up two items was the better choice. One of the male students stepped forward and opened his subspace backpack. Hong Yeon-hwa who was feigning indifference peered inside and picked out two items. [Earplugs] [Calorie Bar (Vegetable Flavor)] The girl checked them and asked, ¡°This is enough, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± At Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s curt nod, the four members of the swordsmanship club hurried past us. The girl who seemed to be the leader kept glancing back at us. However, rather than looking at Hong Yeon-hwa, it felt like she was staring directly at me. That look in her eyes seems suspicious. Should I chase after her and press her for answers? However, while that might have been an option before receiving the items, going back on our word after taking them would cause unnecessary trouble. Besides, since Hong Yeon-hwa was our public leader, she needed to maintain her reputation. And honestly, even if they were up to something, what could they really do? In the end, I decided to just let them go. Before long, Hong Yeon-hwa handed the vegetable-flavored calorie bar to Seo Ye-in. Her arrogance from moments ago was nowhere to be seen. She was being surprisingly cautious. ¡°Here... Eat it later.¡± ¡°...qualified.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s expression remained neutral, but for some reason, she seemed satisfied. Looks like she¡¯s skipping the spicy challenge today. Next, the earplugs went to Baek Jun-seok. ¡°Here, use these.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± He too looked quite pleased. If a banshee had jumped out along the way, he would¡¯ve been the only one hit with the debuff. But now, he was immune as well. Alright, time to stack again. We continued moving forward, dragging a trail of banshees behind us. ¨C Kyaaaaaah! ¨C Kiiiieeeh! [Screaming Jar (17)] [Screaming Jar (18)] ... [Screaming Jar (23)] We kept stacking the Screaming debuff and occasionally stopped by hidden rooms as we made our way through the dungeon. When I checked the map, I saw that we were getting close to the cheese room. ¡°......?¡± But then, Seo Ye-in suddenly slowed her pace and stared ahead in silence. Everyone except me had their earplugs in, so I could only ask her what was wrong with my eyes. Instead of answering, she abruptly fired her magic gun toward the front. Tududududu!! Her eyesight really is something else. I felt quite pleased and couldn¡¯t help but smile. Something must have triggered my stagnant water instinct, so I was about to give them a warning. But there was no need; she handled it on her own. ¡°Tch.¡± Sure enough, a faint clicking of the tongue echoed from somewhere, and suddenly, swordsmen burst out from the walls. Some of them lunged at Hong Yeon-hwa, while others thrust their blades toward Seo Ye-in and me. Shwiiiiiik! But an ambush is only effective when the target is unaware. Now that they had been exposed, their reckless attacks were bound to be blocked. Bang! One of the charging swordsmen was struck by Wind Force and sent flying backward. At the same time, I blocked the incoming blade aimed at Seo Ye-in with Root and sent a dark cloud toward Hong Yeon-hwa to reinforce her defense. As a result, we took no damage at all. With their ambush failing, the swordsmen immediately retreated to reorganize their formation. There were six of them in total, and the one who appeared to be their leader had a rather familiar face. So, I spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s been so long I can¡¯t quite remember. Your name was... something ¡®Gong¡¯?¡± ¡°Sa Gong-wook.¡± ¡°Ah, I was close.¡± He was part of the Black Faction from the swordsmanship club. I had clashed with him once before during the midterms. Just as Jang Moo-geuk had hinted, he had been waiting for the right moment to ambush me. However, since it was crucial that no one suspected Jang Moo-geuk as an informant, I feigned ignorance and asked, ¡°Did Mak Dae-woong send you?¡± ¡°You really thought it would end with just that? I¡¯m sure he told you. You¡¯re no longer in our good graces.¡± Sa Gong-wook smirked coldly. As I watched him, another question popped into my head, so I asked it right away. ¡°But how did you even find us?¡± ¡°We¡¯re the swordsmanship club. No matter where you go, there are eyes and ears watching.¡± ¡°Just as I thought; it was them.¡± In truth, those so-called eyes and ears were none other than the four swordsmen I had encountered earlier. No wonder they seemed to recognize me. Looks like they shared my location. Of course, just as I had thought at the time, whatever tricks they tried wouldn¡¯t change much. This actually works out better. If I had to face them anyway, now was as good a time as any. As the finals progressed, things would only get messier. I threw out another question. ¡°But Gong-sik, doesn¡¯t it seem like your plan is already falling apart?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Sa Gong-wook¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. Despite failing to achieve anything with his ambush, he showed no signs of backing down. It¡¯s six against four. With the numbers on their side, they must have thought they had a chance. Sa Gong-wook soon turned his gaze toward Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°I know you¡¯ll refuse, but I¡¯ll make the offer anyway. Our target is him and him alone. Stay out of this.¡± ¡°Why bother asking when you already know the answer?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa scoffed, and Sa Gong-wook gave an indifferent nod of his chin. ¡°Figured as much.¡± At that moment, all six swordsmen simultaneously raised their energy, and we prepared for battle in our own ways. A tense standoff. Seo Ye-in¡¯s hand moved toward her frying pan. Chapter 315: 18th Week Final Exam (8) Sa Gong-wook¡¯s gang consisted of two in the 900-point range and four in the 600-point range. They weren¡¯t as powerful as the assassin duo, but they were still a force to be reckoned with. And that was based on their midterm scores. Time had passed since then, and they had likely trained and improved their scores in the meantime. They probably came prepared for Spiral Explosion too. During the midterms, Spiral Explosion had served me well, but I wasn¡¯t sure if the same trick would work again. That meant taking an aggressive approach like before wasn¡¯t the best choice. I also need to conserve my strength. I had no idea how many more battles awaited us, so victory with minimal damage was crucial. Even if we managed to take down all six of them, it would still be a loss if any of us got injured. So, my best option was¡ª Hit-and-run tactics. I would watch how they moved and counter accordingly. I kept a close eye on their every move. ¡°.......¡± At Sa Gong-wook¡¯s subtle signal, two swordsmen slipped to the side and began advancing toward Seo Ye-in. They¡¯re splitting us up. Four against two and two against Seo Ye-in. Four would take on Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Jun-seok, while two focused on restraining Seo Ye-in. I decided to back up Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Just hold out for now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod before stepping backward and opening fire. Tudududu! As if that had been a signal, the four swordsmen swiftly closed the distance. Each of their blades gleamed with a sharp aura. ¡°I won¡¯t let you through.¡± Baek Jun-seok raised his shield and blocked their path. It should have been an annoyance, yet Sa Gong-wook only grinned. ¡°One down first.¡± Shwaaaak! With that, they focused all their attacks on Baek Jun-seok. Even though he was from the knight class, he was the weakest among us, making him an easy target to eliminate quickly. Blades came slashing in from four directions. Baek Jun-seok had no way to avoid taking damage. But then, a small dark cloud suddenly appeared between them¡ª ¡°Soft and cushy¡± Boom! In an instant, the cloud swelled up and deflected the incoming blades. The swordsmen stumbled back a few steps before adjusting their stances. As they did, a gust of wind rushed toward them. But before it could reach them, Sa Gong-wook gave a sharp command. ¡°Dodge.¡± The swordsmen quickly shifted their footwork and evaded the whirlwind. As expected, they weren¡¯t going to fall for the same trick as before. That¡¯s exactly why I faked it. It wasn¡¯t Spiral Explosion. Just a simple Twister to stir up some wind. Meanwhile, I redirected my remaining energy elsewhere. [Wind Force] Boom! Compressed air exploded, sending Sa Gong-wook flying. As expected of someone in the 900-point range, he landed steadily and tried to return to his original position. But¡ª ¡°Isolation.¡± Before he could, an ice wall surged up, sealing off the passage completely. From the other side, Sa Gong-wook¡¯s panicked voice rang out. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± Clang! Clang! Clang! He hacked away at the ice with his sword, but whether he could break through was another question. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± The sudden turn of events threw the remaining swordsmen into confusion. With their leader trapped, they had to decide whether to continue fighting Baek Jun-seok or try to break through the ice wall. Before they could make up their minds, Hong Yeon-hwa made the choice for them. [Reverse Curtain] Fwoooosh. Flames flared up beneath Baek Jun-seok¡¯s feet, forming a round barrier that encased him. ¡°......!¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Realizing they had to end the fight before more defensive magic stacked up, the swordsmen made their move. Three blades surged toward Baek Jun-seok. Swish! The first strike cut through the Reverse Curtain, leaving a deep gash. From the opening, flames burst out wildly. Whoosh! As the first swordsman retreated to avoid the fire, the second immediately stepped in and swung his sword. Baek Jun-seok barely managed to block it. Right then, the third swordsman lunged forward, aiming to pierce him¡ª Boom! ¡ªbut was blasted back by Wind Force before slamming into the wall. While keeping up the pressure on the remaining enemies, I stole a quick glance over my shoulder. . She¡¯s holding her own. Behind me, Seo Ye-in was locked in battle with two swordsmen. One was in the 900-point range, the other in the 600s. For convenience, I decided to call them ¡°Nine¡± and ¡°Six¡±. The two worked in perfect sync, attacking Seo Ye-in from both front and back. Meanwhile, she weaved between their strikes with Feather Walk and kept firing her magic gun in between. Ratatatatatatata! But Nine was no ordinary fighter. He skillfully dodged the mana bullets at close range, deflecting some with precise movements. He even used his sword aura to strike at her magic gun or target her hands, trying to disrupt her attacks. ¡°.......¡± Perhaps she realized this wasn¡¯t going to work. Seo Ye-in suddenly let go of her magic gun. Immediately, the weapon began to disassemble and reassemble itself¡ª It was transforming into a different form. But in the meantime, she was almost completely defenseless. Sensing the opportunity, Nine and Six simultaneously surged forward and unleashed a flurry of sword strikes. Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash¡ª! Blades came crashing down like a net, closing in on her. Yet Seo Ye-in simply watched, as if it were someone else¡¯s problem. Then, in the decisive moment¡ª Flash! Gray eyes gleamed with an eerie light. Seo Ye-in¡¯s body moved as if gliding, slipping through the small gaps between the sword energies. She had linked Bullet Time with Ghost Dance. ¡°!?¡± Six¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Before he even realized how she had gotten so close, Seo Ye-in was already swinging a frying pan at him. Clang¡ª! ¡°......!¡± Six collapsed with his head twisted at a 45-degree angle. Moments later, he was deemed unable to continue the fight and was forcefully ejected from the dungeon. Nine who was watching this ran a hand down his face. ¡°What an absolute idiot......¡± It was bad enough that a swordsman had lost in close combat against a gunner, but to be taken out by a frying pan? After the finals, there was no doubt Mak Dae-woong would beat the hell out of him. Of course, Nine knew he could end up in the same position at any moment. Perhaps that was why he continued the fight in a state of extreme tension. He poured an overwhelming amount of sword energy into his blade and swung. Slaaash! Seo Ye-in met his attack with a frying pan, but there was no way she could match him. The only reason she had managed to take down Six was by using Ghost Dance to gain a brief advantage. Her actual close-combat skills were barely above a beginner¡¯s level. As a result, the battle was decided within just a few exchanges. The frying pan was sliced cleanly in half by his sword aura. Seo Ye-in stared at the remaining handle of the frying pan with a sad expression. ¡°......A shame.¡± ¡°This is the end!¡± Nine lunged forward, ready to deliver the final blow. But then, his eyes widened in shock. Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic gun had finished reassembling itself¡ª And what emerged was a shotgun. ¡°No way¡ª¡± Boom¡ª!! A barrage of magic bullets scattered through the air, blasting Nine away. ¡°Gaaahhh!!¡± ¡°......Vengeance for the frying pan.¡± In the meantime, we had already taken care of the remaining swordsmen. The only one left was Sa Gong-wook who was still hacking away at the ice wall with all his might. Crack, crack! His efforts weren¡¯t entirely in vain. Small fractures had begun to spread across the ice. And just as a corner of the wall broke off and crumbled, the entire thing collapsed. Of course, that was because I had dispelled it myself to save time. ¡°.......¡± As soon as the ice wall fell, Sa Gong-wook hurried to assess the situation. But all he saw was us, completely unscathed¡ª And Seo Ye-in aiming a shotgun straight at him. I offered him a few parting words. ¡°Send my regards to your senior.¡± ¡°You bastard¡ª¡± Boom!! After reducing Sa Gong-wook to dust, we took a moment to mourn the late frying pan. Seo Ye-in seemed particularly regretful as if she had grown attached to it. ¡°......A shame.¡± ¡°It¡¯s in a better place now.¡± That is, if kitchenware had an afterlife. At the same time, I casually threw out a remark. ¡°You¡¯ll have to be careful with the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot. If this happens again, what then?¡± ¡°......!¡± Her gray eyes widened. She was probably picturing the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot being sliced clean in half. Leaving the stunned Seo Ye-in behind, I moved on to check our loot. The items had dropped when Sa Gong-wook¡¯s gang went down. [Calorie Bar] ¡Á2 [Earplugs] [Cheese Box] [Healing Scroll] ¡°Quite the haul.¡± Just yesterday, I wouldn¡¯t have even dreamed of getting this much. It seemed PVP rewards would only get bigger from here. Which also meant battles would become even more frequent. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡± We began moving toward the Cheese Room, just as we had originally planned. *** We walked for a long while, checked the map, walked some more, checked the map again, and repeated the process several times. Before long, we were almost at the Cheese Room. Just then, a familiar sound rang out. Fizzzz¡ª The sound of a radio. Everyone quickly exchanged glances. ¡°.......!¡± ¡°.......!¡± If the radio was working, it meant the other pair of Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s team had finally gotten their hands on one as well. A voice came through right after, confirming our suspicion. ¨C Hey, hey, can you hear me? You can hear me, right? It seemed Shin Byeong-cheol had taken the radio instead of Go Hyun-woo. I responded immediately. ¡°I hear you, but why do you sound so frantic?¡± ¨C Hey, hey, where are you guys?! ¡°We¡¯re almost at the Cheese Room. Why?¡± ¨C We¡¯re almost¡ªfizz¡ªthere too! As expected, they had figured things out on their own and were already making their way to the Cheese Room. But the urgency in his voice wasn¡¯t a good sign. I kept pressing for more information. ¡°Are you being chased?¡± ¨C Yeah! Yeah! Get over here, quick! ¡°Your location?¡± ¨C We¡¯re at¡ª The moment Shin Byeong-cheol gave us a rough estimate of their location, we picked up the pace. Before long, we spotted them in the distance. Tiny figures were running toward us. And behind them, a swarm of other participants was in hot pursuit. Even from afar, I could tell there were at least seven or eight of them. Baek Jun-seok immediately moved to go help, but I raised a hand to stop him. ¡°Hold on.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hide here.¡± I motioned with my chin toward a corner. It was perfect for concealing ourselves. At the same time, I looked at Hong Yeon-hwa and pointed to the ground. She seemed to understand my intention. She gave a small nod before quietly beginning to chant a spell. As layers of Fire Pillar magic circles formed on the ground, I continued exchanging messages with Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°Do you see us?¡± ¨C I see you! But why are you hiding?! ¡°Just keep coming. Trust us.¡± If we revealed ourselves now, there was a high chance we¡¯d be forced into a fight. I was confident we could win, but we¡¯d inevitably take some damage as well. There was also a slight possibility that the moment they spotted us, they¡¯d abandon the chase and flee instead. If they were just a bunch of nobodies, they¡¯d probably turn tail the moment they saw Hong Yeon-hwa. Of course, neither scenario sat well with me. I didn¡¯t want to take any damage before an important battle, and I sure as hell didn¡¯t want to let the bastards who went after my teammates walk away unscathed. So I made my choice. Set a trap. Soon, I heard the frantic sound of footsteps. Shin Byeong-cheol and Go Hyun-woo rounded the corner while panting. Right behind them, the footsteps of their pursuers grew louder. Peeking out slightly, I waited until they were positioned perfectly over the magic circles. Then, I activated my skills. [Activated ¡®Tentacle Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Ice Wall¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Ice Wall¡¯.] Thud! Two layers of ice walls shot up in front and behind them, trapping them completely. Panicked voices erupted from inside. ¨C Wh-What the hell?! ¨C A trap!? ¨C These are magic circles! ¨C Break the walls! Hurry! .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } With that many of them hammering at it, the Ice Wall wouldn¡¯t hold for long. But I had no intention of giving them even a second. With a quick glance, I signaled Hong Yeon-hwa. She activated the magic circles. Fwooooooooooooooosh! Chapter 316: 18th Week Final Exam (9) Fwooooooooooooooosh! The power of the overlapping Fire Pillars was truly overwhelming. The sheer heat alone was enough to melt the B-rank Ice Wall in an instant. And the pursuers weren¡¯t just feeling the heat. They were standing right where the pillars of fire had erupted. The outcome was obvious even without looking. A moment later, as the flames died down, only scattered items remained where they had stood. [Cheese Box] [Earplugs] [Cheese Box] [Calorie Bar] ....... Two more Cheese Boxes were added to the count. Including the ones dropped by Sa Gong-wook¡¯s group and those obtained from the cheese room, the total had now reached six, accumulating a whopping 2,100 points already. Of course, there was still the issue of safely carrying them to the exit. On top of that, various other items were piled up in abundance. There were more than enough earplugs, calorie bars, and sleeping bags for everyone to have their share. Shin Byeong-cheol let out a small laugh. ¡°Wow... We¡¯re loaded now. But seriously, how did you even think of setting a trap there?¡± ¡°Hunting is all about driving the prey into a corner.¡± The blood of a stagnant water efficiency enthusiast ran through my veins. My mind was always wired to minimize effort and maximize gains. Especially this time, everything had lined up perfectly. The space was confined to the labyrinth corridor, giving us plenty of time to prepare due to the distance from our pursuers. There was even a convenient hiding spot nearby, and to top it off, we had the high-efficiency Hong Yeon-hwa switch. With circumstances this favorable, there was no reason to hesitate. Click. Baek Jun-seok glanced at the items and spoke. ¡°With this much loot, we could probably skip the hidden room. What do you think?¡± ¡°That would be the efficient choice.¡± With such an ample supply of items, the chances of finding anything worthwhile in the hidden room had significantly dropped. There was a slim possibility of obtaining a powerful item like the [Screaming Jar], but realistically, nine times out of ten, it would just be a waste of time. So we decided to remove the hidden room from our plans. Unless it was a place for rest or had some special effect, we wouldn¡¯t be going out of our way for extra items. And with that, we continued toward our original destination. The cheese room. Shin Byeong-cheol took the lead, dismantling any traps along the way, while the rest of us followed at a comfortable pace. At some point, Baek Jun-seok turned to Go Hyeon-woo and asked, ¡°So how did you end up being chased in the first place?¡± ¡°They seemed to have their eyes on our loot. They just picked a fight out of nowhere.¡± ¡°Guess they thought they had a chance. Well, they did have the numbers on their side.¡± ¡°I thought so too.¡± The number of pursuers was roughly seven or eight. Even if each of them was weaker than Go Hyeon-woo, they must have judged that they had enough manpower to win the fight. Baek Jun-seok¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°There¡¯s no way they¡¯re the only raiders around... We¡¯d better stay on guard.¡± Sure enough, as we got closer to the Cheese Room, we started encountering more and more teams. Some teams were even stationed right in front of it, waiting. They were probably planning to chase down anyone who looked weak and steal their loot. However, contrary to our concerns, no fights broke out. Because our team had someone far too eye-catching. As all eyes turned toward her, Hong Yeon-hwa narrowed her eyes. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± The other teams hastily averted their gazes. They were just scavengers looking for scraps. There was no way they would dare challenge a six-person party with a promising student in their ranks. In the end, we stepped into the Cheese Room without spilling a single drop of blood. Stacks of neatly piled boxes. Go Hyeon-woo picked one up and asked, ¡°I heard it¡¯s one per pair... What happens if we take two?¡± ¡°Try it and see.¡± I answered casually. At the very least, there was no harm in trying, so Go Hyeon-woo grabbed another box. Whoosh... The second box instantly crumbled into dust and reappeared in its original spot. No matter how many times he tried, the result was the same. Go Hyeon-woo let out a wry chuckle. ¡°As expected, that¡¯s how it works.¡± ¡°No need to be greedy. We already have plenty.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± We each took one cheese box per pair. After that¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s rest for a bit.¡± We huddled in a corner of the room, sat down, and took a break. This place was a kind of neutral zone. We could stay as long as we wanted. The more we hesitated, the further we would fall behind, and the longer we stayed in the cheese room, the more attention we would draw. But that wasn¡¯t something to worry about. There were too many items for us to fall behind, and as we had already experienced, Hong Yeon-hwa would block any unnecessary trouble. Besides, we weren¡¯t just killing time. I looked around at my companions before speaking. ¡°Like I explained earlier, our next target is the control room.¡± ¡°........!¡± Everyone listened intently with serious expressions. Challenging the control room meant going up against a teacher. ¡°Of course, we¡¯re not doing this alone. I¡¯ve already spread the word here and there.¡± I had asked around to see who was interested in joining the raid against a teacher. The invitations were limited to people we were somewhat familiar with and those who met a certain skill threshold. With a massive 1,500 points on the line, most accepted my proposal. Go Hyeon-woo nodded his head. ¡°I see. So that¡¯s why we¡¯re waiting.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no better meeting place than this.¡± During the final exam, the ways to join forces with other teams were extremely limited. The most important radio tool only worked between teammates. On top of that, there were multiple control rooms and exits, making it difficult to designate a single gathering point. In contrast, the cheese room was located right in the center of the dungeon. Not only did everyone have to pass through it at least once due to the nature of the exam, but it was also a neutral zone. In many ways, it was the ideal meeting spot. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes gleamed for a moment. ¡°Are Jang-hyung and Wang-hyung joining as well?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re sitting this one out.¡± Before the final exam, I had exchanged messages with Jang Muoogeuk and floated the idea. However, his response was somewhat cautious. [Kim Ho: Can you help?] [Kim Ho: Against the teacher.] [Jang Moo-geuk: It¡¯s not time to reveal my strength yet.] [Jang Moo-geuk: I hope you understand.] [Kim Ho: Of course, I understand.] Since the duo of assassins had been hiding their identities under aliases throughout the semester, revealing their true skills in a public setting like the final exam would have been burdensome. Taking this into account, I hadn¡¯t placed much expectation on them from the start. [Jang Moo-geuk: When the time comes, I will definitely help.] [Kim Ho: Understood.] Go Hyeon-woo let out a small sigh. ¡°Hmm... I understand his reasoning, but it¡¯s still a shame. If those two had joined us, it would have been a great reassurance.¡± ¡°There will be another chance. Today isn¡¯t the only day.¡± ¡°Then what about the others?¡± The answer to that question came from elsewhere. ¡°Ah! There they are!¡± At the sound of a bright voice, I turned my head to see Han So-mi pointing in our direction. Following behind her into the cheese room were Song Cheon-hye, Jo Byeok, and Geum Jo-han. Song Cheon-hye walked toward me AND spoke. ¡°There are four of us.¡± ¡°What about the other two?¡± Since we were supposed to be in teams of six, I questioned why only four had arrived. Song Cheon-hye seemed slightly disappointed as if she had wanted to bring everyone along. ¡°They got caught up in something and couldn¡¯t make it. They¡¯ll have to move separately.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Battles were still raging across the dungeon, and if they had been caught up in one, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to move freely. Even so, the four standing before me were already a powerful force, so I had no complaints. With ten people gathered, the once-quiet cheese room grew noticeably livelier. Han So-mi who was full of energy bombarded Go Hyeon-woo with trivial questions. ¡°Did you eat? Did you rest well? What items did you get? Did you think about me?¡± ¡°I was focused on the final exam. There was too much going on.¡± ¡°Are you ignoring me on purpose?¡± Han So-mi puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Go Hyeon-woo gave a strained smile and averted his gaze, only to accidentally lock eyes with Geum Jo-han. The two had been at odds ever since their first encounter on the train. Perhaps recalling that memory, Geum Jo-han muttered. ¡°So it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°You remember me, I see.¡± ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re skilled enough to be here?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised when you see for yourself.¡± Meanwhile, the atmosphere in another corner wasn¡¯t exactly warm either. Jo Byeok stared intently at Shin Byeong-cheol, causing him to shrink back slightly. ¡°......¡± ¡°Uh... why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything, okay?¡± ¡°......¡± In another corner, Song Cheon-hye and Hong Yeon-hwa stole wary glances at each other. They had been rivals since their time at the Magic Tower and had competed even during the mentoring program. ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in sat in silence, lost in deep thought, as if she were still mourning the late Frying Pan. All in all, it was a complete mess. Song Cheon-hye shook her head before speaking. ¡°This is already giving me a headache. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just head out quickly?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s still one more left.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°They¡¯re here now.¡± When I gestured toward the door, Song Cheon-hye also turned her head in that direction. At that moment, Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji walked in and locked eyes with us. Park Na-ri timidly waved her hand. ¡°Ah, hi. We¡¯re here....¡± ¡°Grrr.¡± Even Bum let out a low growl and waved a front paw. On the first day, after taking down the Specters and the Banshees, I had extended an offer to them as well. I expected them to accept, of course. Park Na-ri herself didn¡¯t seem particularly ambitious about earning points, but as a promising student, she couldn¡¯t ignore them entirely. If all the other promising students succeeded in attacking the Control Room while she lagged behind, she¡¯d end up falling far behind on her own. Since her combat style was passive, I had worried that she and Jeong Soo-ji might get caught like the two disciplinary members. But luckily, they had made it to the Cheese Room in time. Jeong Soo-ji spoke up in Park Na-ri¡¯s stead. ¡°We managed to get in touch with the others too. Are you sure we don¡¯t need to call them?¡± ¡°Yeah. They¡¯d just get in the way.¡± Park Na-ri¡¯s team included Gwak Ji-cheol and some earth mages, but with their level of skill, joining the Control Room raid wouldn¡¯t do any meaningful damage to the teacher. So I had told them not to come at all. Jeong Soo-ji had only ended up joining because she was paired with Park Na-ri. Still, this should be enough. Out of twelve people, six were either promising students or at the disciplinary committee level, and three others were just shy of reaching that level. Even against a teacher, this was a lineup that had a real shot at victory. Now, the key was figuring out how to execute the raid. So, I spoke up. ¡°Let¡¯s go over our strategy one last time.¡± ¡°......¡± At that, everyone fell silent, as if they had never been talking in the first place, and focused their attention. They all knew how crucial the Control Room raid was. Thanks to that, explaining things became much easier for me. ¡°We won¡¯t know which teacher we¡¯ll be up against until we go in.¡± There were four Control Rooms, each guarded by a different teacher. It was impossible to tell whether we¡¯d be facing Lee Soo-dok, Seo Cheong-yong, Madam Jo Ok-soon, or someone else. We also wouldn¡¯t know exactly what skill or trait setups they had until we actually fought them. Still, since each of them had a defined class, we could at least prepare countermeasures on a broad scale. ¡°¡ªTeacher Seo Cheong-yong is a martial artist. He mainly fights in close combat but mixes in ice-type skills from time to time. So our approach should be¡ª¡± After that, we divided up roles and picked out useful items for the raid. Then, together, we left the Cheese Room. Chapter 317: 18th Week Final Exam (10) Lee Soo-dok gazed down at the final challenger with an indifferent look on his face. The challenger was kneeling halfway to the ground and gasping for breath. It was obvious that he was out of energy. If even a sliver of fighting spirit remained in him, Lee Soo-dok might have waited. But since there was none, he swung his sword without hesitation. Swish. The challenger¡¯s body crumpled before vanishing entirely. He had been expelled from the dungeon. Pathetic. Lee Soo-dok dismissed the challengers with that single thought. As the final exams began, countless students flooded into the Control Room. The reason was simple. An enormous reward of 1,500 points was at stake. Even clearing a Strategy Battle Week with the highest possible score only yielded around 1,000 points. Breaking through the Control Room meant surpassing that. It was an irresistible temptation, even for those who initially aimed only for the basic reward. The problem was that many of them lacked an objective view of their own abilities. Instead, they blindly relied on sheer numbers to push forward. That might have worked against opponents of similar skill but against him? Not a chance. One by one, they all fell to a single stroke of his blade. How dull. Before taking on a teaching position, he had spent his days carrying out dangerous missions and engaging in life-or-death battles against formidable foes. Cutting down dozens, even hundreds, of these weaklings brought him no satisfaction whatsoever. Nor did he have high expectations for the challengers still to come. They would all be more of the same, after all. Of course, there was one exception. Kim Ho. If anyone could make him tense, it would be him. The bad blood between Lee Soo-dok and Kim Ho had begun on the first day of the semester. It was during the placement test. Kim Ho had left quite the impression from the very beginning. In the dueling matches, he secured just a single win before forfeiting the rest. In the raid challenge, he walked out of a ten-minute dungeon in just over three minutes. If that had been all, Lee Soo-dok would have dismissed him as nothing more than a worthless slacker. But then¡ª 683 points. In just three minutes, Kim Ho had achieved a score that placed him in the upper-middle ranks of his entire grade. At first, Lee Soo-dok thought he must have misremembered the dungeon¡¯s time limit. Maybe Kim Ho had completed the full ten minutes? But after checking the records, he confirmed the truth. The score had indeed been achieved in only three minutes. It was an overwhelming display of skill, one that even the principal might struggle to match. A first-year student with no known background, hiding such ability? There¡¯s a good chance he¡¯s a servant of the Dragon or a spy from the Blood Cult. That was when it began. Lee Soo-dok started keeping a close eye on Kim Ho. Whenever a replay of Kim Ho¡¯s duels or raids became available, he bought it immediately and watched it over and over again. At first, his goal was to find even the smallest clue. After all, in high-stakes battles, a fighter¡¯s true skill tended to surface, however slightly. But at some point, Lee Soo-dok found himself simply admiring Kim Ho¡¯s abilities. His skill activation timing is measured to perfection. His execution is flawless. Did he just dodge that? I was sure he¡¯d take a hit. He predicted it from the start, didn¡¯t he? So that¡¯s why he positioned himself there... It was all planned. Everything was perfect. He even found himself learning from the replays. For the first time in years, he felt his own stagnant skills improving. And the more he watched, the greater his thirst for more replays grew. Whenever a match was made private, he would fume in frustration. He hides his replays way too often. What the hell did he do in there? Does this bastard not care about earning points at all? There were even moments when he felt the urge to seek Kim Ho out and ask him directly. ¨C Why did you choose to dodge here? ¨C The result was good, but... what exactly were you aiming for? Of course, his pride as a teacher wouldn¡¯t allow him to go that far. Though he wasn¡¯t aware of it himself, Lee Soo-dok had become what others might call a dedicated viewer....or even a die-hard fan. At the same time, a thought remained in his mind. What if he and I fought under the exact same conditions? If there had been no gap between him and Kim Ho as a teacher and first-year student... Or if the gap had been smaller than it was now... Would he have been able to claim victory against him? For a while, it had been nothing more than a vague question. But at last, an opportunity to find the answer had arrived. He had been assigned the role of defending the Control Room. If it¡¯s in the fixed zone, some degree of skill adjustment should come into play. Of course, even with the rank restricted to B, the difference in specs remained. The sheer number of skills and traits alone was vastly in his favor. Still, with high-rank skills requiring an A-rank core being locked and the effect of other abilities reduced, this battlefield would be a decent enough stage to test their skills against each other. Besides, Kim Ho wouldn¡¯t be alone. He would have other participants with him, which would help balance things out. The only remaining issue was... Can he beat the 25% odds? The Control Room was divided into four sections. Given Kim Ho¡¯s personality, he would definitely take on the challenge. But the chances of him facing someone other than himself were far greater. That part left him feeling regretful, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Lee Soo-dok clicked his tongue quietly. Looks like I¡¯ll have to leave it up to luck. Just then, the heavy iron door creaked open, and a group of students walked in. Unlike the previous challengers, they seemed well-prepared. Judging by the number of promising students and disciplinary committee members among them, they had come with serious intent. And amidst them, he spotted Kim Ho. ¡°...You¡¯re here.¡± When Lee Soo-dok lifted the corners of his lips, his scars twisted, giving him the appearance of a menacing specter. It was the expression he wore when he was truly enjoying himself. *** The moment I saw Lee Soo-dok, I let out a sigh in my head. Of course, things were never going to go smoothly. It seemed that my lucky charm hadn¡¯t kicked in this time. If it had been Seo Cheong-yong, Hong Yeon-hwa would have taken the lead. Madam Jo Ok-soon would have been relatively easy to handle as well. I didn¡¯t bother mentioning it to the group, as it would only dampen their morale, but out of the four teachers, the most difficult opponent was undoubtedly Lee Soo-dok. He was known to be more skilled than the others. His abilities were honed through countless real battles. That meant he was specialized in close combat. There was a reason the principal had recruited him as a close-combat teacher. Not to mention, he was practically a human butcher. Having observed him during the former Labyrinth Raid, I knew all too well why Lee Soo-dok had earned that nickname. A brutal fighting style, driven by an overwhelming bloodlust, as if he was determined to kill his opponent by any means necessary. No matter how we won, the cost of victory would be steep. Still, there¡¯s no choice now. They couldn¡¯t head to another Control Room, and there was no way Lee Soo-dok would simply let them pass. The only option was to defeat him and move forward. At last, Lee Soo-dok lowered his huge cleaver-like blade. Then, after scanning each of us in turn, he finally spoke. ¡°Like I explained before, the condition for occupying the Control Room is to reduce my health by a certain amount.¡± A moment later, a health gauge appeared above his head. [Lee Soo-dok: 100%] ¡°If you bring it down to 90%, I¡¯ll pull the lever. But... there are twelve of you. That seems a bit excessive.¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t a limit on the number of participants, as far as I recall.¡± At that, Lee Soo-dok casually nodded. ¡°Of course, there wasn¡¯t. But no one said I couldn¡¯t adjust the difficulty at my discretion.¡± ¡°......!¡± With that, he pulled out a transparent orb from his coat and infused it with mana. The orb gleamed with an eerie violet hue and emitted a piercing, ultrasonic sound. Giiiing¡ª A few seconds later, ghostly monsters began to phase through the walls. Specters, banshees, doppelgangers. The violet orb was summoning them. Before we could even think about taking down Lee Soo-dok, we would have to deal with these creatures first. ¡°Twenty should be enough.¡± ¡°Then, would it be fair if I used an item as well?¡± ¡°Go ahead. By all means.¡± With Lee Soo-dok¡¯s permission, I pulled out an [Exorcism Talisman] from my subspace bag. It was an item that Hong Yeon-hwa had managed to acquire by sheer luck. When attached to a surface, it created a barrier that blocked ghost-type monsters from approaching. And if torn, its effect would be even greater. I had a feeling I¡¯d end up using this. These kinds of hunches never missed. With that thought, I tore the talisman clean in half. A formless energy rippled outward, spreading through the air. ¨C ......! ¨C ......! The ghost monsters, which had been drifting through the air, suddenly froze in place. Then, as if struck by sheer terror, they scattered in all directions. In an instant, the control room returned to its original state. Lee Soo-dok stared at me with intense eyes. ¡°......Did you predict this too?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare it in advance. I just happened to have it and used it.¡± As I glanced to the side, I noticed Hong Yeon-hwa beaming with pride. Her expression seemed to ask, ¡°Didn¡¯t I find something useful?¡± Since she had done a good job, I gave her a subtle nod before turning back to Lee Soo-dok. He silently bobbed his head in acknowledgment. ¡°Even if it was luck, you handled it well. I¡¯ll stop adjusting the difficulty here.¡± ¡°.........!¡± For a brief moment, relief flickered across my party¡¯s faces. Only to be replaced by grim determination once more. They had seen Lee Soo-dok rest a huge cleaver on his shoulder. No matter what, we still had to face him. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s begin. Step forward.¡± ¡°........!¡± ¡°........!¡± With those words, the control room raid had officially begun. We had already divided our roles back in the cheese room. The melee fighters would take the front line, while those with more mobility would act as all-rounders. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa and Park Na-ri would be working as a duo and positioning themselves in the rear. As everyone moved into their designated positions, Lee Soo-dok raised his huge cleaver behind him. Then, in an instant, I felt his energy surge to an overwhelming peak. He¡¯s pulling out a big move right from the start. I had seen this technique before when we cleared the previous labyrinth, so I shouted to my party members. ¡°Dodge!¡± At the same time, I used Wind Force to lift them slightly off the ground or push them to the side. And just a split second later, a huge wave of blade energy tore through the battlefield. Whooooooooooosh¡ª! Lee Soo-dok¡¯s tone carried a mix of admiration and satisfaction. ¡°Well dodged. Normally, I take out three or four with that right at the start. However¡ª¡± Before anyone could react, he was suddenly right in front of Baek Jun-seok. His huge cleaver was raised high above his head. He had used the powerful strike to break our formation, then closed the distance in an instant. ¡°A raid isn¡¯t something you do alone. No matter how good the leader is, if the individuals lack the necessary skill¡ª¡± ¡°Guh...!¡± Baek Jun-seok hastily raised his shield just as Lee Soo-dok¡¯s cleaver came crashing down. Slaaash¡ª! ¡°¡ªthis is what happens. Keep moving forward.¡± ¡°......!¡± Baek Jun-seok stood frozen and his eyes widened with disbelief. A thin, clean line had been carved straight through his shield and through him, from the crown of his head down to his groin. A moment later, he was forcibly ejected from the dungeon. The safety mechanism had saved him, but if this had been a real battle, he would have been sliced in half on the spot. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± Everyone was too stunned to speak. Baek Jun-seok may not have been the strongest, but as a knight-class fighter, his defensive capabilities were high. We had assumed he could endure at least one or two strikes if he focused on blocking. But Lee Soo-dok had cut through him in a single blow. And yet, to Lee Soo-dok, it was nothing. ¡°Next.¡± Chapter 318: 18th Week Final Exam (11) The moment the battle began, we lost a party member, but everyone remained calm as they surrounded Lee Soo-dok. The first to move was Bum. He crouched for a brief moment before springing forward like a coiled spring. ¡°Krhhng!¡± Instead of pouncing directly at Lee Soo-dok, he leaped just past him, aiming to slash as he passed. At the same time, Geum Jo-han attacked from the side, while Go Hyeon-woo and Han So-mi struck from the front. Lee Soo-dok responded by stepping forward and swinging his blade like a windmill. Clang! Every attack surging toward him was deflected by that single motion. Then he slashed his cleaver straight at Go Hyeon-woo, but instead of dodging, Go Hyeon-woo met the attack head-on and struck upward with his sword. Clang! The huge cleaver was knocked slightly off course. Caught off guard by the unexpected outcome, Lee Soo-dok¡¯s stance wavered for a brief moment. And in that fleeting instant, Han So-mi¡¯s sword energy grazed past him. [Lee Soo-dok: 100%] [Lee Soo-dok: 99%] Lee Soo-dok¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a practiced attack form.¡± ¡°Someone has to take on that role, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Well done. That¡¯s how teamwork should be.¡± ¡°Krhhng!¡± This time, Bum lunged from behind. Jo Byeok moved in sync with him, while the swordsmen continued their assault. But instead of swinging his blade, Lee Soo-dok simply lifted one foot off the ground. Then he stomped down with full force. Boom! ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± A shockwave rippled outward, briefly lifting everyone off the ground. Lee Soo-dok immediately kicked off the floor and then appeared right in front of Geum Jo-han. With his cleaver raised high above his head. But just before Geum Jo-han could be split in two¡ª Tudududu! Magic bullets and streaks of lightning came flying in. The observing all-rounders had stepped in to provide support. Even if Lee Soo-dok managed to take down Geum Jo-han, the cost would be too great. He had no choice but to abandon his attack and retreat. However, even as he pulled back, he unleashed a shockwave. Boom! ¡°Urgh!¡± Geum Jo-han took a direct hit to the face and tumbled across the ground. He barely managed to evade the blade energy that followed right after. Then, without hesitation, he rejoined the battle. Meanwhile, I observed the situation from the rear. Yeah... this isn¡¯t going to be easy. Lee Soo-dok¡¯s class was Blade Master. His skills and traits were entirely focused on martial arts, built around sheer strength and speed. Basically, he¡¯s ridiculously fast and absurdly strong. His swordsmanship was a direct expression of those strengths. On top of that, his stats were high and he had accumulated years of real combat experience. That was why, despite a group of skilled up-and-comers swarming him, they were struggling to gain the upper hand. Before long, everyone had suffered cuts and wounds, big or small, from his blade energy or sword strikes. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean we were just taking hits without landing any of our own. [Lee Soo-dok: 97%] Bit by bit, we were chipping away at his health. If the rear guard joined the fight, things would become much easier. But we need to buckle up before diving in. Lee Soo-dok could charge in at any moment, and the current frontline wouldn¡¯t be able to stop him. We had to be prepared. That was why the five of us, Shin Byeong-cheol, me, Park Na-ri, Jeong Soo-ji, and Hong Yeon-hwa were fortifying our position at the rear. Chopsticks were sticking into the ground all over the place, ice walls were rising, sprouts were emerging, and crimson magic circles were being engraved. Then when I checked on Seo Ye-in and Song Cheon-hye¡¯s side this time¡ª Tudududu! They were mixing in bursts of magic bullets and lightning magic, seamlessly balancing attack and support. A current of electricity gathered in Song Cheon-hye¡¯s hands, forming into the shape of a hummingbird before taking flight. [Hummingbird] It zigzagged rapidly through the air, but before it could even get close to Lee Soo-dok, he sliced it cleanly in half and made it dissipate. I rated it in my head. Out of 100 points... 0.5. Her mana might be high, but her control was as frustrating as ever. Still, regardless of my evaluation, the Hummingbird skill itself wasn¡¯t bad. For a C-rank skill, it¡¯s decent. [Activated ¡®Copy-Skill¡¯.] [The ¡®Hummingbird (C)¡¯ skill of the target has been registered in a slot.] ? Copy-Skill [3/3] 1. Thief¡¯s Step (B) 2. Hummingbird (C) 3. Ice Wall (B) If I wanted to use Overheat, I would have to absorb Inferno Fist. But that was a prohibited skill. It was effectively sealed away for the finals. Besides, I could always copy Overheat from Hong Yeon-hwa again later, so for now, overwriting it with Hummingbird was the better choice. There was no downside to having more useful cards at my disposal. Might as well try it out now. Fzzzzzzzt! A hummingbird of lightning formed above my hand and shot forward at high speed. Sensing it, Lee Soo-dok slashed his huge cleaver twice in quick succession, but the bird twisted and turned unpredictably, slipping through both attacks before hitting its mark and detonating in a small explosion. Bzzzzzzt! Lee Soo-dok¡¯s body was briefly paralyzed, but perhaps due to his numerous debuff resistance traits, the effect didn¡¯t last long. Still, it was more than enough time for the swordsmen fighting on the front lines to land their attacks. [Lee Soo-dok: 96%] ¡°......!¡± For some reason, Lee Soo-dok glared at me with eyes that looked like they were about to shoot lasers. What¡¯s his problem now? Was that really something so shocking? Lee Soo-dok wasn¡¯t the only one who reacted to Hummingbird. Song Cheon-hye spoke in an impressed tone. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve used that.¡± ¡°How do you know it¡¯s been a while?¡± ¡°I watched the replays, of course.¡± ¡°I used it just last week, though.¡± I tried sneaking in a little lie, but it didn¡¯t work on Song Cheon-hye at all. ¡°Don¡¯t lie. I own all of your replays.¡± ¡°All of them? Every single one?¡± ¡°.......¡± That finally made Song Cheon-hye hesitate. She must have realized she had just made a slip of the tongue. Watching another student¡¯s replays regularly was one thing, but collecting all of them was a bit much. Maybe that was why the other party members were giving her strange looks. With her face turning red, Song Cheon-hye quickly tried to explain herself. ¡°I-I just bought them for analysis! That¡¯s all!¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Well, thank you anyway. I didn¡¯t realize I had such a devoted fan. Should I, uh... sign something for you?¡± ¡°No, thank you!¡± Against everyone¡¯s expectations, Lee Soo-dok came to Song Cheon-hye¡¯s rescue. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with that? It just seems like she has a stronger sense of ambition than most. Even if she collected all the replays, wouldn¡¯t it be a gain as long as it helped improve her skills?¡± That didn¡¯t seem to be the point, though. But with the battle still raging and a teacher present in a public setting, there was nothing to gain from arguing. So I chose to keep my mouth shut. Perhaps even Lee Soo-dok felt a little uneasy, as he quickly changed the subject. ¡°Are you ready?¡± He was asking whether the rear fortifications were complete. Honestly, it would have been stranger if he hadn¡¯t noticed. This was already a high-difficulty raid, and yet five people had been messing around in the back instead of joining the fight. I nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see how sturdy it is.¡± Normally, when someone knew their opponent was fully prepared, they would avoid approaching altogether. But Lee Soo-dok insisted on coming in. On the surface, it looked like he just wanted to check a student¡¯s progress as a teacher. But that probably wasn¡¯t the real reason. There was no way that man cared about his students that much. So, what was his reason? I could relate a little, having been in a similar position long ago. Because it was more fun that way. No matter what kind of trap the opponent had set, breaking through head-on had its own thrill. For someone like Lee Soo-dok who fought like a rampaging war machine, that thrill must have been even more special. Soon, he began making his way toward us while exchanging blows in combat. The melee fighters tried to block his path, but they were no match for him. ¡°Krghhh!¡± Bum who lunged at him was struck aside with the flat of the cleaver. Jo Byeok was forced back by a single punch thrown head-on. Even when the swordsmen launched a coordinated attack, he responded effortlessly. With incredible speed, he swung his cleaver at Go Hyeon-woo, Han So-mi, and Geum Jo-han in turn. Then, the moment Geum Jo-han exposed a gap in his defense, Lee Soo-dok slashed him without hesitation. Swish! ¡°......!¡± Geum Jo-han staggered in place. When Lee Soo-dok passed by him, he offered a piece of advice. ¡°Your center of gravity is off. And you have a habit of stepping forward before your sword moves. That¡¯s practically shoving your neck into the enemy¡¯s blade. Fix it.¡± ¡°......Thank you.¡± Geum Jo-han lowered his head with difficulty before being expelled from the dungeon. For Lee Soo-dok, that meant one less obstacle in his way. With that, his steps grew even faster. And finally, he reached the rear guard. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± The moment he took a step forward with those words, Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s trap was triggered. Chopsticks planted throughout the area connected through threads of mana before they converged on Lee Soo-dok. At the same time, Park Na-ri and Jeong Soo-ji unleashed their magic. [Binding] [Rapid Growth] Sprouts shot up rapidly and wrapped around Lee Soo-dok¡¯s ankles. However, though they briefly managed to hold him back, he kept pushing forward while tearing through the chopsticks and sprouting vines. The restraints around his ankles snapped weakly, only to reform and break again in a continuous cycle. That should be enough. Even just those brief moments of restraint were enough to do their part. It wasn¡¯t like only our side suffered from debuffs. With the sapling planted firmly in the ground, I reached forward. [Earth Pulse] [Chillwind] [Wind Force] [Spiral Explosion] Whoooosh! A whirlwind surged toward Lee Soo-dok. The freezing air slowed his movements, while a gravitational force pulled him toward the center. His steps visibly faltered, and before long, he came to a complete stop. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. ¡°Not bad. You prepared well.¡± ¡°Now!¡± Instead of answering, I shouted. At that moment, Hong Yeon-hwa activated all the magic circles at once. The party members chasing behind unleashed every skill they had. Whooooooooosh! Pillars of fire, explosions, sword energy, magic bullets, and lightning. If all of that had hit directly, he wouldn¡¯t have just lost 10% of his health. He would have been rendered completely incapacitated. But of course, a raid was never that easy. Didn¡¯t go through, huh? [Lee Soo-dok: 95%] When I checked his health gauge, I saw that he had taken barely any damage. He must have used some kind of skill combination to completely cleanse the debuffs and escape unscathed. And then, in the next instant, something flashed¡ª Slash, slash! ¡°Guh!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± With short sharp cries, Shin Byeong-cheol and Jeong Soo-ji were forcibly expelled from the dungeon. Park Na-ri acted on instinct, threw herself to the side, and barely avoided it, while Beom, who had leaped forward, stood guard nearby. Right after, Lee Soo-dok emerged with a movement that seemed almost like gliding. Ghost Dance. Now that I thought about it, he was a graduate of this school too. The technique had ridiculously strict conditions, but in theory, it was possible to learn. After tearing through the rear guard, Lee Soo-dok¡¯s gaze locked onto me. A strange heat flickered in his eyes. As if he had been waiting for this very moment. This is getting kind of scary. Why was he so fixated on me, of all people? In the next instant, he closed the distance in a flash and swung his huge cleaver. Swaaash! Chapter 319: 18th Week Final Exam (12) Swaaash! The moment I sidestepped to evade, Lee Soo-dok swiftly retrieved his blade and slashed diagonally. I barely dodged again by tilting my body, but just as the cleaver was about to complete its arc, it suddenly halted midair, then lunged straight for my chest. Swaaash! Ignore inertia. It was a skill embedded in my shoes, [Cloudstepper]. It allowed me to disregard a certain amount of weight shift and move freely. Since sword techniques involve wide sweeping motions, they naturally create openings. By using ¡°Ignore inertia¡±, those gaps could be minimized. Or as he was doing now, they could be turned into an unexpected attack. I was wondering why he hadn¡¯t used such a great skill until now. Turns out, he had been saving it for this very moment. He¡¯s trying to activate [Distortion]. Of course, I had no intention of letting him get away with it. Pop! Right on cue, a fist-sized dark cloud burst forth. It blocked the cleaver¡¯s path and gave me just enough time to dart backward. ¡°.......¡± Even though his carefully planned move had been thwarted, Lee Soo-dok only grinned and bared his teeth as if he was enjoying this. Then, he swung his blade even more ferociously. Swaaaaash! Looks like I¡¯ve suddenly been forced into the role of the main tank. From the moment he reached the rear lines, Lee Soo-dok had been relentlessly targeting me alone. As if nothing else even mattered. ¡°Kim-hyung!¡± ¡°Butler.¡± Even though Go Hyeon-woo, Seo Ye-in, and the other party members kept chasing after him and trying to keep him in check, Lee Soo-dok only responded minimally and poured the rest of his strength solely into attacking me. Honestly, this is actually better. It would be a much bigger headache if he were running around wreaking havoc all over the place. If he deliberately went after Hong Yeon-hwa, Park Na-ri, or Seo Ye-in, they would be taken down in an instant since they were weak in close combat. In that case, wasn¡¯t it actually more convenient for him to focus all his attacks on me instead? Not that my body agrees. Swaaash! I narrowly deflected his cleaver using the sapling and the dark clouds, dodging his attacks by the slimmest margins. Whenever Lee Soo-dok threw a punch or unleashed a burst of force, I countered by mixing Wind Force and Twister. Boom! After exchanging multiple blows while constantly evading, a thought crossed my mind. A battle of attrition could work, but since I was already putting in the effort, wouldn¡¯t it be better to end this quickly and decisively? So, I shouted to my party members. ¡°Use your strongest moves! Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Even if I ended up incapacitated, I could just wait six hours and re-enter. As long as we successfully broke through the control room, we would earn 1,500 team points. Not that I planned on going down, of course. Han So-mi and Jo Byeok responded. ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± As they ramped up their energy, flames engulfed my body, a protective fire barrier formed around me, and a fresh green aura shimmered in the air. Hong Yeon-hwa and Park Na-ri had cast defensive magic and buffs on me. This feels pretty rewarding. After the midterms, I had worked hard to strengthen my defenses, and now, look at this. This was exactly what made raising heroes so satisfying. Meanwhile, I also needed to push my stats a bit higher at this point. So I used the amplification I had been saving. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú B)] [The rank of ¡®Spiral Explosion¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú B)] [The rank of ¡®Hummingbird¡¯ has increased. (C ¡ú B)] [Duration: 00:14:58] [Cooldown: 06:29:28] Everything was capped at B-rank due to the fixed zone rule. Still, being able to raise my specs even a little wasn¡¯t a bad thing. Whoooosh¡ª With multiple layers of defensive magic stacked on top of the Wind Barrier, my defense had become remarkably solid. The next moment, Jo Byeok and Han So-mi unleashed their ultimate techniques. Giant palms and fists formed from intangible energy, along with freezing-cold sword energies, rained down in a relentless assault. Whooooooooooooooosh¡ª! Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiishhh¡ª! ¡°Not bad.¡± Lee Soo-dok bared his teeth in a grin. His energy suddenly surged, and a cracking sound echoed from all over his body. It was as if his muscles were screaming, pushed beyond their limits. Then, for a brief moment, I had the illusion that his body had split into multiple figures before realizing he was activating the same skill he had used at the start of the raid. Not just once, but three times in succession. Fwooooooooosh¡ª! The entire area became a chaotic storm of fist shadows, palm strikes, sword energies, and energy waves, leaving no space to step. Amid the chaos, I carefully moved myself into the safest possible position. Oh my, someone save me. Save Kim Ho. Attacks I couldn¡¯t avoid, I blocked with dark clouds or absorbed with my barrier. As a result, I had exhausted all my defensive magic, but I remained unscathed. On the other hand, Jo Byeok had taken Lee Soo-dok¡¯s counterattack head-on and had been forcibly ejected from the dungeon. Han So-mi¡¯s pale complexion suggested that she had also suffered internal injuries. Of course, Lee Soo-dok wasn¡¯t unscathed either. [Lee Soo-dok: 93%] ¡°Not much left. I¡¯ll keep going.¡± With those words, Lee Soo-dok charged straight at me. But just then¡ª Swish... The air on the side wavered, and Seo Ye-in revealed herself with her shotgun aimed forward. She had taken advantage of the chaos to stealthily approach using Ghost Dance. Lee Soo-dok immediately responded by unleashing a blade energy¡ª Flash! Seo Ye-in dodged using Bullet Time and pulled the trigger. Baang! A barrage of magic bullets rained down. Individually, their destructive power was weaker than that of an assault rifle, but their wide spread made them much harder to dodge. And, of course, that applied to me as well. I guess I¡¯ll have to use it here. Swish... I weaved through the air using Ghost Dance and started dodging the magic bullets one by one. Meanwhile, Lee Soo-dok who couldn¡¯t use the same skill due to cooldown had to rely on other means. A few bullets grazed him before he could fully evade. [Lee Soo-dok: 92%] ¡°Grrr.¡± At that moment, Bum darted in and swiftly grabbed Seo Ye-in by the scruff of her neck, pulling her to safety. Lee Soo-dok tilted his chin slightly. ¡°Not bad. Is Song Cheon-hye next?¡± Fzzzt! Sure enough, Song Cheon-hye was closing in, gripping a huge bolt of lightning in her hand. Hong Yeon-hwa had also summoned a ball of searing flames above her palm. However, there was one critical problem¡ª It¡¯s too easy to dodge. Which meant I needed to step in here. The first thing that came to mind was using Hummingbird to inflict a paralysis status on him¡ª But it won¡¯t last long. That guy had high resistance to debuffs. Even if I managed to land a hit, it would only make him hesitate for a brief moment. Of course, there was a simple solution to that. If once wasn¡¯t enough? Then I¡¯d just hit him multiple times. [Octopus Limbs] [Hummingbird] [Hummingbird] ... I cast Hummingbird six times in succession using Octopus Limbs. As a penalty, my mana consumption skyrocketed to 36 times the usual amount. Mana drained from my entire body, leaving me with a sudden wave of exhaustion. Still, thanks to that¡ª Fzzzzzzzzzzzzt! Six lightning-charged hummingbirds took flight. They hovered above Lee Soo-dok¡¯s head before scattering in all directions, closing in on him with unpredictable trajectories. ¡°......!¡± Lee Soo-dok¡¯s face was filled with exhilaration. He must have realized that this was my decisive move. Once again, cracking sounds came from his body as he swung his cleaver at an incredible speed. Anything that got too close would be shredded to bits. Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiish¡ª! In response, the hummingbirds moved as if they were living, breathing creatures. They dodged the cleaver by shifting slightly to the side, briefly retreating, pausing mid-air, or accelerating in an instant to charge forward. In the end, only one hummingbird was cut down by the cleaver. The rest struck Lee Soo-dok¡¯s body all at once, unleashing an explosive surge of electricity. Fizzzzzzzzzzzzzz¡ª! ¡°Excellent...!¡± Lee Soo-dok whose entire body was paralyzed barely managed to part his lips in admiration. Right after, Song Cheon-hye unleashed a bolt of lightning, followed by a fireball hurled by Hong Yeon-hwa which crashed down and exploded. Booooom¡ª! But at that decisive moment, Lee Soo-dok¡¯s upper body glowed white and a round barrier of energy erupted around him. Guardian Shell. Come to think of it, he could equip up to two pieces of gear. It seemed he had saved his trump card for just this moment. Emerging through the fire and lightning, Lee Soo-dok swung his huge cleaver downward. Of course, I had also saved one item skill. A dark cloud formed between my head and the descending cleaver. ¡°Soft and cushy.¡± Pong! The cloud instantly expanded, repelling the cleaver. If there were a sound effect for it, it would probably be a ¡°boing¡±. Just as Lee Soo-dok was about to regain his stance¡ª Slashh. Go Hyeon-woo suddenly appeared from nowhere and slashed with his magic sword. Just like Seo Ye-in had done earlier, he had approached silently with Ghost Dance and launched a surprise attack using [Rapid Current]. [Lee Soo-dok: 90%] Lee Soo-dok glanced at Go Hyeon-woo, then at his health gauge, and then back at Go Hyeon-woo again. ¡°...It seems I¡¯ll have to reevaluate this year¡¯s first-years. Three of you have mastered Ghost Dance?¡± ¡°I was lucky enough to come across a great opportunity.¡± ¡°A great opportunity, huh.¡± Lee Soo-dok¡¯s gaze shifted toward me. He had probably noticed that Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in were always hanging around with me. He must have guessed that they had obtained Ghost Dance thanks to me....and he wouldn¡¯t be wrong. The only thing he didn¡¯t know was that five more people had also learned it. After a moment, Lee Soo-dok slowly nodded his head. ¡°You have earned your victory. I¡¯ll pull the lever for you.¡± ¡°.......!¡± ¡°.......!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces lit up with joy. Pulling the lever meant he acknowledged his defeat. It meant we had successfully cleared the Control Room Raid. Everyone bowed deeply to Lee Soo-dok. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You fought well.¡± Just as we were about to turn away, Lee Soo-dok called out to us. ¡°Before you go.¡± ¡°.......?¡± ¡°.......?¡± ¡°Take those with you as well.¡± He gestured with his chin toward a pile of items stacked like a small mountain. They were things left behind by previous challengers who had fallen. Among them, several cheese boxes stood out. Since we were the first to succeed, he was telling us to take everything. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Now, be on your way.¡± Everyone offered their thanks once more, but Lee Soo-dok turned his back on us as if he had no interest. *** After Kim Ho¡¯s group had left, Lee Soo-dok sat alone in the center of the control room, His eyes closed in silence. ¡°.......¡± He remained that way for a long while until the iron door creaked open and a few students peeked inside. No doubt, they were the next challengers. But without opening his eyes, Lee Soo-dok simply spoke. ¡°Come back in thirty minutes.¡± ¡°Ah, y-yes....¡± The students quickly shut the door and left. Technically, teachers were supposed to accept challenges at any time, but no one was bold enough to argue with Lee Soo-dok¡¯s words. Once again, silence filled the control room. And once again, Lee Soo-dok sank into his thoughts. Flashes of the battle that had just taken place crossed his mind. There had been too many opponents to properly gauge each individual¡¯s skill. But overall, it had been a satisfying fight. For the first time in a long while, he had felt true tension....no, he felt something even beyond that. At the center of it all, of course, was Kim Ho. Thinking about him left a slight sense of regret. I wanted to land at least one clean hit. But he had been impossibly slippery and kept dodging every attack with ease. Forget landing a single strike. Lee Soo-dok hadn¡¯t even managed to trigger Kim Ho¡¯s defensive traits. Still, today wasn¡¯t the only day. Lee Soo-dok made a quiet promise to himself. Next time, for sure. Chapter 320: 18th Week Final Exam (13) When we stepped out of the control room, countless eyes turned toward them. Some belonged to challengers waiting for their turn, while others were simply curious onlookers eager to see the outcome. Amid the murmuring crowd, bits of conversation reached their ears. ¨C Wow, they actually did it. ¨C Wasn¡¯t that a given? Just look at their lineup. ¨C Still, I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d pull it off. Their opponent was the Human Butcher, after all. Since no one had been able to see what happened inside, they couldn¡¯t know the exact details of the battle. But the result was clear for all to see. The control room lever had been pulled. All the traps in the area had completely shut down, and the ghost monsters had vanished without a trace. This state would last for the next twelve hours. If another team managed to break through the control room during that time, the countdown would reset and extend by another twelve hours. Of course, the idea of Lee Soo-dok losing to anyone other than us was unimaginable, so in reality, we had precisely twelve hours left. And the best course of action they could take during that time was¡ª We need to finish this. The final exam. Go Hyeon-woo seemed to have similar thoughts as he asked, ¡°Are we exiting right away?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s better to take a breather first.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°Because we don¡¯t know what¡¯s waiting for us when we get there.¡± The final exam would officially end the moment we reached the exit and submitted our cheese boxes. In other words, until that point, it wasn¡¯t over. There was always the possibility that someone could try to steal the boxes from us. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°...I see. If someone were to set an ambush for the boxes, the area near the exit would be the perfect spot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The hyenas were bound to be far more concentrated near the exit than in the cheese room. If they managed to snatch even one or two cheese boxes to wrap up the final exam, they could pocket the point gains without having to worry about losing them afterward. And until we got there, we had no way of knowing just how many hyenas were lurking or how many among them were skilled enough to be in the 900-point range. Go Hyeon-woo gave a small nod. ¡°In that case, conserving our strength, even just a little, seems like the best choice.¡± ¡°We need to replenish our numbers and recover our stamina.¡± Teammates who had been expelled from the dungeon would be able to return after six hours. If we used that time to recover our strength, we could enter the final battle in peak condition. So our next destination was a hidden room where we could rest. The only issue was that rest rooms were designed for six people, meaning it would be too cramped if we brought the entire group. Once the expelled members rejoined us, it would be completely packed. With that in mind, I made a suggestion to the two disciplinary committee members. ¡°I¡¯ll mark the locations of other rooms for you, so how about you rest there and meet up with us later?¡± ¡°Sounds good!¡± ¡°We¡¯d appreciate that.¡± Han So-mi and Song Cheon-hye accepted without hesitation. Finding a hidden room was already half the struggle, and since I was giving them the exact location, there was no reason for them to refuse. Besides, the more space we had to rest, the better. Just before we left, Han So-mi suddenly tugged on Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Come with me for a moment!¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°Just hurry!¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Go Hyeon-woo let out a small, helpless smile before following her as if he had no choice. The two of them moved quite a distance away before starting their conversation. Back in the cheese room, Go Hyeon-woo had put up a solid wall between them. But now, the atmosphere between them didn¡¯t seem so bad. Maybe he did that on purpose back then. People¡¯s feelings were always unpredictable. As she watched the scene unfold, Song Cheon-hye let out a small cough before finally speaking. ¡°Ahem... I have something to say as well...¡± ¡°Yes! Dear fan! Please, go ahead!¡± I exaggeratedly bowed as I replied. I hadn¡¯t forgotten her remark in the control room about how she collected every episode of Kim Ho Replay. Song Cheon-hye shuddered. ¡°S-Stop that. And just forget about it.¡± ¡°No way! How could I ever forget the generosity of the esteemed Kim Ho Replay Collector VIP Queen of Queens Song Cheon-hye?¡± ¡°I said, stop it!¡± She shouted with her face turning bright red. After fuming for a moment, she took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing. ¡°I¡¯ll... send you a message after finals.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± I didn¡¯t even need to ask what it was about. It¡¯s got to be about Hummingbird. She struggled to control just one, while I had simultaneously moved six and landed most of my shots. Moreover, it was against none other than our teacher Lee Soo-dok. She probably had a million questions, but with so many eyes on us, her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to ask now. She was saving it for later. From my perspective, it didn¡¯t matter when she asked. I wasn¡¯t planning to tell her anyway, so I had no reason to refuse. Next, I turned to Park Na-ri. ¡°Contact your team. Until they come to pick you up, stick with us.¡± ¡°O-Okay. Just a moment...¡± She mumbled nervously into her radio. The two disciplinary committee members would be fine on their own, but if Park Na-ri went off alone, she¡¯d be an easy target for the hyenas lurking around. Might as well see this through to the end. I wasn¡¯t obligated to, but since I was the one who suggested bringing her along, it only felt right to stick with her until the end. Besides, maintaining good relationships always paid off in the long run. Who knew? I might need to borrow another ¡°Cube of Life¡± someday. With our next course of action decided¡ª It was time to divide the items. The items we had hauled from the control room¡ª Even without counting the cheese boxes, there were thirteen in total. I looked around at the group and made a suggestion. ¡°Let¡¯s split them 3:2:1 according to our numbers.¡± Our team had six people, the disciplinary committee had four, and Park Na-ri¡¯s team had two. Just then, Han So-mi who had returned at some point shot her hand into the air. ¡°Objection!¡± ¡°You have the floor.¡± ¡°If we divide them by headcount! It won¡¯t be fair!¡± To be fair, not everyone had pulled their weight equally during the control room raid. Baek Jun-seok had turned into fifty Jun-seoks as soon as the fight began and Shin Byeong-cheol had set a few traps before promptly losing his head. Literally. On top of that, even in my eyes, Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in¡¯s skills were a bit lacking compared to the promising students and the disciplinary committee members. They were probably somewhere around 0.8 to 0.9 of a promising student¡¯s level. So, rather than splitting the loot based on numbers, dividing it according to contribution seemed fairer. I had hoped to brush past the issue, but of course, that wasn¡¯t going to work. I silently nodded before making another proposal. ¡°Then how about your side takes one extra? Deal?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± We split the cheese boxes into six, five, and two, and everyone seemed reasonably satisfied. After that, we sent Song Cheon-hye and Han So-mi on their way, agreeing to meet again tomorrow. I also helped Park Na-ri reunite with Kwak Ji-cheol¡¯s group. Then, we headed toward a nearby hidden room. Looking around the space¡ª It¡¯s pretty much the same as yesterday. There was no furniture or fixtures, just enough room for six people to lie down. Setting aside the strange sense of familiarity, we quickly replenished our energy with some calorie bars. Then I looked at the group and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest.¡± ¡°Buttler pillow.¡± Seo Ye-in immediately grabbed onto my sleeve. She had even set up two sleeping bags side by side in the corner. ¡°You¡¯re telling me to sleep there?¡± ¡°Just come with your body.¡± ¡°...Where did you even learn that?¡± Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa darted her eyes around and cautiously gauged the situation. ¡°I, I...¡± As she hesitated, she slowly inched toward the opposite wall. But before she could claim the spot, Go Hyeon-woo had already settled there. He said with a wry smile, as if in apology. ¡°I intend to substitute rest with energy circulation. I¡¯ve never needed much sleep to begin with.¡± ¡°Oh... is that so?¡± ¡°But as you may know, Miss Hong, being interrupted during energy circulation can be dangerous. So if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d appreciate it if you could maintain a bit of distance.¡± ¡°Uh, mhmm. Sure....¡± Hong Yeon-hwa gave a hesitant nod. Then, she laid out her sleeping bag in an awkward spot between Go Hyeon-woo and the rest of us. *** Late at night. Hong Yeon-hwa stared blankly at the ceiling. She took a moment for deep contemplation. Why? Why can¡¯t I fall asleep? Fatigue had built up considerably, and she had been lying down for quite some time. She hadn¡¯t even chugged coffee concentrate like she usually did. Unlike the previous night, Baek Jun-seok wasn¡¯t snoring loudly. In his place, Go Hyeon-woo was there, but he remained silent in a corner and was solely focused on energy circulation. Then why? Why was it that, even in these perfect conditions, she still couldn¡¯t sleep? A sense of injustice welled up inside her. They¡¯re all sleeping just fine... Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in had dozed off the moment they lay down. To be able to sleep anywhere so easily....was that the power of the ¡°Kim Ho Pillow¡±? So envious... Must be nice... Maybe I should...? Tonight too...? Should she secretly use the ¡°Kim Ho Pillow¡± again? Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s thoughts began tilting in a dangerous direction. Tonight, we¡¯re even closer... She had laid out her sleeping bag right in the center of the room to avoid disrupting Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s energy circulation. As a result, her starting position was close to Kim Ho¡¯s sleeping bag. If she so much as mumbled in her sleep and rolled over just a little, she would probably end up touching him. But just as she was about to move, a thought held Hong Yeon-hwa back. What if I oversleep again? Hadn¡¯t she already spent the entire morning rambling excuses to Kim Ho about why her sleeping bag had somehow ended up stuck to his? The more she thought about it, the more humiliating it felt. Frustrated, she kicked at her poor sleeping bag. Then, all of a sudden, a realization struck her, and she froze in place. Wait... he didn¡¯t really seem to care, did he? While she had been desperately explaining herself, Kim Ho had only asked her one thing. ¨C So, did you get some good rest? ¨C Huh? M-Mhmm ... ¨CThen that¡¯s fine. He had acted as if nothing else really mattered. Thinking about it that way, maybe this wasn¡¯t such a big deal after all. After some internal debate, Hong Yeon-hwa made up her mind. Tonight too... I roll. And so, she started rolling toward Kim Ho. Once. Twice. Just one more roll and their sleeping bags would be touching. But at that very moment, Kim Ho, who she had thought was fast asleep, suddenly opened his eyes and looked straight at her. Hong Yeon-hwa nearly passed out from shock. Kyaaaaaaah!! Did she wake him up with all her rustling? Or had he been awake this whole time? Honestly, it didn¡¯t matter. The fact remained that she had been caught red-handed. R-R-Retreat! Retreat...! She tried to roll back in the opposite direction, but her body refused to move and remained frozen in place. Meanwhile, Kim Ho simply watched her with his usual indifferent gaze. Then, after a moment, he asked, ¡°You can¡¯t sleep?¡± ¡°W-Mell... um... m-mhmm...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa desperately searched for an excuse, but in the end, she could only let out a deep sigh. At this point, what was the use in trying to explain? She was just about to apologize when Kim Ho shifted his gaze toward the ceiling and said, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°...H-Huh?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa blinked her eyes. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard. But then, Kim Ho spoke again in his usual indifferent tone. ¡°If you can¡¯t sleep, just move your sleeping bag closer.¡± ¡°Are... are you sure?¡± ¡°What difference does one more person make?¡± He was already being used as a Kim Ho Pillow, so what was the big deal if one more person stuck close? Thinking it over, she realized he had a point. It wasn¡¯t like she was going to be hugging him. It would be just pressing their sleeping bags together. There was no reason to make a fuss over it. Even so, Hong Yeon-hwa hesitated. ¡°Are you really... okay with this?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m fine. But if you don¡¯t want to, forget it. I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± With that, Kim Ho turned over and settled in again. Hong Yeon-hwa wrestled with her thoughts for a moment, but not for long. In the end, she quietly scooted over and placed her sleeping bag next to his. And within five seconds, she was fast asleep. Chapter 321: 18th Week Final Exam (14) I rested for a while before opening my eyes. Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa had their sleeping bags pressed on either side of me. It was still a bit too early to wake them, so I passed the time while sitting in place. Go Hyeon-woo was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he had gone out to look around after completing a round of energy circulation. Sure enough, not long after, Go Hyeon-woo entered the hidden room along with Baek Jun-seok and Shin Byeong-cheol. Baek Jun-seok immediately apologized. ¡°Sorry. I should¡¯ve held out a little longer.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. The teacher was the one we were against.¡± ¡°Even so, as a tanker, failing to block even a single attack is disgraceful.¡± His skills might have been a bit lacking, but his mindset was solid. I adjusted my evaluation of him from 50 Jun-seoks to around 70 Jun-seoks. Then, I turned my head to the side and started questioning Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°Hey, Shin Byeong-cheol.¡± ¡°...Ahem.¡± ¡°You have that skill you worked so hard to learn, right? The one with great performance.¡± ¡°...Yeah, I do.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you use it?¡± If he had responded with Ghost Dance as soon as he felt something strange, Shin Byeong-cheol would have survived a little longer, and he would have thrown more chopsticks from the side as support. That would have eased the burden on the rest of the party. Yet, in the end, Shin Byeong-cheol had been taken down in a single strike, while Park Na-ri who didn¡¯t even have a dodging skill managed to survive. This was something that needed to be addressed. Especially since our scores were determined as a team. Shin Byeong-cheol seemed to be aware of it as well as cold sweat trickled down his face. ¡°Well, you see... I could picture it in my head, but my body just wouldn¡¯t follow. Haha.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± I stared at him in silence for a long moment. The more I did, the more intensely he broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Practice more. What¡¯s the point of learning a skill if you don¡¯t train with it? You need to make it instinctive.¡± ¡°Ugh, I know, I know. I¡¯ll practice.¡± There would be times in the future when we would have to form a party again and times when we would have to fight for our lives in the underground floors. At the very least, he needed to use his trump card at the right moment. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa who had been fast asleep slowly lifted her heavy eyelids. She must have woken up because of the murmuring voices. ¡°......?¡± Glancing around, she seemed to realize the atmosphere was serious and promptly shut her eyes again, pretending to be asleep. But it was about time for her to wake up anyway. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh!¡± She sprang up as if startled. Her movements were abrupt. Even though she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, she kept sneaking glances at me and gauging my reaction. Maybe she was feeling guilty about using the Kim Ho Pillow last night. My question was the same as yesterday morning. ¡°Did you rest well?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah......¡± ¡°Good enough.¡± The last one to wake up was our human sloth. When I stepped back to give her some space, Seo Ye-in¡¯s hand slowly slipped out from her sleeping bag and started groping blindly at the air. ¡°Where... are you...?¡± ¡°I¡¯m right here.¡± ¡°Come back......¡± ¡°No can do. It¡¯s time to wake up.¡± *** We quickly filled our stomachs with some calories. Then, together, we headed toward the meeting spot. The disciplinary committee¡¯s four-member team was already there, though it seemed the other two still hadn¡¯t managed to join today. When she spotted us, Han So-mi enthusiastically waved her hands. ¡°Hey, hey!¡± ¡°Yeah, did you rest well?¡± ¡°Mhmm!¡± She was full of energy. Meanwhile, our sloth was still half-asleep. Then, Jo Byeok fixed me with an intense gaze. ¡°Still no luck today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Now that the control room raid was over, there was no rule saying we had to keep working together. We could fight right here, just as Jo Byeok had wished. ¡°Still, it¡¯d be better if we stuck together until the end.¡± If we ended up fighting among ourselves, no matter who won, both sides would suffer significant losses. Would we really be able to reach the exit in that state and successfully finish the final exam? With hyenas lurking everywhere, there was a good chance we¡¯d be overwhelmed by sheer numbers and have our cheese box stolen. Jo Byeok must have considered this as well because, once again, he seemed to set aside his competitive spirit. ¡°Opportunities are hard to come by.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush? We¡¯ve got three years.¡± ¡°I expect to see it happen within this year.¡± Of course, Jo Byeok¡¯s wish would soon be granted. After all, my duel battle score was steadily rising. The road to the exit was fairly smooth. The control room lever would stay down for the next few hours. There were no traps, no ghost monsters. The only real threat was the other participants. Still, we should be safe for now. With our group being practically an all-star team, no one dared to pick a fight with us. Most people turned and fled the moment they saw us, while a few kept their distance, trailing behind. Go Hyeon-woo glanced over his shoulder before speaking. ¡°They¡¯re waiting for an opening, hoping to swoop in and snatch the reward. Truly despicable.¡± ¡°Let them be.¡± I responded indifferently. There was no way they¡¯d ever get their chance. In the end, they were just wasting their time chasing the wrong people. That said, there were also those who didn¡¯t quite fit into either category. As we neared the exit, we came across a six-person team. Another swordsmanship club team. Each of them had a sword strapped to their waist. With how large their club was, it wasn¡¯t unusual to run into them. But this particular team was different from the rest. Strictly speaking, it was the young man leading the group who made them stand out. His energy flow was remarkably refined. It was clear that he had undergone systematic training for many years in a prestigious family. And if I were to sum up his appearance in a single sentence¡ª He looks annoyingly handsome. To put it a little more politely, he had a refined, aristocratic look. Though I had never met him in person, he was famous enough that I recognized his face. A promising student from the White Faction of the swordsmanship club. Mo Yong-jun. ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± My companions recognized him as well and immediately grew wary. If he was a promising student, then his party members were likely skilled in their own right, meaning this wouldn¡¯t be an easy fight. But Mo Yong-jun simply smiled and spoke in a gentle tone. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so on guard. We¡¯re not here to fight.¡± ¡°Oh? Then why are you here?¡± Despite his reassurance, Hong Yeon-hwa frowned slightly as she asked. Mo Yong-jun continued. ¡°Would it be possible to have a brief conversation with each team¡¯s party leader?¡± ¡°.......¡± Our gazes quickly darted between each other, and most of us nodded. There was no harm in at least hearing him out. Soon enough, Song Cheon-hye stepped forward on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee, while Hong Yeon-hwa, the official leader of our party, did the same. But then, Mo Yong-jun looked directly at Hong Yeon-hwa and said something unexpected. ¡°Aren¡¯t you not the party leader?¡± ¡°......I am the party leader...¡± She tried to insist, but lying was clearly not her strong suit. Mo Yong-jun simply shifted his gaze away from her and turned to me before flashing a knowing smile¡ª As if to say, ¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and come over.¡± So, he already knew. Since he had called me out so directly, there was no point in denying it. I stepped forward, moving a little away from the group to stand with Song Cheon-hye and Mo Yong-jun. And then, I asked the most pressing question on my mind. ¡°You know who I am?¡± ¡°Not in detail. But I do know you¡¯re hiding something. Just like you are right now.¡± ¡°This is the first time we¡¯ve met in person, though.¡± ¡°Not quite. I¡¯ve unintentionally seen you coming and going from the vice president¡¯s office a few times.¡± I had visited Jegal So-so¡¯s office a few times regarding the Black Death dungeon, the Treasure Map, and the Gathering of Villains. Even members of the swordsmanship club couldn¡¯t freely step into the vice president¡¯s office, yet an outsider, who was also a first-year, had been going in and out multiple times. It was only natural for people to wonder who I was. Mo Yong-jun continued speaking. ¡°I asked the vice president about you, but she wouldn¡¯t give me an answer. My curiosity got the better of me, so I did some digging here and there. To put it simply, I found the results quite interesting.¡± ¡°I see.¡± If he had investigated that far, it was no surprise that he was convinced I was hiding something. With that mystery resolved, it was time to get to the main point. ¡°So, what kind of proposal do you have?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not too much to ask, do you happen to have any spare cheese boxes?¡± ¡°Well, I have a few.¡± I currently had a total of twelve cheese boxes. Three from the cheese room, One from Sa Gong-wook¡¯s group, Two obtained while taking down the pursuers after meeting up with Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol, And six from the thirteen we acquired in the control room. Of course, there was no need to report the exact numbers, so I simply said that we had some to spare. Song Cheon-hye gave a similar answer. At that, Mo Yong-jun asked, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to buy some of your extra boxes. I¡¯ll make sure the price is fair.¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± Song Cheon-hye responded without a moment¡¯s hesitation. For her, nothing was more important than her final exam scores. No matter what he offered, a deal was out of the question. Mo Yong-jun nodded his head as if he had expected this outcome. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, but I understand.¡± With that, Song Cheon-hye immediately returned to her group, while Mo Yong-jun turned his gaze to me. ¡°Can I take that to mean you¡¯re open to negotiation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hear you out. But first. What do you even need them for?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t just about boosting my exam scores a little.¡± According to Mo Yong-jun, some teams near the exit route had no cheese boxes at all. They had lost their cheese boxes for various reasons. Whether it was continuous battles with other teams or ghost monsters, failed attempts to break through the control room, and more. ¡°At this rate, they¡¯ll end up with zero points. Wouldn¡¯t that be a bit too tragic?¡± ¡°They brought it on themselves.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s the final exam. Even if they can¡¯t get a perfect score, I¡¯d at least like to see our people walk away with 500 points.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a nice sentiment.¡± Hoarding the extra boxes would only add 200 points to our score. But if we gave one to each of the struggling teams, they could each secure 500 points. Of course, it¡¯s not just pure goodwill from him. By indebting them like this, Mo Yong-jun would earn more support within the club. That would make it easier for him to aim for an executive position in his second or third year. He was thinking long-term, rather than focusing on short-term gains. From my perspective, it didn¡¯t really matter whether he kept the boxes for himself or handed them out. What mattered was something else entirely. ¡°So what do you have to offer in return?¡± ¡°That depends on how many boxes you¡¯re willing to part with. But no matter the number, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied with the deal.¡± ¡°For example, what if I gave you ten?¡± Mo Yong-jun¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°...You have ten extra boxes?¡± ¡°Just a hypothetical. The exact number can be adjusted later.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll grant you anything within my power. Name your price.¡± By the time the negotiation began, I had already done my calculations. Without hesitation, I stated my terms. ¡°A second-semester Special Training Room season pass.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Mo Yong-jun¡¯s gaze deepened. He was weighing the value of a season pass against the club support he could gain. Helping ten teams, which made for sixty people in total, meant they would each earn 500 points. This could be converted into a significant number of club points as well. I had factored all of that into my offer, so his deliberation didn¡¯t last long. ¡°If you can really secure ten boxes, then it¡¯s a deal. But... are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Sure about what?¡± Mo Yong-jun gestured toward my teammates with a glance. ¡°You might agree, but will they?¡± If we cashed in ten extra boxes, the six of us would earn a staggering 2,000 points and 8,000 club points. It was hard to imagine my teammates giving up such a huge reward so easily. I answered casually. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± ¡°You must have a great deal of trust in them.¡± ¡°I do, but that¡¯s not what I mean.¡± Of course, they would agree if I asked. But I had no intention of sealing a deal at the cost of my party¡¯s losses. The boxes we currently had would be used entirely for our team¡¯s score. Then where would I get the ten boxes? I¡¯ll just have to take them. The final Burning Time was still ahead. Chapter 322: 18th Week Final Exam (15) The ones I pointed at were, of course, the hyenas waiting near the exit. If we could take them down, getting ten cheese boxes would be no big deal. Mo Yong-jun quietly repeated my words. ¡°Steal them and hand them over... Do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± I shrugged as I answered. If it were that simple, everyone would have done it already. Even someone as promising as Mo Yong-jun had shifted his approach toward negotiation instead of force. As expected, he made his stance clear in advance. ¡°You seem to have a plan in mind, but I don¡¯t think I can lend a hand. Due to certain circumstances, I need to avoid unnecessary conflicts.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to help.¡± Mo Yong-jun had never been part of my plan in the first place. We had only run into each other by chance along the way. Besides, the more teams that got involved, the smaller our share would be. Even if he had offered to join in, I would have turned him down. I added one more thing. ¡°Still, you should follow along. That way, you can take them as soon as we get them.¡± ¡°That sounds like a good idea. Alright.¡± I rejoined my group, and we continued moving forward. Mo Yong-jun¡¯s team followed at a slight distance. After walking for a while, the exit finally came into view in the distance. The problem was that it was completely blocked. A huge wall of students had formed, and at a glance, there seemed to be at least seventy or eighty of them. ¨C Murmur, murmur... The mixed conversations blended together, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a bustling marketplace. However, as we approached, one by one, they stopped talking and began shooting wary glances in our direction. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± Their gazes are downright menacing. If we had looked weak, they probably would have attacked us on the spot. Then, they would have shared the cheese boxes amongst themselves like good friends. Of course, since there were quite a few promising students among us, no one was reckless enough to make the first move. A brief standoff ensued until a student who seemed to be the leader stepped forward. His overall appearance was unremarkable, but his sideburns extended all the way down to his jawline. He greeted us with a polite smile. ¡°How¡¯s everyone doing?¡± ¡°Uh.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa frowned as she replied. Most people would have shown a slight hint of intimidation at this point, but the sideburns guy in front of us seemed to be an exception. Well, that was probably why he was leading such a large group of students. He smiled and continued. ¡°You all worked hard to make it this far. You look exhausted, so you should head out and get some rest.¡± ¡°Mhmm, so move. Let us through.¡± ¡°Of course, I should step aside. But...¡± With a troubled expression, the sideburns student gestured toward the group behind him. ¡°As you can see, my people here are starving. There are just so many mouths to feed. A little cheese might be enough to fill them up...¡± ¡°So basically, you¡¯re telling us to hand over our boxes?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa scoffed in disbelief. Meanwhile, the sideburns student remained completely unfazed as he continued. ¡°We¡¯re not completely shameless. We¡¯re not asking for all of them. Just three per team. That seems reasonable, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Reasonable? According to what kind of math?¡± The rest of our party also reacted negatively. Even Go Hyeon-woo, the ever-optimistic beacon of positivity, furrowed his brows slightly. In particular, Geum Jo-han looked as if he was about to explode. Perhaps because he came from a merchant background, he couldn¡¯t tolerate such a blatant act of robbery disguised as a deal. ¡°You half-baked bastards think you can throw your weight around just because you have numbers on your side?¡± ¡°Our numbers are more than reliable, so that¡¯s exactly why.¡± Even so, the sideburns student spoke in a smooth, easygoing tone. ¡°You think we don¡¯t know what you¡¯re capable of? If we fight, the damage will be enormous. But in the end, we¡¯ll win. And then, you¡¯ll end up just like us.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just toss over a few boxes and call it a day? You should have more than enough anyway.¡± To be fair, there was some truth to his words. Giving up three out of twelve boxes wouldn¡¯t be that much of a loss. Of course, we had anticipated a situation like this and had already discussed how to respond. Obviously, we fight. Without hesitation, everyone drew their weapons and raised their energy. The opposing side also began preparing for battle. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t expected the negotiations to break down so quickly, as the sideburns student narrowed his eyes. ¡°......Is this really the best choice?¡± ¡°Wait and see.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa shot back curtly. Then, Mo Yong-jun stepped forward and addressed the crowd. I had already given him a heads-up to ¡°exclude your people from this¡±. ¡°Members of this club, I ask you to step back. Relying on numbers rather than one¡¯s own strength to intimidate others. Is that not a disgrace for those who dedicate themselves to the path of martial arts?¡± ¨C ...That¡¯s a fair point. ¨C If you put it that way... A few groups stepped away from the crowd before gathering near Mo Yong-jun. Half of them seemed convinced by his reasoning, while the other half likely knew him personally. However, not everyone in the swordsmanship club agreed. Someone in the crowd scoffed and sneered. ¨C And who do you think you are to order us around? ¨C Drunk on your family¡¯s influence, are you? ¨C We have absolutely no reason to listen to you. I exchanged glances with Mo Yong-jun. ¡°The support you have doesn¡¯t seem that strong.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll change that over time. This is just the beginning.¡± A relaxed, confident smile spread across Mo Yong-jun¡¯s face. Whoosh. Before long, Hong Yeon-hwa conjured flames in one hand and issued her final warning. ¡°Step aside if you¡¯re going to. Settle your debts if you need to. After this, anyone still standing here will be considered an enemy.¡± ¡°.......¡± At her words, more people withdrew from the crowd, yet the passageway remained packed. The numbers were overwhelming for just ten of us to handle. Even better. I smirked as I eyed the soon-to-be loot crates before me. Then, I threw out a single word over my shoulder. ¡°Earplugs.¡± ¡°On.¡± Seo Ye-in moved first, and the others quickly followed, putting in their earplugs. Some on the opposing side must have sensed something was off because a handful of them also put on earplugs. But there were fewer than ten of them. They were the ones waiting at the exit. Did they even have time to properly loot items? Besides, with the control room disabled, the ghost monsters had disappeared. Because of that, there likely hadn¡¯t been many items available overnight. Well then, let¡¯s give it a go. I reached into my subspace bag and pulled out an item. A porcelain jar carved in the shape of a banshee¡¯s head with a number etched onto it. [Screaming Jar (28)] It was a jar designed to store a banshee¡¯s area-wide debuff. I had saved it for this very moment. ¡°Here we go.¡± ¡°......!!¡± The sideburns student¡¯s eyes widened, but by then, the Screaming Jar had already left my hands. It traced a perfect arc through the air before shattering against the ground. But instead of the sound of breaking pottery¡ª ¨C Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah¡ª!! ¨C Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah¡ª!! A bone-chilling chorus of screams erupted, shaking the entire hall. The opposing crowd clutched their ears. Some staggered and others dropped to one knee. ¡°Ugh...!¡± ¡°What the hell ...?!¡± Their ears were probably ringing, but more than that, their actual fighting power had taken a hit. They just got hit by a debuff bomb. A banshee¡¯s scream applied a wide-area debuff. For each stack, a random skill or trait would drop by one rank. At three stacks, a C-rank skill would plummet all the way to F-rank. And the number of stacks accumulated in the jar? A staggering 28. For a first-year, that meant at least nine or more of their skills and traits had been rendered completely useless. Simply put, They were weaker than a training dummy. Whooosh¡ª When I extended a hand forward, a whirlwind surged into the midst of the hyenas. They were helpless, unable to resist as they were swept away¡ª Boom! A deafening explosion followed, and an entire group of them vanished on the spot. Their stats had dropped so drastically that they couldn¡¯t even withstand a single Spiral Burst. Then came a barrage of lightning bolts, fireballs, and magic bullets. Each time an enemy was grazed by one, they dropped like flies. Some were even taken down by the chopsticks Shin Byeong-cheol threw. At last, realizing the severity of the situation, the hyenas scattered in all directions. ¨C Hey, hey, this is bad! ¨C Run! Hurry! ¨C We surrender! We surrender! Not a chance. I had given them a chance to leave, but they chose to stay. That meant they had to face the consequences. It was far too late to change their minds now. I had no intention of showing mercy. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Ice Wall¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Ice Wall¡¯.] Boom! Thick walls of ice erupted all around, sealing off their escape routes. They were trapped and quickly cut down by the close-combat fighters, who eagerly tore through them. Meanwhile, Jo Byeok had charged forward the moment the fight began. ¡°I got him.¡± He returned while dragging along the sideburns student who was completely subdued. Still, he must have had some basic skills as he avoided the debuff with earplugs. But since his opponent was Jo Byeok, the outcome remained the same. Like a criminal standing trial, the sideburns student found himself standing on a red magic circle. Even in this situation, he maintained a relaxed demeanor and made an offer. ¡°So do I have to pay my ransom now? If you let me go¡ª¡± ¡°Not necessary.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa immediately activated the magic circle. Kwooooosh! A pillar of fire swallowed him whole. *** The battle ended in less time than it took to drink a cup of coffee. With no proper exchange of blows, they collapsed like scarecrows, one after another, leaving no room for a prolonged fight. Before long, the once-noisy battlefield fell silent, and instead of dozens of participants, only items and cheese boxes remained. Even the hyenas lurking near the exit had secretly stashed away a few. Greed really is something. If they knew their skills were lacking, they should have settled for 500 or 1,000 points. But they got greedy and in the end, lost even what they had. Of course, it was their own choice, so not even a sliver of guilt crossed my mind. After gathering all the scattered cheese boxes, we had a total of seventeen. I distributed them among the student council team. Naturally, the distribution was entirely up to me. ¡°I¡¯ll take ten, our team gets four, and the student council gets three.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an interesting way to calculate.¡± Geum Jo-han raised an objection, but there was a very clear reason for it. ¡°The jar fee.¡± ¡°...Hmm.¡± Geum Jo-han shut his mouth. The others seemed to accept it as well. If it hadn¡¯t been for the 28-stack Screaming Jar, it was unclear whether we would have won or lost. And even if we had won, the damage would have been immense. The ten cheese boxes that became my share were handed straight to Mo Yong-jun. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect something like that. It was an impressive battle.¡± ¡°Just got lucky. Anyway, don¡¯t forget.¡± ¡°You mean this? I¡¯ll deliver it before the second semester.¡± Mo Yong-jun nodded his head readily. With this, I now had two second-semester season passes, including the one I was supposed to receive from Kim Gap-doo. I could trade them for other benefits or use them myself. There was plenty of time, so I decided to think about it at my own pace. As for distributing the cheese boxes, Mo Yong-jun¡¯s group would handle it. And even if they didn¡¯t, it wasn¡¯t my concern. Our job was done here. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Leading the group, I headed toward the now-empty exit. In front of it stood a terminal resembling a scale. As soon as we placed all the cheese boxes on it, a message appeared. [Starting calculations.] Chapter 323: End of Final Exams Cheese Boxes (Basic) * 3 = 1,500 points + Cheese Boxes (Additional) * 13 = 2,600 points + Control Room Neutralization = 1,500 points ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª [Total Score: 5,600 points] * Final Exam Multiplier (x4) = 22,400 points It was an enormous score, equivalent to about four to five weeks¡¯ worth of strategy battle points. Thanks to this, the accumulated score was rapidly approaching 20,000. By the second semester, the E-floor will be accessible. And with just a little more effort, the day I could freely move in and out of the D-floor wouldn¡¯t be far off. Not that it mattered much. My true goal was the high-difficulty dungeons, so I¡¯d still be sneaking further down regardless. I¡¯ve also saved up quite a few points. Throughout the first semester, the only things I had spent points on were replay recordings and exchanging a few coins at the arcade in the commercial district. Everything else had been saved without a single bit of waste. At this rate, I could probably afford some decent items from the student shop, but my eyes were set on the second semester. ¡°I¡¯ll blow everything on the event.¡± The underground casino, the auction house, and other point-draining monsters awaited in the commercial district. Of course, in exchange, I¡¯d be acquiring some rare and powerful items. The final exam rewards didn¡¯t end there. As soon as the calculations were completed, another notification popped up. [Side Quest: 18th Week Final Exam] ? Objective 1: Move the cheese boxes (16/3) ? Objective 2: Neutralize the control room (1/1) ? Rewards: Fixed Pin, Blank Skill Book As expected, they gave me a Fixed Pin. Once again, I could permanently make a copied skill or trait my own. The current top candidate was the S-rank trait [Retrorecovery]. However, since I had recently acquired a new copy-trait slot, I had an open space, so there was no rush to fix anything just yet. There was always a chance I¡¯d get an opportunity to copy something else. But what really excited me was the other reward. This makes it my second Blank Skill Book. It was a skill book that allowed me to create and acquire skills tailored to my preferences. Because it is so rare, there were hardly any opportunities to trade for one. The only time I had managed to obtain one was at the beginning of the semester when I exchanged the [Cube of Life] prototype with the Mother Nature Club. Of course, that trade had been well worth it, as the result was [Wind Force], my main skill. And this time, just as I had planned, I intended to acquire something that would infuriate my opponents. Once the calculations were completed, everyone exited through the escape route. For a moment, my vision went dark, but then a bright light flooded in, revealing a vast hall before me. In stark contrast to when we had first entered, the hall was now nearly empty. That was because the final exam was still in progress. More than half of the first-year students were still inside the dungeon, and there was still a full day left before the exam would officially end. The teams that finished must have gone to rest. After all, once the cheese box calculations were done, there was no reason to remain here. Most would have either gone back to the dorms for some well-deserved rest or headed out for a good meal. Because of this, the only ones left in the hall were those who had just been rendered incapacitated and forcibly ejected or those waiting to enter again. Sure enough, when I glanced to one side, I spotted the hyenas I had just taken down. Among them, the sideburns male student was sprawled out as well. He would probably regain consciousness soon. On the other side of the hall, the vice principal and other faculty members were closely monitoring the situation inside the dungeon. They were likely on high alert to prevent any external interference until the very last moment. Dozens of split screens displayed the various corridors, the control room, students engaged in battle, and the escape route. The faculty members meticulously observed each one. They¡¯ve got a tough job. Just as that thought crossed my mind and I was about to walk away, the vice principal suddenly turned to look in my direction. ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to have a word with you.¡± At that, my companions exchanged uneasy glances. The vice principal¡¯s strictness was about 2.5 Song Cheon-hyes worth. From my own experience, she didn¡¯t seem that intimidating, but that was the general perception. Because of that, most people found the vice principal difficult to approach. So when she suddenly called my name, it was only natural for my companions to feel uneasy. Even the disciplinary committee students didn¡¯t seem to be much different. Their eyes practically screamed, ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± Of course, I had done nothing wrong, nor did I have any reason to feel guilty. So, in a calm tone, I spoke to my group. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap things up here. Good work, everyone. Get some rest.¡± ¡°You worked hard too, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm... good job.¡± Starting with Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa, everyone chimed in one by one before leaving the dungeon building. Before she left, Song Cheon-hye mouthed something at me. ¨C Check. Your. Messages. ¨C Okay. I gave her a slight nod to show I understood, and with that, she quickly walked away. Now alone, I followed the vice principal as she led me to a corner of the hall. ¡°You did well on your finals. I was watching for a bit, and I must say, you were impressive.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After a brief round of praise, she finally got to the main point. ¡°The principal would like to see you. Would you be available?¡± I knew it. If someone had business with me, it was more likely to be the principal than the vice principal. Considering everything that had happened before, I doubted he was calling me in just for small talk. My finals had just ended, and with nothing left to do for the rest of the semester, my schedule was pretty open. So I answered without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m available anytime.¡± ¡°He should be in his office right now. You should head over.¡± ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s not busy with something else?¡± ¡°No.¡± The vice principal¡¯s firm response made it clear. There was no way ¡°that guy¡± was busy. It was a little odd how casually she treated the principal like some jobless bum, but at least I wouldn¡¯t be making a trip for nothing. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head over now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°Yes,. Please go ahead.¡± With a slight frown, she said, ¡°When you see him... tell him to clean up.¡± ¡°......¡± Just what was the relationship between those two? *** The Ruby Magic Tower clubroom was empty. The first- and second-year club members were still in the middle of their finals, as were the third-years. So when Hong Yeon-hwa stepped into the clubroom, the only one there to greet her was her sister Hong Ye-hwa. ¡°You¡¯re done early?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Did it go well?¡± ¡°Well, more or less.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa answered absentmindedly. In reality, it was more than just more or less. She had scored incredibly high. But for some reason, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to make a big deal out of it. She flopped onto the guest sofa and stretched out her entire body. Hong Ye-hwa who was displeased by the sight immediately raised her voice. ¡°Hey, Hong Yeon-hwa! How many times do I have to tell you not to lie down there? Do you think this is your bedroom?¡± ¡°Oh, come on! Why do you care so much? There¡¯s no one here to see anyway!¡± ¡°That kind of careless behavior turns into a habit, and habits are what people notice. If you want to lie down, go to your room!¡± ¡°Ugh, whatever.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa grabbed two cushions and stuffed them against her ears. Hong Ye-hwa glared at her for a moment before shaking her head with a sigh. ¡°Ugh, I should just get rid of that thing already.¡± The two sisters arguing over the sofa was nothing new. Sometimes, she would even march over and deliver a Fiery Back Smash, but today, she wasn¡¯t mad enough for that. Besides, considering her sister had just gone through finals, she figured she could let it slide for today. Whether she understood her sister¡¯s silent consideration or not, Hong Yeon-hwa simply rolled around on the sofa, lost in thought. That was fun... the finals. The first day had been rough. Baek Jun-seok had carelessly set off a bunch of traps, forcing them to deal with ghost monsters popping out all over the place. But once she teamed up with Kim Ho, everything fell into place. As long as she followed his lead, everything went smoothly. The control room had been a bit tricky, but considering their opponent hadn¡¯t been just any regular teacher, it hadn¡¯t been that bad. It had been the Human Butcher after all. And in the hidden room, thanks to the Kim Ho Pillow, she had even managed to get a good nap. If all finals were like this, she wouldn¡¯t mind taking them over and over again. A satisfied smile crept onto Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s lips. ¡°...Heh.¡± ¡°......?¡± Hong Ye-hwa looked at Hong Yeon-hwa with a puzzled expression. What on earth was she thinking about to be grinning like that, as if she were the happiest person alive? However, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s strange behavior didn¡¯t last long. A different thought suddenly crossed her mind. ...It¡¯s already vacation next week. That meant she wouldn¡¯t be able to see Kim Ho for a while. Almost two whole months. Feeling her mood sink in an instant, Hong Yeon-hwa buried her face into a cushion. Hong Ye-hwa watched her in disbelief. ¡°Seriously, are you crazy? Laughing one second and sulking the next.¡± ¡°Ah!! This is serious! Just leave me alone!!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa yelled. Then, as if to block out any more conversation, she pressed a cushion against each ear. But knowing full well that she could still hear everything, Hong Ye-hwa continued speaking. ¡°Hey, Hong Yeon-hwa. You¡¯re signing up for mentoring, right?¡± ¡°What are you even talking about? What mentoring?¡± ¡°The second mentoring session over the break. Are you joining?¡± ¡°........?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa slowly lowered her cushions. Then, she cautiously asked, ¡°Who... exactly is going?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll probably be the same members from the first session. Not sure if everyone¡¯s joining, though.¡± In the first mentoring session, Dang Gu-yeong had been the mentor, while Song Cheon-hye, Hong Yeon-hwa, Kwak Ji-cheol, and Kim Ho were the mentees. If it was going to be the same group... The moment that thought clicked, Hong Yeon-hwa shot up from the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± *** Seo Ye-in returned to her dorm room. A giant tiger plush greeted her. On the tiger¡¯s head sat a slightly dented pot worn like a helmet. It was one of Seo Ye-in¡¯s cherished items. The ¡°Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot¡±. Beside it, a stack of frying pans lay untouched. These were never once used for cooking. ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in lay on her bed, hugging the tiger plush and the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot tightly. As she blankly stared at the ceiling, memories from the final exams began resurfacing one by one. Overall, she considered them a good experience. But there was one incident she could never forget. Unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. The swordsmen from the swordsmanship club. During a close-quarters fight with them, one of her frying pans had met an untimely end at the hands of sword energy. ......A shame. She had avenged it immediately, but that didn¡¯t bring the frying pan back. What shook her even more was what Kim Ho had said after the battle. ¨C You should be careful with the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot. What if the same happens to it? ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in silently lowered her gaze to the pot. In her mind, a scene began playing. The image of a swordsman¡¯s blade slicing through the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot, splitting it cleanly into ¡°Kim Ho A¡± & ¡°Kim Ho B¡±. Or worse, the pot shattering into pieces, leaving her holding nothing but the lonely handle. ¡°......Not the handle.¡± Her gray pupils widened in shock. The thought alone was enough to jolt her awake, shaking off some of her drowsiness. A frying pan could always be replaced. But the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot was one of a kind. It held deep meaning for her. It was a trophy of victory, in a way. It could never be destroyed. ¡°......Countermeasures.¡± Seo Ye-in hugged the pot tightly and fell deep into thought. Chapter 324: What Is the Password The principal¡¯s office door was half-open. Still, it wouldn¡¯t have been polite to just walk in, so I raised a hand and knocked lightly. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Mm~¡± The response that came back was half-hearted at best. I took it as permission and stepped inside the office. Then, as I slowly looked around, This is unbelievable. The neat and elegant principal¡¯s office I remembered was nowhere to be found. Instead, what lay before me was a complete pigsty. The books that had once been neatly arranged on the shelves were now piled up haphazardly, forming random towers all over the place. Near the table, empty cans and bottles were lined up in a row. Perhaps out of a last shred of conscience, the random trash had at least been gathered in one spot and crumpled together like a ball. And at the center of all this chaos, the principal himself sat slouched in his chair. He looked even more disheveled than usual as he lazily waved a hand in greeting. ¡°You¡¯re here. The room¡¯s a bit messy, huh?¡± ¡°The vice principal asked me to deliver a message.¡± ¡°What did she say?¡± ¡°She told you to clean up.¡± But the principal didn¡¯t even blink. As if he had heard this plenty of times before. ¡°I¡¯ll do it later. Right now, I¡¯m just enjoying myself~¡± It seemed that the vice principal usually acted as some sort of control mechanism for him. But with her currently away supervising the final exams, that restraint was gone. So he had taken this rare chance to indulge, making up for all the times he had been kept in check. Is this some kind of rebound effect? Still, this was going way too far. It was obvious what would happen once the vice principal returned. But that wasn¡¯t my concern. I had no reason to get involved, so I decided to just wrap up my business and leave. ¡°What did you call me for?¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± The principal straightened up and looked at me as he asked, ¡°What are you doing over summer break?¡± ¡°Before I answer, may I ask why you¡¯re asking?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going somewhere, I wanted to ask you for a favor.¡± He quickly added, ¡°Oh, but don¡¯t feel pressured. If you don¡¯t want to do it after hearing me out, you don¡¯t have to.¡± If that was the case, I had no reason not to answer. It wasn¡¯t something I needed to keep secret in the first place. ¡°I¡¯m going to Hye-seong Group with a friend, then attending the second mentoring session.¡± ¡°Who was it again? Seo Ye-in? That student?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The fact that Seo Ye-in was the heiress of Hye-seong Group was something anyone could find out with a little research. Since she was someone in my close circle, they had probably looked into it even more thoroughly. They must have already suspected that I would be visiting Hye-seong Group. Calling me in was likely just for final confirmation. The questions continued. ¡°What are you planning to do there?¡± ¡°Just hanging out.¡± That¡¯s what I said, but I actually had a clear goal. I needed to get permission to take Seo Ye-in into the underground floors. However, telling the principal that outright would basically be like declaring, ¡°I¡¯m going to break school rules, and I¡¯m taking someone with me!¡± So I had no choice but to be vague. Of course, I would be having fun as well, so it wasn¡¯t exactly a lie. The principal stroked his chin before asking another question. ¡°You¡¯ll at least see the chairman while you¡¯re there, right?¡± ¡°Most likely.¡± After all, they were the ones who had suggested meeting in the first place. At that, the principal rummaged through his inner pocket and pulled out something small. ¡°Give this to him for me.¡± The object floated up gently and landed precisely in my hand. It was a wooden box, about the size of a cigarette pack, sealed so tightly that there wasn¡¯t even a visible gap. It was also engraved with layers of intricate tiny inscriptions, making it clear that a great deal of effort had gone into its security. I looked down at the box and asked, ¡°Delivering it isn¡¯t a problem, but... are you sure you want to entrust this to me?¡± What I was really asking was whether it wouldn¡¯t be safer to hand it over to a faculty member or someone from Hye-seong Group instead. No matter how many unorthodox skills and traits I had learned, I still fell short compared to actual graduates. However, the principal simply gestured toward the wooden box with an indifferent expression. ¡°I¡¯m entrusting it to you precisely because it¡¯s you. I¡¯ve placed a few useful spells on it, aside from the security measures.¡± If anything happened along the way, the spells would activate on their own and protect me. Of course, the Hye-seong Group wasn¡¯t careless, so the chances of an incident were slim. But having extra safeguards was never a bad thing. Especially when those safeguards had been set by a former Hero. They were bound to be incredibly powerful. I bowed my head. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°And besides, you¡¯re not entirely unrelated to this matter.¡± So that¡¯s why he was leaving everything to me. If there was a common link between a former Hero, the chairman of Hye-seong Group, and me... ¡°It must be the Monarch thing.¡± ¡°You catch on quick. You¡¯ll get the details when you¡¯re there.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± I stored the wooden box in my inventory. *** Leaving the principal¡¯s office, I returned to the dormitory. When I looked around my room, a thought crossed my mind. Why does this place feel so unfamiliar? The reason was obvious. I had always spent most of my time in the mana training room, and recently, I¡¯d been staying out for days at a time due to dungeon raids and final exams. Lying down on my bed for the first time in a while, I let myself rest. At some point, I drifted off.... until a message woke me up. [Dang Gyu-young: (Woof! Fox emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: Finals over?] [Kim Ho: (Woof! Fox emoji)] [Kim Ho: Yeah, I¡¯m done.] [Dang Gyu-young: Come out for a bit.] [Kim Ho: Where?] [Dang Gyu-young: Swordsmanship club.] The meeting place was a bit unexpected, but I had a hunch. She¡¯s probably with Senior Jegal So-so. With that thought in mind, I left the dormitory and made my way over. The swordsmanship club room was quieter than usual, likely because many students were still in the middle of their final exams. That meant Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so wouldn¡¯t have to worry about any interruptions. Stopping in front of the vice president¡¯s office, I knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock. A shadow peeked out from the gap in the door before quickly retreating. This was followed by a familiar voice. ¡°Password.¡± ¡°Out of nowhere?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t come in without it.¡± There she goes again with her antics. Since I had no reason to ruin the mood, I decided to play along. ¡°I can think of more than a few passwords. Give me a hint.¡± ¡°Alright. The password is someone¡¯s nickname.¡± ¡°Whose?¡± ¡°A senior who treats you really really well and gives you anything you ask for.¡± ¡°...Kim Gap-doo?¡± Thud! Something smacked against the office door. ¡°Wrong!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t easy. Give me another hint.¡± ¡°Fine. That senior even went into a dungeon with you. You fought side by side and risked your lives.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely Kim Gap-doo.¡± Thud! Another loud thud hit the door, followed by a familiar voice shouting. ¡°Hey! You¡¯re doing that on purpose!¡± ¡°Come on, I¡¯m not wrong. Give me a different hint, then.¡± ¡°.......¡± A brief silence followed before the familiar voice spoke again. ¡°You¡¯ve even hung out in that senior¡¯s room before!¡± ¡°This narrows it down a bit. But how can you just say that out loud? You don¡¯t even know who else might be outside.¡± ¡°Shut up! Password!¡± Then, a shadow suddenly poked out through the gap in the door and began a countdown. It even scribbled words in between. [5] [If you get it wrong] [4] [this time too,] [3] [I¡¯ll really be upset.] [2] Guess it was time to stop messing around. I said in an exaggerated tone of realization, ¡°I got it! The answer is...!¡± ¡°The answer is?¡± ¡°Qyu-Qyu.¡± The door immediately swung open, and Dang Gyu-young reached out with both hands. Then she grabbed my cheeks and stretched them out to the sides. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re having fun, huh? Teasing me?¡± ¡°You started it first, noona.¡± ¡°Still, you should¡¯ve had the sense to get it right in one go!¡± ¡°But senior Gap-doo fits the hint too!¡± We continued bickering back and forth as we entered the office, where Jegal So-so greeted me with a warm smile and a wave. ¡°Hi, Kim Ho. You worked hard on your finals.¡± ¡°Hello, senior.¡± I gave a slight bow, and Jegal So-so¡¯s face took on a mischievous expression. ¡°I have a nickname too, you know~¡± ¡°Senior is senior.¡± ¡°That makes us sound so distant. Can¡¯t you call me noona?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Great! From today, it¡¯s noona.¡± And just like that, Jegal So-so and I reached an agreement. Watching us, Dang Gyu-young looked displeased. Probably because it had taken me forever to start calling her noona. When she noticed her glare, Jegal So-so swiftly led me to a table. ¡°Sit here.¡± Laid out on the table was a feast. Not just the boneless chicken and tteokbokki we¡¯d had at Dang Gyu-young¡¯s place before, but an assortment of snacks piled high. It looked like they¡¯d gathered for a small afterparty. We chatted as we devoured the food. Jegal So-so spoke with a hint of admiration. ¡°I heard you scored over 5,000 points? They say it¡¯s the highest record for a first-year ever.¡± ¡°I put in some effort.¡± The two in front of me had also participated in the Witch of Corruption subjugation battle and were well aware of my abilities, so I saw no need to feign humility. Jegal So-so asked another question. ¡°I heard you also had a run-in with the Black Faction guys.¡± ¡°The Black Faction?¡± At Dang Gyu-young¡¯s puzzled look, Jegal So-so gave a brief explanation. ¡°You know, because of the Black Death dungeon issue, Mak Dae-woong and he ended up clashing.¡± ¡°They¡¯re still holding a grudge over that? Seriously, they just don¡¯t let things go.¡± Dang Gyu-young frowned, but I simply waved a hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. If they keep coming to me on their own, it actually works in my favor.¡± The reason I was leaving the Black Faction alone was that it was more beneficial this way. Thanks to Sa Gong-wook¡¯s group showing up again this time, I had managed to secure additional items and cheese boxes. Sooner or later, I would have to settle things with them. But since it wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasant topic, I decided to shift the conversation slightly. ¡°You both did well on your finals, right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± As a club president and vice president, they were probably among the top-ranked students in their grade. But then Jegal So-so gestured toward Dang Gyu-young. ¡°By the way, Qyu improved a lot.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Mhmm, the results were better than we expected.¡± At that moment, my eyes met Dang Gyu-young¡¯s, and I silently asked with a look. ¨C Did you clear it? The Hardship quest. ¨C Of course. Dang Gyu-young grinned confidently. It seemed she had successfully cleared Stage 2 of [Harship], just as I had instructed. If that was the case, then she must have improved during her training, and there would have been rewards from the Hardship quest itself as well. Achieving a higher score than expected made sense. Jegal So-so noticed something about our exchange and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Hey, Young Monarch, did you do something to Qyu?¡± ¡°Mhmm, Young Monarch. What did you do to me?¡± Despite knowing everything, Dang Gyu-young still joined the Sho-Qyu joint attack to put on an act. ¡°Hurry up and tell us, Young Monarch!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Young Monarch! Spit it out!¡± *** After the gathering, we stepped out of the swordsmanship clubroom to find that night had already fallen. Instead of parting ways immediately, Dang Gyu-young and I decided to take a walk together. As we strolled side by side, she asked, ¡°I cleared it pretty fast, huh? Stage 2.¡± ¡°You did. I thought, at the earliest, you¡¯d finish after finals.¡± She had finished Stage 1 a few days ahead of schedule, and now, it was the same with Stage 2. It meant that, despite how she appeared on the surface, Dang Gyu-young was taking the Hardship quest seriously and putting in an immense amount of effort behind the scenes. ¡°Should I go straight to Stage 3?¡± ¡°Wait just a little longer.¡± The break lasted about two months, and the cooldown period for Hardship was six days. Using it on just one person would be far too inefficient. ¡°I plan to bring in a few more people.¡± Chapter 325: Just the Three of Us? Chapter 325: Just the Three of Us? If I linked Octopus Limbs with Hardship, I could assign quests to multiple people at once. Three people should be just right. The cooldown for Hardship was six days. Casting it three times in a row with Octopus Limbs would result in a penalty multiplier of nine, meaning the total cooldown would be 54 days. If I used it now, it would be ready again just in time for the second semester. Four would be too many. Using it four times consecutively would increase the penalty multiplier to sixteen, extending the total cooldown to 96 days. That meant I¡¯d have to wait a long time even after the second semester started, which was a loss. So, I had to narrow it down to three candidates. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t just use it on anyone. There were a few conditions that had to be met. They needed to have a skill level and potential that met my standards. They had to possess a firm determination to overcome any adversity and grow stronger. And finally, they had to have built a certain level of trust with me. Considering all that, the choices narrowed down to Seo Ye-in, Go Hyeon-woo, Dang Gyu-young, and Hong Yeon-hwa. Among them, the top priority is Dang Gyu-young. As a third-year student, most of her skills and traits were in a stagnation phase, making Hardship the most effective for her. Seo Ye-in is the exact opposite. She had the fewest acquired skills and traits but possessed monstrous talent. Even without Hardship, she had endless potential for growth. Besides, we were already going to spend half of the summer vacation at Hye-seong Group, meaning there would be more than enough opportunities to train her. It would be wiser to invest Hardship in the other candidates whom I wouldn¡¯t be able to see for a while. I¡¯ll use it on Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa. *** The next morning. After idly passing the time with Dang Gyu-young, I called the two of them over. The first to arrive was Go Hyeon-woo. When his gaze met Dang Gyu-young¡¯s, he politely bowed his head. ¡°Good morning, senior.¡± ¡°Morning. Want something to drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡± Go Hyeon-woo declined with a gentle smile. The atmosphere between them was decent enough. They had crossed paths several times, and they had even tackled the Gathering of Villains together. Still, there was an unspoken wall between them. A sense of distance that neither seemed eager to close. As if they intended to keep things that way. As long as they get along, that¡¯s enough. Brushing it off, I casually exchanged a few words with them about the upcoming final exams. Then, I asked a question. ¡°What are you doing over summer break?¡± ¡°My original plan was to visit my master.¡± ¡°And now?¡± ¡°I received a letter. He told me not to waste time traveling back and forth and to focus on my training instead. So I intend to do as he said.¡± The training center was certainly one of the best places for that. It allowed for customized mock battles, tailored to any preference. Besides, the season pass for the special training rooms would be valid until the end of the break, so it would be wise to make the most of it. At that, Go Hyeon-woo added, ¡°I also plan to take part in the mentoring program when the opportunity arises.¡± ¡°Sounds productive. Good.¡± I nodded in approval. Not long after, Hong Yeon-hwa arrived. She hesitated from a distance before approaching timidly. She first bowed her head to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Hello...¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Unlike Dang Gyu-young who responded casually, Hong Yeon-hwa seemed visibly uneasy. It was likely because she was both her senior and mentor. On top of that, after countless one-sided beatings during their mentoring sessions, including the sticker battle, she had probably come to understand the pecking order. She does have a bit of a habit of being tough on the weak and submissive to the strong. Pushing that thought aside, I asked Hong Yeon-hwa the same question. ¡°What are you doing over summer break?¡± ¡°Me...? Um, not home... training at the Magic Tower...? And, um... mentoring?¡± After stammering through her answer, Hong Yeon-hwa cautiously glanced at me, as if she was silently asking, ¡°Are you doing mentoring too?¡± Feeling mischievous for a moment, I firmly shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m not doing it.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s lips parted slightly. The atmosphere sank in an instant, and a heavy shadow fell over her face. She looked as if she had just heard that the Ruby Magic Tower would collapse tomorrow. When she remained frozen in that state, Go Hyeon-woo who had been watching finally stepped in. ¡°Haha, Kim-hyung, you¡¯ve got a mischievous side, don¡¯t you? Miss Hong here looks quite dejected. How about ending the joke here?¡± ¡°Yeah, her reaction¡¯s more intense than I expected.¡± I quickly turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and corrected myself. ¡°I was kidding. I am doing mentoring.¡± ¡°Ah...!¡± Only then did Hong Yeon-hwa snap out of her daze and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°.......?¡± Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s gaze was somewhat peculiar, as if she had picked up on something unusual. She seemed to be wondering why my decision to participate or not would affect Hong Yeon-hwa so much. Still, perhaps deciding to just observe for now, she kept her mouth shut. With everyone gathered, I glanced around the group and got to the main point. ¡°I called you all here to give you a summer assignment. That¡¯s why I was asking what you¡¯d be doing over the break.¡± ¡°A summer assignment from you? Now that¡¯s interesting. Of course, I¡¯m more than willing to make time for it.¡± Though Hong Yeon-hwa remained silent, her eyes showed she was just as curious. As for Dang Gyu-young who was already aware of everything, she didn¡¯t react much. I continued my explanation. ¡°It¡¯s not just a simple task. I¡¯m giving you actual quests. Since your classes are all different, you¡¯ll each receive a different quest.¡± ¡°Huh, something like that is possible?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a skill for it.¡± I then began explaining [Harship]. It was a skill that granted customized quests, with an insanely high difficulty level. On top of that, the difficulty would continue to increase over time. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to confirm one last thing. Your own willingness to do this is the most important factor.¡± I looked at Hong Yeon-hwa first. Dang Gyu-young, of course, would accept without question, and Go Hyeon-woo was likely to do the same. If that happened, there was a chance Hong Yeon-hwa might simply go along with the flow. Before that, I needed to confirm her own intentions. ¡°.......¡± Naturally, it didn¡¯t take Hong Yeon-hwa long to decide. When it came to determination for self-improvement, she wasn¡¯t lacking compared to anyone. She would go down to the underground floor at every opportunity just to rank up her skills and traits. There was no way she would pass up a chance to grow stronger, no matter how difficult the quest was. No, if anything, the fact that it was difficult made it even more irresistible. After all, greater difficulty meant greater rewards. Soon, Hong Yeon-hwa looked at me with a resolute expression. ¡°...I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Good. That¡¯s the right choice.¡± Turning my gaze to the side, I saw Go Hyeon-woo smiling. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll do it as well. I look forward to seeing what difficult challenges await.¡± To actually look forward to hardship.... his mindset was truly different from most people, befitting a living training machine. Last was Dang Gyu-young¡¯s turn, but instead of asking her, I explained to the other two. ¡°Senior Dang is already at Stage 3.¡± ¡°Hmm, I did think her reaction was a bit dry. So she started earlier than us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Alright, here we go.¡± [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [Granted ¡®Stage 3 Hardship¡¯ to ¡®Dang Gyu-young¡¯.] [Granted ¡®Stage 1 Hardship¡¯ to ¡®Go Hyeon-woo¡¯.] [Granted ¡®Stage 1 Hardship¡¯ to ¡®Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯.] [Cooldown: 53 days 23:59:58] ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± Everyone fixed their gaze on the air. They were probably checking the quest details. Soon, Dang Gyu-young furrowed her brows. No doubt, more glowing spheres had appeared. Still, clearing Stage 3 or 4 would earn her the exclusive trait, [Shadow Marker], so the struggle would be well worth it. Of course, even greater hardships awaited beyond that. Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa also had serious expressions. It seemed like they had received some tough quests as well. ¡°I can see why you warned us, Kim-hyung. Looks like we¡¯ll be busy for a while.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll do my best.¡± The three of them exchanged glances and, almost simultaneously, let out wry smiles. Maybe it was because they all shared the same fate of hardship, but there was an unspoken sense of camaraderie in their eyes. *** Go Hyeon-woo who was restless hurried off to the training center. That left only the three of us from the mentoring group. Hong Yeon-hwa sat hunched in a corner, silently sipping her coffee. I turned to Dang Gyu-young and asked, ¡°What about the other two?¡± ¡°They¡¯re sitting this one out.¡± Kwak Ji-cheol and Song Cheon-hye had opted for home study instead of mentoring. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just ordinary home study. They would be learning from graduates or elders of the Magic Tower they belonged to. In fact, that might be even better than learning from school seniors. Especially in Song Cheon-hye¡¯s case, considering her family¡¯s legacy. Her older brother, Song Cheon-gi, was a third-year student and the student council president, while her grandfather was none other than the S-rank hero, Thunder Lord. I hadn¡¯t confirmed it, but there was even a chance he was EX-rank. On another note, I had a feeling that the messages we exchanged last night also played a role in Song Cheon-hye¡¯s decision. [Song Cheon-hye: Hey.] [Song Cheon-hye: Hummingbird.] [Song Cheon-hye: How did you do it?] [Kim Ho: Just practice hard.] [Song Cheon-hye: ?] [Song Cheon-hye: I still can¡¯t do it, though.] [Kim Ho: Then you didn¡¯t practice hard enough.] [Song Cheon-hye: No.] [Song Cheon-hye: I really did practice.] [Kim Ho: Then why can¡¯t you do it?] [Kim Ho: I can.] Somewhere, I could almost picture Song Cheon-hye trembling with rage. Since jokes were always best when kept short, I decided to follow up with some sincere advice. [Kim Ho: Telling you now wouldn¡¯t mean anything anyway.] [Kim Ho: Even when you watch the replays diligently, you still don¡¯t get it.] [Song Cheon-hye: I didn¡¯t watch ¡°that¡± diligently, okay?] [Kim Ho: Either way, you should focus on building your foundation for now.] From the moment I first met her, I had already figured out that Song Cheon-hye was a natural-born magical powerhouse. While most first-years hovered around C-rank, she alone had already reached B-rank in core. Using that as a base, she had likely been rapidly improving the rank of her skills and traits. However, given how fast she had grown, she probably hadn¡¯t had enough time to refine her control over each skill. In other words, she is all size with no substance. Like monsters or weaker students, she had no trouble overpowering opponents with lower specs than hers. But when facing opponents of equal or greater specs like Dang Gyu-young in the sticker duels or Lee Soo-dok in the control room, she struggled to hold her ground. [Kim Ho: Pretty soon, the others will start catching up to you in specs.] [Kim Ho: It¡¯s only going to get harder from here.] [Song Cheon-hye: !] [Kim Ho: So for now, try focusing more on refining your control.] [Song Cheon-hye: ...Alright.] [Song Cheon-hye: Thanks.] Not that she needed to go as far as giving up on mentoring. It seemed she had judged herself to be that lacking. She would probably spend the entire break holed up in the Magic Tower, training nonstop. I turned to Dang Gyu-young for confirmation. ¡°So that means the mentoring will just be the three of us, then?¡± ¡°Well, yeah.¡± There was a hint of satisfaction in Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression. It even looked like the corners of her mouth had lifted slightly. Not a bad outcome for me either. With the group shrinking from four to two, the mentoring sessions were bound to become more focused and intensive. Since this also reduced Dang Gyu-young¡¯s burden, she would likely have more time for her own training as well. ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa seemed caught off guard by the news and kept anxiously glancing between Dang Gyu-young and me. She was always somewhat timid around me, but today, she looked even smaller than usual. Chapter 327: Hye-seong City (1) The headquarters of the Blood Cult. The man in martial arts robes strode forward with his footsteps pressing into the blood-red carpet. At the end of the long corridor stood a huge door, just as red as the carpet beneath him. Beyond that door lay the Cult Master¡¯s Hall. As the man silently stood before it, staring at the entrance, a voice dripping with both mockery and fury rang out from behind him. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve. How dare you show your face in the Cult Master¡¯s Hall?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern.¡± The man in martial arts robes replied indifferently as he turned his head. As expected, a middle-aged man in a red robe stood there. He too was a high-ranking elder, and the two of them had long been at each other¡¯s throats, always eager to tear each other down. The middle-aged man in the red robe twisted his face in disgust. ¡°None of my concern? You¡¯ve squandered the cult¡¯s resources like a fool. Do you think I¡¯m blind? How could I possibly turn a blind eye?¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°Elder Choi who went with you, was captured. The precious Blood Fury Pills yielded no results. And on top of that, you failed to secure an alliance with the witches. Tell me, is there anything you actually accomplished?¡± Sensing an opportunity, the elder in the red robe pressed on with his scolding. Yet, the man in the martial arts robe¡¯s response remained as dry as ever. ¡°I told you, it¡¯s none of your concern. I will report directly to the Cult Master.¡± ¡°Hah! And they call you an elder¡ª¡± Just then, the huge door rumbled and swung open on its own. A heavy voice echoed through the chamber. [Enter.] ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± Neither of them could afford to keep bickering under such circumstances. The elder in the red robe clamped his mouth shut, though his glare remained fixed on the man in martial arts robe. Casting him a brief glance, the man in martial arts robes stepped forward into the Cult Master¡¯s Hall. The door shut firmly behind him. At the highest point of the hall sat the Grand Master¡¯s Throne. Scarlet drapes hung around it, concealing the figure seated there. Only a vague silhouette was left visible. Yet the sinister presence emanating from that space was something no one in the cult could possibly imitate. Without hesitation, the man in martial arts robes prostrated himself and pressed his forehead to the floor. ¡°Blood rules the world. Blood Demon reigns supreme! I humbly greet¡ª¡± [Did you bring it?] A heavy voice cut the man off and asked that question. Whether the speaker had already been informed or had overheard the conversation beyond the door was unknown....and in the end, it didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was the object the man carried in his arms. Most of the Blood Cult¡¯s operations at Dragon Slayer Academy had ended in failure. However, while the Witch of Corruption diverted the academy¡¯s attention, they had managed to swiftly break through the targeted dungeon and retrieve at least this one thing. The man soon produced a sphere that was roughly the size of a fist. At a glance, it resembled a crystal ball, but a blood-red energy swirled violently inside it. Then, as if responding to an unseen force, the sphere floated up on its own and vanished beyond the Grand Master Throne. A voice soon followed. [I entrusted you with many tasks, yet you succeeded only in retrieving this.] ¡°I have no excuse. Please, take my life.¡± [And so, I shall assign you the same task once more.] ¡°...I will carry it out at the cost of my life.¡± [The Blood Wind Sword has long been absent from our cult. Bring it back.] ¡°.......!¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened. The Blood Wind Sword was the exclusive weapon of the previous grandmaster, the Grand Protector. According to the latest reports, he had secluded himself deep in the mountains. He took in an unrelated boy and taught him martial arts. Several cult members had already been sent either to bring him back or to retrieve the Blood Wind Sword, but none had ever returned. The odds of him meeting the same fate were high. Even so¡ª ¡°By your command.¡± He lowered his head to the floor once more. *** Perhaps the principal¡¯s worries had been unfounded, as nothing happened along the way. If anything were to happen, it would mean that information about me transporting the box had leaked or that someone had set a trap specifically targeting me. However, even though he looked like the neighborhood lunatic, the principal was far from an easy target. And as for me, my identity had yet to be exposed. If I had to name a possible threat, it would be the Witch of Corruption. By now, her true body had likely regained at least a minimal amount of power, meaning the events at Dragon Slayer Academy had probably reached her ears. That said, witches were cautious and unhurried by nature. With the semester break having just begun, the chances of them making a move now were close to zero. They would probably sneak onto Dungeon Island sometime in the second semester. With that in mind, I relaxed without much concern and kept maintaining my Kim Ho Pillow Mode while taking it easy. Occasionally, I reached for one of Seo Ye-in¡¯s signature spicy cookies. Before I knew it, the train had arrived at our destination. As I stepped off the train with Seo Ye-in who was still lost in dreamland, luxury sedans lined up neatly outside the station. The dark tint on the windows made it impossible to see inside, but I could easily imagine them packed with men in sharp suits and intimidating expressions. Fortunately, I spotted a familiar face nearby. When our eyes met, Ahn Jeong-mi bowed her head politely. ¡°Young miss, Kim Ho-nim, welcome.¡± Since I had sent word ahead before our departure, she had come to greet us. ¡°Was your journey uneventful?¡± ¡°Yes, I got plenty of rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡± We exchanged light conversation as we made our way to the waiting sedan when Seo Ye-in pulled out a neatly wrapped package of cookies. ¡°A gift for the butler.¡± ¡°Y-Young Miss...!¡± Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s face filled with emotion. She was a professional, always maintaining strict control over her expressions, but for a brief moment, I thought I saw tears welling in her eyes. Of course, having already tasted those cookies myself, I couldn¡¯t say her reaction was entirely touching. Still, I chose not to warn her. The first reason was that I didn¡¯t want to ruin the moment. The second was the possibility, however slim, that Ahn Jeong-mi might actually enjoy spicy food. And the third reason¡ª I refuse to suffer alone. After all, ¡°joy¡± is meant to be shared. Soon, Ahn Jeong-mi carefully unwrapped the package, took out a cookie, and let out an exclamation of admiration. ¡°The shape is even prettier now. It seems you¡¯re improving by the day.¡± ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll give it a try!¡± With a pleased expression, Ahn Jeong-mi took a bite of the cookie. She chewed for a moment and started savoring the taste¡ª ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Then, she suddenly covered her mouth and turned away. The unexpected spiciness had caught her off guard, making her choke. I had noticed it during the Hellfire Pizza Bread incident as well....she didn¡¯t seem to enjoy spicy food the way Hong Yeon-hwa did. A moment later, as she turned back, there were faint tears in the corners of her eyes. This time, for a different reason. ¡°I-I¡¯ll save the rest for later.¡± She then set the cookie bag aside, but Seo Ye-in tilted her head and asked, ¡°Is it bad?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s delicious. I¡¯ll eat it on the way.¡± Seo Ye-in had probably asked out of genuine curiosity, but from Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s perspective, it might not have sounded that way. It was yet another moment that reaffirmed the fact that being a butler was truly an extreme profession. Soon, Ahn Jeong-mi took the passenger seat while we settled into the back. After swallowing another tearful bite of cookie, she gave instructions to the driver at the wheel. ¡°Please depart.¡± With that, the sedan began to glide forward. A quick glance out the window revealed that several other sedans were escorting us from the front and back. Seo Ye-in, however, didn¡¯t seem to care much. Perhaps, for her, this was as natural as breathing. Instead, as if the more important matter was the Kim Ho Pillow, she subtly leaned in my direction. But before she could get too comfortable, I grabbed her shoulder and pushed her back into place. Then, I firmly shook my head. ¡°Not right now.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°Later.¡± She really needed to break the habit of using people as pillows whenever she pleased. Besides, the privilege had already expired on the train, and until it was recalculated, it remained unavailable. Seo Ye-in¡¯s gaze turned slightly displeased, but no meant no. A brief silence settled over the car. It was broken only by the occasional rustling of the cookie bag. Sensing the need to change the atmosphere, Ahn Jeong-mi eventually spoke up. ¡°Kim Ho-nim, have you ever been to Hye-seong City before?¡± ¡°No, this is my first time.¡± ¡°In that case, may I provide a brief explanation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± Of course, when I said it was my first time, I meant it was the first time since entering the game world. As expected, Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s explanation was almost exactly as I remembered. Hye-seong City was built entirely on Hye-seong Group¡¯s immense financial power. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call it a small kingdom. By that logic, the lazy sloth sitting beside me was something like a princess. Of course, the city wasn¡¯t just a display of wealth. It had a practical purpose. It¡¯s essentially a defensive city. Not far from here lay the territory of the Wandering Star Dragon, making this place a strategic stronghold. It had been designed to withstand a dragon invasion at any moment. As the explanation continued, Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to exchange messages with someone. Then she spoke with polite formality. ¡°I¡¯m sure you must be tired from the long journey, but the chairman wishes to meet with you immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯m available anytime.¡± ¡°Then I will escort you.¡± The chairman of a large corporation couldn¡¯t possibly be so free, so I had expected to wait a few days before being summoned. But to meet him as soon as I arrived? Of course, thinking about it, it was entirely understandable. It is a matter of high importance, after all. I didn¡¯t know what was inside the wooden box, but the sender was a former hero, and I myself wasn¡¯t someone to be taken lightly. From my perspective, it was actually better. I could get this errand over with quickly. Before long, the line of sedans came to a stop in front of a towering skyscraper. It was so tall that no matter how much I tilted my head back, I couldn¡¯t see the top. After glancing up for a moment, I followed Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s lead and stepped inside the building. Inside, men and women in business attire bustled about, moving hurriedly in all directions. Some of them, upon spotting Ahn Jeong-mi and Seo Ye-in behind her, briefly paused in their tracks. ¡°Young miss.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± Seo Ye-in greeted them with a slight nod or a gentle wave, and whenever she encountered someone she seemed particularly familiar with, she handed them a small bag of cookies. ¡°A gift.¡± ¡°Oh, young miss...!¡± A man who appeared to be an employee accepted the cookies with a look of deep emotion. Beside him, Ahn Jeong-mi added a remark. ¡°The young miss baked them herself.¡± ¡°Th-Thank you...! I¡¯ll enjoy them.¡± Even the butler seemed to have adopted a ¡°Why should I suffer alone?¡± mindset. And so, Seo Ye-in continued spreading fiery torment throughout Hye-seong Group as she advanced. Before long, we stepped into an elevator tucked away in the corner. There were only two buttons. One for the first floor and one for the very top. That meant it led to only one place. When Ahn Jeong-mi pressed the button, the elevator shot upward at an incredible speed, only to slow down just as quickly before coming to a smooth stop. The doors slid open, revealing a vast space before us. An entire floor dedicated to the chairman¡¯s office. Only a few pieces of furniture were scattered throughout the room. By the window stood an old man with streaks of gray in his hair, gazing outside. Even at a glance, it was clear that despite his age, he was remarkably robust. No doubt, an immense force was swirling inside him. ¡°.......¡± He sensed our arrival and slowly turned his head. His gaze settled on us. The moment our eyes met, I instinctively understood. This old man is a monarch, too. Chapter 328: Hye-seong City (2) Basically, the [Monarch] trait was something that required extremely difficult conditions to obtain. I am a special case. Thanks to the perk from the reincarnation quest, I had merely ¡°retrieved¡± what I originally possessed. But when I first acquired it, I had gone through quite a struggle. One of those difficult acquisition conditions was¡ª Leading a group. Moreover, the group¡¯s size and fighting power had to surpass a certain threshold. In that regard, the chairman of Hye-seong Group far exceeded the requirements. Even when playing the game, various chairmen had qualified as Monarchs. This time was no different. The chairman¡¯s gaze sharpened, as if he had instantly recognized me as a Monarch. I bowed politely. ¡°Greetings. My name is Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Welcome. When I first heard about you, I assumed there must have been some exaggeration. But seeing you in person, that doesn¡¯t seem to be the case.¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± We exchanged a few words in a fairly amicable atmosphere, and then I took the wooden box out of my inventory. When the chairman received it and infused it with mana, the engraved spells simultaneously emitted a brilliant blue light. Fwoosh! The next moment, the tightly sealed wooden box opened, revealing a small device that resembled a USB and a rolled-up piece of paper inside. Surprisingly, the chairman focused on the piece of paper, which I assumed to be a letter from the principal. ¡°.......¡± He stared at it intently for a while before nodding to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange another meeting soon. Let¡¯s have a serious conversation then.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Take this with you. It seems to be meant for you.¡± With that, the chairman returned the wooden box to me. Even though the inside was empty, the engraved spells on the surface would still function properly. The more insurance, the better. Being outside the school meant anything could happen at any time. I carefully stored the wooden box in my inventory. Next, the chairman¡¯s gaze shifted to Seo Ye-in and his face immediately lit up. ¡°Ye-in, you¡¯re here!¡± He looked like a completely different person compared to when he was speaking to me. Even the chairman of a huge corporation like Hye-seong Group couldn¡¯t escape the fate of being a doting grandfather. With both hands slightly extended forward, he approached Seo Ye-in, as if he was about to lift her up and pretend to fly her like an airplane. ¡°.......¡± But Seo Ye-in slowly stepped back and then hid behind me. The chairman froze in place and was visibly shaken. ¡°......!¡± Judging by his reaction, it seemed like she had always let him carry her like that in the past. But now, after spending several months at school, she had returned with some random guy. And instead of letting him pick her up, she was hiding behind that guy? Yeah... I¡¯d be shocked too. Out of curiosity, I glanced over at Ahn Jeong-mi to see how she was reacting. She had taken a step back and completely suppressed her presence. She had blended in so seamlessly with the furniture in the chairman¡¯s office that I almost didn¡¯t notice her. Truly, not just anyone can be a butler... Admiring her skills internally, I turned my attention back to the chairman. The shock on his face had now been replaced by a quiet loneliness. ¡°My little Ye-in has grown up... Time really does fly...¡± Seo Ye-in stared at him for a moment before rummaging through her bag and pulling out a packet of cookies. She held it out to him. ¡°A gift for you, Grandpa.¡± ¡°......!¡± At that, the chairman¡¯s face lit up again, as if he had never been feeling lonely in the first place. It was truly baffling. What was it about that granddaughter of his that sent the old man on such an emotional rollercoaster? Fortunately, the chairman quickly composed himself. He seemed to have decided that it was time to wrap things up and get back to work. ¡°Team Leader Ahn.¡± ¡°Yes, Chairman.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi bowed deeply. Although she was a team manager, she also served as a butler. During the break, she would be overseeing both my and Seo Ye-in¡¯s daily lives. As we left, the rustling sound of the cookie packet echoed behind us. Ahn Jeong-mi and I exchanged a quick glance, but neither of us said a word. We didn¡¯t want to ruin the old man¡¯s moment. The moment we stepped into the elevator, Ahn Jeong-mi silently began pressing the first-floor button multiple times. The elevator swiftly descended. Feeling a slight floating sensation, I thought to myself¡ª Will he really be able to handle Inferno-flavored cookies? *** The next destination was unexpectedly decided by Seo Ye-in. She looked at Ahn Jeong-mi and asked, ¡°What about dad?¡± Well, it made sense. If she had come home after a long time, visiting her family first was the natural thing to do. I might as well take the opportunity to greet him too. Ahn Jeong-mi answered Seo Ye-in¡¯s question. ¡°As always, he¡¯s at the workshop.¡± ¡°I want to go.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you there right away.¡± On the way, Seo Ye-in gave me a brief rundown of her family background. Of course, since Seo Ye-in gave short answers, Ahn Jeong-mi had to add a bit more explanation. Her father didn¡¯t actively participate in running the group but instead worked in the field of magic engineering, developing various items. As for her mother, she was currently away. She was traveling across different parts of the continent. Looks like I¡¯ll only be meeting one of them this time. I had been curious about what her parents were like, but for now, I would only get half of my questions answered. There would be another opportunity later. There were plenty more vacations ahead, after all. Before long, we stepped inside a sleek building that seemed to be somewhere between a workshop and a research lab. The security inside was quite strict, but as soon as Ahn Jeong-mi showed her employee ID, we were immediately allowed through. Since she was the team leader of the Future Strategy Office, hardly anyone didn¡¯t recognize her. Plus, she had given them a heads-up in advance. We took the elevator up a few floors, walked down a hallway, and soon arrived at a large room. Peeking through the half-open door, I saw that the floor and tables were cluttered with all sorts of magic engineering gadgets. Even so, every single item looked highly advanced. You could probably put together a B-rank item just by picking up a random piece and tweaking it a little. Anything he worked on seriously would likely have an even higher rank. At the center of the room, a man wearing something similar to a welding helmet was completely focused on his work. Judging by how his hands were glowing blue, he was in the middle of casting some kind of magic engineering technique. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt, but we couldn¡¯t just wait forever. So, Ahn Jeong-mi knocked as lightly as possible. Knock, knock. ¡°......?¡± Even though it was barely audible, the man immediately stopped casting. He turned to look in our direction, then took off his welding helmet and set it aside. They definitely look alike. The gray hair and gray eyes were identical, and he had the same indifferent, slightly dazed expression. Aside from the difference in age, he was practically a copy of her. Seo Ye-in walked toward him with slow, steady steps. ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Daughter.¡± Without a change in expression, the man gently ruffled Seo Ye-in¡¯s hair. It seemed like she was a bit closer to her father than to her grandfather. Next, his gaze shifted toward me and Ahn Jeong-mi, and Ahn Jeong-mi introduced me. ¡°This is the young miss¡¯s classmate.¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Kim Ho.¡± I bowed my head, and the man stared at me silently. Then he pointed first at Seo Ye-in and then at himself, and then he spoke. ¡°Father.¡± Judging by the flow of the conversation, he was telling me to address him that way. He too had a habit of compressing long sentences into a single word. Next, he casually extended his right hand. When I took it, he slowly shook it up and down. The atmosphere wasn¡¯t bad, and since he had even offered a handshake, it seemed like I had made a decent first impression. Soon, his gaze dropped downward, settling on my shoes. ¡°That. I made those.¡± They were Cloudstepper, the sneakers Seo Ye-in had given me as a gift after I taught her a special lesson on magic bullets at the beginning of the semester. I had even upgraded them once using Rainbow Gap-doo¡¯s scales. [Cloudstepper (B+)] ? Bonus to movement skills. ? Inertia Ignoring (C) applied. ?Automatic durability recovery ?Multicolor Defense (C) ?Upgradeable ¡°I¡¯m using them very well. Thank you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He gave a slow, indifferent nod. However, after spending the first semester training myself to read Seo Ye-in¡¯s expressions, it wasn¡¯t difficult for me to interpret his emotions. He¡¯s proud. Perhaps that was why he then looked at Seo Ye-in and me and said, ¡°I¡¯ll upgrade them.¡± He meant he would fill the last remaining upgrade slot. And judging by his skill in making these shoes, there was a good chance he would add a highly useful enhancement. So, along with Seo Ye-in, I entrusted him with the Cloudstepper set. Seo Ye-in¡¯s father then said, ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll come back to pick them up once they¡¯re done.¡± But he slowly shook his head. ¡°Come often.¡± ¡°......Yes. I¡¯ll visit often.¡± Did he take a liking to me? I didn¡¯t know which part he liked, but he gave a small nod regardless. Since I had already greeted him, I figured it would be best not to disturb him any further and was about to leave the room. However, Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t seem to be done just yet. ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°Daughter.¡± ¡°Upgrade.¡± ¡°What.¡± Seo Ye-in rummaged through her inventory. Moments later, she pulled out a dented, battered tin pot. I held back a chuckle. She actually took that out. Back during the final exams, her frying pan had been sacrificed in close combat against Sa Gong-wook¡¯s gang. It seemed that experience had left an impression on her. She must have decided that the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot couldn¡¯t be destroyed so easily either. And the solution she came up with...was an upgrade. She wanted to reinforce its durability to withstand even attacks infused with aura. ¡°......¡± Her father silently looked down at the pot, then pointed at the dented part with his finger. He seemed to be asking how it had ended up like that. In response, Seo Ye-in also raised a finger and pointed at me. Her father glanced between me and the pot, then asked her, ¡°You hit him?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°How many times?¡± ¡°Kim Ho Kim Ho.¡± Two times, then. He wasn¡¯t going to ask why she hit me? Maybe he simply assumed I must have deserved it. To be honest, even I had to admit there was some truth to it. Before long, her father began examining the pot from every angle, as if trying to see whether it held some hidden secret. But it¡¯s just a pot. A pot borrowed from the kitchen for the toy hammer game. If I had to rate it objectively, it wouldn¡¯t even qualify as an F-rank item. It didn¡¯t have any slots to begin with, so ¡°upgrading¡± it was, of course, impossible. Still, if someone was truly determined to save it, there was a way. It seemed that Seo Ye-in¡¯s father had come to a similar conclusion. ¡°We¡¯ll make a new one.¡± A completely new item, created based on the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot. Then he pointed once again at the dented part and asked, ¡°Should I fix it?¡± ¡°No.¡± Seo Ye-in firmly refused. The two exchanged glances for a moment before her father nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll make a new one.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± After leaving the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot in his care, Seo Ye-in also handed him a bag of cookies, saying it was a gift for him. Then, as if their business here was done, she turned and walked toward me. As we all left the workshop together, I found myself feeling somewhat conflicted. Just what is he planning to make with that...? *** TN: Just noticed something. I could be wrong, but from the beginning of the academy till now.... Kim Ho was never hit with anything (or anyone) but that Pot. And the pot hit him two times. Chapter 329: Hye-seong City (3) Since I had already greeted Seo Ye-in¡¯s family, I would be able to move around more freely from then on. Ahn Jeong-mi asked for my opinion. ¡°Kim Ho-nim, do you have any plans for your stay?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve thought of a few things.¡± ¡°Please let me know. I¡¯ll take them into consideration.¡± My main objective in coming to Hye-seong City was to meet Seo Ye-in¡¯s guardians and get permission to explore the unauthorized underground floors with her. This is pretty much settled. It wasn¡¯t 100% confirmed yet, but both the chairman and her sloth father had been very receptive of me. Since the chairman and I had even confirmed that we were both Monarchs, the chances were even higher. So, onto the next goal. ¡°Even during vacation, training must continue.¡± I would be staying in Hye-seong City for about a month. Since I had a fair amount of time, I planned to use it meaningfully. Ahn Jeong-mi looked very pleased. ¡°That¡¯s an excellent mindset. I only wish the young miss would work as hard as you, Kim Ho-nim.¡± Seo Ye-in, on the other hand, was busy observing the pedestrians passing by and acting as if she hadn¡¯t heard a thing. I pulled her closer and said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be training her too. It¡¯s about time she set a new direction.¡± The human sloth possessed genius-level talent, but she lacked motivation and was generally passive. To maximize training efficiency, setting a clear goal was the best approach. ¡°And I need to plan for the second round of mentoring as well.¡± Just as I would receive another round of mentoring from Dang Gu-young, Seo Ye-in would receive another from Ahn Jeong-mi. However, during the first mentoring session, Ahn Jeong-mi had struggled immensely to get the human sloth to show any enthusiasm. Considering that, it was best to build up momentum in advance. Ahn Jeong-mi nodded her head. ¡°As expected, you¡¯re thinking ahead, Kim Ho-nim. What direction do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Well, her offensive power has improved quite a bit.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s [Core] and [Magic Bullet] were already at B-rank. In this regard, she was above the level of an ordinary promising student. On top of that, she could double the power of her magic bullets with [Explosive Bullet] and enhance all her firearm-related skills and traits with [Marksmanship]. There was probably no one in the first year who could block her attacks head-on. Even Lee Soo-dok, whom she had faced in the control room, had only managed to respond by dodging or deflecting. ¡°Still, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to learn one more.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of dual special bullets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Dual special bullets. As the name suggested, it was the ability to manifest two special bullets at the same time. For example, combining explosive bullets with piercing bullets would create [Pierce-Explosive Bullets], which would penetrate an enemy¡¯s body before detonating inside. Mixing explosive bullets with impact bullets would result in [Impact-Explosive Bullets], which would trigger an explosion and a shockwave at the same time. Their power was, of course, immense. However, they also had their drawbacks. The biggest issue was the difficulty of controlling them, as it required managing two skills at once. Additionally, leveling them up would be twice as hard. Of course, for a genius sloth, twice the difficulty meant nothing. Her learning speed was five times faster than usual anyway. Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to have a similar thought as she asked, ¡°Do you have a particular recommendation?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave the choice to her again this time.¡± It was hard to say that any one special bullet was definitively the best. It all came down to personal preference. That was why Seo Ye-in had chosen explosive bullets herself before, and why I intended to let her decide again now. Soon, both Ahn Jeong-mi and I turned to look at Seo Ye-in. Then we asked her, ¡°Pick one. Piercing, slicing, or impact. Which one do you like best?¡± Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t take long to answer. ¡°Impact bullet.¡± ¡°You made a great choice.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s expression brightened noticeably. Since her own main special bullet was also an impact-type, she must have secretly hoped that Seo Ye-in would choose the same. With her expertise in the field, teaching it would be much easier. Before long, Ahn Jeong-mi was swiftly exchanging messages with someone. It seemed she was securing an Impact Bullet skill book. Not long after, she turned to us and said, ¡°They just so happen to have it in stock.¡± Getting a skill book with a single phone call... how impressive. Well, considering this place was practically Hye-seong Group¡¯s backyard and had plenty of gunners around, it made sense. And yet, Ahn Jeong-mi wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°The young miss¡¯s new weapon has also been completed. I¡¯ll bring it right away.¡± Following her lead, we moved to the training ground, which also doubled as a shooting range. The facility was just as well-equipped as the Dragon Slayer Academy training center. There was nothing lacking. I figured I¡¯d be spending quite some time here as well. In one corner of the training ground, a middle-aged man in a suit was waiting. Looking closely, I recognized him. It was the same man Seo Ye-in had given a cookie to before we visited the chairman¡¯s office. When our eyes met, he bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Did you eat the cookie?¡± At Seo Ye-in¡¯s question, he responded with enthusiasm. ¡°Yes! I enjoyed it very much! Thank you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± It seemed he had no problem handling spice. He must have eaten the Inferno-flavored cookie without issue. As always, Ahn Jeong-mi maintained a perfect poker face. Though... her eyes look ever so slightly displeased. Perhaps she found it a bit disappointing that he hadn¡¯t suffered as much as she had. But it was such a subtle shift that the suited man didn¡¯t notice at all as he handed over the items. The Impact Bullet skill book and a long, tactical-looking metal case. With those in hand, we stepped into the training room and shooting range. A spacious room. On the opposite side, metal dummies were lined up. Ahn Jeong-mi gave them a brief glance before asking, ¡°Which one would you like to test first?¡± ¡°The gun.¡± It seemed Seo Ye-in had quite the interest in her new weapon as well. When Ahn Jeong-mi pressed a button on the corner of the metal case, it automatically dismantled itself, revealing an assault rifle. It¡¯s at least A-rank. The previous magic gun had been decent, but this one looked even better. The most noticeable difference was the thick launch tube attached to its side that was several times wider than the barrel. A grenade launcher. A weapon somewhere between a cannon and a gun. It seemed to be an added feature, considering Seo Ye-in had mastered explosive bullets. After all, using explosion firearms would maximize destructive power. Seo Ye-in stared at the new magic gun with curiosity. ¡°......?¡± ¡°Try using it.¡± As Ahn Jeong-mi suggested, there was no better way to assess its performance than a test run. Seo Ye-in aimed the gun at the metal dummies. At that moment, mana gathered in one of her hands, condensing into the shape of a bullet before seamlessly merging into the magic gun. The next instant, the muzzle erupted with streaks of blue fire. Tududududu! The change wasn¡¯t immediately obvious, but the magic bullets clearly packed a bit more power. Then Seo Ye-in adjusted the secondary launch tube. Thunk¡ª With a crisp sound, a thick magic round shot forward. Upon impact with the metal dummies, it exploded. Booooom¡ª! Seo Ye-in turned to look at me. Her gray eyes sparkled. ¡°You seem to like it.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± However, it seemed the weapon test was far from over. Watching us with satisfaction, Ahn Jeong-mi casually offered another suggestion. ¡°Try switching to a different mode.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic gun could switch between different modes, such as pistol-to-rifle or assault rifle-to-shotgun, depending on her preference. The new weapon was no exception. Soon, the assault rifle began to dismantle itself, the parts seamlessly reassembling into a new form. This time, instead of having a grenade launcher attached as an additional component, the weapon was a fully automatic grenade launcher in itself. Seo Ye-in once again aimed the muzzle forward and loaded a magic round. The moment she pulled the trigger¡ª Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk. A series of crisp sounds rang out as thick magic rounds shot forward in rapid succession. And in the next instant¡ª Booooooom¡ª! Explosions engulfed the metal dummies. The sheer power of the multi-shot grenade launcher was overwhelming. Ahn Jeong-mi spoke up again. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°The blast radius is wide, so be careful when using it. You might end up hitting yourself or your allies.¡± She went on, mixing instructions, precautions, and even a bit of nagging as she explained. At first, Seo Ye-in listened attentively, but as time passed, her focus seemed to waver. Eventually, she just stared blankly at me. In the end, it was Ahn Jeong-mi who gave up first. ¡°...I¡¯ll explain it again later. For now, try learning this.¡± With that, she handed over an Impact Bullet skill book. As soon as Seo Ye-in used the skill book, a brilliant light burst forth. Flaaash! [¡®Skill Book ¨C Impact Bullet¡¯ has been used.] [¡®Impact Bullet (F)¡¯ has been acquired.] Something like that must have popped up as a notification. Currently, Seo Ye-in¡¯s [Explosive Bullet] was at C-rank. To link it with [Impact Bomb], the ranks of both special bullet skills needed to be kept at a similar level. So, for the time being, she would have to focus solely on Impact Bullet. Since Ahn Jeong-mi knew more about this field than I did, I decided to let her continue explaining for a while. Maybe I should learn one too while I¡¯m at it. After all, I also needed to train moving forward. With that in mind, I took out the Blank Skill Book I had received as a reward for the final exams and immediately began writing a skill into it. The once-clear, empty pages of the skill book started filling up with text. This wasn¡¯t my first time doing this, so my hands moved without hesitation. I had already decided what kind of skill I would create, down to its detailed elements. The skill taking shape would compensate for the weaknesses I currently had. Attack power. To be fair, with Inferno Fist and Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger in my arsenal, it wasn¡¯t as if my attack power was lacking. Among first-years, I was unrivaled, and I could even take on second-years. However, the problem was that those techniques were classified as prohibited skills, which meant they were practically useless in official settings. Even in the final exam¡¯s control room, I had been forced to fight Lee Soo-dok without using them, relying solely on my other skills. That meant I needed to create something that wasn¡¯t considered a prohibited skill or at the very least, one that wouldn¡¯t get me caught. Still, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m giving up on destructive power. At the end of the day, raw strength was the best. If I had to settle for something mediocre, I might as well just stick with what I already had. Since I was using a rare Blank Skill Book, my goal was to get the best of both worlds. It does sound a bit contradictory, though. I wanted to avoid using prohibited skills, yet I also wanted a skill with just as much power. Of course, there were plenty of ways to work around that. As long as I take the penalty elsewhere, it won¡¯t be a problem. I added an additional condition to the Blank Skill Book. ?Applies the ¡®Poisoned¡¯ status effect to the caster. In most cases, a penalty severe enough to classify a skill as prohibited. However, for me, it was as good as nonexistent. After all, I possessed the overpowered trait [Poison Immunity]. Poison Immunity has especially high resistance. Its versatility was lower compared to elemental resistance, but when it came to poison, its effect was on an entirely different level. For example, while A-rank elemental penalties could still cause burns or frostbite, even an S-rank poison wouldn¡¯t affect me in the slightest. With this, there¡¯s no risk of getting caught. Since I wouldn¡¯t be poisoned in the first place, there was no way for anyone to notice. And just like that, I had resolved the first contradiction in my requirements. The next keyword was¡ª Debuff. Chapter 330: Mutual Destruction Eye (1) Why did I choose a debuff? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to deal damage all at once? There was a clear reason for this. Because the potential is higher. Whether it was a Blank Skill Book or a similar item, skill creation followed a set of principles. One of those principles was that the more difficult the conditions, the higher the potential. Since a debuff dealt damage over time, the opponent could remove it or mitigate it with various recovery skills or traits. Because it was harder to inflict damage, the total damage output was set higher in compensation. And there was another reason. One that wasn¡¯t entirely related to performance. Because it¡¯s more infuriating. Watching your health slowly drain away was an enormous source of stress for anyone. So, the choice of a debuff was final. Now, it was time to decide on the type. There were many different kinds of damage-over-time debuffs, but ideally, I wanted one that synergized with my existing skills and traits. And considering that my main skills were wind-based... Weathering. A wind-elemental debuff that inflicted continuous damage while also making the target more vulnerable to wind skills. It made it easier for Wind Force to knock them back and increased the damage they took from Spiral Explosion. Next, the most important part. The conditions for inflicting the debuff. Just like with everything else, the stricter the conditions, the higher the potential. A prime example of this was the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger. It applied both an elemental penalty and a demonic energy penalty, dealt damage in the form of a debuff, and despite being a martial technique, it couldn¡¯t be used for ranged attacks. It only took effect upon direct contact with the opponent. Because it was such a collection of strict conditions, its power was on a monstrous level. If it landed, there wasn¡¯t a single opponent who could withstand it. I could take a similar approach, but in this case, I actually intended to lower the upper limit. I need a variety of cards to play. For close combat, I would continue using Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, while the new skill would be something I could casually throw out from a distance, like a quick jab. So, I planned to make the conditions extremely, extremely easy. For example¡ª Even just making eye contact would trigger it. ? Inflicts the ¡®Weathering¡¯ status effect on any target who meets the caster¡¯s gaze. Since combat naturally involved looking into each other¡¯s eyes, it was practically guaranteed to activate. The problem was that the destruction power I had worked so hard to build up would plummet. But there was a simple solution to that. I just have to add more restrictions. I modified the description of Weathering and changed it to Random. By adding an element of uncertainty, the power would naturally increase. No need to go overboard with dozens of effects. Weathering, Poison, and Freeze. Just those three should be enough. Strictly speaking, Poison and Freeze weren¡¯t the most ideal choices, but they still guaranteed a certain level of effectiveness. And if I add a cooldown on top of that, it¡¯ll be perfect. Skills with even a short cooldown were inherently set to be stronger than those without one. With all the fine-tuning complete, I used the finished skill book. [You have acquired the ¡®Mutual Destruction Eye (F)¡¯.] [Mutual Destruction Eye (F)] ? Inflicts the Poisoned status effect on the caster. ? Inflicts a random status effect on any target who meets the caster¡¯s gaze. (Weathering, Poison, Freeze) ? Cooldown: 1 minute Since it was a skill that could potentially kill both the enemy and myself, it was fittingly named Mutual Destruction Eye. Of course, in this case, it was more like ¡°Mutual Destruction (except only they die)¡±. Just then, Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to have finished her lecture on Impact Bullets as well. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve learned a new skill.¡± ¡°Yes, I just finished it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of amazing skill you created with a blank skill book.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably not that amazing.¡± I responded with a wry smile. At least for now, at F-rank, it might seem a bit underwhelming. Though, things would be different after a few more upgrades. Now that I had acquired a new skill and Seo Ye-in had gotten a new weapon, I casually made a suggestion. ¡°Shall we have a match?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod. It would definitely feel more realistic to spar against a person rather than a metal puppet. Before long, Ahn Jeong-mi operated the terminal on one side of the training room, adjusting various settings to fit a one-on-one duel. The metal puppets vanished without a trace, and multiple safety measures were put in place. Once the setup was complete, Ahn Jeong-mi gestured to us, and Seo Ye-in and I took our positions on opposite sides of the training room. Then, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] I immediately activated Mutual Destruction Eye, but¡ª [The target has been inflicted with ¡®Poisoned (F)¡¯ status.] [The target has resisted ¡®Poisoned (F)¡¯ status.] [Cooldown: 00:00:59] A one-in-three chance had landed on Poison, and, of course, it was nullified. Right... she has Poison Resistance. She had acquired it back when we split the inner core of the Venomous Horned Black Blood Serpent. Even though it was far from Poison Immunity, it was still enough to shrug off poisons below C-rank without issue. With Mutual Destruction Eye stuck at F-rank, if the status effect turned out to be Poison, it was basically useless. Well, can¡¯t be helped. Once the cooldown reset, my only option was to try again. Whether she knew this or not, Seo Ye-in raised her magic gun and aimed it at me. The muzzle spewed bursts of blue flames. Tududududu! I weaved through the hail of magic bullets with stealthy footwork, using my storm clouds for defense. At the same time, electricity crackled over my hands, taking the form of two hummingbirds. The hummingbirds split in opposite directions, then streaked through the air toward Seo Ye-in. ¡°.......¡± She could no longer focus solely on shooting at me. Stepping back, she fired rapid bursts of magic bullets alternately to her left and right. Tudududu! But the problem was that the one controlling them was none other than me. The hummingbirds darted nimbly, weaving through the relentless barrage of bullets and rapidly closing the distance toward Seo Ye-in. Realizing she could hardly land a hit no matter how much she focused, she seemed to decide on a different approach. Thump. A magic grenade shot out from the thick barrel of her launcher. It grazed the hummingbird on the left¡ª Boom! ¡ªand exploded instantly, engulfing the hummingbird in the blast. Ahn Jeong-mi and I nodded in satisfaction at the same time. Nicely done. With proper control over her magic, she had managed to detonate the bullet mid-flight. From the opponent¡¯s perspective, not knowing exactly when it would explode made it much harder to dodge. But there was still one hummingbird left. And in the time it took her to eliminate the first, the other had gotten even closer. At that moment, Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes flashed with a chilling light. Flash! She had activated Bullet Time. Her gray pupils seemed to track every erratic movement of the hummingbird with perfect clarity. The next instant, her magic gun roared again and started spitting out blue flames. Tududududu! The hummingbird ultimately took a magic bullet to one of its wings and plummeted. Seo Ye-in¡¯s gaze immediately shifted to me, but¡ª [The target has been inflicted with the status effect ¡®Weathering (F)¡¯.] [Cooldown time: 00:00:59] Just then, the cooldown for Mutual Destruction Eye had reset, and this time, I managed to inflict a status effect other than poison. A faint breeze swirled around Seo Ye-in¡¯s body. ¡°......?¡± She tilted her head in confusion at the unfamiliar phenomenon, but there was no way she could figure it out. Deciding to keep attacking, she took aim at me¡ª Whoosh! ¡ªbut was helplessly pushed back against the wall by the Wind Force I had cast. Since she was under the effects of Weathering, she slid back even more smoothly. Whoosh! This time, she was blown in the opposite direction. Even in the midst of it, she tried to fire her magic gun, but naturally, being pushed back and forth like that made it impossible to aim properly. Whooosh! And when I cast Twister, she was caught in the whirlwind and started spinning in circles. Seeing her magic gun droop downward, it was clear she had lost the will to fight. Spinning round and round, she turned her gaze to Ahn Jeong-mi. ¡°......Help.¡± It was practically a surrender. So I dispelled the whirlwind, and Ahn Jeong-mi operated her device to cast a healing spell. At the same time, she offered a polite piece of advice. ¡°Young miss, perhaps you should consider learning a debuff removal skill.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°If not, you¡¯ll just end up getting caught the same way again.¡± ¡°......No more spinning.¡± Seo Ye-in must have felt the need to come up with a countermeasure, as she gave a small nod. Meanwhile, Ahn Jeong-mi was exchanging messages with someone again. It seemed like she was checking the stock of skill books this time as well. ¡°They said it¡¯ll be ready by tomorrow.¡± At that, Seo Ye-in¡¯s motivation visibly drained even further. She already knew she would be at the mercy of debuffs, and now there was no way to remove them until tomorrow. No wonder she wasn¡¯t feeling up to it. ¡°...I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Just a little longer. I¡¯ll remove the debuffs for you.¡± As she spoke, Ahn Jeong-mi subtly signaled me with her eyes, asking for support. Since it was in my best interest for the spar to last longer, I coaxed Seo Ye-in gently. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go just a little more.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Just a little more?¡± ¡°...Mhmm.¡± After staring at me for a moment, Seo Ye-in gave a small nod, and the spar continued. Ahn Jeong-mi stood by, ready to dispel any debuffs at a moment¡¯s notice. But in reality, she didn¡¯t have many chances to step in. Looks like it¡¯s kicking in. That was because Lucky Charm¡¯s lucky charm ability had activated. In probability-based fights, it was practically a cheat ability. During the midterms, Seo Ye-in had managed to win fifteen consecutive rounds of rock-paper-scissors against Go Hyeon-woo. In a way, the situation now wasn¡¯t all that different. [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Poisoned (F)¡¯.] [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Poisoned (F)¡¯.] [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Poisoned (F)¡¯.] ...... By all logic, each status effect should have had an equal one-in-three chance of appearing. Yet nine times out of ten, ¡°Poisoned¡± was the one that triggered, only to be nullified immediately. Even better. Of course, I had expected this. No, rather, I had planned for it. If Weathering or Frozen had activated instead, the spar would have been forced to a halt. On the other hand, even if Poison had no real effect, as long as it kept triggering, I could continuously cast Mutual Destruction Eye whenever the cooldown reset. The more I used it, the faster its rank would increase. Of course, no matter how lucky she was, she couldn¡¯t reduce a two-thirds probability to zero. So occasionally, a debuff would land. [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Frozen (F)¡¯.] Crackle. Seo Ye-in¡¯s ankle was suddenly encased in ice. She tried shaking her leg, but it was frozen solid and wouldn¡¯t budge. To make matters worse, a cold wind began to blow. Whoooosh¡ª It was Chillwind, the spell I had just cast. Since it amplified the effects of Frozen, the ice that had only covered her ankle quickly spread up to her thigh. Seo Ye-in shivered slightly and looked over at Ahn Jeong-mi. ¡°...Help.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll release it.¡± *** After relentlessly bombarding Lucky Charm with Mutual Destruction Eye for a while¡ª [The rank of ¡®Eyes of Mutual Destruction¡¯ has increased. (F ¡ú E)] ¡ªI had already gained something from it. Once Seo Ye-in mastered a debuff-removal skill, I¡¯d be able to fire it off even more freely. Meanwhile, Ahn Jeong-mi seemed to decide that it was best to end the sparring session here. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. Let¡¯s stop for today.¡± ¡°I think that would be best.¡± I could keep going, but it looked like the Sloth Battery was almost drained. If we were going to keep training together, pacing ourselves wisely was the way to go. Hearing that, Seo Ye-in tugged at my sleeve as if she had been waiting for this moment. ¡°My place.¡± ¡°The time has finally come.¡± Time to go check out the sloth¡¯s home. Chapter 331: Mutual Destruction Eye (2) As we all stepped out of the training hall, a luxury sedan was already waiting for us, summoned at some point unbeknownst to me. Behind the wheel was the cookie uncle I had seen earlier. That¡¯s the third time today. For some reason, I had a feeling I¡¯d be seeing him often from now on. Soon, the sedan glided forward smoothly and, after a short drive, dropped us off. In front of us stood a row of buildings that looked like hotels, and even from a quick glance through the windows, they appeared extravagant. It would probably be even more impressive from the inside. After admiring the view for a moment, I turned to Seo Ye-in and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your house?¡± ¡°There.¡± As expected, Seo Ye-in pointed at one of the buildings in front of us. I asked a more specific question. ¡°Where exactly? What floor?¡± ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in tilted her head, as if she didn¡¯t understand the question, then pointed at the building again. ¡°My house.¡± ¡°You mean that whole thing is your house?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± It wasn¡¯t just a room or a floor. It was the whole building. As expected of the heiress to Hye-seong Group, the scale was on a different level. And that wasn¡¯t even the end of it. Seo Ye-in¡¯s finger shifted to the building next to it. ¡°My house.¡± ¡°That one too?¡± Then the one next to that, and the one after that... Apparently, the sloth had a lot of ¡°houses¡±. ¡°But surely there¡¯s a specific place where you sleep.¡± ¨C Shake shake. When Seo Ye-in shook her head again, Ahn Jeong-mi carefully joined the conversation to offer an explanation. ¡°She usually sleeps in a different room each day.¡± ¡°Is there a particular reason for that?¡± ¡°No, she just goes wherever she feels like on any given day.¡± ¡°I see.¡± She simply moved from room to room every night, while Ahn Jeong-mi and the other housekeepers took care of all the minor details. It was extravagant, but with that level of wealth, there was no real reason she couldn¡¯t live like that. Curious again, I asked another question. ¡°You must have some important belongings. What do you do with those?¡± At that, Seo Ye-in quietly raised one hand and showed me the fluffy cloud bracelet on her wrist. Then a tiger plushie poked its head out from her inventory, only to retreat right back in. The Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot was probably included too. I could guess what she meant to say. She just carries around everything important with her. It was a perfectly reasonable answer, so I nodded and followed the two of them inside. Judging by the exterior, I had assumed the interior would look like a hotel. But it turned out my guess was off the mark. Not a hotel. More like a palace. The room was far too luxurious for a single person to live in. It made the dorms at Dragon Slayer Academy look shabby in comparison. Still, Seo Ye-in seemed completely unfazed by this palace-like room and crossed it without a second thought. Then, after glancing around the room as if inspecting something, she displayed the tiger plushie in a very noticeable spot. Looks like that took priority over everything else. In any case, I figured I¡¯d seen enough and turned to Ahn Jeong-mi to ask, ¡°It¡¯s impressive. Where¡¯s my room?¡± ¡°Your room should be similar, Kim Ho-nim. I¡¯ll guide you.¡± Just as I was about to step out of the room, Seo Ye-in gently grabbed my arm. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Our room.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Young miss, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Kim Ho pillow.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°Helps me sleep.¡± Ahn Jeong-mi furrowed her brow even more and turned her gaze toward me. ¡°Kim Ho-nim, I believe this part requires some explanation.¡± ¡°I was going to explain it anyway.¡± If we left the explanation to One-Word Sloth, it would only lead to more misunderstandings. I briefly went over the events related to the Kim Ho pillow. I made it clear that all we did was sleep next to each other. And nothing more. After hearing the full story, Ahn Jeong-mi let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t seem to be what I was worried about. Still, I¡¯d appreciate it if you refrained from sleeping together. At least while you¡¯re staying here.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t refrain.¡± But instead of letting go of my arm, Seo Ye-in clung to it even tighter. Ahn Jeong-mi looked troubled and gently tried to persuade her. ¡°Young miss, as a member of the Hye-seong Group, you should be at least somewhat aware of how others may perceive you. There¡¯s nothing good about rumors spreading that you sleep in the same room with Kim Ho-nim every night.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t care.¡± Even so, Seo Ye-in was completely unyielding. She clearly didn¡¯t care in the slightest whether rumors spread or not. The two continued to argue. ¡°Young miss.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t sleep without him.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t lie. We all know you sleep just fine.¡± ¡°Without him, I stay up all night.¡± ¡°......!¡± That last remark seemed to catch Ahn Jeong-mi off guard. Her eyes widened slightly. Did the human sloth just say she¡¯d stay up all night? Was the Kim Ho pillow really that important to her? Of course, from my point of view, that was an obvious bluff. If it came down to an all-night standoff, she¡¯d probably last twenty minutes at most before falling asleep. And if she couldn¡¯t sleep without me, what was she planning to do for the rest of summer break after I left? It seemed Ahn Jeong-mi had thought that far as well. She wasn¡¯t a fool, after all. Still, perhaps she believed there had to be some reason why Seo Ye-in was being so stubborn, because her stance began to soften little by little. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this be a burden for Kim Ho-nim as well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a burden.¡± Both of them turned to look at me at the same time. It felt like they were silently asking me to confirm who was telling the truth. Of course, I was on Seo Ye-in¡¯s side no matter what, so my answer had already been decided. ¡°I¡¯m fine with it. As I mentioned, this isn¡¯t the first or second time we¡¯ve done this.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°Still, I think it¡¯d be good to attach a few conditions this time.¡± The Kim Ho pillow was a limited-time item. Even during the semester, I¡¯d only let her use it for a few days. And only in exchange for intense training. Now, we weren¡¯t talking about just a few days but potentially a whole month of sleeping together. There had to be some trade-off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing too difficult. Just... train diligently every day, okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°And after I leave, make sure you attend all your mentoring sessions properly, okay?¡± ¡°......¡± At that, Seo Ye-in quietly looked away. She was probably already thinking about slacking off as soon as I left. I met her gaze again and asked firmly, ¡°You¡¯re going to take your mentoring seriously, right?¡± ¡°...okay.¡± ¡°And keep your mana cultivation going even while you sleep.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s mana control was far better than I¡¯d expected. It was good enough that she could maintain her cultivation even while sleeping. A mode I called ¡°passive sloth¡±. Of course, that mode still required a bare minimum of willpower on her part, which is why I was getting her verbal commitment in advance. Once again, she didn¡¯t look too thrilled about it, but she didn¡¯t really have a choice. All she could do was nod. After wrapping up the negotiation, I looked at Ahn Jeong-mi. From the look in her eyes, it seemed like this was at least somewhat acceptable to her. Still, as if something continued to weigh on her mind, she couldn¡¯t quite shake off her troubled expression. ¡°Considering what you¡¯ve shown me, Kim Ho-nim, I think I can trust you. But I still have an obligation to report this matter.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± It wasn¡¯t as if Ahn Jeong-mi had done anything wrong. If anything, her only crime was choosing an extreme profession like being a butler as her career. Chairman Seo and Father Seo were her legal guardians, and their influence within the group was beyond question. Which meant that silencing Ahn Jeong-mi was entirely out of the question, and the matter of the Kim Ho pillow would inevitably be reported. And as for how they would react, there was no way to know yet. They might brush it off casually, or they might blow up in anger and come storming over. *** That night, I fulfilled my role as the Kim Ho pillow and got some rest. The next day. After waking up and grabbing a quick bite, we jumped straight into training. Tudududu! Seo Ye-in fired her magic gun in rapid bursts, and I dodged and countered her attacks. Just like the day before, I cast Mutual Destruction Eye relentlessly every time the one-minute cooldown reset. Whether the lucky charm was still going strong or not, nine times out of ten, she was poisoned and then the status effect was removed. And about once in ten, she got hit with either weathering or freezing. Flaaash! Light burst around Seo Ye-in¡¯s body, and the ice that had covered her ankles melted away like snow under the sun. It was a new debuff-removal skill she had learned. [Purification (F)] ?Removes status effects with a certain probability. ?Cooldown: 3 minutes Here, the term ¡°certain probability¡± varied depending on the rank difference between Purification and the debuff, as well as how many times a particular debuff was stacked. For example, if an F-rank Purification could remove an F-rank Freezing with 100% certainty, then it had an 80% chance of removing an E-rank Freezing. Since Weathering was a rare debuff, its removal chance was probably set slightly lower. If it was stacked twice or three times, the chance would drop even further. If the probability failed and the removal attempt didn¡¯t succeed, she had to wait out the three-minute cooldown before trying again. Of course, in the meantime, she would be affected by the debuff. But she¡¯s blessed just using it. Even a 33% chance activated almost ten times in a row. So what difference did 70% or 80% make? Every time she used Purification, it was practically a guaranteed debuff removal. Even better. Constant debuff removal meant uninterrupted combat. And that also meant she could keep pushing forward with her rank training. Moreover, during the duel, it wasn¡¯t like I was only using Mutual Destruction Eye. Seo Ye-in kept the rank training going by mixing in a variety of Marksman skills like Impact Bullet, Feather Step, and Ejection, while I rotated through the three sub-skills of Spiral Explosion. Whooosh¡ª! A gust of wind charged with physical force blew through, but Seo Ye-in moved with its flow, stepping lightly with Feather Step. Her movement was fluid, and her aim remained steady. Tudududu¡ª! *** After sparring for quite some time, we took a break over lunch. While we were resting, Ahn Jeong-mi casually mentioned something. Father Seo wanted to see us. ¡°So the report did go through after all. It was something we¡¯d have to face eventually, so we headed back to the workshop. Father Seo wasn¡¯t in the messy room we¡¯d seen yesterday. This time, he was waiting in a room that resembled a neatly organized meeting space. Was he about to bring up something important? ¡°Good afternoon.¡± I gave a polite bow as I stepped inside. He glanced over me and Seo Ye-in in turn, then spoke in a detached tone. ¡°Sit down.¡± We sat around the table as instructed, while Ahn Jeong-mi blended into the wall, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. Still, the tension in her eyes as she looked our way was unmistakable. Soon, Father Seo began rummaging through his inventory. What he pulled out, contrary to my expectations, was a family-friendly mini-game for everyone to play together. ¡°Let¡¯s play.¡± Now that I looked at it, it seemed he hadn¡¯t called us in to question or interrogate us. He was simply bored. Maybe he didn¡¯t care much about the Kim Ho Pillow incident after all. Or perhaps he did care but wanted to keep watching a little longer. There was still nearly a month left, after all. ¡°.......!¡± Seo Ye-in had shown no sign of worry from the beginning, and now, all her attention seemed to be on the mini-game. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. This was definitely something the father and daughter had in common. The whole Kim Ho Pillow issue felt like it had just fizzled out, but it didn¡¯t seem like I needed to bring it up myself. I¡¯ll just give him what he wants. As the mini-game demon king, I decided to give it my all. Even if my opponent was the father of the house, the word ¡°mercy¡± didn¡¯t exist in my vocabulary. I completely destroyed the Seo family duo without hesitation. Chapter 332: Underworld Dragon King (1) After suffering consecutive defeats in the mini-game, Father Seo raised his eyes slightly in disbelief. ¡°Strong opponent...!¡± He tried to continue the match, but after checking the time, he got up with a hint of regret. No matter how fun the mini-game was, he couldn¡¯t spend the entire day just playing. He handed both me and Seo Ye-in a Rank Boost each. ¡°I¡¯ve learned something. A good match.¡± ¡°It was a good match for me as well. Thank you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this again sometime.¡± After Father Seo left, Ahn Jeong-mi who had blended into the wall deactivated her stealth. Then, while looking toward the door, she said, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen him enjoy himself like that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, he occasionally offers us a game too.¡± However, according to Ahn Jeong-mi, the staff couldn¡¯t hold up as worthy opponents and fell easily. Since there was a bit of pressure to participate, the fun was lacking too. In such monotonous days, a formidable challenger had suddenly appeared. How could he not be delighted? Maybe I overdid it? If I had lost the first round on purpose, it might¡¯ve ended there. Still, half-hearted effort didn¡¯t suit my nature. And I unexpectedly earned a Rank Boost too. If he ever challenged me again, I was more than willing to accept. *** From that day on, mini-games became part of the daily routine. After sparring with Seo Ye-in and doing some rank training, while we were resting, Ahn Jeong-mi who had been on standby would casually deliver a message. He was inviting us to the meeting room to hang out. Then I would happily go over and utterly crush him. There were days he didn¡¯t call us over, perhaps because he was busy with work. On those days, Father Seo would come find us in our room in the evening. Bringing along a few mini-games, some late-night snacks, and a Rank Boost as the prize. At this point, isn¡¯t he basically just giving it to us? Maybe he was offering it because he considered the fact that I was training with Seo Ye-in. Thanks to that, my rank had been climbing steadily. The mini-game for today was a simple round of chess. And just like with the other games, Father Seo quickly fell into a cornered position, barely into the match. He stared at the chessboard with a serious expression. ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in, possibly having lost interest after constantly losing, didn¡¯t join in. She just lay beside us, watching while lounging around. While using my lap as a pillow. Father Seo glanced at her briefly, then spoke. ¡°Daughter.¡± ¡°Mhmm?¡± ¡°That comfortable?¡± I¡¯d thought he didn¡¯t care at all whether she used my lap as a pillow or not. But maybe that wasn¡¯t entirely true. Seo Ye-in squirmed for a moment as if trying to find the perfect lap-pillow position. Then, with her eyes half closed, she answered. ¡°Heaven...¡± ¡°I see.¡± Father slowly nodded up and down. As if saying, as long as she was happy, that was enough. At last, he turned his gaze back to the chessboard and moved a pawn forward. And immediately, I picked up my queen and drove it deep into enemy lines. ¡°Checkmate.¡± ¡°...Masterful.¡± *** It had been over a week since we arrived in Hye-seong City. As a result of training every single day without fail¡ª [The rank of ¡®Mutual Destruction Eye¡¯ has increased. (E ¡ú D)] [The rank of ¡®Airburst¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú B+)] Both skills had leveled up by one rank. If we kept up this pace, reaching C-rank in Mutual Destruction Eye before the second mentoring session seemed more than doable. Twister and One-Point Explosion would soon break through to B-rank as well, and then they¡¯d combine into Spiral Burst at B-rank. Seo Ye-in was growing even faster than I was. The Impact Bomb she had just learned had already reached C-rank in no time, making it possible to chain it with the Explosive Impact combo. Purification had also reached D-rank. Since I was constantly throwing out debuffs and she had to keep using Purification to remove them, her skill rank naturally rose quickly alongside mine. While we were taking a short break like that, Ahn Jung-mi casually spoke up again. ¡°He says to come by the workshop today.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s not another mini-game, then.¡± Realistically, there was only one other reason to call us over. It must be the magic engineering items. We had left a pair of Cloudsteppers and the Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot with him. It looked like the upgrades and crafting were finally finished. When I glanced at Seo Ye-in, her eyes were already sparkling with anticipation. I was just as eager, so the two of us practically floated our way over to the workshop. The workroom was cluttered with all sorts of odds and ends scattered around. As soon as we stepped inside, we saw two pairs of sneakers neatly placed in a noticeable spot. Father Seo gestured toward them with a nod. ¡°Go ahead, check them.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± [Cloudsteppers (A)] ?Automatic durability recovery ? Bonus to movement skills. ?Ignore inertia (C+) ?Multicolor Defense (C) ?Double Jump (B) The moment I saw the item options, I was more than satisfied. Good call leaving them with him. Maybe it was because he was the original creator of the Cloudsteppers. Either way, the upgrade was excellent. The item¡¯s rank had reached A, and ¡°Ignore inertia¡± now came with a bonus effect. The new option was Double Jump. Just like the name suggested, it allowed the wearer to jump again midair by stepping on empty space. That meant I could now leap higher or change direction while airborne. It would pair well with Wind Force too. The dream of aerial combat was now well within reach. Seo Ye-in also seemed satisfied with the upgrade, but she kept glancing around restlessly as if looking for something. Then she walked up closer to her father and asked, ¡°Dad.¡± ¡°What.¡± ¡°Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot.¡± As expected, her anticipation for the pot must have been even greater. She must have thought it was completed along with the shoes, so it was only natural for her to be puzzled when there was no sign of it. Father Seo slowly shook his head. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°When will it be done?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°A shame...¡± The mood sank heavily. He looked down at his daughter for a moment before speaking again. ¡°Still gathering materials.¡± ¡°Mm...¡± ¡°Ultra-durable pot.¡± ¡°.......!¡± At those words, Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement once more. If someone capable of making A-rank shoes was using the word ¡°ultra-durable¡± then it clearly wasn¡¯t going to be an ordinary item. Maybe that¡¯s why I felt a slight chill. What kind of material was he planning to use...? What kind of resource could even the Hye-seong Group have to source from elsewhere? *** A few more days passed, like a wheel turning on autopilot. This time, we received a call from the chairman¡¯s side. He had mentioned arranging a meeting soon, and it seemed today was the day. So we got into the sedan driven by Uncle Cookie and headed back to the same high-rise building we¡¯d visited on the first day. When we stopped in front of the elevator that led directly to the chairman¡¯s office, Ahn Jeong-mi spoke. ¡°Today, only Kim Ho-nim has been asked to come up.¡± ¡°I want to go too.¡± Seo Ye-in clung to my arm as she said it. But Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s attitude was far more firm and strict than usual. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, young miss. The chairman¡¯s instructions were clear.¡± ¡°I still want to...¡± Seo Ye-in must¡¯ve realized there was no room for negotiation this time. Though disappointed, she let go of my arm and stepped back. I gave her a light smile. ¡°It won¡¯t take long. Just sit somewhere and wait.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Leaving the two behind, I pressed the button near the top. The elevator shot upward rapidly, then gradually slowed before coming to a stop. ¡°.........¡± There he was again. The chairman of the Hye-seong Group, standing in the same spot, gazing out the window. Even that alone carried a heavy presence. I almost blurted out, ¡°Did you enjoy the cookies?¡± but held my tongue just in time. After all, a man¡¯s pride is something to be respected. Eventually, he turned to face me and approached with a composed stride. ¡°I want to start by apologizing. I said it would be soon, but ended up calling you much later.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. Timing doesn¡¯t matter much in situations like this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. To explain, I had someone I wanted to introduce to you.¡± He meant it had taken longer than expected to bring that person here. In fact, from the moment I had entered the chairman¡¯s office, I had sensed a faint but distinct disturbance. Like a ripple in stagnant water. It didn¡¯t feel like stealth. More like an entire space had been disguised. The level of concealment was so high that even I wasn¡¯t entirely sure. When my gaze drifted in that direction, the chairman¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°You really do have sharp instincts. But before I make the introduction, I want to ask one thing of you.¡± ¡°Please go ahead.¡± ¡°No matter who you see, I want you to stay calm and listen until the end.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± I nodded without hesitation. Having come this far, I was prepared to see it through, no matter what. Soon, the chairman gave a slight nod in the direction where I had sensed the disturbance. ¡°You may come out now.¡± At that, the space shimmered, and a man revealed himself. He had long black hair and wore black from head to toe. Though he looked very young, his appearance didn¡¯t seem to reflect his actual age. If there was one thing truly out of place, it was the black crown floating above his head. The moment I saw it, my expression hardened. There was only one being in this world, in this game world, with such a form. Pluto, the Underworld Dragon King. An S-rank boss monster and a dragon. He was also one of the three guardians who protected the Meteor Dragon. And the fact that such a Guardian was here meant that Meteor Dragon himself had sent him. Which also meant there was a close connection between Hye-seong Group and Meteor Dragon. It was somewhat unexpected. When playing the game, Meteor Dragon had always maintained a neutral stance. Clearly, being an EX-rank quest, the characters were varied, and the power dynamics were a bit different from what I remembered. It makes sense they asked for a promise in advance. He had hidden a dragon in the room and then revealed him. So they couldn¡¯t have known how I would react. Given the perception of dragons in this world, they probably thought I might attack on sight. Of course, I wasn¡¯t someone so lacking in judgment. When I looked silently at the chairman, a strange light flickered in his eyes. ¡°...You¡¯re quite composed for a young man. You seem to recognize him, yet you¡¯re not surprised?¡± ¡°To be honest, I was surprised. I¡¯m just not showing it.¡± At first, I had even suspected it might be a trap. But if they truly intended to eliminate me, there were plenty of ways to do so without setting up a meeting like this. Just sending someone like Ahn Jeong-mi after me would¡¯ve been more than enough to get the job done. Also, since the principal had sent me here, they probably couldn¡¯t make a move so easily. ¡°And didn¡¯t you say it yourself? That you wanted me to hear everything until the end.¡± That at least suggested they were willing to solve things through dialogue. Interpreted in a positive light, it also meant there was little chance of harm coming to me. The chairman nodded in satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re right. As I said, the reason I called you here today was to introduce you to this friend. There¡¯s no hidden agenda, so you can rest easy.¡± Meanwhile, from the moment he appeared, the Underworld Dragon King had been staring intently at me. Unable to bear it any longer, the chairman scolded him. ¡°Are you just going to keep staring like that?¡± ¡°...He is indeed a Monarch. But he still seems to lack the proper rank. How strange.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s save that talk for later. For now, start by exchanging names.¡± Soon after, we looked at each other and each spoke a word. ¡°Pluto.¡± ¡°Kim Ho.¡± Chapter 333: Underworld Dragon King (2) The Underworld Dragon King seemed to be intent on satisfying his own curiosity first. He immediately asked a question. ¡°How did you come to look like that? A Monarch should possess a rank similar to ours, yet you appear... small, or should I say, young?¡± The reason he was so puzzled was because I, despite being only at the level of a C to B-rank, was considered a Monarch. Normally, to meet the necessary conditions and acquire the relevant traits, one would need to be at least in the high A-ranks or even S-rank. But I had received them from the start as a benefit of the Reincarnation Quest. In many ways, I could be considered an alien being in this world. Of course, I had no intention of revealing anything about reincarnation quests or entering the game world. ¡°Due to certain circumstances, it¡¯s difficult to explain right now.¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s no fun.¡± ¡°Then may I ask a question of my own?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± As I looked at both the Underworld Dragon King and the chairman, I asked, ¡°How did your two factions come to work together?¡± In the game, the Meteor Dragon had been neutral in stance, yet here he was, allied with the Hye-seong Group. And not just a simple alliance. The Guardian, the Underworld Dragon King, was openly coming and going from the chairman¡¯s office. Such deep trust was no trivial matter. I needed to understand how they had become so close. ¡°......¡± The Underworld Dragon King exchanged a glance with the chairman. As if silently asking, ¡°Can I say it?¡± But the chairman subtly shook his head and spoke. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ll have to give you the same answer you gave us. It¡¯s difficult to explain right now.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± I nodded coolly. Everyone had one or two secrets they couldn¡¯t talk about, and I had been the one to refuse to answer first. Besides, judging by the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s hesitant attitude, it didn¡¯t seem like it was that big of a secret anyway. There¡¯ll be another chance later. In the first exchange, neither side gained anything meaningful. Next, the chairman was the one to speak up. ¡°I heard a brief summary about you from the principal.¡± The box I had delivered on the first day contained a small item and a scrap of paper. I assumed it had been a letter. ¡°I heard that even though you¡¯re a Monarch, you enrolled at Dragon Slayer Academy. That you want to grow alongside the other students. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡± At that, the chairman¡¯s expression grew more serious. ¡°Then let me ask you. What is it you ultimately hope to achieve through that growth?¡± ¡°World peace.¡± To be precise, it was to prevent the destruction of the world, just like the objective described in the EX-rank reincarnation quest. On top of that, I also had a personal goal of raising EX-rank heroes. The chairman¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°World peace, huh...¡± ¡°It¡¯s understandable if that sounds unexpected.¡± ¡°Frankly, it does. I thought your goal would be more self-centered to some degree, but it¡¯s quite noble.¡± The Underworld Dragon King looked at me with interest. ¡°Chairman, this little Monarch is better than you. When you were his age¡ª¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± The chairman cut off the Underworld Dragon King with an uncomfortable cough. Then, wearing a serious expression, he continued the conversation. ¡°In that case, I suppose we share the same goal. Since you speak of world peace, how much do you know about the current state of affairs?¡± ¡°Only as much as the average person does.¡± I had heard the general picture from Shin Byeong-cheol. Things like the armed forces of the Blood Cult clashing with the Magic Tower or an S-rank boss being taken down. One puzzling detail was that these incidents occurred with exceedingly frequent regularity. Yet, given my access to information as a student, I couldn¡¯t find the specifics. The chairman too seemed not to expect me to know much. ¡°I see you¡¯ve never heard this before. It¡¯s a secret known only to a handful.¡± When I nodded, signaling I¡¯d keep silent, he began his explanation. ¡°Not long ago, I received a system notification.¡± ¡°What did it say?¡± Perhaps deciding it¡¯d be easier to show me directly, the chairman projected a message into the air: [EX-rank has been unlocked.] Though brief, those words signaled nothing short of a cataclysm. ¡°Did only you receive this, Chairman?¡± ¡°No. This fellow here received it too. Other dragons confirmed the same. The prevailing speculation is that all S-ranks got it.¡± Dragons, boss monsters, heroes, villains....anyone classified as S-rank received it. The ripple effects must¡¯ve been huge. Until this notification, S-rank had been the highest rank. Though power gaps existed among S-ranks, collaboration allowed mutual checks, maintaining a fragile balance. But with the introduction of EX-rank, that equilibrium now teetered on collapse. In this world, ranks were absolute. For example, even if a horde of first-years averaging C-rank rushed a third-year club president or teacher, they¡¯d stand no chance. Similarly, if someone with EX-rank harbored malice, S-ranks alone couldn¡¯t easily stop them. In such a scenario, the optimal choice was obvious: ¡°Everyone must be scrambling to reach EX-rank first.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grasped it precisely.¡± To avoid being trampled, you had no choice but to race. Even if unwilling. Another question surfaced, and I asked, ¡°Has anyone achieved it yet?¡± ¡°Not as of now. As I said, the notification arrived only recently.¡± ¡°How recently, exactly?¡± ¡°A little under five months.¡± ¡°......¡± A strange coincidence. Five months ago aligned almost exactly with when I entered this game world and enrolled at the Dragon Slayer Academy. Which came first? Did the EX-rank open because I had trained a thousand S-rank heroes? Or did EX-rank open first, after which I was invited due to my qualifications? For now, these questions had to remain unanswered speculations. Still, I¡¯ll eventually find out. Setting aside these uncertainties for the moment, I decided to return my focus to the original topic. ¡°Five months definitely seems far too short.¡± Even I already had several skills stuck at the C-rank bottleneck; surpassing S-rank would surely be extraordinarily difficult. The chairman nodded his head. He apparently shared my thoughts. ¡°We won¡¯t see one emerge anytime soon. Still, a few strong contenders exist.¡± Among the S-ranks, some individuals were particularly powerful. Those figures, already known among players as ¡°Beyond S-rank¡±, might very well have reached the upper limits of S-rank by now. Meteor Dragon alone fits that description perfectly. He possessed three S-rank dragons as guardians, including Pluto Dragon who stood right before me. Even during my time as a player, he¡¯d been notoriously tricky to handle. Besides him, notable candidates included the Thunder Monarch, Blood Cult Master, Corpse Dragon, and Giant Mountain Dragon. From my perspective, the Great Crow Sage also seemed more than capable. This time, I directed my question to Pluto Dragon. ¡°What did Meteor Dragon say about this?¡± ¡°He made no particular remarks. He¡¯s still channeling the power of the stars.¡± ¡°Seems he hasn¡¯t made any progress yet.¡± ¡°But what alternative is there?¡± Pluto Dragon responded nonchalantly. As he said, whether progress had been made or not, the best choice was to continue steadfastly on the current path. After all, that was exactly how they had reached S-rank in the first place. However, the real problem was, ¡°The same likely goes for the other candidates.¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± The chairman answered with a grim expression. Each person had their own method of reaching such heights, and among those methods, some were anything but gentle. How much blood had been spilled for the Blood Cult Master to rise to his position? And how many dead lay sleeping beneath the feet of the Corpse Dragon? Now that EX rank had been unlocked, the likelihood of similar tragedies repeating had significantly increased. The chairman spoke. ¡°Recently, the Blood Cult has been expanding its power at a terrifying pace. Corpse Dragon¡¯s faction is also becoming increasingly active. I even heard they recently attempted to infiltrate Dragon Slayer Academy.¡± ¡°Fortunately, we managed to prevent it without major damage.¡± ¡°I heard you played a significant role in that. Still, from now on, you¡¯ll hear more bad news than good, so never lower your guard.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have much time. Grow stronger as soon as possible. Hye-seong Group will invest in you.¡± As he said that, the chairman paused for a moment. After a short silence, he continued, speaking in a reluctant tone. ¡°...Also, according to Team Leader 2, you and Ye-in want to undertake unauthorized raids on the underground floors?¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s the fastest way to become stronger.¡± With Lucky Charm by our side, we¡¯d be able to tackle even the dungeons heavily influenced by luck without hesitation. The wider the range of dungeons we could choose from, the greater variety of rewards we could obtain. Despite that, the chairman let out an uncomfortable groan. ¡°Hmm... Honestly, it doesn¡¯t sit well with me. Sending my only granddaughter into life-threatening battles isn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°Sooner or later, it¡¯s bound to happen anyway. Building experience now will be better in the long run.¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. You must have your own insight. Now that you¡¯ve trained her, what¡¯s your impression of Ye-in¡¯s talent?¡± I answered honestly. ¡°Her talent shines brighter than anyone else¡¯s I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± ¡°...Is that so? Then please continue to look after her.¡± A faint smile formed on the chairman¡¯s lips. Just as he opened his mouth to say something more, ¡°And... never mind. Just pretend you didn¡¯t hear that.¡± His expression instantly turned displeased. I¡¯ve got a feeling I know what he was about to say. Something about ¡°my granddaughter this, a bum like you that...¡± I decided to play dumb and let it slide. If I brought up anything about him being possessive, he might just collapse from stress. *** After saying goodbye to the chairman, I got into the elevator. Just as I was about to press the button for the first floor, the Dragon King suddenly stepped in and stood next to me. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± So dragons take elevators too, huh. If he wanted, he could¡¯ve just used teleportation magic to go down. Accepting it as it was, I pressed the close button, and the elevator quickly began to descend. As soon as the doors opened, Seo Ye-in was still standing exactly where she had been earlier. So I asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I waited.¡± ¡°I told you to sit while waiting.¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d be right back.¡± So she¡¯d just been standing there aimlessly at the entrance. As always, Seo Ye-in grabbed the sleeve of my jacket. Then her gaze shifted to the side as she spoke to the Dragon King. ¡°Godfather.¡± ¡°Niece. It¡¯s been a while.¡± The Dragon King returned the greeting in a dry tone. Then, seeming to notice the question in my eyes, he explained, ¡°I¡¯m her godfather.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I even brought a gift.¡± The next moment, the space beside the Dragon King opened, and a large metal ingot appeared. I couldn¡¯t help but be surprised when I saw it. [Adamantite (S)] It was the first time I had seen an S-rank metal since falling into the game world. To hand something like that over just because he hadn¡¯t seen his niece in a while. He was generous in a way only a dragon could be. In contrast, the Underworld Dragon King didn¡¯t seem to think much of it, as usual. ¡°You said you were making something, right? You asked for materials, so I brought them.¡± ¡°...Godfather, you¡¯re the best.¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly. Seeing that, I couldn¡¯t shake off a bad feeling. No way... It can¡¯t be, right? There¡¯s no way she¡¯d use an S-rank material to make something like a pot. Chapter 334: Underworld Dragon King (3) Unfortunately, my worries had come true. The Underworld Dragon King put the adamantite ingot away and revealed the next destination. ¡°We¡¯re going to the workshop.¡± Not only was he planning to use it for crafting, but it seemed he also intended to help with the processing himself. He must¡¯ve thought her father wouldn¡¯t be capable enough. Father Seo had some expertise in magic engineering, but working with S-rank metal might¡¯ve been beyond his skill. Adamantite was often accompanied by the phrase ¡°indestructible¡±. Among S-rank metals, it was one of the most durable, and it even had the ability to block mana. That made it almost impossible to process with ordinary magic. Only by bombarding it with space magic could one even have a chance. The Underworld Dragon King knew this, which was why he had decided to step in personally. He¡¯s not a godfather in name only. Considering how easily he handed over the gift and willingly took on a difficult task, perhaps the bond between Seo Ye-in and the Underworld Dragon King was deeper than I¡¯d thought. The same seemed to apply to the Hye-seong Group and Meteor Dragon. Still, one question kept circling in my mind. Is this really worth all that? A dragon joining in to craft with adamantite, just to make... a dented pot? It was impressive, yet at the same time, it all felt somewhat ridiculous. On the other hand, Seo Ye-in didn¡¯t seem to think that at all, as she looked at me with eyes full of excitement. ¡°Ultra-durable pot...!¡± *** Along with the creation of the ultra-durable Kim Ho Kim Ho pot, The Underworld Dragon King also began participating in Seo Ye-in and my training. So when he said he¡¯d invest, he wasn¡¯t just being polite. There was no investment more solid than assigning a dragon as a personal coach. Especially when he¡¯s got his own hands full. As we had discussed in the chairman¡¯s office, the vast majority of S-ranks were now racing toward EX-rank. The Underworld Dragon King was surely no exception, and yet he was choosing to dedicate two whole months of his precious time to us. His opportunity cost must be sky-high. From their perspective, even if they poured two months into training, there was no guarantee they¡¯d even reach the threshold of EX-rank. Even the most prominent powerhouses hadn¡¯t found a clear breakthrough yet. On the other hand, if he spent that time on Seo Ye-in and me, growth would be certain. As the Monarch grew quickly, it only made sense that his companions would be elevated rapidly as well. So while Seo Ye-in received one-on-one impact bullet training from Ahn Jeong-mi, The Underworld Dragon King personally took charge of training me. He spoke in a disinterested tone. ¡°Young Monarch. If there¡¯s something you want to learn, just say it.¡± He probably assumed that someone of Monarch level would¡¯ve already set a direction for themselves. And he wasn¡¯t wrong. A few goals immediately came to mind. Strengthening my foundation, managing penalties, and crafting items based on the Crow Branch. Among these, the top priority was: Strengthening my foundation. Of course, I was already working on rank-building through sparring with Seo Ye-in, so what I needed was a different kind of foundation work. I also need to manage the copy slots. ?Copy ¨C Traits [2/3] 1. Retrocovery (S) 2. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown 3. (None) One slot was still empty, and I had obtained a Fixed Pin through the final exam quest. If it was an S-rank dragon, he was more than qualified to fill that empty slot. So I asked politely. ¡°I¡¯d like to observe time freeze.¡± ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I want to experience it once, and if possible, come up with a countermeasure.¡± At that, the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s attitude turned indifferent again. ¡°You think you can come up with a countermeasure just by seeing it once? Besides, with your skills, you won¡¯t even be able to perceive it.¡± He wasn¡¯t looking down on me. He was just stating the reality. Even if the Underworld Dragon King used time magic, no one currently in the training room would be able to notice it. Not me, not Seo Ye-in, not even Ahn Jeong-mi. It would be like showing something to a blind person. What would be the point? Of course, I was aware of that too, but I insisted because it was something I absolutely needed. ¡°Even so, I¡¯m asking you, please.¡± ¡°It¡¯s pointless, I¡¯m telling you. Well, fine. Watch closely.¡± Before long, an immense amount of mana began to gather around the Underworld Dragon King. The turbulent mana gradually took the form of a complex magic formula, and the moment the fully-formed spell was unleashed¡ª Tick¡ª Tock¡ª Tick¡ª Tock¡ª Tick¡ª Tock¡ª The ticking sound echoed in my ears, then slowly faded away. And when I came to my senses, the Underworld Dragon King was standing in a completely different place from where he had cast the spell. At a glance, it looked as though he had used teleportation magic, but in reality, he had activated [Time Freeze], just as I had requested. It was an S-rank time spell, with an overwhelming effect that stopped time within a designated range. If the Underworld Dragon King had harbored any ill intentions, the three of us would have been as good as dead. ¡°Did you see it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? You just made me waste my mana for nothing.¡± The Underworld Dragon King grumbled. And it was no wonder. Time magic, despite its immense power, had atrocious efficiency. Not only did it consume a ridiculous amount of mana, but it also required a long casting time and a complex incantation. Yet even after all that, the spell¡¯s duration lasted only a few seconds. It probably wasn¡¯t much of a burden for a dragon, but naturally, he wouldn¡¯t be pleased about wasting it for no reason. Though it wasn¡¯t meaningless. I had achieved my goal. From the beginning, I hadn¡¯t been aiming for [Time Freeze] itself, but for the trait that manifested alongside it. [Time Resistance]. A trait that allowed one to resist various time distortions. Such as time freeze or slow. Without this trait, even a skilled person on the level of Lee Soo-dok would be completely helpless the moment time magic was activated. So I had always planned to learn it whenever the opportunity presented itself. Otherwise, I¡¯d have to intentionally get caught by an enemy using time magic in order to copy it. And now, I had a chance to obtain it without shedding a single drop of blood. How could I possibly let that slip by? I¡¯d better snatch it right away. [Activated ¡®Copy-Trait¡¯.] [The target¡¯s trait ¡®Time Resistance (S)¡¯ has been registered in the slot.] ?Copy ¨C Traits [2/3] 1. Retrocovery (S) 2. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown 3. Time Resistance (S) The Underworld Dragon King¡¯s eyes gleamed with a strange light. ¡°...Young Monarch, you did something, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯d come up with a countermeasure, didn¡¯t I?¡± Since it was bound to be exposed soon anyway, there was no need to hide it. ¡°This is interesting. Let¡¯s see what happens.¡± As expected, the Underworld Dragon King seemed to have a temperament that couldn¡¯t stand curiosity. He cast [Time Freeze] once again. He gathered a large amount of mana, combined the spell components, and unleashed the magic. Tick¡ª Tock¡ª Tick¡ª Tock¡ª Tick¡ª Tock¡ª The ticking sound echoed in my ears. What was different this time was that I could clearly perceive the distortion of time. Everything came to a halt, stripped of color like a black-and-white film. Seo Ye-in stared at me blankly, and Ahn Jeong-mi stood upright beside her. The only ones who could move, even slightly, were the Underworld Dragon King and me. That alone was enough to confirm what we needed, so we didn¡¯t take any further action. Tick¡ª Tock¡ª Tick¡ª After a few more ticks, the hall regained its color. Time Freeze was lifted in just four or five seconds. No matter how you look at it, the efficiency is terrible. All that complex effort, just for barely five seconds. And against someone like me who possessed Time Resistance, it was worse than useless. ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, the Underworld Dragon King kept staring intently at me, seemingly surprised that I had already come up with a countermeasure after falling victim to it just once. ¡°Amazing. Even a little brat is still a monarch.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your help.¡± Since there was no need to reveal the [Copy] trait, I simply offered a light word of gratitude. Seemingly even more intrigued now, the Underworld Dragon King made a suggestion this time. ¡°If there¡¯s anything else you¡¯d like to see, just say the word.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen enough for now.¡± The slots were full, and to copy anything else, I¡¯d have to overwrite a slot or use a fixed pin. Of course, if a skill or trait worth the trouble appeared, I¡¯d gladly copy it. A list of the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s skills and traits quickly flashed through my mind. I excluded unique skills and traits since I couldn¡¯t copy those anyway. And I also ruled out anything that was just high in rank but mediocre in function. After excluding high-rank spells that were unusable anyway, The defensive traits look somewhat useful. But there wasn¡¯t a clear way to draw them out. If I said something like, ¡°Can I hit you ten times?¡± like I did to the principal, he¡¯d probably blow up in anger. Even the principal had seemed reluctant back then, likely because his dignity had taken a hit. How much worse would it be with a dragon? So I decided to postpone the copying for now and moved on to my next objective. ¡°I¡¯d like help with managing penalties.¡± ¡°There are many types of penalties. Which one are you referring to?¡± ¡°Of course, the cooldown.¡± In fact, this was the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s area of expertise. As befitting the title of ¡°the Underworld King ¡°, he possessed numerous skills related to lifespan...in other words, time. That was why my first request had been, ¡°Please use Time Freeze.¡± He was such a pain to deal with when we were enemies. Alternating between Time Freeze and Slow was his basic attack pattern. On top of that, the duration of buffs I managed to apply would sharply decrease, wearing off quickly, or skill cooldowns would be massively extended. He was the main reason time management had been so difficult. He was also the reason the difficulty of the Meteor Dragon raid skyrocketed. But now that we were on the same side, all those tricky traits were bound to be a huge asset. Eventually, the Underworld Dragon King gave me a sidelong glance and nodded as if he understood. ¡°Speaking of cooldowns, there was something bothering me anyway. Show me.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± I immediately caught on to what he meant. There was only one skill currently on cooldown. Hardship. It had a massive cooldown applied because I used it with Octopus Limbs. And since the Underworld Dragon King was especially sensitive to time-related elements, he must have sensed it. I pulled up the relevant part of the notification message. [Cooldown: 44 days 16:32:39] ¡°Forty-four days, huh... It¡¯s rare for it to take this long. As expected of the young monarch. Everything¡¯s different with you.¡± ¡°This will probably happen often from now on. I¡¯m in a situation where I need to find a breakthrough.¡± After all, there are four people I¡¯ll need to assign the Hardship quest to moving forward. If cooldowns aren¡¯t managed properly, someone might end up having to wait even after clearing their quest. During the semester, there¡¯s no way I can even think about linking Octopus Limbs with Hardship. Of course, I brought this up because I was confident the Underworld Dragon King could solve the issue. He was already fully aware of my skill and trait setups, and the solution was among them. Sure enough, he responded with a calm expression. ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult task. While we¡¯re at it, let me show you.¡± Then, with a light wave of his hand toward the notification message, [Cooldown: 22 days 08:16:19] The cooldown was slashed in half. It was one of the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s unique skills. And it was exactly the skill I¡¯d been hoping for. ¡°It¡¯s called [Time Share]. Want to learn it?¡± Obviously, there was no reason for me to refuse. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to teach me, I¡¯d like to learn it.¡± Chapter 335: Underworld Dragon King (4) Skills and traits related to space-time were notoriously difficult to master, and the vast majority required a [Core] of at least A-rank. Naturally, that was far beyond the capabilities of a first-year student. Moreover, most of these abilities had been created directly by the boss monsters or heroes themselves, placing them on the borderline of being considered unique skills. In other words, they couldn¡¯t be brought over through [Copy]. For that reason, it had been expected that learning [Time Share] would come much later. But things changed when the Underworld Dragon King stepped in as a teacher. A dragon specialized in time-type magic. A first-year who reeked of something suspicious and rotten. If those two were paired together, then even if it was time magic, they could manage to pass on at least one skill. Before long, the Underworld Dragon King retrieved a few magical tools from a subspace and put them on. He had been casting time magic practically bare-handed before, so this meant he was preparing something even more powerful. Indeed, the Underworld Dragon King took his time channeling the spell. As he did, mana surged so violently that it made the very space ripple, then converged to a single point. That point turned into a line, the line into a crack that widened and grew, until finally, it was large enough for a person to step through. A teleportation portal. There was probably a space inside dedicated to passing on the skill. As expected of an S-rank dragon, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t do. With a lifespan dozens or even hundreds of times longer than a human¡¯s, he was skilled not only in combat magic but in various other fields as well. The Underworld Dragon King gestured toward the portal with a glance. ¡°Go on in.¡± One would think he¡¯d at least offer a brief explanation of what was inside or what to do, but he simply told me to go experience it for myself. Perhaps he figured that the young monarch would be able to handle it just fine on his own. And to be fair, he wasn¡¯t wrong. I gave a polite bow to the Underworld Dragon King in gratitude, then stepped into the portal. Immediately, a space as dark as the night sky spread out before my eyes. It seemed inevitable that the hastily assembled space looked a bit empty. Right in front of me sat a large clock, and scattered around it were various components like springs, gears, cogs, and other parts in complete disarray. If I were to use a metaphor, the clock was the incomplete skill, and the components represented the concepts that made up that skill. But it wasn¡¯t something I needed to overthink. The goal was obvious to anyone. Basically, I¡¯m supposed to build the clock. You could think of it as a kind of 3D puzzle. However, since the parts weren¡¯t few and came in all shapes and sizes, most people would probably start to feel overwhelmed at this point. At least the components were on the larger side. That must¡¯ve been their final act of mercy. Of course, that¡¯s in a typical case. Naturally, I had done this kind of thing more times than I could count. By puzzle standards, this one was on the easier side. Might as well finish this quickly. To save time, I gathered a full armful of parts and walked up to the clock. Then, without hesitation, I started fitting them in, piece by piece. Tick, tock, tock, tock. Once I used up the parts I was holding, I gathered another armful from the floor and repeated the process of assembling and clicking several more times. Before long, the giant clock was complete, and a notification message popped up. [You have acquired ¡®Time Share (F)¡¯.] [Time Share (F)] ?Shares part of the cooldown time for skills/traits. ?Share ratio: 10% Time Share was a cooldown management skill. It allowed you to designate one skill or trait currently on cooldown and take on a portion of its remaining time yourself. The share ratio varied depending on the rank. Once the shared time had passed, you could use Time Share again. For example, the Time Share cast by the Underworld Dragon King was ranked S, allowing him to absorb a staggering 50% of the cooldown. That¡¯s why the cooldown for [Hardship], which had originally been a little over 44 days, was slashed in half to 22 days. To cast [Time Share] again, I¡¯d have to wait those 22 days. Of course, someone like the Underworld Dragon King probably had more than one skill or trait that reduced cooldowns, so he¡¯d likely be able to reuse it even sooner. Well, since I¡¯ve learned it, let¡¯s give it a try. I checked the cooldown for Hardship again and used the skill. [Cooldown: 22 days 07:56:40] [Activated ¡®Time Share¡¯.] [Share ratio: 10%] [Cooldown: 2 days 05:35:40] As a result, Hardship¡¯s cooldown was reduced by exactly 10%. [Cooldown: 20 days 02:21:00] If I kept using it regularly, I¡¯d eventually be able to give Seo Ye-in the Hardship Quest before leaving the city. And if I quickly rotated the cooldown and used it for mentoring, that would be neat as well. Anyway, since I had finished all my business here, I stepped through the teleportation portal and came outside. The Underworld Dragon King looked slightly surprised. ¡°You¡¯re done already?¡± ¡°It was more manageable than I expected.¡± ¡°That Chairman guy spent half a day in there. You did better.¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± As I responded modestly, the Underworld Dragon King made me an offer. ¡°But this is still just the first step. Want to keep going?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to.¡± Since it was a time-based skill, ranking it up wasn¡¯t easy. But he was offering to guide me directly. The service here is top-notch. It really seemed like he was planning to support me thoroughly. I accepted without hesitation and stepped into the newly generated teleportation portal. *** Starting that day, [Time Share] rank training was added to my daily routine. Whenever the Dragon King opened a teleportation portal, I would go in, quickly assemble the clock, and come back out. Repeating that process several times a day, the rank increased rapidly. [The rank of ¡®Time Share¡¯ has increased. (F¡úE)] ? Share Ratio: 10% ¡ú 15% [The rank of ¡®Time Share¡¯ has increased. (E¡úD)] ? Share Ratio: 15% ¡ú 20% Honestly, I wanted to focus solely on this, but unfortunately, there was a limit to how many times I could train per day. Well, it¡¯s not exactly a simple magic, after all. It was a spell that created an entirely new space and even assigned it a clear purpose. Even a dragon probably couldn¡¯t use it too frequently. Besides, space magic was also required for crafting the adamantite pot, so he probably needed to conserve some of his energy. Whenever the Underworld Dragon King ended the session with a ¡°That¡¯s it for today,¡± and left the training room, I continued on as usual with one-on-one sparring against Seo Ye-in. Mixing in Mutual Destruction Eye and various wind spells as we went. [The rank of ¡®One Point Explosion¡¯ has increased. (C¡úB)] Now, with just Twister left to rank up, Spiral Explosion at rank B would be complete. Once the sloth battery was significantly drained, we¡¯d wrap up the sparring, and I¡¯d drop by the workshop to watch the pot-making process or play mini-games with Father Seo. It always ended with him getting utterly destroyed. And finally, the day had come. [Cooldown: 00:03:18] The day the cooldown for Hardship ended. I had kept [Time Share] running nonstop, and the Dragon King had occasionally cast support magic in between, so it finished earlier than expected. I paused the sparring and stood face-to-face with Seo Ye-in. Then I asked while Imitating the Dragon King¡¯s voice, ¡°Do you desire ¡®power¡¯?¡± ¡°......?¡± At that, Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly to the side. Normally, she would¡¯ve immediately replied with ¡°Strong¡± but today, her answer was delayed. She¡¯s got sharp instincts. It seemed her Lucky Radar had picked up on something ominous. No one knew what kind of trials accepting the Hardship quest would bring. I repeated the question. ¡°Do you desire ¡®power¡¯?¡± ¡°......No.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°A content life.¡± She meant she was satisfied with her current pace. Then, as she subtly began to put distance between us, I followed her and gently coaxed her. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s okay to be a little greedy?¡± ¡°Greed brings trouble.¡± ¡°You only get talkative at times like this.¡± The chase and persuasion continued, but Seo Ye-in just kept shaking her head without stopping. She must¡¯ve really had a bad feeling about it. So I decided to take a more drastic approach. ¡°Let¡¯s negotiate. Tell me what you want.¡± ¡°A lifelong pillow.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°No expiration date.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what you meant. But what about the butler thing?¡± ¡°......!¡± Seo Ye-in froze for a moment. After thinking for a moment, she raised an imaginary exclamation mark above her head. ¡°A lifelong pillow butler.¡± ¡°Look at you, full of greed. And no, you can¡¯t have either.¡± At the firm rejection, Seo Ye-in asked again. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unbalanced. When you use the word ¡®lifelong¡¯ it comes with some ridiculous conditions.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°For example, training while sleeping only four hours a day.¡± At that, Seo Ye-in immediately gave up on the idea of a lifelong pillow butler. ¡°A shame...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear another request. Something without the words ¡®lifelong¡¯, ¡®butler¡¯; or ¡®pillow¡¯.¡± After pondering for a while again, Seo Ye-in finally spoke. ¡°Recharge time.¡± ¡°You sleep on the Kim Ho pillow every day, don¡¯t you?¡± But she slowly shook her head, as if that wasn¡¯t what she meant. ¡°A trip.¡± ¡°Like when we go to the city?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± I nodded willingly. A proper rest day now and then would boost efficiency anyway. And when a hardship quest came up, the need for rest would only grow. From my perspective too, a leisurely walk through the new city sounded like a good way to clear my head. However, it seemed Seo Ye-in wasn¡¯t done listing her requests. ¡°One more.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Cookies.¡± ¡°You want me to bake them?¡± ¡°Together.¡± So she meant baking cookies together and sharing them. Since it wasn¡¯t an unreasonable request, I decided to add cookies to the scales as well. Meanwhile, Ahn Jeong-mi was silently observing us from a corner of the training room, keeping quiet but wearing a faintly pleased smile. At the same time, she seemed to be busily communicating with someone, giving the impression that she was already scouting locations. I glanced briefly at Ahn Jeong-mi, then fixed my gaze back on Seo Ye-in. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in still looked reluctant, as if her internal danger radar was going off. Afraid she might change her mind, I quickly activated the skill. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [Cooldown time: 5 days 23:59:57] [¡®Stage 1 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in kept her gaze fixed on empty space as she slowly read through the notification message. I was curious after all. So I asked her casually. ¡°What did you get?¡± ¡°......¡± Hardship quests were usually meant to be done alone, but that was merely a recommendation. Not a strict requirement. Especially for this human sloth, whose motivation seemed to drain away with every breath she took. It might actually be better to offer her a bit of support from the side. Soon enough, Seo Ye-in shared the contents of the quest. Looking at it, I couldn¡¯t help but let out a quiet sigh. ¡°...This won¡¯t be easy.¡± Chapter 336: Hammer vs. Frying Pan [Side Quest: Stage 1 Hardship] (In Progress......) ? Objective 1: Achieve close combat proficiency (0/100%) ? Objective 2: Defeat a D-rank or higher monster using close combat (0/1) ? Condition 1: Greatly reduced ranged damage ? Condition 2: Less than 9 hours of sleep per day Hardship assigns the most suitable customized quest to the target, either to enhance their strengths or to compensate for their weaknesses. This must be the latter. Since Seo Ye-in¡¯s class was Gunslinger, her close combat capabilities were relatively weak. She had struggled against Sa Gong-wook¡¯s gang during the final exam too. In the end, she did blast them away with her shotgun, but that was only possible because the fight happened in a narrow corridor. If the battle had taken place in a more open space, it wouldn¡¯t have been that easy. Might as well use this chance to patch things up. She¡¯d still remain a ranged fighter going forward, but unexpected situations could always occur. If she honed her close combat skills now, it might come in handy later on. The quest objectives were very straightforward. As long as she practiced close combat in some way, her proficiency would gradually increase, and once it reached 100%, Objective 1 would be complete. And for Objective 2, she just had to defeat one powerful monster using close combat. To practically force the player into completing both objectives, a condition that reduced ranged damage was applied. So far, it seemed doable enough, but the real problem was the second condition. Less than 9 hours of sleep per day. I couldn¡¯t help but question it. What does close combat have to do with sleep time? No matter how I looked at it, it felt like they just threw it in to mess with us. Still, there were parts I could vaguely guess at. Some hardship quests intentionally created unfavorable conditions, meant to push players to overcome their weaknesses even under harsh circumstances. In other words, the core of this quest was to train close combat skills while suffering from sleep deprivation. Honestly, nine hours isn¡¯t even that hard. For the average person, that¡¯s enough time to sleep comfortably and even squeeze in a nap. Of course, that wouldn¡¯t be the case if we were using a sloth as the standard. The record for Seo Ye-in¡¯s minimum sleep had been during the time when the Witch of Corruption caused chaos in the underground floors. Back then, I had been the only one to join the subjugation team, leaving behind Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in, whose skills were still lacking at the time. Seo Ye-in had been motivated by that and trained hard, reportedly sleeping only ten hours a day. But the condition for this hardship quest demanded even less. It was nine hours, which was shorter than her personal best. Seo Ye-in looked at me with an unhappy glare. ¡°Unfair contract.¡± ¡°Yeah... it kind of turned out that way.¡± I had expected there to be some tough conditions, but I hadn¡¯t thought it would involve sleep. Honestly, even from my point of view, ¡°going on a trip¡± and ¡°baking cookies together¡± weren¡¯t really worth the trade. Seo Ye-in pointed at the quest window. ¡°Cancel it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that either.¡± Once a quest was assigned, there was no turning back. No matter what it took, the only option was to see it through. That was why we always made sure to get the other person¡¯s consent before initiating a hardship quest. Seo Ye-in glanced back and forth between me and the quest window. ¡°A crisis...¡± Perhaps sensing the serious mood, Ahn Jeong-mi who had been standing by approached us. ¡°Young miss, Kim Ho-nim. Is something wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be quicker if you take a look yourself.¡± At my signal, Seo Ye-in shared the quest details, and Ahn Jeong-mi began reading through them carefully. ¡°This is actually perfect timing. I was already planning to adjust your schedule to include close combat training. And the conditions seem reasonable enough...¡± But the moment she read Condition 2, her expression hardened. ¡°...This won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°I was scammed.¡± Both of their eyes turned toward me at the same time. Feeling a bit wronged, I decided to defend myself. ¡°First of all, I¡¯d like to clarify that I¡¯m not the one setting these conditions.¡± ¡°I understand that it wasn¡¯t intentional. If it¡¯s you, Kim Ho-nim, I¡¯m sure you understand the young miss well.¡± As expected, Ahn Jeong-mi was a rational and thoughtful person. Knowing full well that sloths required at least ten hours of sleep, there¡¯d be no reason for me to set such an unreasonable condition on purpose. ¡°Still, this is far too harsh. Is there really no way to revise or cancel the quest?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there isn¡¯t.¡± When I gave a firm answer, Ahn Jeong-mi let out a small sigh. Then she turned to Seo Ye-in and said, ¡°Young miss, it looks like you¡¯ll have to do it.¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in slowly nodded her head, as if she had come to terms with it. But her motivation seemed to have hit rock bottom. Soon after, we stood face to face at the center of the training room. The only difference from usual was the relatively close distance between us. And instead of a sapling, the weapon in my hand was a toy hammer. I gave it a light smack just to test it. Boing. Both the sound and the impact were surprisingly satisfying. I stepped forward. ¡°Alright, here I come.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Just as I took another step, the barrel of her gun pointed straight at me. Ratatatatata! A hail of magic bullets. Dodging them with stealthy footwork, I closed the distance by the slimmest margin. Seo Ye-in kept firing as she backed away, but I was faster in closing the gap. Once I was in close range, I swung the toy hammer. Boing! ¡°......¡± A slight twitch appeared between Seo Ye-in¡¯s brows. Agitating her a bit wasn¡¯t a bad thing. It would trigger her competitiveness and maybe spark a little motivation. Ratatatatata! Another volley of magic bullets rained down. I approached in the same way and brought the toy hammer down. However, as if she had expected it, Seo Ye-in tilted her body slightly to dodge and continued firing. Ratatatata! I circled around Seo Ye-in like a satellite, and the moment I saw an opening, I lunged and slammed the toy hammer down. Boing! ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in silently patted her head. She was clearly getting more and more worked up. Then, as if a thought had struck her, she put away her assault rifle into her inventory and pulled out a pair of pistols, gripping one in each hand. It seemed she had decided to switch weapons. ¡°Good call.¡± Even if the firepower was slightly lower, the portability was much better. It would probably be easier to deal with close-range combat too. The spar resumed, and the dual pistols alternated bursts of blue fire. Tututututu! I closed in again and swung the toy hammer, but it was a clean miss. I quickly pulled it back and swung again, but this time, it only grazed her lightly. She dodges well. Maybe it was because she was a genius sloth, or maybe because getting hit by the toy hammer was pissing her off.... either way, she was learning fast. Thanks to that, there was progress in the trial quest. ?Objective 1: Achieve close combat proficiency (1/100%) On top of that, even at close range, Seo Ye-in kept firing her dual pistols relentlessly. Tututututu! It definitely made dodging harder. With no other choice, I summoned a dark cloud to deflect the magic bullets, and the tide began to shift back in my favor. The toy hammer struck again and again. Boing! Boing boing! Boing boing boing! ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in came to a stop once more, then put one of her pistols back into her inventory. What she pulled out next was a kitchen frying pan. She must be really mad now. I glanced at the frying pan and asked, ¡°Did you name that one too?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°¡®Not yet¡¯ sounds like you plan to.¡± ¡°Soon.¡± ¡°What are you thinking of naming it?¡± Seo Ye-in pointed the frying pan at me. ¡°Kim Ho Pan.¡± So she meant to hit me first, then name it as a sort of trophy. But would that really be as easy as she thought? No way I¡¯m letting that hit me. Kim Ho Pot was something I only allowed to hit me because I was going easy on her. Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot hadn¡¯t even hit me. It hit Dopple-Ho instead. I had no intention of increasing the Kim Ho merchandise collection any further. Whether she knew what I was thinking or not, Seo Ye-in pointed her magic pistol at me with one hand. Tutututu! And in the other hand, she kept the frying pan raised, ready to swing at any moment. Her tactic was obvious, but just like I¡¯d been doing so far, I dodged the magic bullets and kept moving closer. Then, at the critical moment¡ª Swish Seo Ye-in¡¯s form blurred and vanished without a trace. She had activated Ghost Dance. She was probably circling to my flank or behind me to swing the frying pan. But the fatal flaw in that plan was¡ª You¡¯re up against me. I had more than enough ways to respond. I could just use Ghost Dance myself, or even let her hit me. Distortion would activate regardless. Still, if I was going to counter, I figured I might as well do it overwhelmingly. That way, it¡¯d leave no doubt that her tactic didn¡¯t work. I pulled the dark cloud closer to my head and quietly spoke the activation phrase. ¡°Soft and Cushy.¡± Poof! The cloud, once the size of a fist, rapidly expanded and enveloped my upper body. The frying pan swung into it and was instantly repelled with a boing. Seo Ye-in¡¯s posture collapsed, leaving a clear opening. Of course, I didn¡¯t miss that chance. ¡°Let¡¯s put the frying pan away.¡± That thing¡¯s not doing you any favors in training. The toy hammer came down with terrifying force. Boing boing boing boing! *** After an entire training session of hammering the sloth with the toy hammer¡ª ? Objective 1: Achieve close combat proficiency (12/100%) ¡°Not bad for the first day.¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in turned her head to the other side instead of answering. She¡¯d been hit with the toy hammer all day. Wouldn¡¯t it be stranger if she wasn¡¯t upset? Still, it¡¯s not like I could hit her with the sapling. If we were going to train in close combat without getting hurt, this was the best option. She didn¡¯t appreciate the deeper reasoning behind it, and her gloomy mood lingered for quite a while. During dinner, she kept staring at me, only to quickly look away whenever our eyes met. It was the same even when Father Seo came to visit her room. Normally, she would sit beside him and watch mini-games together, but now she had her whole body wrapped in a blanket, turned away from him. Seeing that, her father asked, ¡°Daughter.¡± ¡°......¡± But no reply came, and the question was redirected toward me. ¡°Did you two fight?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± I explained everything that had happened that day, including the close combat training, and her father nodded as if he understood. ¡°Go make it up to her.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Eventually, her father left, and since it was about time for bed, I gently shook the lump of blankets. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°Hey, come on out.¡± ¡°......¡± But the blanket lump only curled up tighter. She was seriously sulking. I asked softly, ¡°Should we sleep separately tonight?¡± Didn¡¯t seem like she was in the mood to sleep next to me. At that, a pale hand suddenly slipped out of the blanket and grabbed my wrist. ¡°......Sleep with me.¡± ¡°Sure. But let¡¯s ditch the lump, yeah?¡± She must not have been able to give up the Kim Ho pillow, even when she was angry. Soon, we were lying side by side in bed, and just like always, Seo Ye-in wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head against me. Only tonight, the grip around my waist felt a little tighter than usual. In that position, Seo Ye-in mumbled softly. ¡°No toy hammer...¡± ¡°Just a few more days, okay? After it¡¯s over, we¡¯ll go have some fun, bake some cookies too.¡± ¡°Mm...¡± But I wasn¡¯t sure if she had actually heard me to the end. Judging by the sound of her soft, steady breathing, she must¡¯ve fallen asleep already. I looked down at her for a while, then shifted my gaze to the ceiling. And I thought, Less than 9 hours of sleep a day, huh... What happens if it goes over 9 hours? Chapter 337: Hardship Sloth The next morning. I had already woken up and was keeping track of the time. It¡¯s about to hit 9 hours. Counting in her nap, it was nearly there. If she exceeded 9 hours, there would no doubt be some kind of penalty. The chances were high that she wouldn¡¯t wake up even if I tried, but I decided to give it a shot anyway. I gently shook Seo Ye-in¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You lazy sloth, the morning has arrived.¡± ¡°Not lazy...¡± ¡°Come on, little sloth, time to get up.¡± ¡°One more hour...¡± She clung tightly to my waist, demanding an entire hour¡¯s extension. Lately, she had developed a habit of hugging me while sleeping. And for a very simple reason. To keep from drifting away. She had learned that losing contact with the Kim Ho Pillow meant losing sleep, so she¡¯d installed a kind of safety mechanism. Just like a sloth clinging stubbornly to a tree even through a typhoon. I¡¯d love to let her sleep longer if I could... Unfortunately, we were in the middle of a hardship quest. So I kept talking to her. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t waking up now be the wiser choice?¡± ¡°Humans... are foolish...¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Still, get up, foolish sloth.¡± ¡°Not... foolish...¡± ¡°You¡¯re just saying whatever now, huh?¡± After some more back and forth, Seo Ye-in¡¯s total sleep time finally exceeded 9 hours. And a notification message popped up in midair. ? Objective 1: Achieve close combat proficiency (12/100%) ? Objective 1: Achieve close combat proficiency (11/100%) ¡°It actually dropped...¡± I had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, it was messing with her proficiency. I poked Seo Ye-in¡¯s cheek a few times. ¡°Miss Seo, we¡¯ve got a problem. Wake up.¡± ¡°What is it...¡± ? Close Combat Proficiency (10/100%) ? Close Combat Proficiency (9/100%) ¡°It keeps dropping. This is a total crisis.¡± ¡°Crisis... is opportunity...¡± Even so, Seo Ye-in only muttered words of wisdom like some great sage and showed no signs of getting up. ? Close Combat Proficiency (7/100%) If there was a silver lining to this misfortune, it was that after a 5% drop, the proficiency didn¡¯t decrease any further. Considering she had trained all day yesterday just to reach 12%, even 5% was a painful loss. ¡°Still, I guess we came out ahead overall.¡± At least I could let her sleep a bit longer, and we could always grind the proficiency back up. If we kept making slow progress, wouldn¡¯t we eventually clear the quest? However... True to its name, the hardship quest was brutal. The drop in proficiency had only been the beginning. Soon, the temperature in the room began to plummet. At first, the air conditioner had simply kept the summer heat in check. But now, it felt like we had stepped into a freezer. Crack crackle I heard a freezing sound from somewhere, and when I turned my gaze, the water bottles on the table had turned into solid blocks of ice. ¡°How cold did it get in here?¡± At that point, it seemed even Seo Ye-in had been jolted out of her sleep. She gave a light shiver, half-opened her eyes, and looked up at me. ¡°Was it you...?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± I made that clear immediately to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. The only thing I was guilty of... was trying my best to wake her up. Then, Seo Ye-in looked around as if trying to find the culprit and realized that the room had practically frozen over. The bed, the snacks, even the tiger plushie. And only then did she check the notification message. ? Close Combat Proficiency (7/100%) Her gray eyes widened slightly. ¡°......?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been chipping away little by little.¡± ¡°I was scammed......¡± Seo Ye-in had started her day in the worst possible way. *** After a quick and simple breakfast, As usual, we headed to the training room together. Even on the way there, Seo Ye-in kept nodding off several times, but each time, the temperature around her would suddenly drop, waking her right back up. Since she hated the cold so much, it was an effective method. But the side effects were just as intense. By the time we arrived, she looked even more drained. So much so that the Dragon King asked the moment he saw her. ¡°Niece, you seem to be in a bad mood today.¡± ¡°Godfather......¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seo Ye-in shared her quest window as she spoke. ¡°Cancel it for me......¡± ¡°Was it that quest the young monarch gave you?¡± ¡°Mhmm......¡± The Underworld Dragon King narrowed his eyes as he stared at the quest window for a while. Then he slowly shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s an extremely powerful binding force at work. Even I can¡¯t do anything about this. The chairman won¡¯t be able to help you either, so don¡¯t bother pestering him.¡± ¡°No way......¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve been more careful before accepting it.¡± ¡°I was scammed.¡± Seo Ye-in once again brought up the unfair contract. The Underworld Dragon King glanced at me briefly before continuing. ¡°Humans are creatures who deceive and get deceived in an endless cycle. In any case, there¡¯s no other option right now. You¡¯ll just have to finish it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Mhmm......¡± ¡°Still, if you push through, your skills will improve quite a bit. Hang in there, niece. You¡¯ll hear good news soon.¡± With that, the Underworld Dragon King finished his conversation with Seo Ye-in and opened a teleportation portal for my training in [Time Sharing]. After I quickly whipped up a few clocks, he immediately left for his workshop. What followed was close-combat sparring, just like yesterday. Seo Ye-in fired her dual pistols wildly while I dodged this way and that before landing hits with my toy hammer. Boing!Boing boing! ¡°......¡± With every hit, Seo Ye-in¡¯s enthusiasm visibly drained. It was practically gone from the start, and now it had broken through the floor and was busy digging a basement. Eventually, Seo Ye-in let her dual pistols hang limply at her sides. ¡°......¡± ¡°Want to take a break?¡± ¡°I want to go home......¡± Seo Ye-in started to shuffle away. Wondering if she¡¯d forgotten, I reminded her of one important fact. ¡°If you really want to leave, go ahead, but you won¡¯t be able to sleep.¡± Wherever she goes, the moment she closes her eyes, the surroundings will freeze over. So even if she rests, it¡¯ll have to be with her eyes open. Whether that really counts as resting is debatable. Seo Ye-in came to a sudden halt. ¡°A dilemma...¡± ¡°Big words, huh. Anyway.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just push through for a few more days and wrap this up. The longer it drags on, the harder it gets.¡± On the first day, there had been a fair amount of trial and error, so the proficiency only reached 12%. Starting from the second day, when things were supposed to really get going, it would have been normal to see a bigger increase. But at this pace, it seemed likely it wouldn¡¯t even reach 10%. If she kept losing progress from sleeping over nine hours, then only barely gaining 10% again, and repeating that cycle, there was no telling when she¡¯d ever fill the proficiency bar. In that case, wouldn¡¯t it be better to give it her all each day, build up proficiency steadily, and just finish everything in a matter of days? Of course, Seo Ye-in probably knew that in her head. Her body was just out of control and sluggish, that¡¯s all. Times like this were when I also needed to act energetically. ¡°Alright, repeat after me. You can do it!¡± ¡°...Let¡¯s finish this.¡± Seo Ye-in gripped her dual pistols once again. *** ? Close Combat Proficiency (28/100%) Knew it. Just had to push through. Even though I made her do it half by force, she still gained 21%. Once again, I was struck by Seo Ye-in¡¯s incredible talent. But still, since it had been half-forced, the result was that Seo Ye-in had ended up in a state where she couldn¡¯t even lift a finger. Even now, she was sprawled out carelessly on the training room floor. I walked over and casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s your battery at?¡± ¡°Things like that... don¡¯t exist...¡± Her battery hadn¡¯t just drained. It had completely shorted out. I continued speaking in a gentle tone. ¡°Looks like you can sleep now.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. But let¡¯s go lie down inside.¡± At that, Seo Ye-in who was still lying flat slowly raised just her hand. I helped her up, but she kept her hand stretched out toward me. ¡°What are you trying to say with this gesture?¡± ¡°Carry me.¡± ¡°Haah... alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± She really was a handful. I carried Seo Ye-in on my back and moved toward the room. On the way there, she fell asleep. *** The next morning. Once again, she was on track to clock nine full hours of sleep. Soon, just like the day before, her proficiency would drop, and the room would freeze over like a walk-in freezer. Whenever Seo Ye-in got stressed over her proficiency, it left not only me but also Ahn Jeong-mi feeling heavy-hearted. We¡¯d been watching her give it her all, so we could empathize all the more with how it must feel to see some of that effort go to waste. There was another thing to worry about. There¡¯s no guarantee it¡¯ll only drop by 5% today. It could go down by 8%, maybe even 10%, or it might reset completely. After much deliberation, I made up my mind. Let¡¯s be the bad guy for just a few days. That seemed far better than letting her get stressed over her proficiency. Later on, I¡¯d just take the hit. Whether it was a pot or a frying pan. And with that, I cast Chillwind on Seo Ye-in. I adjusted the output to keep it moderate. Whoooosh¡ª As the sudden cold wind blew through the room, Seo Ye-in shivered slightly and slowly opened her eyes. The very first thing she checked was her proficiency. So she had been worried about it after all. She must¡¯ve expected it to have dropped, just like the day before. ? Close Combat Proficiency (28/100%) Her proficiency hadn¡¯t dropped a bit from 28%. Seo Ye-in tilted her head in confusion, then glanced around the room. Far from frozen, everything was perfectly fine. ¡°......?¡± Finally, she looked at me. As if to ask, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I kept a perfect poker face and answered, ¡°Beats me. Maybe you woke up earlier than usual today?¡± ¡°......Can I go back to sleep?¡± ¡°If you do, it really will drop.¡± ¡°Sorrow...¡± I headed to the training room with the sad little sloth in tow, and we carried on with the day¡¯s training. ? Close Combat Proficiency (45/100%) ? Close Combat Proficiency (59/100%) The next day, and the day after that, I woke her up with Chillwind every time she hit the 9-hour mark, successfully avoiding any decrease in her proficiency. The only issue was that the rate of improvement had started to decline. On Day 2, it rose by 21%. On Day 3, by 17%. And on Day 4, by just 14%. The effect¡¯s starting to wear off. What a three-day-resolution sloth. Wondering what kind of sweet talk I¡¯d have to try next, I took Seo Ye-in to the training room once again today. As usual, the Underworld Dragon had arrived first and was already waiting for us, but today, he brought some welcome news. ¡°Niece, I¡¯ve been waiting a long time.¡± ¡°......?¡± A pot floated out of subspace soon after. A familiar shape. It was dented twice in the same way as my head. It used to be made of tin, but now it had been replaced with a far sturdier metal. For some reason, a hole had been drilled into the handle, and a string had been threaded through it. When Seo Ye-in realized what it was, a rare glow of happiness appeared on her face. ¡°Godfather, you¡¯re the best......¡± ¡°I went through a lot making it. Your father did too, so make sure to thank him later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Seo Ye-in held the pot close to her chest like it was a treasure and was lost in the moment. Then she started inspecting it from all angles, before flipping it over and putting it on her head. She pulled the string down to her chin and tied it to secure it. So they made it double as a helmet. Was she planning to wear it around and swing it when things got rough? I was also curious about its performance. ¡°Let me see it.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Seo Ye-in willingly shared the item description. The more I read, the more speechless I became. What the hell did they do to the pot? [Immortal Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot (S)] Chapter 338: Immortal Pot [Immortal Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot (S)] ? Indestructible (S) ? Energy Blocking (S) ? Impact Nullification (A+) ? Upgradeable ? Upgradeable As expected of adamantite equipment, it bears the ¡°Immortal¡± tag, and the options all emphasize durability. Starting with the first option of Indestructible. During the crafting process, the Underworld Dragon King must have used spatial magic to mold its shape, but now that it¡¯s fixed, even that wouldn¡¯t be easy to do again. And on top of that, it doesn¡¯t just block sword energy; it blocks Energy (Qi) itself. Even if a martial arts master poured everything into a strike, it probably wouldn¡¯t leave a scratch. Also, as if to prevent a situation where the pot stays fine but the user gets hurt, it comes with an A+ rank [Impact Nullification] option. And it even has two upgrade slots. Depending on what gets added, it might even aim for a rank above S. Of course, finding the right upgrades won¡¯t be easy. All in all, it was an incredible item. From a defensive standpoint, it was even better than my seedling. On the other hand, it did feel like a waste not to use adamantite to make something more practical than a pot. Still, what matters most is that the person who got it is happy. As expected, Seo Ye-in was caressing the pot like it was something precious. After days of having dead fish eyes from the hardship quest, for once, her eyes were full of life. She even seemed filled with fresh motivation, so I decided to row hard while the wind was blowing. ¡°Since you¡¯ve got new gear, how about a test run?¡± ¡°Test run.¡± Seo Ye-in gave a light nod. And we immediately jumped into close combat sparring. My toy hammer kept thumping on Seo Ye-in¡¯s head. More precisely, the pot that was now covering her head. Ting! Ting ting! ¡°...Good performance.¡± Seo Ye-in contentedly ran her hands over the pot. Even though getting smacked with the toy hammer was safe, it usually caused a bit of irritation over time. But the pot was significantly offsetting that drawback. Didn¡¯t expect Impact Nullification to be this helpful. Thanks to the A+ rank Impact Nullification option, she couldn¡¯t feel a thing, no matter how many times she got hit. The popping sound of the toy hammer and the clanging on the pot were relatively minor issues. From my perspective, it was a win too. If Seo Ye-in stayed in a better mood, it meant she could maintain a decent condition for longer periods of time. Ting! Ting ting ting! I swung the toy hammer without hesitation. ? Close Combat Proficiency (87/100%) That day, Seo Ye-in¡¯s proficiency shot up by a whopping 29%. *** The long-awaited final day. As I had been doing the past few days, I cast Chillwind when Seo Ye-in had slept for nearly nine hours. Whoooosh¡ª The cold wind tickled her forehead, and Seo Ye-in opened her eyes in less than a second. She was waking up faster than usual today. She stared at me in silence, so I asked her, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°...It¡¯s you.¡± ¡°Me what?¡± ¡°The culprit.¡± ¡°What culprit?¡± I kept playing dumb, and Seo Ye-in tilted her head in suspicion but ultimately seemed to let it go. I¡¯d come clean about it later but now wasn¡¯t the time. It might negatively affect her training otherwise. We rushed through breakfast like lightning and headed to the training room. Then we resumed the close combat training. Tututututu! Her dual pistols alternated, firing bursts of blue flame. I zigzagged forward with stealthy footsteps, deflecting the magic bullets with Dark Cloud as I advanced. And when her gray eyes met mine, [The target has been afflicted with the ¡®Weathering (D)¡¯ status effect.] Wind coiled around Seo Ye-in¡¯s body. I had cast Mutual Destruction Eye. Seo Ye-in immediately dispelled the debuff with [Purification]. With a flash of light, the wind vanished. In that brief instant, I had already closed the distance. The toy hammer came crashing down at a frightening speed. But Seo Ye-in dodged to the side just in time. I retrieved the hammer that had sliced through the air and this time swung it diagonally. Seo Ye-in stepped back and fired a few rounds from her dual pistols. Tututu! Tututu! I used Wind Force to push her arms aside, then slammed the toy hammer down again. Once again, she dodged with agility and counterattacked right after. We kept missing each other, the clash turning into a series of whiffs. Occasionally, I managed to land a hit. Tang. But compared to when she first received the trial quest, the frequency had noticeably decreased. That meant she had become much more skilled in close combat. Then, all of a sudden, Seo Ye-in stopped in place and looked into the air. She pulled up her quest window and showed it to me. ? Objective 1: Achieve Close Combat Proficiency (100/100%) ¡°You finally did it.¡± ¡°...A triumph of humanity.¡± I grabbed Seo Ye-in¡¯s hands and shook them up and down enthusiastically. Ahn Jeong-mi who had been waiting nearby also approached us. Joy and emotion she couldn¡¯t hide lit up her face. ¡°Young miss, Kim Ho-nm, you¡¯ve both worked so hard.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. She¡¯s the one who did all the hard work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. If you hadn¡¯t guided her, it would¡¯ve taken much longer.¡± Since it wasn¡¯t a lie, I didn¡¯t try to act overly humble. Seo Ye-in also chimed in, as if in agreement. ¡°Master teacher.¡± ¡°Where do you even pick up stuff like that?¡± Anyway, now there was only one thing left. ? Objective 2: Defeat a monster of D-rank or higher in close combat (0/1) Immediately, Ahn Jeong-mi pulled out a magic scroll. The kind that summons a monster sealed inside when torn. She had prepared it from the very beginning, ever since we first checked the quest requirements. ¡°It¡¯ll be a bit tougher than a standard D-rank. Still, I figured a familiar monster would be better.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea too.¡± It didn¡¯t seem particularly dangerous. Given her current stats and skill level, even a C-rank should be manageable. I asked Seo Ye-in, ¡°Want help? Or do you want to try it alone?¡± ¡°Alone.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± For sparring, she needed a partner, and I had to step in to teach her quickly. But for the final hurdle, it was better she did it on her own. So I stepped aside to the edge of the training room, while Seo Ye-in and Ahn Jeong-mi stood facing each other. ¡°Young miss, are you ready?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded while wearing the immortal pot on her head and holding an assault rifle in both hands. Soon, Ahn Jeong-mi tore the magic scroll straight down. With a surge of mana, the monster was summoned. ¡°Grrrrrrr...¡± A large, muscular body. A club in one hand. It was an ogre. Just as Ahn Jeong-mi had said, the ogre was about D+ rank, though strictly speaking, it was closer to C rank. Still, it was the perfect opponent to gauge how much stronger she had become. That¡¯s because it allowed for a direct comparison with the mentoring session and the midterms. Back then, she couldn¡¯t even pierce through it properly. Its hide had been so thick that even magic bullets had done nothing more than scratch it. But in the meantime, Seo Ye-in had made incredible progress. She had acquired a new weapon, and her magic bullets were now B-rank. She had also learned two special bullet skills, allowing her to chain them with [Shock Bomb]. And those results would now be put to the test. ¡°Grrrrrr......¡± When Ahn Jeong-mi who was standing nearby used stealth to erase her presence, the ogre¡¯s gaze shifted toward Seo Ye-in. Then, baring its hostility, it began to charge at her with terrifying speed. Thud, thud, thud. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in stared at the approaching ogre with indifferent eyes. Her magic gun was still pointed at the ground due to the ¡°reduced long-range damage¡± condition in effect. Since it wouldn¡¯t deal much damage anyway, she had decided to conserve her strength. ¡°Graaah!¡± When its prey entered the attacking range, the ogre swung its club. Instead of retreating, Seo Ye-in stepped in even closer with Feather Walk. And just as the club missed her by a hair, her assault rifle began spitting blue fire. Ratatatatata! Boom-boom-boom! A dozen or so magic bullets struck the ogre¡¯s leg, triggering small explosions. That one exchange left the creature¡¯s leg in tatters. Judging by its staggering movements, the injury seemed severe. ¡°Grrraah...?¡± Even so, the ogre remained as tough as ever. It limped and kicked at her, slamming its club down and reaching out with its bare hand, trying to grab her. Seo Ye-in slipped deftly between its attacks and kept firing whenever an opening appeared. Ratatatatatatata! It didn¡¯t take long before the ogre¡¯s entire body was covered in wounds. She¡¯s practically toying with it. At this rate, she¡¯d probably bring it down without much trouble. ¡°Gooooough!¡± The ogre too seemed to instinctively realize that it stood no chance like this. Sensing that it had to make a desperate move somehow, it suddenly threw away its club. Then, it swung its empty hand wide across the ground as if to sweep it clean. In response, Seo Ye-in timed her moment and leaped high into the air. ¡°Jump.¡± But just as she landed, the ogre lunged with its other fist, aiming straight for her. It seemed there wasn¡¯t enough time to dodge. But at that critical, life-or-death moment¡ª Flash! A sharp light gleamed in Seo Ye-in¡¯s eyes. She read the incoming punch in slow motion with bullet time. Then, the immortal pot she wore on her head swung forward, colliding with the ogre¡¯s fist in midair. At first glance, it looked like an egg thrown at a rock....but the result was anything but that. Claaang¡ª! The ogre¡¯s punch was stopped in its tracks with a clear, ringing sound. It was the effect of the A+-rank skill [Impact Nullification]. From that position, Seo Ye-in aimed her assault rifle at the beast. Thunk¡ª A thick round fired out of the launcher attached beside the rifle¡¯s muzzle. The round struck the ogre square between the eyes and exploded on impact. Booom¡ª! The ogre¡¯s huge body swayed backward, then crashed to the ground. And then, it scattered into particles of light. [Side Quest: Stage 1 Hardship] (Complete) ? Objective 1: Achieve close combat proficiency (100/100%) ?Objective 2: Defeat a D-rank or higher monster using close combat (1/1) ¡°Good job. Ogres are easy now.¡± ¡°.......¡± Then Seo Ye-in came closer and quietly looked up at me. At the same time, the immortal Kim Ho Kim Ho pot began to slowly rise. ¡°Why is the pot going up?¡± ¡°Cold wind.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°It was you.¡± So it hadn¡¯t blown over like I thought. Now that the hardship quest was over, there was no reason to keep hiding it. ¡°It was me. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Since I had tricked her, I was even willing to take a hit for it. But contrary to my expectations, the pot that had been rising steadily began to lower again. Instead, Seo Ye-in reached out with her other hand and gently patted my head. ¡°......I¡¯ll let it go.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this? You¡¯re not hitting me?¡± ¡°A generous heart.¡± ¡°Very admirable.¡± Let¡¯s try to keep that mindset going forward. Seo Ye-in looked up at me again and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m heading out now.¡± ¡°Home?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Going to bed already?¡± ¡°Making up for lost sleep.¡± She had only been sleeping nine hours a day lately, after all. Since it was completely understandable, I nodded my head. After that, Seo Ye-in moved around behind me. ¡°Piggyback ride.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not that sleepy.¡± ¡°Piggyback ride.¡± ¡°Haah, fine, get on. Let¡¯s call today Sloth Day.¡± I figured I should be generous, at least for today. I carried Seo Ye-in on my back and headed home. Then, almost as if in passing, I threw out a question. ¡°Want to get a taste of Hardship Stage 2? Just a little?¡± ¡°No.¡± Seo Ye-in shook her head firmly. And then she emphasized it once more. ¡°No.¡± Chapter 340: Death (2) The first sniper shot had only been the beginning. Blue threads of light slashed toward the witch from all directions. Tududududu! Of course, it was the marksmen of the Hye-seong Group doing the sniping. Being a defense city, they were always on standby, stationed at every building. They must¡¯ve been keeping an eye on her all along. Perhaps even from the moment the witch stepped into the city. They wouldn¡¯t have known her exact identity, but they must¡¯ve sensed something was off. Then, upon receiving Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s emergency signal, they had sprung into action. Tududududu! Magic bullets, packed with immense destructive power, rained down like machine gun fire. The Witch of Death twisted her body in grotesque ways as she was continuously struck from all sides. But in truth, she didn¡¯t appear to have taken much damage. She is an S-rank, after all. She was the guardian under the command of the Corpse Dragon and also the First Legion Commander. Among the witches, her skills were considered top-tier. Naturally, she outranked the Witch of Corruption by far. The Hye-seong Group¡¯s marksmen might¡¯ve been highly skilled, but even they were a bit lacking when it came to taking down an S-rank. As expected, the Witch of Death, who had been dancing grotesquely, suddenly came to a halt like a puppet with its strings cut. Then, as if nothing had happened, she straightened up calmly. Flutter¡ª Next, black energy fluttered around her like the hem of a robe, wrapping her in its folds. Every time a magic bullet touched it, it vanished as though being sucked in. ¡°There are too many nuisances.¡± After saying that, the Witch of Death gently floated into the air. And when she waved a hand above her head, a subspace opened up and spat out its contents. A giant spinal bone that was so huge it could have been mistaken for a building. Booooom¡ª! As the spine slammed down, the buildings below were completely shattered and crumbled to pieces. Seo Ye-in who had been fleeing alongside us looked at the scene with mournful eyes. ¡°...The bakery.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not exactly the priority right now.¡± I pulled Seo Ye-in along and gave her a sharp remark. The giant spine was encrusted with small bone fragments, and as they fell and snapped together, they formed skeleton soldiers. Spine Tower. It was both a Necromancer¡¯s item and a structure used to store bone-type undead and summon them when needed. It compensated for the chronic weakness of becoming vulnerable without corpses. With that size, it must have stored a few hundred at least. As the skeleton soldiers poured out in droves, the Hye-seong Group¡¯s marksmen had no choice but to change their targets. The longer they left those things unchecked, the more the damage would spiral out of control. Ratatatatata! After diverting attention that way, the Witch of Death turned her gaze back in this direction. Then she lifted a scythe taller than herself and used teleportation magic to close the distance in an instant. ¡°You weren¡¯t trying to run, were you?¡± ¡°Of course not. I was just attempting a strategic repositioning.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve moved enough. Let¡¯s pick up where we left off.¡± Ratatatatata! Ahn Jeong-mi and Seo Ye-in concentrated their fire, but the fluttering black cloth deflected the magic bullets. The witch charged in immediately, swinging her giant scythe. Swish¡ª slash¡ª shhk¡ª Every time the scythe passed, it seemed to carve lines into thin air. That was how much destructive power it held. Even a slight touch would slice someone clean apart, making defense unthinkable. Dodging just barely by twisting my body, I managed to avoid it. But the ends of my hair were sliced off and scattered. ¡°Ah, my bangs...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke around.¡± The Witch of Death began to mix magic into her scythe attacks. She flung thorns the size of a palm like shuriken. Shweee¡ª shweee¡ª shweee¡ª! As I scrambled and dodged with Thief¡¯s Step, a thought ran through my mind. It¡¯s getting hard to hold out. Just a little longer and Hye-seong Group¡¯s reinforcements, along with the Underworld Dragon King and the Chairman, would arrive. But as expected of an S-rank, this wasn¡¯t going to be easy. This isn¡¯t the time to hold back. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Amplification¡¯.] [The rank of ¡®Wind Force¡¯ has increased. (B+ ¡ú S+)] [The rank of ¡®Spiral Burst¡¯ has increased. (B+ ¡ú S+)] [¡®The rank of Thief¡¯s Step¡¯ has increased. (B+ ¡ú S+)] [The rank of ¡®Inferno Fist¡¯ .......] [The rank of ¡®Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger¡¯.......] [The rank of ¡®Ice Wall¡¯.......] [The rank of ¡®Mutual Destruction Eye¡¯.......] ....... [Duration: 00:14:58] [Cooldown: 2 days 19:29:59] I had amplified nearly every skill I possessed. The cooldowns were stacked up, but that was a problem to worry about after surviving. Sensing that my abilities had suddenly surged, the Witch of Death widened her eyes. ¡°......Are you really a first-year student?¡± ¡°Technically, I¡¯ve graduated over 200 times.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to answer, just say so.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious, though.¡± Why didn¡¯t anyone ever believe me? Even Dang Gyu-young seemed to think it was just some kind of cheat-code excuse. Feeling a bit disheartened, I cast my skills. [Octopus Limbs] [Hummingbird] ¡Á3 Three lightning hummingbirds shot into the air. They circled in the sky, then charged toward the witch from three different directions. But those jet-black hems of her robe were still fluttering. Even if they hit, it was obvious they¡¯d be blocked. But then, in that very moment¡ª Boom! A grenade-sized magic bomb flew in and exploded near the witch. It had been thrown by Ahn Jeong-mi, who¡¯d been waiting for an opening. The blast seemed to have the effect of dispersing her mana, as the black fabric flickered faintly for a moment. Not missing that brief window, I landed the hummingbird strikes. Crackle! Then I followed up with Octopus Limbs and the Mutual Destruction Eye. [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Frozen (B)¡¯ status.] [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Poisoned (B)¡¯ status......] [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Frozen (B)¡¯......] Crackkkk, The witch¡¯s toes were covered in ice, but only for a fleeting moment. She seemed to have immediately dispelled it with a debuff-removal skill. ¡°That was decent in its own way, but¡ª¡± Boom! The next moment, compressed air exploded, and the witch was sent flying. An S-rank Wind Force had landed squarely. The earlier hummingbirds and the Mutual Destruction Eye had been set up for this very moment. However, the Witch of Death stopped mid-flight, suddenly halting in midair. Then, she used Blink once more to close the distance. All that carefully laid groundwork was undone with a single Blink. I¡¯m the only one without Blink. Dang Gyu-young had it, Oh Se-hoon had it, the Witch of Corruption had it, the Underworld Dragon King had it. Even the Witch of Death had it. I was the only one who didn¡¯t. It was truly a frustrating thing. The Witch of Death swung her scythe and asked, ¡°Got anything else?¡± ¡°I do have one last trump card.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see it, then. I¡¯ll kill you after.¡± ¡°Alright. And that would be¡ª¡± Right then, a massive pressure swept in from somewhere. The witch couldn¡¯t dodge in time and took the hit. Crash! As she skidded back, she looked up. And there was the Underworld Dragon King floating in the air. The trump card was telling on her to the dragon. The Underworld Dragon King opened his mouth. ¡°You old hag, what brings you here?¡± ¡°¡®Old hag¡¯.... such words pain my heart. You¡¯re even older than me.¡± ¡°Then call me an old lizard or whatever you want. Just answer the question.¡± ¡°I was going to just quietly watch this time, but... when do things ever go according to plan?¡± The witch glanced sideways at me. That must have meant she changed her plans because of me. The Underworld Dragon King spoke in a disinterested tone. ¡°Then I suppose you¡¯ll have to change the plan again. You¡¯ve dragged this out too long.¡± Just as he said, reinforcements were steadily gathering from all directions. Not just the Hye-seong Group¡¯s elite soldiers, but swordsmen, mages, and powerful fighters from various classes. All of them were graduate-level, ranked B or higher. The moment they arrived, the reinforcements began pushing back the swarming skeleton soldiers. It was probably only a matter of time before they were all subdued. Even so, the Witch of Death smiled faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going a little longer. I¡¯ve got nothing to lose anyway.¡± Then, once again, she waved her hand toward the Spine Tower. At her gesture, the bones of a freshly assembled skeleton soldier darkened. The newly darkened skeleton donned bone armor and mounted a skeleton warhorse. Knight-class. The skeleton knight immediately locked eyes with me, then charged this way, leading a group of skeleton soldiers. She clearly intended to bring me down with them. The Underworld Dragon King scoffed and moved to intervene, but¡ª ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you here to stop me?¡± The Witch of Death cut in between them, swinging her massive scythe. The dragon and the witch clashed in midair. BOOM¡ª! Ahn Jeong-mi spoke urgently. ¡°Young miss! Kim Ho-nim! You need to get out of here!¡± ¡°Can I really run away just to save myself? We have to fight.¡± ¡°Fight.¡± Seo Ye-in and I answered firmly. Ahn Jeong-mi looked a bit moved. We were just first-years, and we had just come out of a life-threatening battle. Anyone would¡¯ve understood if we wanted to run away in fear, but she seemed to think we were risking our lives for the sake of the Hye-seong Group. That wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, but there was another reason. As long as it¡¯s not the witch, we can handle it. Against an S-rank elder monster, we had no choice but to be on the defensive the whole time. Although my rank had been boosted through amplification, the quality and quantity of my skills, traits, and items still lagged far behind. She was probably going easy on me a bit. The guess was either to see how things would play out or to toy with me a little before killing me. If she had been serious, [Distortion] would¡¯ve been broken instantly and my limbs would¡¯ve been severed. In contrast, the opponent in front of me was a skeleton knight. Not an easy foe by any means, but compared to the Witch of Death, this one was practically a saint. And Amplification isn¡¯t even finished yet. Cooldowns were still all over the place, and the plan was to keep fighting until the effect wore off. I planted the sapling in the ground and reached out toward the oncoming undead. [Earth Line] [Spiral Explosion] Whoooooosh¡ª! A huge whirlwind roared forward. The skeleton knight spurred its warhorse harder and managed to escape the whirlwind, but most of the skeleton soldiers were helplessly dragged into it. Then, as the wind compressed them tightly into a mass¡ª Boooom¡ª! They were blown to pieces in a huge explosion. Only a handful of skeleton soldiers remained. But the most important one, the skeleton knight, was still intact and now charging toward us at terrifying speed. Ahn Jeong-mi and Seo Ye-in fired their magic rifles at him in rapid succession. Ratatatatatata! Armor shattered and the shield broke apart as the skeleton knight continued to take damage. However, it charged forward with unwavering determination to carry out its mission. I watched it carefully and, just as it was nearly upon us, I began casting a spell. You don¡¯t even have Blink, do you? Then you¡¯ll just have to take this. [Octopus Limbs] [Ice Wall] *2 Two thick ice walls rose up, one after the other. The skeleton knight crashed straight into it at full speed. Baaang!! Shards of ice scattered in all directions. ¡°......¡± Ahn Jeong-mi looked at me like she was staring at some wicked demon, but I pretended not to notice and clenched my fist tightly. From inside, dark crimson flames began to blaze. [Inferno Fist] Whooooooooooooooosh¡ª! The fiery storm swept away the skeleton knight and the skeleton soldiers who had been following behind it. Because it had been amplified to S-rank, I suffered some minor burns. [¡®Retrocovery¡¯ has been activated.] [Cooldown: 2 days 23:59:56] But that too quickly healed. That takes care of this area. I lifted my head and looked upward. There, the Underworld Dragon and the Witch of Death were locked in an intense battle, and the more I watched, the more a strange sense of de?ja? vu crept over me. Come to think of it, when I first fell into the game world, two dragons had been fighting back then too. ...And I copied elemental resistance, didn¡¯t I? This was a chance. Chapter 341: Death (3) [Copy] might have seemed like an all-purpose skill that could bring in anything, but it came with its own set of limitations. One had to identify the activated skill/trait and its rank. Skills or traits unique to the target couldn¡¯t be copied. And if the copied skill was of too high a rank, the [Core] couldn¡¯t handle it, rendering it unusable. Setting aside all the things restricted by these conditions, what I had been eyeing in the Underworld Dragon King was his¡ª Defensive trait. Since it was a trait possessed by an S-rank, even if it leaned toward general use, it would still prove incredibly useful. The only issue was that a defensive trait, naturally, had to be triggered by taking damage. Just like when I assaulted the principal with my Inferno Fist. Whether a proud dragon would allow that was highly doubtful. Because of that, I had put off copying the trait for later, but then, unexpectedly, I ran into the Witch of Death....and a battle broke out between two S-ranks. So I decided to cheer them both on. Of course, the one who won had to be on our side, but still¡ª Just land a few hits, will you? Let me get that copy. Baang¡ª! Their clash continued. When the Witch of Death swung her pitch-black scythe, the Underworld Dragon King would deflect it with a translucent, clock-shaped shield and counter with a sword that resembled a clock hand. Then the witch would block it with a flutter of jet-black fabric. Just as the Underworld Dragon King was about to swing his sword again, something shot up from below and bounced off the shield. Ting. It was a bone sword. Some of the skeleton soldiers spawned by the Spine Tower had made it this far. Not that they could even scratch the barrier at that level. The Underworld Dragon King seemed to share the same thought and spoke in a bored tone. ¡°Pointless efforts.¡± ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± The Witch of Death subtly curled the corners of her lips into a smile. Soon, black threads extended from her body and touched a few of the skeleton soldiers. Their once-white bones turned pitch-black in an instant. Not only that, but the skeletons kicked off the ground and leaped into the air, now floating and moving just like the witch. Then they began to surround and press in on the Dragon King. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it was pointless?¡± With a wide sweep of his clock-hand-shaped sword, the Underworld Dragon King sliced the skeleton soldiers clean in half in a single stroke. However, the Witch of Death¡¯s smile only deepened as she snapped her fingers. [Corpse Explosion] Boom-boom-boom-boom! The shattered skeleton soldiers exploded all at once, scattering hundreds of bone fragments. By imbuing ordinary skeleton soldiers with the energy of death, she had maximized their destructive power, sent them in close, and then triggered Corpse Explosion. It was a well-known skill combo frequently used by necromancers. Even so, not a hint of concern appeared on the Dragon King¡¯s face. Soon, his shield which was shaped like a clock began to glow and rapidly expanded, taking control of the space around them. The fragments that had been flying in all directions suddenly slowed down, as if the flow of time had been altered. The Underworld Dragon King casually moved between the shards and swept them away with his sword. Still, the fact remained that the flying fragments, however slowed, were limiting his movement. That must¡¯ve been her real aim. Screeeeech! The Witch of Death charged straight at the Dragon King. Possessing [Time Resistance], her movements weren¡¯t significantly slowed even in the space he controlled. The Dragon King cast Blink, but she immediately caught up with her own Blink. Then, enlarging her pitch-black scythe several times over, she brought it crashing down with all her might. Craaaack! The Dragon King¡¯s layered defense mechanisms shattered instantly. Dodging the reflexive swing of his clock-hand sword, the Witch of Death quickly widened the distance again. Then she asked, ¡°Still think it was pointless?¡± ¡°No, that was a fine move. I saw it coming and still fell for it.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The Dragon King acknowledged it cleanly, and the Witch smiled gently. It resembled the demeanor of old men in the neighborhood playing janggi or baduk. However, the fierce battle that followed was as brutal as ever. Whoooosh¡ª! As expected, the Dragon King is getting pushed back a bit. He seemed to be at a disadvantage, about four to six. The Underworld Dragon King played more of a support or debuffer role. He was the main reason why the Meteor Dragon raid was so difficult, but his own fighting power was relatively lacking. Especially since, in a battle between S-Ranks, time magic lost much of its effectiveness. In contrast, the Witch of Death was a case highly specialized for combat more than anyone else. True to the word ¡°death¡±, she possessed skills and traits that inflicted devastating damage on enemies. It was only natural that the Dragon King would be the one getting beaten from the start. Swishh! The jet-black scythe cut through the barrier and slashed across the Dragon King¡¯s body. However, his body remained completely unharmed. Finally. The long-awaited defensive trait had activated. ¡°......¡± For a moment, the Witch of Death¡¯s eyes flickered with interest, but as if she had realized the same thing as I had, she continued her assault. She must have been convinced it wasn¡¯t true invincibility. She dragged in several skeleton soldiers at a time, enhanced them, hurled them, and detonated them. Boom-boom-boom-boom! At the same time, she fired off black orbs, closed the distance quickly, or followed up with Blink to swing her scythe again. The Dragon King, worthy of his S-Rank, put up a decent defense, but in the end, he began to let attacks through. Then, as the second and third swings of the scythe struck¡ª Swishhh! Three deep wounds had appeared on the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s body. It wasn¡¯t that he hadn¡¯t been wounded. It was that the moment he took damage had simply been delayed. And that was precisely the trait I had been aiming for. Let¡¯s make some space first. [Activated ¡®Fixed Pin¡¯.] [Fixed ¡®Retrocovery (S)¡¯.] [Activated ¡®Copy-Trait¡¯.] [The target¡¯s trait ¡®Pain Delay¡¯ has been registered in the slot.] [Traits] ?Retrocovery (S) ?Copy-Trait [3/3] 1. The Sovereign¡¯s Crown 2. Time Resistance (S) 3. Pain Delay [Pain Delay] ?Stores up to 2 instances of damage. ?After 10 minutes, or upon receiving 3 instances of damage, all stored damage is taken at once. ?Cooldown: 3 days Strictly speaking, Pain Delay wasn¡¯t a particularly good trait on its own. After all, it didn¡¯t change the fact that you were still taking damage. But combined with other traits, the story changed. ¡°......¡± The Underworld Dragon King¡¯s wounds were healing rapidly. True to its nature as a time-affiliated dragon, it had also mastered Retrocovery. A combo of taking damage all at once with [Pain Delay], and instantly healing it with [Retrocovery]. A perfect match. The biggest drawback of Retrocovery was that it triggered automatically, whether you took 100 damage or just 1, and then went on cooldown. But with Pain Delay, that timing could be pushed back. This should let me use it three times too. Whether it was Inferno Fist or the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger. The Witch of Death made a sour face when she saw the Underworld Dragon King recover completely. ¡°......How utterly pointless.¡± ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I?¡± The Underworld Dragon King went a step further, raising a glowing clock above his head. Its hour and minute hands spun at incredible speed. A cooldown reduction skill. It looked like he intended to rapidly reset the cooldowns of [Pain Delay] and [Retrocovery] to use them again. With specs like his, losing three days meant nothing. That meant, from the witch¡¯s perspective, she would have to successfully land her scythe strikes three more times to remove both traits. The odds were still four to six, and she remained at a disadvantage, but for the outcome to shift, it would have to turn into a drawn-out battle. ...Should I just copy one more while I¡¯m at it? Just as I was seriously contemplating what to give up and what to bring in¡ª Bang! A sniper shot came flying from somewhere and struck the Witch of Death. Even though her black cloak was still fluttering in the air, she was hurled far back and crashed into the ruins of a building. It was a level of power on a whole different scale from what we¡¯d seen so far. When I turned my gaze toward the direction the shot had come from, I saw a tall skyscraper standing far in the distance. It was the same building we had found on the first day.3 The old man finally made his move. I had wondered what the Chairman of Hye-seong Group was up to amidst all this chaos. Turns out, he had been preparing the sniper shot. He probably had all sorts of equipment and support personnel with him, so it must have taken some time. Then, the top of the skyscraper seemed to flash¡ª Boooom! A massive explosion swept through the Spine Tower. Even the skeleton soldiers stationed nearby were reduced to ashes. The Underworld Dragon King gave the scene a brief glance and spoke. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°It really does.¡± The Witch of Death emerged from the rubble of the collapsed building. She hadn¡¯t been able to inflict the slightest damage on the Dragon King, had only dragged things out, the Spine Tower was destroyed, and now even the Chairman had joined the battle. If anyone knew she had no chance of winning, it was her. Even so, the witch maintained her composed demeanor to the very end. ¡°This will be it for today. Still, I¡¯m glad I got to confirm a few things.¡± From the earlier conversation, I could guess that she had come to gauge the potential of the City. In that sense, she had achieved her intended goal. After taking a slow, lingering look around, she spotted me and locked eyes. ¡°Can I look forward to next time?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be better than you expect.¡± ¡°That sounds wonderful.¡± I answered confidently, and the Witch of Death smiled in satisfaction. If we met again, I wouldn¡¯t just be running away. ¡°......Still, it¡¯s a bit of a shame. Shall we do one more?¡± Soon after, she floated gently into the air, spreading her arms wide to either side. At that moment, the scattered remnants of the skeleton soldiers throughout the battlefield suddenly shot into the air and flew toward her, clinging to her like magnets. In the blink of an eye, a sphere of bones was formed. Boom! Right after, the Chairman¡¯s shot hit its mark, blowing off a significant portion, but the bone sphere remained suspended in the air, albeit slightly dented. And then, it began to turn pitch black in an instant. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out her intention. Corpse Explosion. She was planning to go out with a bang. One massive explosion before she left. With that size, both the power and the range would be no joke. For the first time, a frown appeared on the Dragon King¡¯s face. If he used Blink, he could escape alone without much trouble, but everyone left behind would be caught in the blast. Even if he bought time with a slow spell, the range was too wide to guarantee anyone could get away in time. The Underworld Dragon King looked at me. ¡°Young monarch.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us.¡± Even in a situation like this, I answered calmly, and something curious flickered in the Dragon King¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you have something up your sleeve?¡± ¡°I do. This.¡± I took the wooden box out of my inventory and showed it. It was an item I had received from the principal, densely engraved with spells. And the nature of those spells was¡ª Defensive magic. Since it had been enchanted by an S-rank hero, it was bound to boast incredible defensive power. I had been saving it for a moment when I absolutely needed it. So I could stay on the battlefield as long as possible. Thanks to that, I managed to copy one more trait. And now was exactly that kind of moment. The moment when I absolutely had to use it. The Underworld Dragon King immediately used Blink to teleport to my side. ¡°Perfect timing. Let¡¯s use it together.¡± Then he began rapidly chanting a spell toward the sphere, apparently intending to minimize the blast¡¯s impact from a safe position. Soon after, Seo Ye-in and Ahn Jeong-mi also took position beside me, and I infused mana into the wooden box. Almost at the same time, the pitch-black bone sphere exploded. KBOOOOM¡ª! Chapter 342: Determined Sloth Baaang¡ª! Jet-black bone fragments filled the sky. Each shard was lethal even with the slightest touch, and with thousands, or tens of thousands of them raining down, the sheer pressure they gave off was overwhelming. In response, the Underworld Dragon King expanded his domain and slowed the flow of time, buying me a moment to prepare. Flash¡ª! The spells engraved into the wooden box reacted to my mana and began to emit a bright light. The light created shields one by one, then gathered into a dome shape and wrapped around the group. Sanctuary. It was a skill that protected allies within a specific area. Since it had been enchanted by the principal, its defensive power was beyond question. And just as I finished preparing, the bone fragments slammed into the barrier. Pitter, patter¡ª It sounded like raindrops hitting an umbrella. At first, it was a light drizzle, sparse and scattered, but it quickly turned into a torrential downpour. Rattle-Rattle-Rattle! As I had expected, the principal¡¯s Sanctuary was rock-solid. Even with all the bone fragments hammering down, the shields of light didn¡¯t lose a hint of their original brilliance. It must be because of the density. The [Corpse Explosion] cast by the Witch of Death was a skill that targeted a vast area, whereas the principal¡¯s [Sanctuary] only protected a limited space. That difference made this side more advantageous, even in a clash between two S-ranks. After watching the sky for a while, the rain of bone fragments finally came to a stop. I only released Sanctuary after making sure the witch hadn¡¯t left anything else behind, and the box, having fulfilled its purpose, crumbled with a dry crack. Suddenly, I felt a gaze and turned my head, but there was nothing there. Looks like she¡¯s gone. See you next time. I offered a silent farewell to the witch in my heart. *** The Witch of Death had activated an item skill at the same time she cast her final Corpse Explosion, allowing her to teleport a short distance away from the battlefield. Even so, the damage she¡¯d taken was severe. She had been hit directly twice by the sniper attacks of the Hye-seong Group¡¯s chairman. Her clothes had been reduced to rags, and her skin was scorched and torn in places, to the point that muscles and bones were exposed. Her limbs dangled loosely and were bent in unnatural directions. If she got hit by another sniper round here, things could truly become dangerous. And yet, the Witch of Death kept her eyes fixed on the battlefield. I have to see this through. She was curious about the outcome of her final move. Baaaaang¡ª! For a while, she didn¡¯t even blink as she watched the pitch-black bone fragments scatter into the air. Then she slowly nodded her head. Mhmm, he blocked it well. She had expected to at least inflict some injuries, maybe even kill one or two of the enemies. But that first-year Monarch had pulled out an unexpected card. So he had a connection with the principal too. [Sanctuary] was a defense skill for close-range types. It didn¡¯t suit the Guardian under Meteor Dragon or the Hye-seong Group¡¯s chairman, which meant it was likely an item that came from another S-rank. And that someone was, in all likelihood, the former Hero and current principal. Considering that first-year Monarch attended Dragon Slayer Academy, it all made perfect sense. Looks like Depletion might have a tough time ahead. She briefly considered sending a warning, but quickly let go of the idea. They didn¡¯t have that kind of close relationship anyway, and even if she tried to contact him, it probably wouldn¡¯t get through. He¡¯ll manage on his own. And if not, oh well. The witch had been quietly watching the first-year Monarch when she suddenly felt someone¡¯s gaze. It was probably the chairman of the Hye-seong Group who had spotted her. Time to go. She didn¡¯t want to stick around and get hit again. The Witch of Death pulled out a magic scroll from her inventory and tore it straight down the middle. Immediately, a teleportation portal opened wide and swallowed her whole. *** Despite an S-rank powerhouse rampaging and multiple buildings being destroyed, the number of casualties was surprisingly low. That was thanks to the excellent security system of Hye-seong City and the swift response once the Witch of Death revealed herself. Still, the fact that there had been damage at all couldn¡¯t be denied, and a heavy atmosphere hung over the city. Naturally, the plan to ¡°go hang out¡± was canceled. The mood wasn¡¯t right, and on top of that, Seo Ye-in herself didn¡¯t seem too eager. Things might get better with time, but there was less than a week left until the second mentoring session. ¡°Let¡¯s go next time. After school starts, maybe in the downtown area?¡± ¡°Mhmm......¡± Seo Ye-in slowly nodded her head. Then she looked up at me intently and said something unexpected. ¡°Hardship.¡± ¡°You want to do stage two?¡± ¡°I want to.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¨C Nod. At that, both the Underworld Dragon King and Ahn Jeong-mi, who had been watching from the side, each spoke up with concern. ¡°Niece, I think you might want to reconsider that.¡± ¡°There are other ways to train, you know.¡± They were worried because they had seen firsthand how much she had struggled during stage one. I felt the same way. It would be great if Seo Ye-in could grow stronger quickly through Hardship, but wouldn¡¯t it be better in the long run if she didn¡¯t push herself too hard? So instead of rushing into it, I decided to ask her first. ¡°It¡¯s admirable, but what made you decide that?¡± ¡°The bakery¡¯s enemy.¡± Now that I thought about it, the bakery building had been destroyed when the Spine Tower crashed down. I¡¯d heard she used to go there often to bake cookies, and it was also a place where she and I had made memories. But now, thanks to the Witch of Death, that place was gone....so she was talking about getting revenge. Then Seo Ye-in added another thing. ¡°Our home.¡± ¡°We protect our home?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hye-seong City was like a hometown to Seo Ye-in. It was where she was born and raised. It seemed that through this incident, she had come to realize that her hometown could be invaded and ravaged by enemies at any time. And that with her current strength, she couldn¡¯t protect it. After all, she had done practically nothing during the battle with the Witch of Death. Seo Ye-in flipped the Immortal Pot upside down over her head. ¡°I¡¯ll punish the witch.¡± ¡°......¡± I exchanged a quick glance with the Underworld Dragon King and Ahn Jeong-mi. They looked a bit surprised but also proud. It seemed this was the first time they had seen Seo Ye-in so determined. Even from my perspective, having guided this sloth girl for a while, this was rare. She should be fine at this level. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [Cooldown: 5 days 23:59:59] [¡®Stage 2 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Seo Ye-in briefly read through the quest details, then firmly gripped her assault rifle. Click. ¡°I¡¯ll take it down.¡± And in less than three days, she completed the second stage of hardship. *** A few days before leaving Hye-seong City. At the chairman¡¯s summons, I entered the high-rise building for the third time. After getting into the direct-access elevator and pressing the button, I arrived at the chairman¡¯s office in no time. ¡°Welcome.¡± Unlike usual, the chairman and the Dragon King weren¡¯t looking out the window; they were standing near the elevator. Could that be taken as a sign that they had been waiting for me? As we sat down facing each other, the chairman began to speak. ¡°I heard Ye-in was safe thanks to you. I wanted to express my gratitude.¡± ¡°I only did what needed to be done. And the principal deserves more credit than I do. I believe he¡¯s the one you should thank.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for the box, the outcome could¡¯ve been much worse. What if the Witch of Death had a slightly different personality? What if she hadn¡¯t gone easy on me or played around and instead tried to kill me with full force from the start? Or if she had targeted Seo Ye-in or Ahn Jeong-mi first, instead of me? It would¡¯ve been dangerously close. Or we might¡¯ve failed altogether. Having an S-rank insurance policy was what allowed us to block even the slightest risk like that. But the chairman and the Underworld Dragon King seemed to think differently, and each made a comment. ¡°I do intend to thank the principal separately. But it was you who made proper use of the item. You should give credit where it¡¯s due.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even use the box until the end. Holding out until then was your own skill, young monarch.¡± They weren¡¯t entirely wrong, and if I kept trying to be modest, it would just drag the conversation into awkward territory. So I gave a faint smile and nodded in agreement. The chairman continued. ¡°When we spoke last time, I gave you permission, but I still had some reservations about letting Ye-in join an unauthorized raid.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°But after what happened, I¡¯ve had a bit of a change of heart. Even if you¡¯re taking her into a dungeon, it might be safer for her to stay by your side.¡± Even an academy like Dragon Slayer, with its ironclad security, couldn¡¯t prevent high-level threats from occasionally breaking through. Just like the Blood Cult elders and the Witch of Corruption had done. So there was no telling what might happen as the semester went on. In that situation, the fact that I had survived even the Witch of Death and protected my party meant he could now entrust her to me with greater confidence. Still, despite his words, it was clear he hadn¡¯t completely shaken off his worries about his granddaughter, so I gave the chairman another assurance. ¡°I promise. I won¡¯t ever attempt a reckless raid.¡± ¡°That puts my mind a little more at ease. Thank you.¡± A faint smile formed at the corner of the chairman¡¯s lips. ¡°If you need anything during the semester, contact Team Leader Ahn. We¡¯ll do whatever we can within the reach of Hye-seong Group¡¯s resources.¡± ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡± Then the Underworld Dragon King added, ¡°My niece has recently taken an unusually keen interest in training, so I intend to lend her some help as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯d really appreciate that.¡± During the remaining half of summer vacation, Seo Ye-in was scheduled to begin a second round of mentoring with An Jeong-mi. Lately, she¡¯d been showing great enthusiasm, saying she wanted to teach the witches a lesson, so as long as that motivation held, we could expect significant growth. And if a dragon joined in to support her, the results could be even better. The Dragon King asked again, ¡°How many days are left until Stage Three?¡± ¡°I should be able to use it once more before I leave.¡± The cooldown for Hardship was six days. Still, since I¡¯ve been using [Time Share] here and there, the cooldown should line up just in time. *** Perhaps because of the chaotic atmosphere, Father Seo hadn¡¯t come by our room for several days. Then, on the last night, he showed up carrying a chessboard. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± A fierce battle of life and death was unfolding on the chessboard, but the room remained quiet and peaceful. The only sound was the soft clicking of the pieces as they moved. Seo Ye-in was dozing off with her head resting on my lap. She fluttered her eyelids slightly every time she heard that clicking sound. As the match progressed, the tide quickly turned, and soon, barely any of Father Seo¡¯s pieces were left on the board. He stared down at them with a deliberately serious look, then suddenly asked me a question. ¡°Are you leaving tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m taking the morning train.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°When will you come again?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± ¡°Come often.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll come see you often.¡± Father Seo made a final attempt to resist, but I crushed even that without mercy. ¡°Checkmate.¡± ¡°...Lost again.¡± His record remained a perfect zero wins. Chapter 343: Reunion The next day, Seo Ye-in, Ahn Jeong-mi, and the Underworld Dragon King accompanied me to the platform to see me off. Just before I left, the cooldown for [Hardship] had ended, so I cast it right away. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [Cooldown: 5 days 23:59:59] [¡®Stage 3 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Immediately, the Underworld Dragon King activated the spell he had prepared. A translucent mana clock appeared, and its hour and minute hands spun at incredible speed. ¨C Tick, tock, tick... [Cooldown: 15:59:57] Not even a day left. Since I was leaving, he had reduced the cooldown drastically for me. Thanks to that, I¡¯d be able to use it right away during mentoring. After expressing my thanks to the Dragon King, I turned to face Seo Ye-in. ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in wasn¡¯t even checking her quest window. She just kept looking at me. A lonely emotion flickered in her gray eyes. I offered her a gentle smile and said, ¡°Take care. Train hard, and when you rest, make sure you rest well.¡± ¡°......¡± Then, Seo Ye-in stepped closer and grabbed onto my sleeve. ¡°Stay longer.¡± ¡°Longer? How long?¡± ¡°A month.¡± ¡°That¡¯d mean we leave together when the break ends.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded her head. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t afford to stay even a single day, let alone a month. ¡°Sorry. I have to leave now to arrive on time.¡± If I were late, Dang Gyu-young would stretch my cheeks like rubber bands. Seo Ye-in looked a bit down at that but then seemed to switch tactics. ¡°Come with you.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. You¡¯re supposed to train with your butler and your godfather, remember?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all go together.¡± She looked ready to drag the entire Hye-seong Group along if necessary. Seeing that it was time to step in, the Underworld Dragon King spoke up. ¡°Niece, stop being unreasonable.¡± ¡°Godfather...¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a month, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s long...¡± ¡°It¡¯ll pass in no time. And some relationships grow deeper when apart. Let him go now.¡± Even Ahn Jeong-mi joined in to gently persuade her, and eventually, the strength in her hand holding onto my sleeve gave way. Smiling, I said my goodbyes again. ¡°See you at school.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Then, with Seo Ye-in slowly waving goodbye behind me, I boarded the train. *** Dragon Slayer Academy. Training Center. Go Hyeon-woo stood at the very center of the training room. Wooden dummies were charging at him, yet his magic sword remained sheathed. And he had no intention of drawing it. That was the nature of this training. Whooosh¡ª A breeze swirled around him. Go Hyeon-woo raised his hand and guided the flow of the wind like a skilled conductor. And the moment the wooden dummies touched that breeze¡ª Crack-crack-crack! They shattered into pieces as if they¡¯d been slashed apart by invisible sword strikes. Watching the scene, Go Hyeon-woo silently nodded to himself. I¡¯m improving little by little. Stage 1 of the Hardship Quest: Execute techniques without using a sword. To him, a sword wasn¡¯t merely a weapon; it was a medium or tool used to control the flow of wind. Naturally, trying to control it without that tool made the difficulty spike sharply. But if I become skilled enough to make it possible... Then, when he wielded the sword again, he would become far stronger than before. That was why Go Hyeon-woo faced the wooden dummies barehanded. Of course, he had already cleared Stage 1 of the Hardship quest. It had given him a fair bit of trouble, but he managed to achieve the goal in just under a week. Even so, he had continued the same training up to now, nearly a month later. He told me to prepare for Stage 2. It was a heads-up that Kim Ho had given him before leaving. No matter how soon it came, Stage 2 of Hardship would only be assigned after the start of the new semester. Rather than sit around twiddling his thumbs until then, it made more sense to build up his strength and prepare in advance. If the objectives of Stages 2 and 3 turned out to be similar to Stage 1, he would be able to clear them more easily. Of course, there was always the chance they could be entirely different. Even so, it doesn¡¯t matter. One way or another, this training was helping him make up for his shortcomings. Even if it wasn¡¯t part of Hardship, it was more than worth continuing. Just as Go Hyeon-woo was about to face the wooden dummies again¡ª Knock, knock, knock. There came a soft knocking on the training room door. There weren¡¯t many people who would come looking for him. Narrowing it down further, there was only one person who had stayed behind at Dragon Slayer Academy over summer break. So, Go Hyeon-woo spoke softly toward the door. ¡°Come in.¡± At that, Han So-mi poked her head inside. ¡°Heyy! What¡¯cha doin¡¯?¡± ¡°The usual. I was doing the training Kim-hyung taught me.¡± ¡°Aah... Kim-hyung...¡± The moment she heard that name, Han So-mi¡¯s cheerful energy immediately drooped. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s symptoms of ¡°Kim-ho obsession¡± had reached a serious level, and Han So-mi was beginning to feel a kind of anxiety at the mere mention of the words ¡°Kim-hyung¡±. Go Hyeon-woo seemed to know it too, as a bitter smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Haha, as Miss Han knows well, my social circle is somewhat limited. Repeating the same person¡¯s name is unavoidable. Besides, Kim-hyung was my first true friend¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªA comrade you fought beside, who supported you in every possible way, blah blah blah. I¡¯ve heard it more than ten times already.¡± ¡°...Have I really said it that often?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When Han So-mi glared at him with dagger eyes, Go Hyeon-woo gave a small, awkward cough. ¡°Ahem, It seems I may have gone a bit overboard. I shall reflect on that. But may I ask what brings you here?¡± ¡°I was just bored, okay? Is that not allowed?¡± ¡°Of course, you are always welcome, Miss Han. Still, I was in the middle of training, so if possible, I¡¯d like to continue a bit more.¡± In other words, this meant: ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play with you, so just go.¡± Han So-mi puffed out her cheeks. Was training really that important to him? She herself trained quite diligently, but this was on another level. He was practically a living training machine. Han So-mi, who had just about transformed into a pufferfish, soon let the air out of her cheeks. Then she made a suggestion. ¡°Then spar with me.¡± ¡°Gladly. I shall prepare at once.¡± Go Hyeon-woo accepted with a delighted look. He hadn¡¯t drawn his sword at all during his flow control training, so his hands had been itching for action. Han So-mi, being stronger than him as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, was the perfect opponent to warm up with. However, Han So-mi puffed her cheeks again. She realized that the following equation held true: Kim-hyung > Kim-hyung¡¯s assignments ¡Ý Sparring > Herself. ¡°...I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to spar?¡± ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m going.¡± ¡°Miss Han, wait just a moment!¡± *** While the train was heading toward its destination, I sat alone in the compartment, taking some time to review things. It had been a truly rewarding month. I had copied two S-rank traits from the Underworld Dragon. [Time Resistance] wouldn¡¯t be particularly useful at a student level, but having it would allow me to prepare for unexpected situations. Like when I faced the Witch of Death, for example. And it¡¯s not like I won¡¯t use it at all. Even in the lower levels of the dungeon building, there were a few hidden pieces related to time. I¡¯d collect them later when I went down. [Pain Delay] reduced damage penalties and significantly boosted my fighting power. Even with prohibited skills amplified to S-rank, I could likely use them up to three times. The new skills I¡¯d learned were also powerful. If Pain Delay addressed the damage problem, then [Time Share] handled the cooldown problem. For the time being, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about penalties. [Mutual Destruction Eye] was still D-rank for now, but I¡¯d been working on its rank for a while with Seo Ye-in, so it wouldn¡¯t be long until it reached C-rank. Even at that level, it matched the average for first-years, so it would be quite useful. Now that I had achieved B-rank with [Spiral Explosion], I had already completed more than half of my goal to ¡°strengthen my foundation¡±. With mentoring still left, reaching my target didn¡¯t seem too difficult. On the other hand, there were things that hadn¡¯t made much progress. The Crow Branch. I had planned to use the S-rank material I received from the Crow Great Sage to craft equipment. But the materials I had in mind were notoriously difficult to obtain. Even the Underworld Dragon had expressed reluctance. That was because the spatial attribute was outside of his domain. I¡¯ll have to think long-term. He had said he would look into it himself, so maybe I¡¯d hear some good news eventually. On the other hand, there was also the benefit of having successfully built a smooth relationship with the Hye-seong Group and the Underworld Dragon King. Being able to take Seo Ye-in to the underground floor was just a bonus. When school starts again, where should I go first... I sorted through the dungeons based on the rewards and set my priorities. While I spent quite a bit of time like that, the train finally arrived at its destination. I stepped off onto the platform and slowly scanned the surroundings. This was the place we had agreed to meet. And before long, I spotted a familiar face. It was none other than Dang Gyu-young. She was lounging on a bench, killing time as if lying down. Soon enough, Dang Gyu-young seemed to notice me too and waved gently. As I approached, I bowed politely. ¡°Senior-nim, have you been well?¡± ¡°Young monarch, that title feels too distant. Try again.¡± Dang Gyu-young gave me a sidelong glance as she said that, and I did as she asked. ¡°Have you been well, Qyu?¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Dang Gyu-young let out a laugh right away. Then she patted the seat next to her, so I went over and sat down. Soon after, she scooted closer and gently placed both hands on my cheeks. Then, as she gradually applied pressure, she spoke. ¡°But I haven¡¯t been well.¡± ¡°Is it my fault?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite a big part of the problem. Should I pull on these, or squish them?¡± ¡°Neither sounds great, but let¡¯s hear what I did wrong first.¡± ¡°Why have you been so out of touch? It¡¯s hurtful, you know.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been messaging you almost every two or three days¡ª¡± Dang Gyu-young suddenly grabbed both of my cheeks and pulled them wide. ¡°Every day! Morning and evening! At least once! And with extras on top!¡± ¡°Mmm sowwy.... I wash jusht havin¡¯ too mush fun. (I¡¯m sorry. I was just having too much fun).¡± This time, Dang Gyu-young squished my cheeks hard. ¡°In times like this, you¡¯re supposed to play along and say it wasn¡¯t fun, that you missed me!¡± ¡°Buh I wash havin¡¯ fun, wha¡¯ can I do... (But I was having fun, what can I do).¡± ¡°So... you didn¡¯t miss me?¡± ¡°O¡¯ coursh I did. (Of course I did).¡± ¡°...Really?¡± The corners of Dang Gyu-young¡¯s lips curled up slightly, and she finally let go of my cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide just this once.¡± ¡°Not sure you can say that after pulling as much as you did.¡± ¡°So what were you doing there? Come on, tell me.¡± Dang Gyu-young switched topics in a flash. It was a masterful move. She was shifting away from her disadvantage in the conversation while satisfying her curiosity at the same time. Chapter 344: 2nd Mentoring Session (1) Chapter 344: 2nd Mentoring Session (1) In reality, saying that I had a lot of fun was half just to tease Dang Gyu-young. Life in Hye-seong City had been rather monotonous. Training, training, training every day, and then more training. As I talked about it, Dang Gyu-young gradually began to look more and more bored. But when I mentioned the Underworld Dragon King, she slightly furrowed her brows. ¡°The Underworld Dragon King? How did that happen?¡± ¡°He said he¡¯s close with the chairman.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear that part either.¡± When and how the Hye-seong Group and the Underworld Dragon King had formed such a close relationship. That was something I had asked about before. But for some reason, the chairman had avoided answering. Since I didn¡¯t consider it a matter of great importance, I let it go. After all, what really mattered was the fact that we had formed an alliance and that our goals aligned. ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young fell silent and was lost in thought. The connection between the two forces wasn¡¯t known to the public, but it was extremely important information. True to her position as the president of the Thieves Club, she began comparing it against her existing knowledge. ¡°As far as I know, that place has been pretty quiet for a defense city. For quite a long time too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I heard as well.¡± ¡°Up until now, the leading theory was that the Meteor Dragon was in a dormant phase. But even that didn¡¯t explain the movements of the Guardians... If they¡¯re in an alliance, then everything fits.¡± R?a¦­O??¦¥S ¡°That¡¯s good for us.¡± Because it meant we didn¡¯t have to turn an ancient dragon, one nearing EX-rank, into our enemy. Of course, the two major powers, the Corpse Dragon and the Blood Cult Leader, still remained. Dang Gyu-young gave a slight nod as if in agreement, but then suddenly seemed to remember something and asked. ¡°But for a place that¡¯s supposed to have been quiet... I heard that witch showed up there not long ago. Did you see her?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°She tried to kill me.¡± ¡°......?¡± Dang Gyu-young blinked several times. She had realized that I hadn¡¯t just seen the Witch of Death from a distance but had been directly involved with her. ¡°How did that happen?¡± ¡°I ran into her while I was walking down the street.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Why would you run into her just like that?¡± ¡°Bad luck, I guess.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, tell me the details.¡± Dang Gyu-young lightly tapped my knee. So, I calmly began explaining everything that had happened back then, step by step. The Witch of Death had been wandering around Hye-seong City on a reconnaissance mission when she happened to spot me and approached me for a conversation. She didn¡¯t seem to hold a grudge over me defeating the Witch of Corruption, but it looked like she had decided she should eliminate me in advance for the sake of her master. She also seemed to have realized that I was a Monarch. As a result, a battle broke out between us, and as I managed to stall for time, the Underworld Dragon King appeared and came to my aid. And in the end, even the chairman of the Hye-seong Group joined the battle, and together we succeeded in driving the witch away. As she listened to my story, Dang Gyu-young reached out and started inspecting various parts of my body. It was as if she was checking whether I had broken down anywhere or replaced any of my limbs with prosthetics. ¡°How did you come back alive in one piece?¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m pretty good at running away.¡± ¡°You really are slippery like an eel. I don¡¯t even know if I should be worried about you or not.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression grew complicated. She probably knew better than anyone just how good I was at evading attacks. After all, she was the very person who had helped me train in [Distortion], and she had watched me clear all sorts of high-difficulty dungeons. Still, since my opponent had been the infamous S-rank Witch, it was only natural for her to worry just a little. Eventually, Dang Gyu-young let out a deep sigh. Then, as if deciding she needed to change the mood, she kept throwing me more questions. ¡°Haah, it¡¯s all in the past now, so what can you do? So, you trained with a dragon, fought with a witch, and then what?¡± ¡°That¡¯s about it.¡± ¡°You said you had fun, didn¡¯t you? Tell me about that too.¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯m trying to talk about it, there¡¯s really not much. I played some mini-games with Father Seo.¡± ¡°Father? That¡¯s a strange way to call him.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. But since I had nothing to feel guilty about, I answered her calmly. ¡°He told me to call him that; what was I supposed to do?¡± ¡°Tch, do people usually call him ¡®Father¡¯? Or am I the weird one here? What kind of games did you play?¡± ¡°All sorts of stuff.¡± ¡°Was he good?¡± ¡°I won every single game.¡± Dang Gyu-young smacked my arm with a slap. ¡°Hey, you should¡¯ve at least let him win once! You called him ¡®Father¡¯, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The world of competition is a cold and ruthless place.¡± ¡°You really are... Whatever. And then?¡± ¡°We baked cookies together.¡± ¡°......Cookies, and then?¡± ¡°We were going to hang out some more, but the witch showed up and ruined everything.¡± Dang Gyu-young nodded silently for a moment. Then, while absentmindedly tracing lines on the bench with her finger, she broke the silence. ¡°......Hey, Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, noona?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to my family home over winter break.¡± A sudden invitation to her family home. I decided to start with the most important question. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you left home? That you were erased from the family register?¡± ¡°Pretty much. But once in a while, my dad still calls me over.¡± ¡°It sounds pretty serious. I don¡¯t think I belong in something like that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. And besides, it¡¯s boring if I go alone.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re bored, why don¡¯t you take Shosho noona with you?¡± At those words, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression suddenly hardened. Then she said in a strict, senior-like tone, ¡°Kim Ho, it¡¯s not Shosho noona. You should be calling her Senior Jegal So-so.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already settled that. I¡¯m calling her noona.¡± ¡°Argh, anyway, no Shosho! You¡¯re coming, right?¡± Dang Gyu-young grabbed my shoulders and shook me side to side. I replied while swaying slowly like a reed, ¡°It¡¯s not like I have to decide right now. Summer break isn¡¯t even over yet.¡± ¡°You do have to decide now. Otherwise, you¡¯ll just run off there again, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I am considering it.¡± ¡°See! I knew it!¡± Training with the Dragon King had been beneficial, and there were still things I hadn¡¯t gotten around to doing. When she heard that, Dang Gyu-young shook my shoulders even harder. ¡°Winter break! My house! Come!¡± ¡°With this... kind of method... you can¡¯t... win me over... you know?¡± Even as I was being violently shaken, I still said everything I wanted to say. While we were going back and forth like that, a train rapidly approached from a distance and came to a stop. Then, as the doors opened, a familiar head of red hair stepped out. It was Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°......¡± Judging by the slight irritation in her eyes as she looked around the platform, something must have happened on the way here. But the moment she spotted me, her face instantly brightened like nothing had happened. And as she came running over in quick strides, she lost her footing and fell flat on her face with a loud thud. I walked over and helped Hong Yeon-hwa back up. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going anywhere.¡± ¡°I-I just... I was so happy to see you...¡± Even as she rubbed her knee, Hong Yeon-hwa looked genuinely overjoyed. *** We made our way to the parking lot located behind the station. There was a single car parked there, and when I turned my head at the sound of jingling keys, I saw a set of car keys hanging from Dang Gyu-young¡¯s finger. When I stared at her suspiciously, she spoke up first. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal it. I rented it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°No, your eyes were totally suspicious.¡± Well... I had kind of been thinking that, so I quickly changed the subject. ¡°Should I drive?¡± ¡°No way. I¡¯m the mentor, so I should be the one driving.¡± With that, Dang Gyu-young took the driver¡¯s seat. I got in the passenger seat, while Hong Yeon-hwa who was glancing around nervously quietly sat in the back seat. Since it was just the two of us in front, it seemed like she still felt awkward around Dang Gyu-young. But we¡¯d be living together for almost a month, so things would probably get better in time. As we were driving, Dang Gyu-young broke the silence. ¡°For this mentoring program, I was actually planning to just go wherever the school assigned us, you know. But then the number of participants got cut in half.¡± Originally, there were supposed to be four mentees under Dang Gyu-young, and if she¡¯d had to look after all of them, it probably would¡¯ve been total chaos. But with Kwak Ji-cheol and Song Cheon-hye dropping out due to their own circumstances, it had become possible to have even more focused mentoring. That was why Dang Gyu-young had changed the location as well. Since it was something I welcomed, I nodded my head. ¡°With just the two of us, you¡¯ll probably have time left over even after mentoring.¡± ¡°Mhmm, so I was thinking of squeezing in some training whenever I can too.¡± On top of that, the place we were headed to apparently wasn¡¯t a bad spot for a third-year to train either. She had probably taken that into consideration when choosing the location. I asked the two of them, ¡°You both cleared [Hardship], right?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa immediately gave affirmative answers. Well, it had been a month already. It would¡¯ve been weirder if they hadn¡¯t cleared it by now. Given how driven they both were, it probably hadn¡¯t even taken them more than a week at most. ¡°I¡¯ve reset my cooldown, so let¡¯s take turns activating it during mentoring.¡± ¡°Sure. So what comes next for me?¡± ¡°Did you get the [Shadow Mark]?¡± ¡°Yeah. That thing was seriously annoying.¡± Dang Gyu-young made a tired face and shuddered slightly. She had probably been tormented by those orbs of light throughout all three stages of Hardship. Every time she tried to do something, they would flash and erase her shadows. To make things worse, the number of orbs doubled with each stage. So by the third stage, there must have been four of them constantly flashing without pause. Still, she toughed it out and managed to get it. A powerful trait called [Shadow Mark]. Since it allowed her to create shadows even within light, she wouldn¡¯t be affected by her environment at all. Wasn¡¯t that more than enough of a reward for all the hardship she endured? Of course, the moment she activated stage four, the suffering would begin all over again. ¡°There¡¯s probably something else coming up next, but I won¡¯t know for sure until I try it.¡± ¡°True. Well, I guess we¡¯ll see later.¡± Perhaps thinking it made sense, Dang Gyu-young nodded without hesitation. Next, I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa and asked her. ¡°How was it for you? The Hardship.¡± ¡°Well, uh... you know the Fire Pillar, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely become your main skill now.¡± ¡°Mhmm, they told me to create a derivative skill from that...¡± Since she had covered her weak points with three defensive spells, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s next goal was to further enhance her offensive power. And because Fire Pillar was her main skill, I had advised her to try creating a skill that could link with it. Conveniently enough, her Hardship quest had given her a similar objective. ¡°You haven¡¯t finished it yet, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m about... halfway there?¡± ¡°Alright, take it step by step.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head. The car gradually headed toward a more secluded area and soon turned onto a mountain road. After driving along the winding mountain path for quite some time, the car finally came to a stop in front of a small building that looked like a pension. As Dang Gyu-young got out of the car, she spoke. ¡°We¡¯re here, guys.¡± Following after her, I stepped out and looked up at the pension. Even at a glance, it looked large for just three people to stay in, and it appeared stylish and recently built. Right nearby, there was a staircase, which seemed to lead to a training ground meant for mentoring. ¡°It really is in a great location. Senior, your networking skills are impressive.¡± ¡°You keep forgetting, but I¡¯m the club president, you know?¡± ¡°As expected of the president.¡± Since she deserved to be proud, I kept praising Dang Gyu-young without holding back. Chapter 345: 2nd Mentoring Session (2) Chapter 345: 2nd Mentoring Session (2) Since there was still quite a bit of time left before sunset, we all began climbing the stairs together. Since it was the first day, the plan was to check out how the mentoring would proceed and to loosen up our bodies with some light exercise. It didn¡¯t take long before a wide open clearing came into view. It looked like countless people like us had come and gone here in the past, as there were noticeable traces everywhere. Like marks where sharp energy had scraped past, dents left behind, and remnants of magic that had rained down. Even so, the area had been maintained relatively flat overall, making it an excellent environment for training. Off to one side of the clearing stood a large door frame stripped down to its skeleton. It gave off a somewhat barren impression. Dang Gyu-young approached it and began explaining. ¡°It¡¯s a summoning gate. We¡¯re going to use this for the mentoring.¡± Naturally, I could tell at a glance how things were probably going to proceed. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa was looking at the summoning gate with curious eyes, though there was a hint of doubt in her expression. She was probably thinking, ¡°It¡¯s been out of commission for ages. How is she planning to use it?¡± Of course, that doubt didn¡¯t last long. Dang Gyu-young pulled out a crystal the size of a fist from her inventory. It was nearly identical to the ones we had used in duels or raids, and judging by the fierce energy swirling inside, it seemed to have finished charging. With that crystal, it would certainly be possible to reactivate the summoning gate. I looked at the crystal and remarked. ¡°Looks like you managed to get permission somehow.¡± ¡°Mhmm, they let me use it since it¡¯s for mentoring.¡± She answered casually, but in truth, it probably hadn¡¯t been as simple as she made it sound. Crystals like that were capable of holding enormous power, so they were often used as energy sources, but their usage was heavily restricted so that just anyone couldn¡¯t handle them. From what I could guess, getting permission to use both this training ground and that crystal must have involved a rather complicated approval process. And undoubtedly, the responsibility currently resting on Dang Gyu-young¡¯s shoulders must have been just as heavy. However, since she clearly didn¡¯t want to show it, I decided to play along and pretend not to notice for now. Dang Gyu-young continued her explanation as she pulled out a few more crystals to show us. Their sizes, the glow they gave off, and the power contained within them were all different. That was because their ranks varied. ¡°Summoned monsters appear at random, but their rank follows the rank of the crystal. As you can see, I¡¯ve prepared a variety ranging from D to B rank. Naturally, I¡¯ll be participating when it comes to the B-rank ones.¡± It would¡¯ve been too dangerous to leave them entirely to first-years. Monsters ranked A or higher could have been difficult to handle, even with Dang Gyu-young stepping in. That was why she hadn¡¯t even requested permission for them. Or rather, even if she had, it probably wouldn¡¯t have been granted. It wasn¡¯t like she could go around saying, ¡°One of my mentees hits things with Inferno Fist!¡± ¡°And this part is the most important. When you defeat a summoned monster, you can receive a random buff.¡± Things like increased mana circulation efficiency, a rank boost, health recovery, cooldown reduction, and so on. She explained that depending on what buffs we received, she intended to adjust the direction of our training accordingly. Soon, Dang Gyu-young stepped even closer to the summoning gate. ¡°Seeing it once is better than hearing it a hundred times. I¡¯ll summon one right away. Do you need any time to prepare?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°M-Me too.¡± As soon as the two of us responded, Dang Gyu-young gave a small nod and grabbed a relatively small crystal in her hand. It seemed like she intended to start with a D-rank monster since it was our first attempt. Then, as she crushed the crystal without hesitation, the energy stored within it burst out and filled the summoning gate, which had previously been left with nothing but its bare frame. Wooooong¡ª! An irregular, pulsating flow of energy. When I kept my eyes on it, a large figure began stepping through the summoning gate, one heavy step at a time. ¡°Grruuuhh...¡± It was an ogre. I¡¯d seen them so often by now that I was probably more familiar with ogres than goblins. That was exactly why they were considered the perfect monsters for punching bags or damage gauges. Dang Gyu-young stepped back to watch from a distance, and I gave instructions to Hong Yeon-hwa. Since we¡¯d worked together smoothly up to this point, there was no need to give detailed orders. ¡°You be the battery.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...¡± After Hong Yeon-hwa stepped back and took her position, she quickly began chanting her spell. All around us, circular magic circles began to float into the air, gradually filling with magical formulas. The ogre immediately responded with hostility. ¡°Grruuuhh...¡± ¡°Hey, over here. Not there. Look over here.¡± I slowly waved my hand above my head to catch its attention, and the moment our eyes met, I activated Mutual Destruction Eye. [The target has been afflicted with ¡®Weathering (D)¡¯ status effect.] Whoooosh¡ª Winds whipped around the ogre¡¯s entire body, scraping and clawing at its flesh. The Weathering effect dealt continuous damage while also making the target even more vulnerable to wind magic. Perhaps realizing I was the cause of this, the ogre¡¯s hostility locked squarely onto me. ¡°Gruuuuuuh!¡± And then it charged at me with terrifying speed. But I didn¡¯t even try to dodge. I just stood there, waiting. And the moment it threw its fist at me, I swung the Sapling to meet it head-on. At the moment of impact, compressed wind exploded outward. Boom! The result? It was the ogre, not me, that got blown backward. Its weakness had been amplified not only because my Wind Force was ranked B+, but also due to the Weathering effect. Even so, the ogre kept swinging its fists at me. But every time I countered with Wind Force, it was the ogre that came out worse for wear. Its huge body kept staggering and getting pushed back over and over again. Then, when I added [Twister] to the mix, the ogre became completely immobilized and unable to move an inch. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa had finished her chanting. The ruby embedded in her wand shone with a brilliant red light, and at the same moment, pillars of flame erupted from every magic circle around us. Whoooooooosh! The pillars of fire weren¡¯t rising beneath the ogre¡¯s feet but instead had formed a ring around it as if to trap it. She¡¯s trying to use a derivative spell. Having figured out her intention as well, I didn¡¯t lure the ogre onto the magic circles but kept it restrained right in the center. Sure enough, the fiercely rising fire pillars gradually began to take on a distinct shape, and before long, each one started launching huge fireballs. Boom! Boom-boom-boom! At first, the ogre seemed to endure a few hits, but in the face of the relentless barrage of fireballs, it eventually turned into pitch-black ashes. Watching from the side, Dang Gyu-young smiled with satisfaction. ¡°You guys have gotten impressive. Now you¡¯re just straight-up beating ogres down.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve improved a lot, haven¡¯t we?¡± Back during the mentoring session, all we could manage was running around, desperately charging crystals. And during the midterms, it took a six-person party to take down just one ogre. But now, it was just Hong Yeon-hwa and me, playing around with an ogre like it was nothing. It definitely made me feel how much we had grown. Of course, if I used prohibited skills, I could probably handle one-on-one fights too, but being able to push around a giant monster with Wind Force alone was pretty encouraging. Then I turned to look at Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Good work. That just now... was that a derivative skill?¡± ¡°Mhmm, it¡¯s still not quite perfect... but...¡± Just like she¡¯d mentioned on the way here, it was about halfway there. If I had to guess, it was likely a turret-type skill. If she could fully complete it, it would probably compensate for the biggest weakness of Fire Pillar. The attack range, which had been limited to the magic circle, would expand significantly. Since we had defeated the summoned monster, our party received a buff. The entire training ground became shrouded in thick mana. In terms of density, it was probably similar to the special training room at the training center. Dang Gyu-young crossed her arms where she stood. ¡°Go on, you two. I¡¯ll be watching.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Since one became completely defenseless while cultivating mana, it was better for at least one person to stand guard. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like anyone would really show up in the middle of such a remote mountain, but you never knew what might happen. After all, this was a dangerous game world, so there was always a slight chance some shady guy or a wandering monster might suddenly appear out of nowhere. And so, Hong Yeon-hwa and I began our mana cultivation under Dang Gyu-young¡¯s protection. When I eventually opened my eyes after quite some time, the concentration of mana had noticeably thinned. It seemed like the buff¡¯s effect was about to wear off. ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young was looking straight at me. She was still standing there with her arms crossed. But when she noticed me opening my eyes, she very naturally shifted her gaze to the distant sky. ¡°It¡¯ll get dark soon. Let¡¯s just go a couple more rounds and call it a day.¡± Just as she said, the sky was slowly starting to take on a reddish hue. Since we were deep in the mountains, it would probably get dark in the blink of an eye. But before Dang Gyu-young summoned the next monster, there was something I needed to do. ¡°My Hardship cooldown¡¯s done. Let¡¯s use it here before we go.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± At that, Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa subtly exchanged glances, then turned to look at me at the same time. It seemed like they were both quietly wondering who I would use it on first. Of course, there was only ever one right answer to that. ¡°Hardship always goes to you first, senior.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯m the first priority?¡± A bright smile spread across Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face. It seemed like what really caught her attention wasn¡¯t the fact that she could power up through Hardship, but the word ¡°priority¡±. I could have played along a little more, but explanation came first, so I spoke with a serious expression. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa is still in the process of building her foundation, but you, senior, are practically complete. Since we need to overhaul that whole build, there¡¯s no way you wouldn¡¯t be the top priority.¡± ¡°I know that, okay?¡± Dang Gyu-young pouted while looking off to the side. I casually added one more thing. ¡°You know you¡¯re also top priority in other ways too, right?¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve just said that from the start. Hey, hit me with Hardship.¡± Dang Gyu-young broke into a bright smile, as if she hadn¡¯t been sulking at all. I wasn¡¯t lying. She was tied for first place. Hong Yeon-hwa sent me a confused look, but I pretended not to notice and activated the skill. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [The target has been granted ¡®Stage 4 Hardship¡¯.] [Cooldown: 5 days 23:59:57] And right away, I linked it with Time Share. [Cooldown: 4 days 11:59:56] If I kept using it in between, I¡¯d probably be able to use it on Hong Yeon-hwa within a few days too. ¡°......¡± Dang Gyu-young quietly checked the quest details for a while without saying a word. Then, as her expression gradually twisted in frustration, she waved her hand through the air as if trying to check something. Soon, a butterfly fluttered up from the shadow beneath her feet. It was [Butterfly Flight], one of her absolute signature techniques. However, the butterfly barely managed to take off before its form crumbled and scattered into nothing. Dang Gyu-young parted her lips slightly and looked like she couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. ¡°Hey, no way. My butterfly.¡± And then she cast her shadow magic again. This time, a shadow suddenly rose up, and she reached her hand into it to pull out a longsword. But again, just like before, the shadow sword went limp, drooping like a melted rice cake. Dang Gyu-young threw the limp shadow blade away and grabbed the back of her neck. ¡°Ugh, my blood pressure¡¯s already going up.¡± First it had been the glowing light orbs, and now she was stuck dealing with floppy, useless shadows. Was being the top priority for Hardship really a good thing? There was definitely room for debate on that point. Chapter 346: 2nd Mentoring Session (2) Since I had just seen what happened, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess the contents of the quest. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s about maintaining form.¡± ¡°Right, that¡¯s it.¡± Dang Gyu-young readily agreed. Apparently, Stage 4 would be cleared if she could maintain the shape of the shadow for a certain amount of time. Since it was just the beginning, the required duration was a short forty seconds or so. But with the flimsy debuff applied, it didn¡¯t look like it would be easy to hold for even four seconds, let alone forty. She would have to concentrate several times more than usual. Then, as if a thought had suddenly crossed her mind, Dang Gyu-young shot me a sharp look. ¡°Hey, you knew this was coming, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°As if. If I knew, I would¡¯ve laid down a mat and waited.¡± Predicting the contents of a Hardship quest was an incredibly difficult task. Especially in its early stages Even within a single class, there were dozens of possible directions it could take. If I had analyzed every last detail of Dang Gyu-young¡¯s skills, traits, and rank from top to bottom, maybe I could have narrowed it down a little more, but I hadn¡¯t done that either. And even if I had, there was always a chance the quest would throw out something completely unexpected. Still, it¡¯s starting to take shape little by little. In Stages 1 through 3, the focus had been on increasing the shadow¡¯s durability so that it wouldn¡¯t be affected by the environment. Starting from Stage 4, it seemed to be all about solidifying the shape of the shadow even further. In that case, for Stage 5, there was a high probability that¡ª I feel like it¡¯s going to involve control. Something along the lines of handling the sculpted shadow in finer detail. Of course, since Stage 4 had just barely begun, this was something to think about later. After that, Dang Gyu-young tried creating things like butterflies and daggers out of her shadow, but every attempt crumbled apart without fail. With a small sigh, Dang Gyu-young looked over at us. ¡°Haah... What am I even doing this for? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to be rich and famous or anything. Anyway, let¡¯s get on with the mentoring first.¡± Then, she walked up to the summoning gate and crushed a D-rank crystal. The monster that came walking out the next moment was¡ª Clatter. A skeleton knight. Though compared to the one controlled by the Witch of Death, this guy was leagues below in quality. Its bones weren¡¯t pitch-black either, just plain white. Its equipment too looked incredibly shabby. Because of that, its lifespan was even shorter than that of the ogre. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Fire.¡± Whoooosh! The skeleton knight was instantly engulfed in flames and vanished, and just like before, the area became blanketed in thick mana. Then, Hong Yeon-hwa and I began cultivating mana again, while Dang Gyu-young stood guard over us. If there was any good news, it was probably that Dang Gyu-young hadn¡¯t been stuck just killing time. She actually had something to do now. After cultivating mana for quite a while, I opened my eyes to find that night had already fallen around us. And so, we decided to call it a day and returned to the lodging. Meanwhile, even after returning to the lodging, even while having dinner, and even right before going to bed, Dang Gyu-young persistently kept working on her Hardship quest. Even now, she was sitting curled up on the sofa, focusing her mind. ¡°......¡± Her shadow slowly rose up, and Dang Gyu-young carefully drew out a single dagger. It seemed like she thought that if she moved slowly, she might be able to maintain it a little longer. However, contrary to her expectations, the Shadow Dagger drooped limply like a withered bean sprout almost immediately. Perhaps out of a sudden surge of frustration, Dang Gyu-young threw the shadow bean sprout onto the floor. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m done with this!¡± Then, while pouting her lips in place, she soon pulled the shadow up once again. ¡°...Damn it, just one more try.¡± ¡°Your persistence is really something.¡± ¡°It kinda feels like losing if I give up now. I¡¯m going to pull this off no matter what.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a great attitude. I¡¯m rooting for you.¡± While I occasionally offered Dang Gyu-young words of encouragement, Hong Yeon-hwa was holed up in a corner, reading a magic book. However, perhaps because she couldn¡¯t help but be curious about what was going on here, she kept sneaking glances our way. Noticing her gaze, Dang Gyu-young paused her training for a moment. Then she spoke in a calm and gentle tone. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Yes, senior-nim.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure why, but you¡¯ve been super self-conscious today. Don¡¯t be like that; just relax. We¡¯re going to be living together for almost a month. If you stress yourself out, you¡¯re only hurting yourself.¡± ¡°Ah, yes...¡± When I also nodded in agreement, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression noticeably brightened. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you want to say, just say it.¡± ¡°Umm, in that case...¡± Even though Dang Gyu-young had given her permission, Hong Yeon-hwa hesitated for a while, as if carefully choosing her words. Then she cautiously spoke up. ¡°Um, when you¡¯re making the shadow...¡± ¡°Yeah, go on. It¡¯s really fine, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I was just thinking... maybe instead of starting with complicated things like butterflies or daggers... it might help to start with something simpler...¡± At that, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyebrows shot up in interest. ¡°...That actually makes a lot of sense. Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡± From what I could tell, it seemed like she had gotten stuck on trying to form shapes she was already familiar with. She had been practicing shadow magic for years now, so things like blades or butterflies were not just familiar to her. She had reached the point where she could handle them almost like an extension of her own body. On top of that, having those familiar forms keep falling apart probably made her even more determined not to give up. On the other hand, since Hong Yeon-hwa had been watching from a third-person perspective, she naturally came up with the idea of building things up from the basics. Both Dang Gyu-young and I said a few words to her. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try. Thanks.¡± ¡°That was a really good idea.¡± ¡°A-Ah, not at all...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa waved her hands in embarrassment, but judging by the smile that had spread across her lips, she was clearly happy to be praised. She was still pretty terrible at managing her expressions. Soon after, Dang Gyu-young took her advice and slightly changed her approach, starting to create simple shadow shapes. A square, a triangle, a circle... They still collapsed pretty quickly, but at least the duration of their stability had improved, even if only slightly. ¡°...Good, it¡¯s working.¡± The light in Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes made it clear that she had found a breakthrough. And from there, she began to double down on her training. This time, she created a shadow cone. It was obvious she was pouring all her focus into maintaining its shape, like she had sworn not to let it collapse no matter what. Watching that scene sparked a mischievous urge in me, so I summoned a faint breeze. Whooosh¡ª It was barely enough to lightly tickle someone¡¯s hair, but even that seemed to shake Dang Gyu-young¡¯s concentration. After all, seeing the shadow cone slowly lose its shape and collapse into a shadowy blob made that pretty clear. Slowly, Dang Gyu-young raised her head and looked straight at me. And she asked in a chilling tone, ¡°Kim Ho, do you want to end up all wobbly too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°If you keep provoking me right now, I can¡¯t guarantee what might happen. You¡¯d better be careful.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± I sat down on the opposite side, quite a distance away from Dang Gyu-young. And since I had some time to spare, I decided to send a message to Seo Ye-in. [Kim Ho: (Peeking cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: ......?] [Seo Ye-in: (Sleepy cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: Did I wake you up?] [Seo Ye-in: Yeah] [Seo Ye-in: (Rolling cat emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: Take responsibility] [Kim Ho: Sorry] [Kim Ho: Go back to sleep] [Seo Ye-in: Take responsibility] [Seo Ye-in: (Cat claw emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (Threatening cat emoji)] [Kim Ho: How should I take responsibility?] [Seo Ye-in: Come back] [Kim Ho: That would be difficult, young miss] [Kim Ho: Get some rest] [Seo Ye-in: Come back......] [Seo Ye-in: (Longing cat emoji)] While I was exchanging messages like that, something lightly poked at me. It turned out to be a wobbly shadow finger. When I looked over at Dang Gyu-young, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending it wasn¡¯t her. But the wobbly shadow kept poking at me as it formed distorted letters. [Hye, yong monarc] [Teh seat nexto me feel empty] I guess I could roughly interpret that as her telling me to come back. So I went and sat down next to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me not to provoke you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to go over there.¡± ¡°Communication sure is hard.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty easy to understand, though. I say everything straight.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°It is, you little punk.¡± Dang Gyu-young lightly bumped her shoulder against mine. Then she raised her shadow once again. ¡°Stay here and keep cheering me on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m watching.¡± I stayed by her side, watching over her training late into the night. *** The next day, Dang Gyu-young continued her Hardship quest whenever she had the chance. At first, the shadows she summoned would crumble almost as soon as they appeared, but little by little, their duration was starting to increase. From two seconds to three, from three to five, from five to eight... If she kept steadily pushing forward like this, she would eventually be able to reach forty seconds too. Of course, while Dang Gyu-young focused on her own training, we went ahead with our mentoring in our own way. Hong Yeon-hwa cast Fire Pillar, and the towering columns of flame fired off blazing projectiles like turrets. They were aimed straight at the newly summoned monsters. Booom-boom-boom-boom! A series of small explosions went off, turning the monster into a pile of ashes. This time, instead of mana thickening in the air, a notification message popped up in the corner of my vision. [The growth speed of your skills and traits has greatly increased.] An effect almost identical to a Rank Boost. So naturally, we dove straight into rank farming. Hong Yeon-hwa chained together Fire Pillars and various fire spells, while I focused on playing defensively. All to work on ranking up [Wind Barrier]. Guess it¡¯s time to start paying attention to defense too. Up until now, I hadn¡¯t really felt much need for defensive skills. Most situations could be handled through control, and I had plenty of safety nets in place. Skills like [Distortion] or [Retrocovery], for example. But still, there¡¯s a limit to relying on just that. Take, for instance, the large-scale corpse explosion the Witch of Death had cast. Within that kind of range, avoiding it completely was practically impossible. There could always come a time when I wouldn¡¯t just need to dodge for myself, but would also have to protect my allies. I should at least learn one proper defensive skill. The more cards I had to play, the better. With [Wind Barrier] wrapped around me, I deliberately let Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s attacks hit me. Fireballs came flying relentlessly, exploding on impact. Boom! Boom-boom! As expected from a promising student, each of those fireballs packed serious power, and my barrier would often shatter in no time. Every time that happened, I immediately cast a new [Wind Barrier] over myself. If I kept up this rank farming like this, I¡¯d probably break past C+ Rank before long. After that, I planned to learn an entirely new defensive skill. Maybe they¡¯ll give it as a reward? I reopened the quest window I had seen on my first day here. [Event: Second Mentoring] (In Progress...) [Time Remaining: 27 days] ?Grow faster with the help of a mentor. ?Defeat D-Rank Monsters: 3 ?Defeat C-Rank Monsters: 0 ?Defeat B-Rank Monsters: 0 ?Rewards given for defeating a set number of monsters Normally, quests were designed to reward players with whatever they needed most based on their current level of growth. Since my defense was still somewhat lacking at the moment, there was a meaningful chance that the reward would be a related skill. The rewards were set to be given out gradually as I defeated the monsters from the summoning gate. Of course, defeating a single C or B-rank monster was valued more highly than taking down multiple D-rank ones. If I just rushed in and wiped them all out at once, I could probably get the rewards pretty quickly, but there was no need to hurry. What really matters are the buffs. If I killed more than two monsters at once and ended up getting the same buff twice, they wouldn¡¯t even stack, making the extra buff practically useless. And since the crystals Dang Gyu-young had brought weren¡¯t unlimited either, it was definitely better for the long run to make use of each one carefully and efficiently. I stepped forward directly into the oncoming fireballs. Boom, boom-boom! The space in front of me was soon engulfed in small fiery explosions. Chapter 347: 2nd Mentoring Session (4) To summarize each person¡¯s goal for this mentoring session... I focused on honing defensive magic, clearing the event quest, and overall rank farming. Dang Gyu-young focused on her Hardship Quest. Hong Yeon-hwa worked on polishing her specs in addition to her Hardship Quest. Several days passed like turning a hamster wheel. And there had been some progress. [The rank of ¡®Mutual Destruction Eye¡¯ has increased. (D ¡ú C)] It hadn¡¯t taken much effort, but I had already moved up to C-rank, mostly because I had nearly finished my rank farming back in Hye-seong City. Now that I had reached the average level of a first-year student, it had become usable enough to make a difference in battles. Next was Hong Yeon-hwa. While she was training with the mana buff applied, her entire body became engulfed in a blue light, and she began absorbing all the mana in the vicinity. Both Dang Gyu-young and I knew exactly what that meant. So when Hong Yeon-hwa opened her eyes, I congratulated her. ¡°You hit B-rank Core.¡± ¡°Mhmm...!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa looked genuinely happy. Her mana had increased dramatically, and in terms of specs, she had taken a big step forward. She would now be able to fully draw out all the magic spells that had been stuck at C-rank until now. But then, as if something had crossed her mind, Hong Yeon-hwa darted her eyes around slightly and cautiously opened her mouth. ¡°Um, there¡¯s something... I¡¯m curious about...¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Uh, Seo Ye-in right now...¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking what Core Rank she¡¯s at?¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...¡± It was a rather sudden question, but I could understand why she was curious. It¡¯s probably a rival thing. Starting from the first semester¡¯s duel battles, Hong Yeon-hwa had faced Seo Ye-in countless times, but she had only managed to win once. And even that had only been possible thanks to my help during the Cloud Stairs duel battle. Every other match had ended with her getting thoroughly beaten. And there weren¡¯t many people who enjoyed being stuck in the role of a punching bag. Especially since she¡¯s pretty hot-tempered in her own way. She was probably biding her time, determined to get back at Seo Ye-in one day. And now, she had learned defensive magic and even reached B-rank with her Core. She must be thinking it¡¯s finally doable. ¡°......¡± Even Dang Gyu-young seemed quietly interested, stopping her shadow crafting and perking up her ears. I thought about it for a moment. Technically, I shouldn¡¯t be saying anything. Whether it was your own abilities or someone else¡¯s, disclosing the details of skills or traits was practically taboo. That was because there was always the risk of the other party preparing countermeasures or compatibility-based items with ill intent. But with [Core], there¡¯s not much to worry about. It was a trait that everyone possessed, differing only in rank, and it wasn¡¯t hard to infer from watching replays or matches anyway. This much, I figured, I could tell her. Although it probably wasn¡¯t the answer Hong Yeon-hwa had been hoping for. I spoke casually. ¡°She hit B-rank a while ago.¡± ¡°Huh, when...?¡± ¡°Before the finals. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s mouth fell slightly open, and the excited energy around her quickly deflated. If it was before the finals, that meant almost two months ago. That was how wide the gap between them had grown. And in reality, Seo Ye-in had already achieved B-rank in several skills and traits. At that point, Dang Gyu-young who had been listening nearby joined in on the conversation. ¡°She didn¡¯t really stand out at the beginning of the semester, but she already cleared Core B that fast?¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a bundle of talent.¡± A passive sloth. Strong. Even just sleeping builds up her mana; her rank shoots up several times faster than others; she picks up control techniques in no time, and on top of that, her luck was crazy. If Shin Byeong-cheol was running and Hong Yeon-hwa was flying, then Seo Ye-in was practically a jet. ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression grew more and more sullen. She was already at a disadvantage against a marksman in terms of class matchup, and now she was falling behind in specs too. Her dream of a rematch and revenge felt further and further away. Even to me, it didn¡¯t look very likely. Still, I should say something encouraging here. You never know what might happen. Maybe an event that favored her will come up later. And you have to be ready to seize the opportunity when it comes. So I tossed out a line as if it was nothing. ¡°I even triggered Stage 3 of [Harship] for her before coming here.¡± ¡°Oh... okay...¡± ¡°But we¡¯ve still got almost a month left in our mentoring. If things go well, you could even overtake her.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes lit up with interest. Ever since I learned [Time Share], the cooldown time for Hardship had dropped to under three days. Alternating with Dang Gyu-young meant they¡¯d each get a turn roughly once a week. So if she kept it going nonstop during the mentoring period, she might even reach Stage 5. ¡°Of course, that depends on how fast you can clear.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°Yeah. The cooldown should reset by today.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded with renewed determination. *** I was originally expecting it to happen sometime this evening, but the schedule moved up unexpectedly. Right around the time I took down three summoned monsters, a buff popped up that felt a bit different from usual. [Cooldown time has been reduced.] When I checked Hardship, the cooldown that had a few hours left was completely reset. I exchanged a glance with Hong Yeon-hwa and asked, ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°M-Mhmm. I¡¯m ready...¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯m using it now.¡± [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [¡®Stage 2 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Hong Yeon-hwa stared seriously at the quest window. I asked again to confirm, ¡°It¡¯s similar to Stage 1, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Since she hadn¡¯t completed the derived skill yet, she¡¯d probably be given one or two more quests similar to this. Naturally, each one would increase in difficulty. I asked once more, ¡°Want to try it alone? Or should I help?¡± ¡°I think... I can handle it on my own.¡± ¡°Alright. Let me know if you get stuck.¡± If she found a breakthrough on her own after struggling, it might take more time, but she¡¯d gain much more in the long run. Besides, she must¡¯ve gotten the hang of it from Stage 1, so for now, I figured she¡¯d be fine handling it herself. Fwoooosh! Hong Yeon-hwa immediately cast Fire Pillar. The rising column of flame slowly began to take on a specific shape. After observing it briefly, I moved over to Dang Gyu-young. ¡°......¡± As usual, Dang Gyu-young was deeply focused on her Hardship quest in a corner of the training ground. A small cone shadow had formed above her palm. Perhaps it was the result of days of relentless focus, but it held its shape for quite a while. Eventually, though, it began to tremble and then dispersed. ¡°...Hoo.¡± Dang Gyu-young took a deep breath to calm her mind. Maybe it was because she had failed so many times already, but she didn¡¯t even seem that angry anymore. Then, she turned her head toward me and asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your record time?¡± ¡°About... 19 seconds? I didn¡¯t check today, though.¡± That was about half of the quest target of 40 seconds. Dang Gyu-young asked again. ¡°But why do you ask?¡± ¡°I just used Hardship on Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Told her to hold out until the cooldown¡¯s over?¡± ¡°That¡¯d be ideal.¡± If the cooldown finished quickly, it would soon be Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s turn again, and then Dang Gyu-young¡¯s turn after that. In the end, everyone would benefit. But Dang Gyu-young crossed her arms and gave me a sharp look. ¡°Young monarch, is it really okay to pressure people like this? I¡¯m struggling enough as it is.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re working hard. Don¡¯t feel pressured. It¡¯s not like I¡¯d get mad if you missed the deadline.¡± ¡°Hmph, so how many days are left?¡± ¡°Probably three days.¡± The base cooldown was six days, but with [Time Share], I had cut that down by more than half. And if we added buffs from summoned monsters like earlier, it could get reduced even further. Dang Gyu-young did some quick mental math and then spoke. ¡°Since I¡¯m about halfway there... I guess it might actually be doable.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°That kind of encouragement really doesn¡¯t hit home, you know.¡± Then Dang Gyu-young sharply turned her head away again. From experience, I knew this usually meant she wanted something from me. And since I knew exactly what that was, I stepped in close and whispered, ¡°Hang in there, Qyu.¡± ¡°...Seriously, I¡¯m way too easy.¡± Though she kept grumbling non-stop, a faint smile had formed at the corners of Dang Gyu-young¡¯s lips. *** A few more days passed. Dang Gyu-young stood completely still with her hands raised to chest level like a statue. In her hands, she held a black shadow cone. It occasionally trembled slightly, but it held its form firmly without collapsing. After focusing intensely on the cone for quite some time, Dang Gyu-young suddenly shifted her gaze into the air. A notification message must have appeared, and judging by her reaction, the contents were probably exactly what she¡¯d expected. Especially considering how her face immediately lit up. ¡°...It worked!¡± After nearly a week of wrestling with the shadow, she had finally succeeded in maintaining its shape for forty seconds and completed the Hardship Quest. She then came running over to me, clasped my hands in hers, and started jumping up and down with excitement. ¡°It worked! I did it! I really did it! Puhahahah!¡± Then she grew suddenly aware of Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s gaze and stopped jumping. Though her hands, still holding mine, were shaking with just as much excitement. I gave a nod and said, ¡°Great work. Let¡¯s move on to the next phase.¡± Just in time. The cooldown had ended a little while ago. At that, Dang Gyu-young instantly dropped her smile and said with a serious face, ¡°Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, noona?¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t have let me enjoy this a little longer? You totally killed the mood.¡± ¡°The sooner, the better in cases like this.¡± ¡°A quick beating is a good beating, huh?¡± Her eyes narrowed, but I played it off smoothly, like a snake slipping over a wall. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s because you are top priority.¡± ¡°Funny... same words, but it feels different.¡± ¡°Must just be your imagination.¡± ¡°You better watch your back.¡± ¡°Alright, here we go~¡± [Activated ¡®Harship¡¯.] [¡®Stage 5 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Dang Gyu-young began carefully reading through the quest details. It was definitely related to maintaining form, but it seemed like the details were slightly different. Then she looked tired and pressed her forehead. ¡°Ugh, my head already hurts.¡± ¡°Did something come up?¡± In response to my question, Dang Gyu-young raised one hand and formed a small shadow cone. By now, it looked like both creating and maintaining it had become noticeably easier for her. Of course, if that were all, she wouldn¡¯t be making that kind of face. ¡°They want me to catch a monster with this. A D-rank one.¡± Defeat a D-rank or higher monster using shadow magic. Stage 4 was something you did alone, so maintaining any shape was good enough. But from Stage 5 onward, the opponent was a monster. So it means she has to use a form suitable for combat. Like, for example, a shadow butterfly, a fist, or various weapons. And the more complicated the shape, the harder it would be to maintain. What made it even more difficult was, She has to maintain it while fighting. Even when she was standing still and focusing, if I so much as poked her, she¡¯d end up making some weird shadow blob. But now, she had to move constantly, exchange blows with a monster, and still maintain the shape of the shadow? It was obvious that this would be much harder than before. Dang Gyu-young seemed to have reached that conclusion too, judging by the completely unmotivated look on her face. ¡°I¡¯m just gonna go on strike.¡± ¡°Why are you talking about going on strike?¡± ¡°Ugh, whatever. You guys do your mentoring.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. At least give it a try.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not doing it.¡± I gently coaxed Dang Gyu-young and led her to the summoning gate. Chapter 348: 2nd Mentoring Session (5) In the end, Dang Gyu-young gave in to my persuasion, pulled out a D-rank crystal, and activated the summoning gate. The monster that soon walked out was one we had seen several times over the past few days. Clatter. It was a skeleton knight. Probably around number eight. Among all the D-rank monsters we had summoned so far, it was practically the weakest. Even Hong Yeon-hwa could burn it to ashes in no time, so with Dang Gyu-young¡¯s skills, it would likely be reduced to dust in just a hit or two. Of course, that was assuming there were no penalties. With the Hardship Quest restrictions in place, it wouldn¡¯t be as easy as usual. Clack. Soon, the hollow eyes of the skeleton knight turned toward Dang Gyu-young. And with its bone shield raised in front, it began to steadily advance. ¡°.......¡± Dang Gyu-young watched it with eyes that showed not even a hint of tension, then lightly waved her hand in the air. [Butterfly Flight] A shadow butterfly fluttered up from beneath the monster¡¯s feet. Normally, it would have circled lightly in the air before either exploding or transforming into another weapon and flying at the target. But this time, the butterfly merely flapped weakly and was blocked by the skeleton knight¡¯s shield. Smack. ¡°...I¡¯m seriously going on strike.¡± Dang Gyu-young grumbled but cast shadow magic again. This time, perhaps trying a different method, she formed a long shadow club and gripped it in her hand. And the moment the skeleton knight entered striking distance, she swung it with all her strength. The skeleton knight immediately raised its shield to block the attack. If it had been under normal circumstances, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s skills would¡¯ve been more than enough to blow the shield away along with its wielder. But once again, the penalty was the issue. As the shadow club was being swung, it bent in the opposite direction. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Thunk. The sound that rang out when the club hit the shield was far too weak to be considered a proper impact. Right after, the skeleton knight counterattacked by swinging its bone sword, and Dang Gyu-young lightly kicked off the ground to create some distance. ¡°Wow, this is seriously pissing me off. Against this thing?¡± A third-year club president could wipe out dozens of D-rank monsters in an instant, but here she was, struggling to take down just one. It must¡¯ve felt like trying to kill a goblin that just wouldn¡¯t die. After that, Dang Gyu-young tried creating several more weapons. But just like the butterfly, the shadow dagger dissipated mid-air without doing anything, and the hammer and longsword bent out of shape like the club. And with each failure, her frustration only grew. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She rushed into the skeleton knight¡¯s guard and threw a punch. Boom¡ª! She shattered its skull in a single blow. ¡°Ugh, this is so irritating.¡± Dang Gyu-young fanned her hand in frustration. Needless to say, she probably hadn¡¯t fulfilled the Hardship Quest condition. After all, she didn¡¯t defeat it using shadow magic. Watching from the side, I asked her something I had been wondering. ¡°You¡¯ve got a few instant-cast skills too, right? Would¡¯ve been easy to land a hit.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of killing it quickly? It¡¯s still a pain either way.¡± Dang Gyu-young responded in a nonchalant tone. If she had wanted to, she could have used skills like Shadow Thorn, the kind that attacked from beneath the target¡¯s feet. Since the activation time was extremely short, she would have been able to deal damage before the form broke down. But even if she cleared stage 5 quickly that way, stage 6 or 7 would just throw stronger monsters at her, and she¡¯d be struggling all the same. In that case, she figured she might as well do it properly from the start. Besides, there was still plenty of time before the next cooldown, so there was no need to rush. I felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. ¡°You say you¡¯re on strike, but you¡¯re working pretty hard. I like it.¡± ¡°If it were up to me, I¡¯d quit right now. But what can I do....I said I¡¯d do this. You really need to appreciate how much I¡¯m putting myself through.¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± ¡°No, no¡ªyou need to appreciate it more, and be nicer to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Dang Gyu-young gave me a sideways glare for a moment, then gestured toward the summoning gate. ¡°For now, it¡¯s better if I go without that thing, right?¡± ¡°Looks that way.¡± The objective for stage 5 of the Hardship Quest was to defeat a D-rank monster using a shadow weapon. Breaking it down further, it meant ¡°shaping the shadow into a combat-ready form¡± and ¡°maintaining the shadow during battle¡±. Meanwhile, the best Gyu-young could do with her shadow was to form and sustain basic shapes, and she was trying to hit both targets at once. It was only natural she struggled against the skeleton knight. So rather than clearing the quest like it was a real fight from the start, she had decided to tackle the first goal. That was ¡°maintaining the shadow in weapon form¡±. It made perfect sense, so I nodded my head. Then I asked her a question, half-joking. ¡°Mind if I mess around too? Nice breeze every now and then.¡± ¡°If you do, I¡¯m turning you into a skeleton knight.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s tone was firm beyond question. *** And once again, a few days passed just like that. The only thing that had changed was that Dang Gyu-young¡¯s shadow creations had shifted from simple cones to things like butterflies and daggers. And perhaps the fact that Hong Yeon-hwa was now conducting her mentoring while also progressing through the Hardship quest. Fwoooosh¡ª The pillar of flame that had burst forth began to sway from side to side, and something like a snake seemed to slither within it. Soon, the flame serpent spewed a fireball at skeleton knight No. 14, Boom! Just like its predecessors, No. 14 was consumed in vain by the fire. Leaving behind nothing but ashes and a buff. [Your skill/trait growth speed has greatly increased.] A rank boost buff, as usual. But this time, an additional notification appeared. [Accumulative kill reward granted.] Apparently, a certain number of summoned monsters had been defeated. Pulling up the mentoring quest again revealed the following: [Event: Second Mentoring] (In progress...) [Time remaining: 21 days] ? Grow faster with the help of a mentor. ? D-rank monsters defeated: 50 ? C-rank monsters defeated: 4 ? B-rank monsters defeated: 0 ?Rewards given for defeating a set number of monsters So it really was 50 kills. The first reward threshold was 50 kills, based on D-rank monsters. C-ranks counted as two or three per kill. Just as predicted, the reward was a defense-type skill. [You have acquired ¡®Wind Armor (F+)¡¯.] As the name suggested, it was a spell that cloaked the body in wind-like armor. Compared to barrier-type spells, it took up less space and allowed for more mobility, but the thin layer of wind meant its defensive power was somewhat lacking. Of course, since the two could be layered together, the comparison didn¡¯t hold much weight. Well, I¡¯ve learned two decent ones for now. Both [Wind Barrier] and [Wind Armor] simply increased defense and nothing more. Considering Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s [Reverse Curtain] automatically counterattacked, and [Blazing Armor] boosted fire damage, they felt a bit plain by comparison. Of course, this isn¡¯t the end. Just like with [Spiral Explosion], the final effect of a skill depended entirely on how it was combined with others. For the third and final skill, a very special one was being kept in mind. Though, of course, that would only be learned after school started again. For now, it¡¯s best to strengthen what I already have. Ranking up was something that had to be done eventually anyway. The more I got done now, the more resources I could allocate elsewhere later on. With that in mind, I gave Hong Yeon-hwa a signal with my eyes, and we resumed the sparring session we had briefly paused. I cast Wind Barrier and Wind Armor in quick succession. Whoooosh¡ª One layer of wind wrapped around my body, while the other formed a circular shield in the air around me. Then, as I walked among the pillars of flame, the fire serpents relentlessly launched fireballs at me. Boom boom boom! *** After finishing that day¡¯s training, we were resting in our dorm when Dang Gu-young called us over. ¡°Hey, you two. Come here for a moment.¡± She looked between Hong Yeon-hwa and me before speaking. ¡°Let¡¯s go out tomorrow.¡± ¡°Is something up?¡± ¡°Mhmm, we need to get more crystals.¡± Although Dang Gu-young had received permission to use the crystals as a mentor, there was still a limit on how many she could use. No matter how much of a third-year she was, she was still just a student. Who would trust her with hundreds of them? What if she suddenly had a change of heart? Who knows what could happen? ¡°So I initially brought about sixty, but there aren¡¯t many left now.¡± Since we had poured almost all of our time into training, except for when we ate and slept, they had been used up faster than expected. As soon as the buff ended, we summoned another one and defeated it, then summoned again once the next buff ended. Like that, we had taken down more than fifty in just a little more than a week. ¡°We¡¯ve got some B-ranks left, but as you know, it¡¯s not really the right time to use them.¡± ¡°Because the penalty is still in effect.¡± Dang Gu-young¡¯s fighting power had been severely reduced due to the Hardship quest. She couldn¡¯t even take down a skeleton knight now. If we summoned a B-rank monster, there¡¯d be no way to handle it. Realistically, I would have to fight it alone. I could probably manage, but there¡¯s no reason to push myself. It¡¯s not like they dropped any items. At most, the buffs were a bit better. There wasn¡¯t enough benefit to risk the danger. It seemed better to wait until the latter half of our mentoring period, when both of their [Hardships] entered their final stages, to start summoning B-ranks. So everyone agreed with the plan to replenish the lower-rank crystals. Of course, since we¡¯d fought enough D-ranks, we would now focus mainly on C-ranks. With a sigh, Dang Gu-young added, ¡°Phew... and let¡¯s take a break. We¡¯ve been pushing ourselves too hard lately.¡± As soon as those words were said, both Dang Gu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa turned their gazes toward me. It was because I was the very reason things had been so intense lately. I asked Hong Yeon-hwa with a stiff face. ¡°Tired?¡± ¡°......¡± Her pupils darted around, searching for a place to rest. She kept hesitating, probably thinking that answering wrong would lead to consequences she couldn¡¯t handle. Seeing that, Dang Gu-young smacked my shoulder with a slap. ¡°Why are you staring at her like that? She can¡¯t even speak!¡± ¡°Was I?¡± ¡°Yes! Save that kind of pressure for me.¡± I relaxed my facial muscles and asked the same question again, this time in a gentler tone. ¡°Should we take it easy tomorrow?¡± ¡°......¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s eyes were still shifting as if trying to figure out whether it was a trap. But with a subtle look from Dang Gu-young, she seemed encouraged and gave a small nod. She must have been struggling more than she let on. Honestly, even doing just the Hardship quest was tough, and she had been keeping up with my pace on top of that for all the training. ¡°It really would be best to take a break around now.¡± ¡°Mhmm, let¡¯s pick up the crystals, walk around a bit, and maybe grab something to eat.¡± Chapter 349: Hong-Qyu The next day. Normally, we would have headed to the training grounds before the morning sun even rose, but this time, we all slept in. It wasn¡¯t until the sun had climbed high into the sky that we sluggishly got up and started getting ready to head out. On the way into the city, I was gazing out the car window at the scenery when I asked Dang Gyu-young, ¡°So, where are we going first? Crystals?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the most important, sure, but it¡¯s not urgent.¡± Even though there was a limit on how many she could get, receiving additional crystals wasn¡¯t difficult. That was thanks to the fact that Dang Gyu-young had already taken care of all the complicated procedures in advance. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°What do you feel like eating?¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s the first meal of the day, nothing too heavy? I heard there¡¯s an amazing brunch spot nearby.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say no to a famous restaurant. Let¡¯s go.¡± I glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa, wondering if she might have a different opinion, but her eyes sparkled with the same kind of anticipation as ours. And so, by unanimous agreement, we headed to the brunch cafe?. Inside the cafe?, the gentle aroma of pancakes and coffee lingered in the air. As soon as we sat down at a table, Dang Gyu-young grabbed the menu and pointed to the first item listed at the top. ¡°I¡¯ll have this.¡± ¡°Have you been here before?¡± ¡°Nope. Why?¡± ¡°You chose way too fast.¡± It was the kind of speed you¡¯d only expect from someone who had visited similar chain restaurants or done their research ahead of time. But Dang Gyu-young answered without a hint of concern. ¡°When you don¡¯t know what to get, just go with number one. It¡¯s always at least decent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but aren¡¯t you a little too carefree?¡± ¡°So what, you don¡¯t like that?¡± ¡°On the contrary, I love it. I¡¯ll go with number two.¡± ¡°Pffft. That¡¯s more like it.¡± Dang Gyu-young giggled as she lightly slapped my shoulder over and over. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa was staring intently at one particular spot on the menu, as if she had found something that really caught her eye. Then, she carefully asked the two of us, ¡°Um... is it okay if I order something spicy...?¡± ¡°Mhmm, just get whatever you want.¡± Dang Gyu-young responded casually. Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up, and she spoke to the server. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the Super Hellfire Omurice.¡± ¡°.......!¡± The server flinched for a moment but quickly regained composure and gave a slight bow. The reaction, along with the name of the dish, felt a bit ominous, so I checked the menu again. Warning. Spicier than Hellfire! If it was spicier than something called Hellfire, just how spicy was it supposed to be? A little worried, I asked Hong Yeon-hwa, ¡°You sure you can handle it?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± My concern seemed completely unfounded. Far from looking worried, her eyes sparkled with excitement and a hint of competitive fire. Like a martial artist meeting a worthy rival. I turned to Dang Gyu-young and said, ¡°Everyone seems to handle spicy food well. I must be the weakest link here.¡± ¡°Why do you say ¡®everyone¡¯?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s Hong Yeon-hwa, and you noona, and also Sho-sho noona.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Kim Ho, you¡¯re supposed to call her Jegal So-so noona.¡± ¡°We already agreed on it, remember?¡± ¡°Sho-sho didn¡¯t agree though, did she?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Alright, I¡¯ll call her noona.¡± ¡°And if that¡¯s the case, then you better start ending every sentence with Qyu-Qyu noona when talking to me. Actually, just drop the ¡®noona¡¯ part.¡± I didn¡¯t respond to that and steered the slightly derailed conversation back on track. ¡°Anyway, everyone¡¯s great with spicy food.¡± ¡°You seem to handle spicy food pretty well too. Like with the Hellfire tteokbokki.¡± ¡°I mean, I can eat it. It¡¯s just tough.¡± ¡°Honestly, same here. Inferno level is just right for me.¡± ¡°You seemed to handle it better than I did, though.¡± Even during our small get-togethers in the dorm room or the swordsmanship clubroom, Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so would devour Hellfire-flavored buldak and tteokbokki without showing the slightest hint of struggle. At that, Dang Gyu-young stuck out her tongue halfway. ¡°I¡¯ve just built up a tolerance, so it doesn¡¯t show.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, you¡¯re from the Dang family, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm. Back in the day, we used to eat all sorts of stuff.¡± It wouldn¡¯t make sense for someone from the Dang family, known for using poison as their main weapon, to be weak against it. That¡¯s why, to build resistance, she had to ingest all kinds of bitter, spicy, and salty poisons from a young age. She didn¡¯t go into detail about what she gained from it, but considering she¡¯s a direct descendant, maybe she reached the level of complete poison immunity? Being able to handle spiciness was just a bonus. I asked Hong Yeon-hwa too. ¡°Did you go through any kind of training like that?¡± ¡°Nope~ I just... like it.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa gently shook her head from side to side. Her strength seemed to come from her mindset of enjoying everything. A moment later, the server started placing our ordered dishes on the table one by one. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s Menu No. 1 was an omelet and pancakes served with a variety of fruits. My Menu No. 2 was toast, hash browns, and grilled mini sausages. Dang Gyu-young grinned. ¡°See? The one on top is always the winner.¡± ¡°You¡¯re definitely playing it safe.¡± Meanwhile, the Super Hellfire Omurice was placed in front of Hong Yeon-hwa. At a glance, it looked normal, but the moment she cut into the egg with her spoon, an intense spicy aroma wafted through the air. Still, Hong Yeon-hwa asked us as if nothing was out of the ordinary. ¡°Wanna... try some?¡± Dang Gyu-young and I exchanged glances. ¡°Well, we should at least taste it.¡± ¡°Just one bite¡¯s enough.¡± So we each took a little of our food onto small plates and exchanged them. Soon after, Dang Gyu-young and I exchanged glances again, then simultaneously shoved a bite of the Super Hellfire Omurice into our mouths. The first thought that came to mind was: I think I understand Seo Ye-in¡¯s feelings now. The heat that started on the tongue shot straight through the brain in an instant. Still, after downing half a cup of iced coffee in one go, I started to feel a bit better. Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young remained as composed as ever. ¡°It¡¯s definitely spicy.¡± ¡°But you hardly react. I guess you really have built up some tolerance.¡± ¡°Told you.¡± ¡°No side effects? Like, you can¡¯t taste anything anymore?¡± ¡°Not really?¡± Dang Gyu-young shrugged, then paused for a moment as if something had come to mind. ¡°I think I¡¯ve started to like sweets more. Probably from eating too much bitter stuff.¡± ¡°That actually makes sense.¡± ¡°Mhmm. Speaking of which, let¡¯s go get some ice cream later.¡± ¡°We could just order it here.¡± She said this place was good, and it really lived up to the hype, so the desserts would probably be decent too. But Dang Gyu-young shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s something I wanted to try with you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t see why not.¡± I agreed without hesitation. We filled our stomachs while chatting about trivial things, and Hong Yeon-hwa polished off an entire bowl of Super Hellfire Omurice. Naturally, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of struggle on her face. I thought we¡¯d head out for ice cream next, just like Dang Gyu-young said. ¡°Let¡¯s get the crystal first. It¡¯s on the way anyway.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± So we headed to the Guild Union branch. It was a faction that included various thief clubs and guilds, and it maintained a close partnership with Dragon Slayer Academy. The size of each branch varied by region, but you could find one almost anywhere in the world. This was clear evidence of the Guild Union¡¯s influence. This place was no exception. Even though it was a relatively quiet rural town, a small branch still stood out. However, regardless of its influence, the inside was almost eerily empty. The only person around was a receptionist, blankly passing the time at the front desk. Sensing our presence, the receptionist looked up, and Dang Gyu-young stepped forward and spoke. ¡°Here to restock some crystals.¡± Then she pulled out the pre-filled paperwork and a crystal orb, placing them neatly on the counter. The orb probably contained a log of her portal usage. Maybe because she handed over everything needed from the start, the process moved quickly. The receptionist skimmed through the documents and fast-forwarded the orb to check the records. At the same time, the receptionist gave a quiet note of admiration. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy. Most people take about three weeks to use fifty of these.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem. I¡¯ve been too busy.¡± Dang Gyu-young let out a wry smile and glanced over at me and Hong Yeon-hwa. Soon, the receptionist came back out with a large tray piled high with crystals, and Dang Gyu-young swept them all into her inventory. ¡°Thank you. Take care.¡± She gave a quick farewell, and we all stepped out of the branch together. Dang Gyu-young smiled and said, ¡°See? Easy, right?¡± ¡°As expected of someone who comes prepared.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like this is my first time.¡± Last year, she had been the vice president of the club, and this year, she had taken on the role of president, so she had naturally become thoroughly accustomed to the related responsibilities. Well, just because it was a ¡°thief¡± club didn¡¯t mean they had to go around causing trouble all the time. ¡°Are we heading out now?¡± ¡°Mhmm, we¡¯re not going far. Just over there.¡± Where Dang Gyu-young motioned with her chin, there stood a convenience store. ¡°Convenience store ice cream?¡± ¡°Mhmmn mhmm, just wait a minute..¡± With that, Dang Gyu-young strolled casually inside. As Hong Yeon-hwa and I exchanged puzzled glances, she quickly came back out with an ice cream in hand. <33 Bar> It was a large ice bar with three sticks stuck into it. It was designed so that each person could break off a piece for themselves. There were also sibling products like the 22 Bar and 44 Bar. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to try this.¡± ¡°You could¡¯ve just bought one and eaten it yourself. It¡¯s a three-part thing.¡± ¡°How could I? That¡¯d make me look like I have no friends.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got So-So noona and Pang Mi-ryeong senior too.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t meet up that often.¡± Although she was on decent terms with both Jegal So-so and Pang Mi-ryeong, it turned out that all three of them were quite busy with their own circumstances. It was apparently pretty rare for the three to be in the same place at the same time. Still, this feels a little sudden. When I glanced over at Hong Yeon-hwa, she seemed to be thinking the same thing, though she also looked somewhat intrigued. Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t have many friends either. And now that she had already gone and bought it, there was no way we could just tell her to put it back. Besides, seeing how much she wanted this, it felt like the least we could do was go along with it. To begin with, I wasn¡¯t picky about food, so it¡¯s not like I chose my ice cream with much thought. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°Here, grab it.¡± Soon after, Dang Gyu-young unwrapped the packaging, and the three of us each grabbed onto the stick. I was in the middle, with Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa on either side of me. Dang Gyu-young looked back and forth between us and said, ¡°On the count of three, we pull. One, two, three¡ª¡± Right as she finished counting, Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa yanked the ice bar to each side. It split ¡°perfectly¡±. One and a half servings each. And what I was left holding was nothing but an empty stick. ¡°Hey, if you take it all like that, what am I supposed to eat?¡± ¡°Pffthahaha!¡± ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you? I knew it.¡± ¡°Nooohoho! I didn¡¯t, really!¡± Even as she shook her head wildly, Dang Gyu-young burst into uncontrollable laughter. Even Hong Yeon-hwa had turned her back with her shoulders trembling with laughter. ¡°Snrk, hngh...!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fallen victim to Hong-Qyu¡¯s schemes...¡± While I was sighing in defeat, still wallowing, Hong Yeon-hwa who had been giggling the whole time held out her ice cream to me. But even her fingertips were trembling from trying to hold in her laughter. ¡°Heheh, here... I¡¯ll give you a bite...!¡± ¡°Hey, hey! You can have some of mine toohoho!¡± The two girls held out their ice creams at the same time, but I just bit down on the innocent stick in my mouth. ¡°No thanks. I¡¯m sulking now.¡± If you were going to give it back, you shouldn¡¯t have taken it in the first place. Chapter 350: After Graduation Even though I said that, I wasn¡¯t the type to sulk over something like this. It didn¡¯t seem like they did it on purpose, and even if they had, so what? It was just a joke. So, I ended up taking a bite of both Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s ice cream, and we wandered around the city in an even more cheerful atmosphere. It was a quiet countryside town, so there weren¡¯t many things to do, but the two of them seemed happy just walking around and looking at different places. At one point, Dang Gyu-young brought it up. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, let¡¯s do some shopping. Barbecue for dinner?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it. It¡¯s our day off. We should do everything we want.¡± ¡°What should we grill? When it comes to barbecue, meat¡¯s a must, right?¡± ¡°Meat sounds great, but let¡¯s get some seafood too.¡± And while we were at it, I asked Hong Yeon-hwa as well. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°M-Me? I¡¯m fine with anything...¡± ¡°Anything spicy?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a consistent one.¡± After shopping and thoroughly exploring the town, we headed back to the lodge and lazed around, doing absolutely nothing. It wasn¡¯t until the sun had begun to dip below the horizon that we finally started prepping the charcoal. Whoosh! Of course, it was Hong Yeon-hwa who lit the fire. I¡¯d noticed it since midterms, but maybe because she was a fire mage, her control over flames was second to none. She seemed to enjoy it more than she let on, so I figured it was a win-win. Eventually, we placed the ingredients we each wanted on the grill and started our barbecue. Steak, sausages, shrimp, Hellfire spicy chicken... Maybe it was because the ingredients were excellent, or maybe it was because Hong Yeon-hwa had lit the charcoal perfectly. But at first, all of us were completely focused on eating in silence. As our stomachs began to fill, the conversation gradually picked up, and after we wrapped up the barbecue, we gathered around the fire and started to talk about deeper, more serious things. Just then, a question came to mind, so I threw it out to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°I¡¯m only asking now, but what¡¯s your dream?¡± ¡°M-My... dream...?¡± ¡°You¡¯re working hard for a reason, right? You came down to the underground floor with us, and you even took on that Hardship quest.¡± If she was simply aiming to perform well as a promising student, she wouldn¡¯t need to be that desperate. It must have made sense to Dang Gyu-young too, because she also looked over at us with interest. Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to be choosing her words for a while. She looked down at her hands, glanced briefly at me, then looked down at her hands again before finally speaking. ¡°Promise... you won¡¯t laugh...?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t laugh. Just tell me.¡± ¡°I... want to become the Ruby Magic Tower Master.¡± ¡°Why would I laugh at that? So?¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa turned her eyes toward me in confusion, but I continued to ask with a serious face. ¡°Becoming the Ruby Tower Master isn¡¯t the end, right? What do you want to do after that?¡± ¡°Well...¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t thought that far, have you.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...¡± Her voice trailed off. It seemed like she had vaguely aimed for the Ruby Tower Master role due to family legacy or just being swept up by her environment. It wasn¡¯t an easy goal, which explained her desperation. Since it was something that could easily happen, I nodded again this time. ¡°There¡¯s no need to decide right away. You and I.... we¡¯re still first years. But it¡¯s good to start thinking about it little by little.¡± Whether it was training, dungeon clearing, or Hardhsip quests, things would only get tougher from here. To endure it all, the more concrete and earnest the goal, the better. As if she understood, Hong Yeon-hwa nodded slowly, then turned the question back to me. ¡°Um... what about you...?¡± ¡°My goal?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°World peace.¡± ¡°???¡± For a moment, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s expression went blank, as if her brain had shut down. It was probably because my goal was so ridiculously grand. And because I declared it so confidently. ¡°Seriously...?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m serious.¡± The goal of the EX-rank reincarnation quest was to prevent the end of the world. Since the main culprits behind that destruction were 99.9% likely to be the Blood Cult and the Corpse Dragon, once we took them down, the world would basically become peaceful. And if they weren¡¯t the cause? Then we just keep beating things down until peace comes. By the time we were ready to face the Blood Cult and the Corpse Dragon, we¡¯d be insanely powerful ourselves, so it wouldn¡¯t be all that hard. Dang Gyu-young chimed in from the side. ¡°I thought he was out of his mind at first too, but turns out he¡¯s dead serious.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Even so, Hong Yeon-hwa still seemed to have a hard time accepting it, but she seemed to decide to let it slide for now. Then, she asked a question similar to mine. ¡°Um, and after world peace...?¡± ¡°After that, I¡¯ll just eat well and live well. Travel around. Go camping with this person here.¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with ¡®this person¡¯? ¡®This person¡¯, seriously?¡± Dang Gyu-young smacked my forearm with a slap, but she was grinning like she was happy I remembered the camping talk. She went on to say to Hong Yeon-hwa, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m tagging along on this whole Hardship quest too. I¡¯m throwing in a hand for this world peace thing or whatever. Gotta do that if I wanna wander around without any worries.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa seemed lost in thought and her mind was tangled up with all sorts of things. She sat off to the side with a blank look and her lips sealed. At times like this, it was probably best to give someone their space. Just in time, I remembered there was something I wanted to ask Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Speaking of helping out, now that I think about it, you¡¯ve only got one semester left until graduation.¡± ¡°Mhmm, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Have you decided what you¡¯re going to do after?¡± ¡°I was originally planning to join the Thieves Guild and take charge of one of the branches. That¡¯s why I became a club president too. But...¡± ¡°But?¡± Dang Gyu-young leaned in toward me. ¡°...The plan changed. Because of someone.¡± ¡°Whoever that is sounds like a real piece of work.¡± ¡°Right? Playing with people¡¯s feelings like that. Could¡¯ve just been nice about it.¡± ¡°If you have something to say to them, I¡¯ll pass the message along.¡± Dang Gyu-young leaned even closer toward me. ¡°Going back home with me for winter break?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll decide that later.¡± ¡°Oh, come on! You could at least do that much!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider it positively.¡± ¡°Consider it very positively. I mean it.¡± She emphasized it again, then shifted to a more serious expression. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m thinking of putting the plan to take charge of the guild branch on hold after graduation. I figured it¡¯d be better to stick around if I want to help out.¡± ¡°Not a bad point. What matters is what you do while staying nearby... It¡¯d be a waste to just let time slip by.¡± ¡°How about opening a shop in the downtown area? If we clean out everything we¡¯ve got, it¡¯s doable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s way too much of a stretch. Let¡¯s focus on progressing with [Hardship] for now.¡± ¡°Why Hardship all of a sudden?¡± Dang Gyu-young tilted her head in confusion. I calmly explained. ¡°We¡¯re finally starting to see a direction. Just five or six more stages and things will really start to come together.¡± ¡°Five or six more? So like stage 11? 12? That feels way out of reach.¡± ¡°It¡¯s faster than you think.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say when it¡¯s not your problem, huh?¡± She reached out again, looking ready to pinch my cheek, but I shook my body back and forth and kept talking. ¡°Once your direction¡¯s clear, you¡¯ll know whether it¡¯s better to stay on Dungeon Island or head outside.¡± ¡°So after all that, it¡¯s still Hardship. Ugh, what a life.¡± Dang Gyu-young let out a deep sigh. *** Since we had replenished our crystals and taken the entire day to rest, everyone resumed training without a word starting the next day. After a few days like that, Dang Gyu-young had gotten fairly used to maintaining the complex form. A shadow butterfly fluttered above her hand. Watching it, I asked, ¡°Looks like I can start interfering now.¡± ¡°Hey, no. I told you not to.¡± Whoosh¡ª A gust of wind charged with physical force pushed Gyu-young backward, and the shadow butterfly scattered in an instant. ¡°Hey!!¡± She came charging at me and caught my face with an iron claw. With my cheeks squished, I mumbled, ¡°Ip yoo don¡¯ geh in¡¯erup¡¯ed, how¡¯re yoo shupposhed to twain (If you don¡¯t get interrupted, how are you supposed to train)?¡± ¡°I said. Don¡¯t. Do. That.¡± It seemed she still needed more training to maintain the shadow even during battle. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa had cleared the second stage of her Hardship and completed her Fire Pillar combo skill. Kwooooosh¡ª! A pillar of fire surged fiercely into the air. Moments later, the flames writhed violently, and a serpent made of fire flicked its tongue. Then it puffed up its cheeks and spat out a fireball the size of its own head. Boom! Hydra. It was a spell that fell somewhere between a battery-type spell and a summon. Though it didn¡¯t possess the intelligence or autonomy of spirits, it could at least recognize enemies and launch fireballs at them. Even that alone significantly reduced the burden of controlling it. Moreover, as the spell¡¯s level increased, it evolved beyond its current form and would gain the ability to use other fire-type spells or even grow multiple heads, for example. ¡°Nice work. Your attack power must¡¯ve gone up a lot.¡± ¡°Mhmm...!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up brightly. As a battery-type mage, she had effectively learned a far more useful main skill than Fire Pillar. ¡°The cooldown¡¯s reset. Let me know when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go right away.¡± There was hardly any sign of fatigue on Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face. It seemed to be thanks to the sense of accomplishment from creating a new skill and the anticipation of moving on to the next stage. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [The target has been granted ¡®Stage 3 Hardship¡¯.] ¡°You said it¡¯s something similar, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm, but this time... it says... to split it into two...?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa answered with a slightly puzzled look, but it wasn¡¯t hard for me to guess. So, it wants her to increase the number of heads. Two-headed, three-headed, or even more. As the number of heads increased, so did the number of fireballs she could launch. Of course, since she had done well on her own up until now, I decided not to give her any advice this time either. I should just focus on my own rank-up. Soon after, a summoned monster granted me a rank boost buff, and the moment the sparring began, I found myself surrounded by serpents of flame. Then, in the next instant, they all spewed fireballs at once. Boom-boom-boom-boom! A relentless barrage of fiery explosions followed. With both power and firing speed enhanced, my Wind Barrier and Armor were quickly shattered, and flames engulfed my body. It was too much for my elemental resistance to handle. Still, because I had to frequently reapply my defensive spells, the efficiency of my rank-up training had noticeably improved. [The rank of ¡®Wind Barrier¡¯ has increased. (C+ ¡ú B+)] [The rank of ¡®Wind Armor¡¯ has increased. (F+ ¡ú E+)] Chapter 351: Bat Gyu-young While Hong Yeon-hwa focused on Hydra and I concentrated on Wind Armor and Wind Barrier, Dang Gyu-young was also nearing the final phase of her Stage 5 Hardship. In the first half, she had become quite adept at maintaining her shadow magic in complex forms like butterflies or daggers. The latter half was about sustaining that focus even during combat. I had considered helping her with a gust of wind, but since she had warned me with a ¡°Don¡¯t you dare blow wind at me again!¡±, I decided to hold back. Still, she seemed more than motivated. Dang Gyu-young gradually began increasing her activity level. Holding a shadow dagger in one hand and a butterfly in the other, she slowly walked around the training ground. After repeating this for a while, she appeared to have gotten used to it, and her pace started to pick up. This feels like watching a rehab session. After a few more days, she was able to run alongside her flying shadow butterflies and lightly swing her dagger¡ª All while maintaining their forms without the slightest break. Before long, she clenched her fist and flashed a confident grin. ¡°I¡¯m ready. Time for the test.¡± ¡°Sounds good. But are you okay with a C-rank?¡± The goal for Stage 5 was to defeat a D-rank or higher monster using shadow magic. However, since all the crystals the guild had provided were C-rank and above, she would unintentionally have to take on a tougher opponent. Dang Gyu-young responded with a casual shrug. ¡°Eh, who cares? D and C¡ªsame difference.¡± It was the kind of confidence you¡¯d expect from a third-year club president. As soon as she shattered the C-rank crystal, the summoning gate rippled once. Then, with a flutter of wings, something took to the sky. A monster that looked like a cross between a bird and a human. A harpy. It was a rare flying-type monster that also wielded various wind spells, often driving countless players to frustration and hatred. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s reaction was no different. She frowned as she looked up at the harpy. ¡°Why do I always get stuff like this? This is ridiculous.¡± ¡°Guess today¡¯s just one of those days.¡± Luck always had its ups and downs. After seeing her scam her way through everything like a charm all the time, it was almost refreshing to see her run into something ordinary. Dang Gyu-young pouted a few times, but there was no way to unsummon a monster once it had already appeared. Like it or not, she had no choice but to fight it. So she gripped her shadow daggers tightly in both hands and locked eyes with the harpy. The harpy too flapped its wings fiercely, revealing its hostility. Whooooosh¡ª! Wind rushed in from all directions. Dang Gyu-young nimbly dodged to the side as the gusts scraped along the ground. Crack-crack-crack! It seemed the harpy had mixed in the attack spell [Wind Blade]. While continuing to evade, Dang Gyu-young hurled both of her shadow daggers in quick succession. But the harpy quickly flew to the side, and the blades missed by mere inches. It seemed the distance was still considerable, and since she was focusing on maintaining the shadow forms, her accuracy had taken a hit. Whoooosh¡ª The harpy began casting another spell. The swirling wind closed in on Dang Gyu-young. It must have been a combo using [Twister]. Her movement options were narrowing fast, but she still didn¡¯t seem particularly fazed. There was, after all, a significant rank difference between them. Even so, as her shadow daggers continued to miss or just graze the harpy, her frustration was starting to show. On the other hand, the harpy who was noticing how poorly its opponent was aiming let out a mocking giggle. ¡°Kikiki.¡± To top it off, it began flying left and right in a ridiculous, taunting manner. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s lips twitched menacingly. ¡°That little fly? You¡¯re dead.¡± Crack-crack-crack! Dang Gyu-young evaded the wind blades and whirlwinds as she launched one, then two shadow butterflies into the air. Since the harpy was slightly faster than the butterflies, it wasn¡¯t easy to close the distance, but the creature was still bound to the summoning circle. No matter how much it tried to flee, it was still inside the training grounds. Eventually, it was bound to be caught. Soon after, Dang Gyu-young reached the space just below the harpy, then kicked off the ground and leaped upward. Using the shadow butterflies as stepping stones, she charged at the harpy. At some point, a thick shadow bat had appeared in her hand. ¡°Pulling that attitude¡ª¡± Wham¡ª! The shadow bat struck the harpy¡¯s head with full force. ¡°¡ªis something you save for after the fight!¡± ¡°......!¡± The harpy wobbled like a fly hit with bug spray and plummeted, then scattered into particles of light. ¡°Hmph.¡± Meanwhile, Dang Gyu-young landed softly from several stories high and casually began walking toward me. The shadow bat hung loosely at her side. I threw her a comment, half-joking. ¡°Good work. You must be tired. How about putting the bat away now?¡± ¡°Tch, it actually feels kind of nice in the hand.¡± Bat Gyu-young swung it threateningly through the air and gave it a few menacing whooshes. The pot earlier, and now this.... why were all the people around me so violent? It was beyond me. Then Dang Gyu-young spoke. ¡°Hey, your cooldown¡¯s over, right? No need for chit-chat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re motivated. Let¡¯s go right away.¡± [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [¡®Stage 6 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Dang Gyu-young read through the quest details much faster than usual. It must have been something nearly identical to what she¡¯d gotten before. But at the final part, she paused and asked, ¡°Hey, Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, noona?¡± ¡°......Isn¡¯t it usually C after D?¡± ¡°Normally, yes.¡± ¡°Take a look at this.¡± As she shared the quest details, ?Objective: Defeat a B-rank or higher monster using shadow magic ¡°It looks like you skipped one because you just took down a harpy.¡± ¡°What? How does that make sense?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it actually a good thing?¡± It was like skipping ahead by a week instead of climbing up one step at a time in order. Dang Gyu-young thought for a few seconds, then her eyebrows perked up with a glint. ¡°Now that you mention it, that¡¯s true. I¡¯m feeling a bit better now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all take down the B-rank monster together.¡± ¡°Okay, just let me train a little more first.¡± Even in her normal state, B-rank monsters weren¡¯t easy opponents for Dang Gyu-young. And now, with the Hardship penalty in effect, she meant to push her skills further until her cooldown ended. For Hong Yeon-hwa and me as well, the more time we had, the more we could build up our strength. So we all continued our training just as before. *** Time passed with repeated training. There was now just over a week left in the mentoring program. In that time, Hong Yeon-hwa cleared Stage 3 of the Hardship and succeeded in growing the hydra¡¯s head count to two. And now, she was on Stage 4. Judging from the similarity in the quest details, it seemed she was aiming for a three-headed hydra. While sparring with her and intentionally taking hits, I steadily built up my own stats as well. [The rank of ¡®Wind Armor¡¯ has increased. (E+ ¡ú D+)] Naturally, there was also progress in the mentoring quest. [Event: Second Mentoring] (In Progress...) [Time remaining: 9 days] ?Grow faster with the help of a mentor. ?D-rank monsters defeated: 52 ?C-rank monsters defeated: 23 ?B-rank monsters defeated: 0 ?Rewards given for defeating a set number of monsters Second reward at 100 stacks. Although the number was actually lower than before, thanks to gaining 2 to 3 stacks per C-rank monster, the goal was reached more quickly. ? Reward: Rank Up (C) Now, what should I upgrade this time? At the moment, there were three skills stuck at C-rank that could only grow further with the help of a rank-up: [Enchantment], [Chillwind], and [Time Share]. Time Share could probably be upgraded without a rank-up if the Underworld Dragon King helped, but there was no telling when that might happen. If I followed Dang Gyu-young to her family¡¯s home during winter break, I probably wouldn¡¯t see it until the summer of second year. Still, it¡¯s a low priority. [Time Share (C)] ? Share Ratio: 20% ? Cooldown Reduction: 5% The skill¡¯s efficiency increased sharply at C, A, and S ranks, where the ¡°cooldown reduction rate¡± improved. In other words, reaching B-rank wasn¡¯t an immediate necessity. It would be better to level it up all at once when I eventually received Rank Up (B). That left two options, and in truth, [Chill Wind] was lacking compared to the other two. While powerful, it fell short in terms of versatility and utility. Because of that, the decision didn¡¯t take long. [Activated ¡®Rank Up (C)¡¯...] [The rank of ¡®Enchantment¡¯ has increased. (C ¡ú B)] ? Rank of granted skill/trait: -2 ¡ú -1 ? Duration: 15 minutes ¡ú 20 minutes ? Cooldown: 30 minutes ¡ú 25 minutes Previously, the rank of any skill or trait granted would drop by two levels, so to perform at full strength, pairing it with [Amplification] was practically essential. But now that the penalty had been reduced to just one rank, it seemed safe enough to use as it was in most situations. The increased duration and reduced cooldown were also reassuring. Next, it was Dang Gyu-young¡¯s turn again as the rotation came back around. With the cooldown for the Stage 6 Hardship almost up, she was planning to take on a B-rank monster. She had spent the past week pushing her limits for that very purpose. Before long, the three of us approached the summoning gate. But just as Dang Gyu-young pulled out the crystal, she seemed to have a sudden thought and spoke in a soft, overly polite tone. ¡°Oh, our senior who graduated a lot~¡± ¡°Yes~¡± ¡°I have a little question I¡¯ve been wondering about. Would you be so kind as to share your wisdom~?¡± ¡°Ask me anything~¡± Then, with a chuckle, Dang Gyu-young got to the point. ¡°You remember when we went up against Oh Se-hoon last time?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Back during the second raid on the temporary storage facility, we had nearly escaped, but Oh Se-hoon had intercepted us, kicking off a full-blown chase. In the end, since I didn¡¯t have Blink, I was the only one who got dragged off to the disciplinary committee club room. Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°If I keep doing the Hardships, do you think I could beat that guy?¡± ¡°Before the semester ends?¡± ¡°Mhmm. I mean, helping world peace and all after graduation is fine and all, but what¡¯s the point of getting strong if I don¡¯t get to dish out a little justice before then? Oh Se-hoon¡¯s first on the list. Next up is Song Cheon-gi.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about Song Cheonki¡¯s skills myself.¡± Student Council President, Song Cheon-gi. During the first infiltration of the temporary storage, he had temporarily lent a hand to the disciplinary committee and subdued Dang Gyu-young. However, at the time, I had been too busy running away to witness the fight myself. Then Dang Gyu-young paused for a moment before speaking. ¡°Oh Se-hoon¡¯s got light-type abilities, so he¡¯s a bad match-up for me. But in duel battle scores, Song Cheon-gi¡¯s slightly higher.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying there¡¯s not a huge difference in skill?¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± I briefly compared Oh Se-hoon¡¯s abilities with Dang Gyu-young¡¯s progress after undergoing the Hardship Quests. And I came to a conclusion without much difficulty. ¡°It looks totally doable before graduation. Even against Song Cheon-gi.¡± ¡°Huhum, is that so? Now I¡¯m feeling fired up.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± ¡°Alright, here I go.¡± With that, Dang Gyu-young shattered a B-rank crystal. Then the summoning gate began to ripple....far more violently than anything we¡¯d seen before. Chapter 352: Thunder Lord The summoning gate in the training ground could summon monsters indefinitely, as long as crystals were continuously supplied. Still, there were quite a few limitations. Just like with the harpy, summoned monsters couldn¡¯t leave the vicinity of the training ground, and only ¡°normal¡± monsters would appear. For example, monsters like the Gap-doo Fish of Rainbow Lake, the Midterm Alpha Ogre, or the Ice Witch of Winterhalt were considered named or boss-class and thus didn¡¯t show up here. Of course, even normal monsters could be on another level if they were around B-rank. After all, in this game, rank is everything. Take the Beheader Goblin, for instance....it might be considered an F-rank named monster, but what would happen if it went up against a D-rank ogre? It would probably get crushed in a single blow. No question. Similarly, a B-rank normal monster was often regarded as equivalent to a D- or C-rank named monster. That was why we kept our guard up while watching the summoning gate. The constantly trembling gate gave one last, powerful ripple before something humanoid slowly stepped out. Its entire body was sky-blue, as if made of pure mana. It was faint and semi-transparent. It also wore a robe and held a long staff, which pointed at its identity as a magic-user type. ¡°Phantasmancer.¡± It was a monster that summoned illusionary beings called ¡°phantasms¡±. Dang Gyu-young stared at it closely and asked, ¡°This is my first time seeing one. What do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on the trickier side for B-rank monsters.¡± ¡°Figures... tch, my luck with summons is really bad today.¡± She had pulled another high-difficulty opponent. Of course, just like when she summoned the harpy, there was no choice but to fight. It was the only option. ¡°You know you have to land the finishing blow, right?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± To clear the Hardship Quest, the monster had to be defeated using shadow magic. In a flash, Dang Gyu-young closed the distance and drove both of her shadow daggers into it. Kwaak! But the very next moment, an identical clone appeared right next to the creature and took its place. Then, the clone that had been stabbed lit up brightly¡ª Clang! ¡ªand scattered into dozens, hundreds of fragments. Dang Gyu-young had no choice but to retreat momentarily to avoid the flying shards. Watching the scene unfold, I made a quick remark. ¡°One survival skill down.¡± ¡°Good, let¡¯s keep going.¡± Since the ability would be on cooldown for a while, pressing the attack was the best strategy. Dang Gyu-young charged at the Phantasmancer once again, furiously swinging her shadow daggers. Meanwhile, I grabbed Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s arm and gave her instructions. ¡°Get into position behind it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Whooosh¡ª I lightly tossed her forward with a boost of Wind Force. She flew in an arc and landed softly. She then immediately began her casting. It looked like she was focusing on securing her defenses first, layering protective spells on herself. Backflow Guard, Scorching Armor, Blaze Shield... Slice! In that short span, Dang Gyu-young had already racked up a fair amount of damage on the Phantasmancer. Its body was covered in large and small wounds. But just as she was about to slash again, the creature¡¯s body split into dozens of afterimages. Those afterimages materialized all at once and rushed forward in a chaotic swarm. These were the phantasms. Each one had a different form depending on its class. Knights, mages, archers, rogues....an assortment of them all mixed together. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s reaction to that was simple: ¡°In situations like this, it¡¯s best to just beat the real one.¡± She ignored all the illusions and targeted only the main body. Dodging the attacks directed at her with agile movements, she used shadow butterflies for support while slashing at the Phantasmancer¡¯s neck with her dagger. Slice, Then she tilted her head in puzzlement. ¡°...That didn¡¯t feel like much?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because of the damage reduction.¡± The more phantasms it summoned, the less damage the main body would take. And right now, the creature was continuously generating more and more phantasms. Dang Gyu-young called out while evading their attacks, ¡°Seriously, how is that even fair?¡± ¡°Well, it is a B-rank, after all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so cheap. So I have to clear all of these out first?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take care of them. Just keep drawing their aggro.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± A couple of Inferno Fists would clean them up quickly, but this time, I planned to focus on support as much as possible. Since Dang Gyu-young was in the middle of a Hardship quest, and it was her first time encountering this monster, it would be good for building real combat experience. Also, if I recklessly used skills with cooldowns like [Amplification] or [Retrocovery], it would be burdensome to summon a B-rank again until the cooldowns reset. Saving them as much as possible was the wisest choice. At that moment, pillars of flame shot up among the phantasms. Whooosh! Hong Yeon-hwa had started unleashing her offensive magic in earnest. When two or three were instantly burned to ashes, the rest of them all turned their attention to her at once. Knights and rogues charged in, while mages and archers focused their ranged attacks. I took position in front of Hong Yeon-hwa and layered defensive spells over her. [Wind Armor] [Wind Barrier] With an average C-rank defense, plus the ones I cast myself, there were five layers in total. As a result, the arrows and mana blasts fired by the phantasms didn¡¯t even scratch the shield. The melee types charging in were pushed back with Wind Force. Boooom! ¡°Keep using it.¡± ¡°Mhmm...!¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of fear or hesitation on Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face. She was simply focused on her spell casting. After all this time working together, she had gained complete confidence that my defense wouldn¡¯t be broken. Whooosh¡ª! Soon, the rising flames began to split into two streams and transformed into a two-headed snake. A twin-headed hydra spewed fireballs relentlessly at the enemies. Boom! Boom-Boom! Several phantasms scattered into flames with the fiery explosions. Then the enemies switched targets again, now focusing on bringing down the hydras. After getting slashed several times by mana blades and pierced with arrows, the flames began to die down. Whooooosh¡ª! Of course, the spell could just be recast. And when it came to casting speed, no one could keep up with Hong Yeon-hwa. Whenever the phantasms managed to barely take down a couple of hydras, four or five pillars of flame would immediately rise up and create new hydras. I nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Well done, Hong Yeon-hwa. Very fast. Let¡¯s keep it up like this.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Whether it was because she was simply happy to be praised, Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t hide the smile tugging at her lips. If she had a tail, it probably would¡¯ve been spinning like a propeller. The twin-headed hydras continued to multiply, and before long, they completely covered the battlefield. In contrast, the number of phantasms rapidly decreased. At that, Dang Gyu-young who had been sneaking glances in our direction grinned. ¡°That¡¯s enough now, right? Shall I take it?¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± And the moment I gave the okay signal, she charged toward the Phantasmancer. In her hand, she held a long shadow greatsword. Shhk. First, a long diagonal scar was carved into the enemy¡¯s body. As Dang Gyu-young got even closer, she switched the shadow greatsword into a bat and swung it. Wham! Struck hard by the shadow bat, the Phantasmancer¡¯s head snapped sideways and hit its own shoulder. Then it vanished along with the remaining Phantasms. ¡°Bat Gyu-young¡± dusted off her hands and turned back toward us. ¡°Good job, guys. Would¡¯ve been tough if I had to take it alone.¡± ¡°We got a tricky one. Good work.¡± ¡°Now let¡¯s see~ I cleared the quest too~? Oh, nice~¡± With that, Dang Gyu-young shifted her gaze toward the air. She looked half relieved and half pleased. ¡°I was worried they¡¯d make us take down an A-rank too or something, but I guess not.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t ask us to do the impossible.¡± The Hardship Quest required immense effort to complete, but it never presented goals that exceeded the capabilities of the person undertaking it. And as for how she knew that ¡°we didn¡¯t have to take down an A-rank¡±¡ª ¡°You must¡¯ve gotten your reward.¡± ¡°Mhmm, mhmm. I learned a new trait.¡± ¡ªit was because the second part had been completed. As if she wanted to test out the performance of her new trait, Dang Gyu-young cast [Butterfly Flight]. Then, gesturing toward a butterfly fluttering lightly through the air, she spoke to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Want to burn this?¡± ¡°Huh...? Uh, okay...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa looked a little confused, but followed along anyway. She created a fireball about the size of a fist and tossed it at the shadow butterfly. Boom! A small burst of flame erupted, but the shadow butterfly fluttered through the air as if nothing had happened. I said, ¡°Definitely sturdier now.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Before, even when she attacked using shadows, they would scatter if the opponent countered with a powerful skill. The spirit summons often got caught in area attacks. But now, with significantly increased endurance and durability, they would likely maintain their form even when struck by fireballs or slashed by sword energy. ¡°Feels like the hard work paid off, huh?¡± ¡°Honestly, it was super annoying, but I¡¯ll admit it. Worth it. I can feel the power boost.¡± ¡°Excellent. Let¡¯s keep up the momentum and move on to the next stage.¡± ¡°When¡¯s this thing gonna end, though?¡± ¡°That, I don¡¯t know.¡± It could be twenty stages, thirty stages, or even more than that. Originally, once someone achieved S-rank and completed their development, there was no longer any need to use Hardship. But now, hadn¡¯t the rank above that been unlocked? It wasn¡¯t welcome news for Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa, and both of their expressions darkened at the same time. Dang Gyu-young lamented, ¡°How did my life get so twisted?¡± ¡°The more you struggle now, the better it¡¯ll be later.¡± ¡°You really never let me win. Not even once.¡± After bickering with Dang Gyu-young for a while, I activated a skill. [Activated ¡®Hardship.¡¯] [¡®Stage 7 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] *** An open field near the Topaz Magic Tower. Thunder roared incessantly in the area. Rummmmble! Rummblee! Song Cheon-hye whose entire body was wrapped in lightning charged at her opponent with a thick bolt of lightning in each hand. And the moment the distance closed, she brought the lightning crashing down. Fzzzzzzzzzzt! It was powerful enough to knock out an average opponent in a single blow. In fact, she had taken down countless opponents and monsters during the semester using that very move. Of course, her current opponent was far from average. He calmly deflected the lightning magic Song Cheon-hye had cast with all her strength and even absorbed some of it, turning it into his own. The difference in skill was clear. But it also meant that the two of them shared the same origin. Indeed, the older man¡¯s hair was the same light brown as Song Cheon-hye¡¯s. The only difference was the occasional strands of white that peeked through. He was none other than Song Cheon-hye¡¯s grandfather. The S-rank Thunder Lord, Song Kyung-wook. ¡°......¡± He gazed at his granddaughter with an emotionless expression. Chapter 353: Miss Seong and Miss Seo ¡°Stop.¡± At that single word, Song Cheon-hye withdrew her storm-like offensive all at once. The Thunder Lord continued speaking. ¡°Replenish your stamina.¡± And with a light wave of his hand through the air, the surrounding area filled with a faint static electricity. To the lightning mages of the Topaz Magic Tower, this static was no different from compressed mana. So, Song Cheon-hye settled in one spot and slowly began absorbing the static electricity. ¡°......¡± The Thunder Lord watched her in silence, wearing the same expressionless face as before. After some time had passed, Song Cheon-hye opened her eyes. Until now, she had always resumed sparring immediately after restoring her stamina, but this time, she looked at the Thunder Lord and spoke. ¡°Grandfather, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious... how much have I achieved?¡± Song Cheon-hye had run and pushed herself relentlessly throughout summer break. Her goal, as per Kim Ho¡¯s advice, was to build a solid foundation and make up for her lack of control. She could¡¯ve done it while attending mentoring sessions, but she had chosen not to. The reason, of course, was the exchange of messages with Kim Ho right after the final exams. ¨C How did you do the Hummingbird? -Just practiced hard. -I still can¡¯t do it, though. -Then you didn¡¯t practice hard enough. I did it. If he can do it, so can I...! Her clenched fist trembled. She knew he had said it half-jokingly to tease her, but for some reason, it fired her up. She wanted to prove that she could do it too. However, she knew that if she had improved her control during mentoring, that annoying guy would have definitely made a fuss about it. He would¡¯ve said, ¡°You only managed it because I helped you, right?¡± So, to avoid giving him even the slightest excuse, she had shut herself away in the Topaz Magic Tower to train alone. It had been good up to the point where she trained diligently for about two months. But then the question arose...¡±How much have I actually improved?¡± She couldn¡¯t tell at all. While she had worked on ranking up to some extent, her main focus had been on improving her control. And control was something that couldn¡¯t be quantified. On top of that, her sparring opponents were all far more skilled than she was, making it hard to gauge how effective her attacks really were. Most of them were at least graduate level, some were elders of the Magic Tower, and in most cases, her opponent had been the Thunder Lord himself. In the end, her curiosity piled up so much that she decided it would be better to just ask directly. Of course, from the Thunder Lord¡¯s perspective, it wasn¡¯t a difficult question at all. He could tell her skill level at a glance and understood better than anyone how much she had grown during that time. Uncharacteristically, he even offered praise. ¡°You were born with rare talent, not only by the standards of the Topaz Magic Tower but also within our Song family. No one at your age has achieved what you have...not even I did.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°And someone like you, after devoting two whole months of hard effort... do you really think your skills wouldn¡¯t have improved?¡± Though he didn¡¯t mention it outright, it was also worth noting that he himself had been her teacher. How many better mentors than an S-rank hero could there even be in the world? He would¡¯ve bet on that point with full confidence. So, with certainty in his voice, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard there are many outstanding talents in your year, but if you¡¯ve grown this much, you¡¯ll find few true rivals.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandfather.¡± Song Cheon-hye bowed respectfully to her grandfather while, in her mind, she recalled the faces of a few people. Kim Ho, Seo Ye-in, Hong Yeon-hwa... She had once had the chance to face Kim Ho during the placement test, but he had forfeited in the most absurd way. At the time, she had dismissed him as someone unremarkable, but repeated encounters forced her to revise that judgment. She had always intended to face him properly one day and test their skills against each other. Seo Ye-in had been the first person to make her feel a sense of crisis after entering the academy. What¡¯s more, in just a single semester, her skills had improved so drastically that there were moments in replays that sent chills down her spine. As for Hong Yeon-hwa, they had been rivals even before entering the academy. Had she not joined the disciplinary committee, the two of them would have been considered the top prospects of the Magic Tower Society. People were most curious about which of the two was stronger. Eventually, that question would have to be settled. I¡¯ll probably run into them in the second semester. All three of them were rising at a terrifying pace. Before long, they would meet in a direct duel. I¡¯ll never lose! With her resolve hardening once more, Song Cheon-hye resumed her sparring session. Then, cloaking her entire body in electricity, she charged toward the Thunder Lord. Fzzzzzzzzzzzt! As always, Song Kyung-wook calmly received the attacks without any difficulty. His face remained a blank mask. But in his mind, he was thinking of something else. Grandfather, huh... He recalled when his granddaughter was just a little girl. Tiny Song Cheon-hye, not even tall enough to reach his waist, would come running toward him with little footsteps, grab his arm, and bounce up and down. ¨C Gwampa! Let¡¯s play! ¨C Did our little Cheon-hye want to play? Alright then, what shall we do? ¨C Aiwr! Pwane!! ¨C You want to ride an airplane? Then, Song Kyung-wook would lift his granddaughter high into the air and pretend to fly her like an airplane, and Song Cheon-hye would burst into peals of laughter. This kind of thing happened countless times, day or night, without warning. ¨C Gwampa! Let¡¯s play! ¨C Not today, sweetheart. Grandpa has things to do too. ¨C Pway!!! Nowww!!! ¨C Haha, alright then, just for a little while? ¨C Aiwr! Pwane!! Back then, she had been so adorably sweet, and now she no longer called him ¡°Gwampa¡± or ¡°Grandpa¡± but ¡°Grandfather¡±... And that polite, businesslike tone of voice... Was this just part of growing up? Time can be so cruel... Song Kyung-wook swallowed down the loneliness with effort. Even an S-Rank Thunder Lord had his share of worries. *** Hye-seong City. Training Center. Ahn Jeong-mi spoke toward a corner of the training room. ¡°Young miss, it¡¯s time to get up now.¡± ¡°......¡± In that corner, a human sloth lay sprawled out carelessly. She was hugging a giant stuffed tiger with both arms. Her face was hidden beneath a dented pot, making it impossible to see. But Ahn Jeong-mi was, after all, a veteran butler. She could instinctively tell that the girl hadn¡¯t fallen asleep yet. She continued to try and engage the sloth in conversation. ¡°Just a little more and today¡¯s mentoring session will be complete.¡± ¡°I¡¯m... already strong enough...¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to avenge the bakery?¡± ¡°They rebuilt it already...¡± Just as she said, the buildings destroyed by the Witch of Death, including the bakery, had been reconstructed within a matter of weeks. In fact, they were cleaner and better equipped than before. Only yesterday, she had even baked cookies. Thanks to that, Seo Ye-in¡¯s thirst for revenge had somewhat faded. But Ahn Jeong-mi didn¡¯t give up and kept trying. ¡°You said you would protect Hye-seong City with your own hands and punish the witches.¡± ¡°Later...¡± Seo Ye-in pressed the immortal Kim Ho-Kim Ho pot even deeper over her head. At this point, Ahn Jeong-mi had no choice but to accept it. The effects had completely worn off. Still, this lasted longer than I expected... She had cleared the third stage of Hardship even without Kim Ho, and had followed the mentoring program pretty well for nearly three weeks. Thanks to that, her skills had improved tremendously and steadily. Had she lacked motivation, she wouldn¡¯t have lasted even three hours, let alone three weeks. For Ahn Jeong-mi, those had been very rewarding and happy days...but now, those good days had come to an end. She figured she¡¯d have to coax her through the remaining week somehow, even if it meant training every other day just to keep things going. One thing was certain. Today was a lost cause. So Ahn Jeong-mi decided to just send Seo Ye-in back. ¡°Young miss, you might as well go inside and sleep. If you sleep out here, your back¡¯s going to hurt.¡± ¡°Too much effort...¡± Even so, Seo Ye-in remained unmoving, as if she had become one with the ground. At that moment, another savior appeared for Ahn Jeong-mi. It was the Underworld Dragon King. Even a human sloth like her who never listened to a word anyone said, showed some level of compliance when it came to requests from her father or godfather. Because of that, Ahn Jeong-mi¡¯s bow contained a subtle sense of respect. ¡°You¡¯re here, Pluto-nim.¡± ¡°No need for such formalities.¡± He wasn¡¯t human. Why bother insisting on human etiquette? Waving his hand dismissively, the Underworld Dragon King trudged over to Seo Ye-in and spoke to her. ¡°Niece.¡± ¡°Godfather...¡± Only then did Seo Ye-in slightly move the pot aside. The Dragon King looked down at her and asked, ¡°Why are you so down? You weren¡¯t like this just a while ago.¡± ¡°Kim Ho... isn¡¯t coming back...¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way that young monarch is coming back now. I heard there¡¯s only about a week left before school starts, so just wait and meet him there.¡± ¡°A week... too long...¡± Seo Ye-in slumped even further. The Dragon King spoke again. ¡°Being apart seems to be making your heart grow fonder, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Longing...¡± ¡°No matter how you feel, you¡¯re being a bit too dramatic. Next time, just follow him or lock him up somewhere.¡± ¡°Lock him up...?¡± The Underworld Dragon King had intended it as a human-style joke, but Seo Ye-in looked up with interest. Then, as if the tiger plushie were a sparring partner, she hugged it tightly. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea...!¡± While Ahn Jung-mi felt a slight sense of foreboding, the Dragon King moved on to the main point without a care. ¡°This is why I came today.¡± He then pulled out a small box from subspace. The box was thoroughly sealed with various enchantments, making it seem impossible to open unless you were the intended recipient. Naturally, there was no way to tell what was inside. ¡°I heard that young monarch wanted this item. What a greedy kid.¡± There were plenty of other good pieces of equipment, yet he insisted on creating something from the space category. Still, since they had decided to invest in him, both the chairman of Hye-seong Group and the Dragon King agreed to support him as much as possible. ¡°Fortunately, I managed to track it down by asking around in a few ¡®neighborhoods¡¯.¡± By ¡°neighborhoods¡±, he meant other dragons and boss monsters. Some of them were friendly toward the Dragon King, but most were hostile. Since he had allied with humans, it was inevitable they¡¯d view him with disdain. The process of ¡°asking around¡± those types couldn¡¯t have been easy. He probably had to negotiate...or, in many cases, beat them into submission. Perhaps that¡¯s why the Dragon King emphasized this point as he handed over the box. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to collect on this debt later. Let him know.¡± ¡°Mhmm...¡± Seo Ye-in carefully stored the box in her inventory. Chapter 354: End of Mentoring Session [Seo Ye-in: (Gift emoji)] [Kim Ho: A gift?] [Kim Ho: What is it?] [Seo Ye-in: (Rope emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (Handcuffs emoji)] [Seo Ye-in: (Cat stalking emoji)] [Kim Ho: ?] [Kim Ho: (Wary cat emoji)] What is she trying to imply? Is she saying she prepared rope and handcuffs as a gift? Or is it a trap disguised as a present? When I would return to school, Seo Ye-in¡¯s sinister plot might be waiting for me. But it¡¯s not something I need to worry about right now. For now, focusing on mentoring was the right move. The final week flowed similarly to the ones before. As expected, Stage 7 of hardship that Dang Gyu-young received was related to control. Specifically, it was about ¡°simplifying control¡±. [Butterfly Flight] was a skill similar to the Hummingbird, where the caster had to pay attention to every single movement of the butterflies until they reached their target. Because of that, the number of butterflies that could be controlled at once was inevitably limited, and focus would be divided when casting shadow magic at the same time. However, if each shadow was granted autonomy and control was simplified¡ª Even if precision dropped slightly, it would allow handling a far greater number of shadows at once. Meaning a war of attrition would become possible. It was an essential trait for managing operations on the scale of a legion. Dang Gyu-young seemed to have realized that too and was grumbling the entire time but earnestly enduring the hardship. Hong Yeon-hwa also finished her Stage 4 of Hardship and completed her Three-Headed Hydra. Apparently, the following fifth stage was also related to the Hydra, but the details were a bit different. Instead of increasing the number of heads, it seemed to aim for strengthening them in other ways. Meanwhile, I continued working on rank-up training by volunteering as Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s punching bag. [The rank of ¡®Wind Armor¡¯ has increased. (D+ ¡ú C+)] It hadn¡¯t been that long since I learned it, and yet it had already reached C Rank. I had also raised [Wind Barrier] to Rank B and evenly ranked up other skills and traits, including [Core], so I had more than exceeded the goals I set for this mentoring session. Finally, there was the mentoring quest. [Event: Second Mentoring] (In Progress...) [Time Remaining: 3 Days] ?Grow faster with the help of a mentor. ?D-Rank Monsters Defeated: 52 ?C-Rank Monsters Defeated: 36 ?B-Rank Monsters Defeated: 13 ?Rewards given for defeating a set number of monsters After I had completely used up the C-Rank crystals, I started hunting B-Rank monsters, and there were a few close calls. Most of them were weaker than the first Phantasmanser that was summoned, but every now and then, some incredibly powerful ones would show up. These were monsters that didn¡¯t feel like normal enemies. Whenever that happened, I used my reserved Inferno Fist and Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger to take them down. After all, Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa needed to conserve their strength if we were going to keep taking down B-Ranks back to back. Each monster was far tougher than what I¡¯d faced before, but in return, defeating them granted me significantly stronger buffs. Each kill even gave me a generous 5 to 10 stack increase. Thanks to that, I managed to reach the third reward tier before the mentoring ended. 200 stacks. The reward was a small vial, shaped like an eye drop container. Inside, there were only a few drops of a milky-white liquid. Of course, when it came to items, what mattered wasn¡¯t the size or amount....it was the performance. And since I recognized what it was at a glance, I couldn¡¯t have been more satisfied. ?Reward: Gongcheong Oil (A) It was a rare elixir said to be formed over countless years by the entanglement and condensation of nature¡¯s energy, and just a single drop held immense potency. And with an amount that filled an eye dropper-sized vial, it looked to contain at least six drops. Dang Gyu-young, who had been peeking over curiously, widened her eyes. ¡°No way, you got something like that as a quest reward?¡± ¡°Graduates get quests like this, you know.¡± To be precise, it was more like an extension of the reincarnation quest perks. And since I had graduated more than a few times, I wasn¡¯t exactly lying. Dang Gyu-young pouted her lips. ¡°There you go using that cheat code again. Anyway, congrats. I¡¯m jealous. I wonder if something like that will ever drop for me.¡± She clearly had her eyes on the elixir and kept glancing repeatedly at the Gongcheong Oil. Hong Yeon-hwa was darting her eyes around as if she was equally intrigued. I tossed out a comment as if in passing. ¡°There is a place where it drops, though.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± Dang Gyu-young immediately stepped closer with a twinkle in her eye. Even her tone was softer and more flattering than usual. ¡°Oh great and wise senior who¡¯s graduated so many times~ You know my heart, right~?¡± ¡°Of course I do. Want a drop of Gongcheong Oil?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be incredibly grateful if you shared~¡± Hong Yeon-hwa also began inching closer, watching the situation unfold as she crab-walked over. I glanced down at the Gongcheong Oil. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t share it. There were six drops, after all, and hoarding them all for myself didn¡¯t seem like the best idea. Elixirs generally lost efficiency the more times you took the same kind, and Gongcheong Oil was no exception. The first drop would work at full A-rank potency, the second at B-rank, and the third at C-rank. Its effect would decrease each time. Rather than consuming such a precious elixir at a C-rank or lower level of potency, it seemed like a smarter move to share it and rack up some favors. Later, I might get priority for other elixirs, items, or dungeon rewards in return. Still, I should definitely take the first two drops for myself. Even at B-rank efficiency, the mana boost would be significant. So, I decided to take two drops for myself and evenly distribute the remaining four to Go Hyun-woo, Seo Ye-in, Hong Yeon-hwa, and Dang Gyu-young. Soon after, the two of them each offered a word of thanks. ¡°Thanks to you, big senior, I finally get to try Gongcheong Oil. Appreciate it.¡± ¡°M-Me too... Thank you...¡± In the warm, cheerful atmosphere, we took turns starting our mana cultivation. *** The mentoring program ended about two days earlier than originally planned, mainly because we had used up every last crystal. Dang Gyu-young asked casually. ¡°Feels a bit awkward to bring just a few more, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, it does. Let¡¯s just rest for the remaining two days.¡± ¡°Mhmm mhmm, let¡¯s take it easy and head back to school early.¡± So that day, just like a few weeks ago, we all sprawled out at the lodging and lazed around together. In the evening, we bought various ingredients and had a barbecue. While handing out perfectly grilled sausages, Dang Gyu-young spoke up. ¡°Good job, everyone. I didn¡¯t really get to teach you much this time. I was too busy with my own training.¡± ¡°Just finding us a good spot like this is more than enough. You really went out of your way for us.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for all the buffs we got from the summoned monsters, we wouldn¡¯t have grown this quickly. Honestly, just securing the location accounted for more than half the effort. Hong Yeon-hwa nodded in agreement, and a proud smile formed on Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face. ¡°Huhum, now that it¡¯s all over, I¡¯ll tell you. It was a huge pain getting that place approved, you know?¡± ¡°I figured it would be.¡± ¡°But seeing you all make good use of it made it worth it. I even managed to get some use out of it myself now and then.¡± Then, looking between the two of us, she added in a half-joking tone, ¡°You¡¯ve grown up strong, so once school starts again, go break everything. Got it?¡± ¡°Leave it to us.¡± The mentees¡¯ grades were essentially the mentoring program¡¯s grades. No matter how well a mentor taught, if the mentees performed poorly in duel battles or strategy battles, the mentor wouldn¡¯t receive a good evaluation. Of course, for Dang Gyu-young, that wasn¡¯t something she had to worry about. Not in the slightest. Both Hong Yeon-hwa and I had been practically undefeated in the latter half of the first semester, and the second semester was only going to be better. After that, we devoured the barbecue while chatting about the upcoming second semester¡¯s practical evaluations and various events. Once the area was somewhat tidied up, Dang Gyu-young struck a pose again, trying to set the mood. ¡°Then, to mark the grand finale of today¡¯s barbecue¡ª¡± She pulled something familiar out of her inventory. It was the convenience store¡¯s 33 Bar. ¡°¡ªlet¡¯s go for round two.¡± ¡°When did you even buy that?¡± ¡°I snuck it in while picking up stuff for the barbecue.¡± Remembering how they had managed to get one over on me for once, the two women both smirked at the same time. Of course, I had been hoping for round two myself. ¡°I won¡¯t back down. Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Last place picks first~¡± Dang Gyu-young grinned mischievously as she held out the 33 Bar. Without hesitation, I grabbed the center stick, and their smiles deepened. ¡°The center again? You sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°No regrets, okay?¡± They were probably thinking the same thing would happen again. Soon enough, Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa each grabbed a stick on either side. ¡°When I count to three, we pull. One, two, three¡ª¡± Now. At the perfect moment, I flicked my wrist and lifted the stick upward. As a result¡ª ¡°Looks like I won this time.¡± ¡°...You took quite a chunk.¡± I ended up holding nearly two-thirds of the ice cream bar in my hand. In round one, the ratio had been: Dang Gyu-young 1.5, me 0, Hong Yeon-hwa 1.5. But in round two, it was: Dang Gyu-young 0.5, me 2.0, Hong Yeon-hwa 0.5. I could¡¯ve taken it all, but out of courtesy, I left them each a little piece. I spoke in a smug tone. ¡°Not falling for it twice.¡± ¡°Round two¡¯s definitely tougher. But hey, Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes, noona.¡± Dang Gyu-young leaned toward me slightly. ¡°Since we each let you have a bite of ours last time, isn¡¯t it only fair that we each get a bite this time?¡± Hong Yeon-hwa quickly nodded her head in agreement, but when I looked her way, she quietly averted her gaze. Even so, her head was still gently bobbing. Since it wasn¡¯t an unreasonable point, I offered them the ice cream bar meant for two. ¡°Have a bite, both of you.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Right away, Dang Gyu-young grabbed my hand, and it seemed like she was going to take a small bite of the ice cream bar. But instead, she bit off a whole portion. An entire serving. ¡°That was a pretty big bite.¡± ¡°Hehehe!¡± With her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, Dang Gyu-young burst into laughter. ¡°All that over an ice cream bar. Doesn¡¯t your head hurt?¡± ¡°Chusht a liddle? (Just a little?)¡± She clutched her head, then patted my shoulder repeatedly, laughed again, and then clutched her head once more. She was quite busy doing all that. I shook my head and moved on. ¡°I trust you¡¯ll take a fair amount, guided by your conscience.¡± ¡°......¡± At that, Hong Yeon-hwa gave me a glance I couldn¡¯t quite interpret, then leaned in. She really did just take a tiny nibble at the very tip, but whatever the ice cream was made of, a larger chunk ended up coming off with it. In the end, what was left in my hand was less than half a serving. Seeing that, Dang Gyu-young burst into even louder laughter. ¡°Pffhahaha!¡± I shoved the remaining ice cream into my mouth. Chapter 355: The Whereabouts of the Blood Wind Sword The next day. We headed to the platform right on time. Before long, the train arrived. We boarded immediately and found an empty four-person cabin. The seats were arranged with two pairs facing each other across a table. But the moment we stepped inside, something seemed to flash across Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s minds. They both paused at the same time and started glancing at each other nervously. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± An unusual tension filled the cabin. Then, all of a sudden, Hong Yeon-hwa shouted at me. ¡°Next to you!¡± ¡°Next to me?¡± ¡°I-I mean, can I sit... next to you...?¡± Her voice trailed off into a whisper, so I had to guess the rest. She was probably trying to say something like, ¡°Can I sit next to you?¡± or ¡°I want to sit next to you.¡± Dang Gyu-young also smiled slyly at me. ¡°I want the seat next to you too.¡± ¡°There are two of you and only one seat next to me.¡± ¡°Mhmm, so you have to make a choice.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, I casually walked over and sat down in one of the seats. Not the window seat, but the aisle seat. So that no one else could slip in. Then I gestured to the seats across from me. ¡°You two can sit together over there.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa looked half deflated and half disgruntled, but they obediently sat side by side in opposite seats. It seemed like the ride would be peaceful and comfortable without being pestered. Of course, that was just my wishful thinking. The next moment, Dang Gyu-young¡¯s body seemed to melt downward, and then she suddenly appeared in the seat right next to mine. It was a short-range teleportation spell, [Shadow Shift]. Dang Gyu-young grinned mischievously. ¡°Hum, did you think you could block me out?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really going this far?¡± ¡°I worked so hard to learn this skill. I have to put it to use, right?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Honestly, if I learned Blink, I¡¯d be flashing from east to west too. Hong Yeon-hwa slightly opened her mouth, then closed it again, and her face gradually turned sullen. She probably felt miserable because she couldn¡¯t imitate it, and even if she could, it would already be too late. It was a bitter fate to be without Blink. Then, Dang Gyu-young leaned her body toward me. ¡°Let me borrow your shoulder.¡± ¡°And what do you plan to do with my shoulder?¡± ¡°Sleep on it.¡± ¡°Just tilt your seat back.¡± ¡°I sleep better leaning sideways.¡± ¡°Then lean against the window.¡± ¡°Aw~ come on, just let me~¡± Dang Gyu-young kept shaking my shoulder insistently. And in the end, she slept with my shoulder as her pillow all the way until we arrived at Dungeon Island. *** Somewhere deep in the forest of an unknown high mountain region. Warriors dressed in garments as dark red as blood were moving forward. Their movements were orderly and swift, yet so controlled that their footsteps barely made a sound. Just by looking at them, it was clear they were masters who had undergone intense training. How much farther had they gone? A fierce wind suddenly swept in from the front. Whooooooooosh¡ª! Those caught directly in it were crushed without even a trace left behind, and even those who were barely grazed had their bodies torn to shreds. It was as if not mere wind, but sharp blades had swept through them. Yet not a single scream was heard. Instead, the warriors quickened their pace, charging even harder toward their target. Standing at the destination they were heading for was an old man, gazing vacantly into the distance. He looked ragged, wearing straw sandals and a martial arts robe so tattered it looked as if it had been sewn together at random. He was the very picture of a beggar. And in his hand, he wasn¡¯t holding a weapon but simply a tree branch he had picked up from the roadside. However, each time the old man swung the tree branch, a bloodstorm raged across the area, and the warriors were torn apart like sheets of paper. Despite everyone throwing themselves at him without regard for their lives, not a single person managed to reach the old man. Whooooosh¡ª! And some distance away, two figures were observing the scene unfold. One was a man dressed in martial robes; the other looked like a scholar. The man in martial robes let out a displeased sigh before speaking. ¡°They can¡¯t even manage to form a proper formation. I never thought the elite forces of our cult would look this powerless.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t he once the one who guarded the cult himself? It would be stranger if he struggled against a single battalion.¡± The scholar-like man replied with a soft smile. The man in martial robes was none other than a Blood Cult elder. He had been sent here under the command of the cult leader. His mission was to retrieve the Blood Wind Sword, the personal weapon of the Supreme Elder. However, considering the opponent¡¯s overwhelming martial strength, the elder knew he would fail ninety-nine times out of a hundred if he went alone. The forces they had already deployed couldn¡¯t even buy them time. Even if he joined the battle himself, it would make little difference. He was more than willing to lay down his life for the cult, but he had no intention of dying a dog¡¯s death. Thus, he had decided to seek help from someone else. From Blood Brain, the strategist and tactician of the Blood Cult. That was the true identity of the scholar-like man. The elder asked, ¡°The Blood Wind Sword?¡± Instead of answering, Blood Brain revealed what he held in his hand. It was a scroll densely packed with intricate geometric patterns, and anyone with even basic knowledge of magic would recognize it as a powerful detection spell. It was a magic that could determine the existence of a specific object within a designated area. The scroll¡¯s power was particularly formidable; its search range was so wide it could cover the entire mountain and even detect objects hidden in pocket dimensions. However, considerable time had passed since it had been activated, and even as the Blood Cult¡¯s battalion neared annihilation, the magic scroll showed no reaction. Blood Brain smiled faintly and said, ¡°I expected as much, but it seems it¡¯s not here.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s been moved elsewhere.¡± ¡°That does seem to be the case.¡± Right after, a thought flashed through the elder¡¯s mind. ¡°Come to think of it, there had been a rumor that the former Supreme Protector had taken on a disciple.¡± ¡°It probably wasn¡¯t just a rumor.¡± Even the Blood Cult had been keeping an eye on the disciple¡¯s movements. There was a high chance that the Blood Wind Sword had been passed down to him. Although he likely wasn¡¯t yet strong enough to wield such a mighty weapon properly, it must have been deemed safer to entrust it to him and send him away. Of course, there were only a few places where that disciple could have gone, making it easy to infer. It had to be somewhere beyond the Blood Cult¡¯s reach, a place where other young prodigies like him gathered. The man in the bloodstained robe¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply. ¡°Dragon Slayer Academy.¡± ¡°How about entering the Dungeon Island again?¡± ¡°We have no choice.¡± If they were to retrieve the Blood Wind Sword, there was no other option. But just then, a third voice suddenly reached the elder¡¯s and Blood Brain¡¯s ears. ¡°No wonder the back of my head kept itching. Two little rats were still hiding.¡± ¡°......!¡± ¡°......!¡± They simultaneously snapped their heads around and locked eyes with the Supreme Protector. He, who should have been far away, had suddenly appeared before them. Neither the elder nor Blood Brain wondered how he had found them, or how he had compressed the distance in an instant. Even if it was impossible by their standards, for a being beyond common sense, it was entirely possible. Blood Brain quickly composed himself and bowed politely to the elder who was casually pushing aside branches. ¡°Supreme¡ª¡± ¡ªCrash! But before he could finish his sentence, he was swept away by a sudden gust of wind. ¡°Not even worth hearing, you snake.¡± The Supreme Protector grimaced as if he had seen something filthy. Then, pointing at the elder with a twig, he lightly stepped forward. Kgh...! The pressure was overwhelming as if a great mountain was collapsing onto him. All he could do was barely muster his strength to withstand it. Shaking uncontrollably, the elder thought to himself. So, in the end, we have failed... He was left with regret that he had failed to fulfill the cult leader¡¯s command. Even so¡ª I shall meet my end like a true warrior. The elder immediately summoned all his true qi and unleashed his technique. The blood-red energy took shape, and six arms sprang forth, each gripping a sword. It was the Asura Blood Demon Art manifesting in full force. He swung the energy-forged arms and charged at his enemy. ¡°Blood-Drenched World¡ª! Blood Demon¡¯s Fall¡ª!¡± ¡°How pitiful. Even in the end, you remain nothing more than a slave to the cult leader.¡± The Supreme Protector clicked his tongue quietly. Then, he raised the twig above his head. Whiiing¡ª A gentle breeze stirred from all directions, coiling around the twig and condensing. And then, it came crashing down toward the elder. As the twig shattered, the blood-red energy scattered into nothingness. Fsshh¡ª! In the next instant, the Blood Cult Elder vanished without a trace. The Supreme Protector glanced at the spot as if it were nothing of consequence, then spoke toward someone unseen. ¡°Still here, are you?¡± ¨C Haha, as expected, even I cannot fool the Supreme Protector¡¯s eyes. A bright, clear laugh echoed through the air. It was none other than the voice of Blood Brain. What he had just defeated had merely been a puppet controlled through soul manipulation techniques. Naturally, the Supreme Protector had known that all along. He frowned again. ¡°I told you I didn¡¯t want to hear it, didn¡¯t I? Can¡¯t even understand simple words, can you? Got a stone stuck in your ears or something?¡± ¨C I deeply apologize. But I have a message from the cult leader. ¡°Speak.¡± Blood Brain¡¯s voice, so far lively, suddenly turned cold and chilling. ¨C He said that when the time comes, he will come for you himself, and reclaim everything he bestowed upon you. Your sword technique....and your life. ¡°You¡¯re making a big deal out of nothing. Now get lost.¡± ¨C ....... Whether he really left or not, Blood Brain¡¯s voice was no longer heard. As he began walking again, the Supreme Protector quietly clicked his tongue. To think I¡¯ve lived long enough to end up cleaning up after my own disciple. The Blood Cult kept sending people in droves just to retrieve that bastard¡¯s sword, and he couldn¡¯t even stretch out his legs to rest, busy dealing with them all. Rather than tending to his master to make things a little easier, the disciple only kept piling on more work....what an utterly shameless brat he was. Of course, it seemed that troublesome cleanup would quiet down for a while. They must have found it. The whereabouts of the Blood Wind Sword. Would Blood Brain, who was called the ¡°Scholar of the Blood Cult¡±, have deployed such forces without any certainty? Considering how much effort it took to raise a battalion and a single elder, it was unlikely. There was a high chance he had come here simply for one final confirmation. And now that the confirmation was complete, they would surely focus all their attention on Dragon Slayer Academy from here on out. The Supreme Protector stared off into the distance and murmured, Disciple, be careful. It seemed he would no longer be able to protect him. He would have to weather the coming storms on his own. Then, for some reason, the Supreme Protector suddenly scrunched up his face again. ¡°But seriously, what is that rascal doing, that he hasn¡¯t even sent a single letter to his master for weeks? Has he found himself a woman or something?¡± Of course, he said it half in jest. A disciple so obsessed with training, finding a woman? Ridiculous. He must have gotten caught up in something else. However, his guess turned out to be half right. Far from this place, at Dragon Slayer Academy, the following conversation was taking place: ¡°Let¡¯s have just one more sparring match before we get coffee.¡± ¡°No! Right now!¡± ¡°Miss Han, please wait just a moment.¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Chapter 356: How Was the Mentoring? After sitting and resting in the cabin for about half a day, a vast lake, as large as the sea, came into view outside the window. And not long after, the train entered Dungeon Island and came to a complete stop. I gently shook Dang Gyu-young to wake her. ¡°We¡¯re here. Let¡¯s get up.¡± ¡°...Ah, I slept so well. I was completely knocked out. Why is your shoulder so comfortable?¡± Dang Gyu-young looked at my shoulder as if it were some kind of fascinating object. Soon after, Hong Yeon-hwa, perhaps sensing the movement, also groggily opened her eyes. She still seemed a little hung up on the seat next to me, but there was nothing she could do now. We had already arrived. As we got off at the platform, Dang Gyu-young stretched out with a big yawn, then smiled lazily and said to the two of us, ¡°Get home safe; see you later.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± After exchanging our goodbyes, we each went our separate ways. Judging by their direction, Dang Gyu-young and Hong Yeon-hwa were heading toward the Thieves¡¯ Club and the Ruby Tower Clubroom, and as for me, the first place I needed to go was, I should see the principal. Since it was a matter related to world peace, it had to be handled with the highest priority. It wouldn¡¯t be too late to see my friends afterward. So I sent a message, and a reply came back almost immediately. He told me to come straight to the principal¡¯s office. *** It had been two months since I last visited the principal¡¯s office. As I silently looked around the room, the principal asked, ¡°What are you looking at so hard?¡± ¡°It¡¯s clean.¡± ¡°...I did a little cleaning.¡± Right now, the place was neat and tidy, but during final exams, it hadn¡¯t been much of a principal¡¯s office...it had practically been a garbage dump. While the vice principal had been away supervising exams, the principal had indulged himself in the freedoms of adulthood. But those good times were over, and the vice principal was now right beside him, shooting him sharp disapproving glances. Perhaps because of his prior offenses, the strictness that had once been at a ¡°2.5 Song Cheon-hye level¡± had now been upgraded to a ¡°4.0 Song Cheon-hye level¡±. Even I feel like I can¡¯t breathe in here. If even I, a third party, felt this much pressure, the principal himself must have been feeling it far more intensely. He glanced around nervously, cleared his throat once, and then got to the point. ¡°Ahem, looks like you delivered the box.¡± ¡°Yes, I also spoke with the chairman.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad it all worked out.¡± Here, when he said ¡°it all worked out,¡± he didn¡¯t just mean that the item was delivered. It meant that I, Hye-seong Group, the Underworld Dragon King, and Dragon Slayer Academy had all boarded the same boat together. The principal asked another question. ¡°I also heard the news. The Witch of Death showed up, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°It got a little chaotic.¡± I explained in detail the battle I had with the Witch of Death, and the principal listened with a serious, hardened expression. Then, when I reached the part where I defended against the final [Corpse Explosion] with the box¡¯s [Sanctuary], his face showed considerable satisfaction. ¡°You put it to good use. I sent it over just in case; looks like my instincts aren¡¯t dead yet.¡± ¡°Thanks to you, I got through it without getting hurt. Thank you.¡± ¡°Well, consider it your payment for running that errand.¡± Since I had basically received a single-use S-class barrier in exchange for delivering one item, it wasn¡¯t a bad deal for me either. The principal moved on to the next topic. ¡°What will you do now? Keep attending school?¡± ¡°I have to.¡± ¡°From what I can see, you could probably crush the second-years too. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to go out into the world with that level of skill?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case. It¡¯s still too soon for outside missions.¡± Right now, there were still plenty of hidden pieces scattered all over Dungeon Island to scoop up, so there was no reason for me to venture outside yet. ¡°And as you know, this isn¡¯t something I can accomplish by getting strong alone.¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re going to grow together with your friends. Got it. Then you¡¯ll keep going down into the lower floors too, right?¡± ¡°Of course I will.¡± Most of the hidden pieces were gathered there. At that, the principal made a subtle suggestion. ¡°How about it? Want me to cover for you a bit?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine for now.¡± There was no such thing as a free favor in this world. If the principal gave me special treatment, I would eventually have to repay him with something he wanted. There would come a time when making a deal would be to my advantage, but hadn¡¯t I already been accessing the lower floors just fine during the first semester without any favors? ¡°Well, suit yourself.¡± As if he had expected me to refuse, the principal simply shrugged and moved on. But then, the vice principal who had been standing quietly until now finally spoke up. ¡°Student Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine for you to go down to the lower floors, but please make sure to stay within your authorized permissions when exploring the dungeons. Unauthorized raids will not be tolerated.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± I silently nodded my head. I could fully understand the vice principal¡¯s position. She couldn¡¯t exactly turn a blind eye to a student blatantly breaking school regulations. Of course, I had no intention of giving up unauthorized raids altogether. It just meant I would have to be even more discreet. Surprisingly, the principal ended up chiding the vice principal. ¡°Why are you being so uptight? Cut the kid some slack.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not simply sticking to rules for the sake of it; it¡¯s because it¡¯s dangerous. He¡¯s still a student and a first-year at that.¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s an ordinary student? He¡¯s already a Monarch, you know.¡± ¡°......¡± The vice principal was momentarily at a loss for words. Inwardly, I cheered the principal on with all my heart. Way to go, our neighborhood fool! That¡¯s the spirit! It seemed my silent cheer worked, as the principal pressed the attack. ¡°He even went into the Teleportation Dungeon to catch the Witch of Corruption, and he came back without so much as a scratch, right? I really don¡¯t see the lower floors being any problem for him.¡± ¡°Even on lower difficulty levels, crisis situations can arise at any time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll manage just fine. From what I¡¯ve seen, he¡¯s not the type to act recklessly. You saw it yourself back then, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Back then¡± referred to when I had attacked the principal with my Inferno Fist. At the time, the deal was one question per punch, and after landing three hits, I had given up my greed and stepped back. Afterward, the principal glanced at me as if seeking my agreement, and I immediately added, ¡°I¡¯ll never attempt an unreasonable raid.¡± ¡°.......¡± At this point, even the vice principal no longer seemed so unyielding. It was something I often felt. She was surprisingly flexible when she wanted to be. Of course, it seemed the principal had no intention of completely letting things slide either, as he maintained a proper balance between me and the vice principal. ¡°Still, a violation of the school rules is a violation. If you get caught, handle the penalty points or disciplinary action yourself. You said you didn¡¯t need any cover, remember?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± *** The Ruby Magic Tower Club. Even though the semester hadn¡¯t officially started yet, Hong Ye-hwa was already overwhelmed with paperwork as the club president. In the midst of her busy work, Hong Yeon-hwa walked in. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She headed straight for the guest sofa and flopped down on it. Seeing that, Hong Ye-hwa almost reflexively shouted, ¡°Hey! I told you not to lie down there!¡± Still, just this once, she decided to exercise patience. She didn¡¯t want to start a fight with her sister, whom she was seeing for the first time in a month. After taking a deep breath, Hong Ye-hwa asked, ¡°So, how was the mentoring?¡± ¡°......It was good.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just say it was good. Give me more details. What did you learn?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa began listing the achievements of her second round of mentoring, one by one. She had achieved a B-rank in [Core] and had advanced the rank of several fire spells by one level each. The biggest accomplishment was the completion of the fire pillar combo technique, [Hydra]. She had even managed to increase the number of heads to three, and the next stage was already more than halfway complete. Hong Ye-hwa widened her eyes in astonishment at results far beyond her expectations. ¡°Seriously? Show me.¡± Fwoosh, Since it wasn¡¯t a difficult request, Hong Yeon-hwa immediately cast Fire Pillar. She made it very small, about the size of a palm. A pillar of fire, about the size of a water cup, shot upward, then split into three branches, taking on the form of a snake with three heads. Each head then spat out tiny fireballs, each no bigger than a fingernail. Puff, puff, pop! Upon seeing this much, Hong Ye-hwa looked both very surprised and quite satisfied. ¡°Looks like Dang Gyu-young taught you properly. I see her in a new light now.¡± ¡°Uh, mhmm... I guess.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa gave an awkward laugh as she thought to herself, It wasn¡¯t Senior Dang Gyu-young, it was Kim Ho. While Dang Gyu-young had found them an efficient training ground, it wouldn¡¯t have been an exaggeration to say that Kim Ho had been the real mentor during this second round of mentoring. Thanks to the intense sparring and the grueling quests Kim Ho had set up for her, she had been able to grow this rapidly. Of course, there was no benefit to revealing that fact out loud. Thus, Hong Yeon-hwa found herself accumulating yet another secret she couldn¡¯t share. Hong Ye-hwa asked another question. ¡°Did you have any trouble living there?¡± ¡°Mhmm... No, they treated me really well...¡± In fact, when she first heard that only Kim Ho and Dang Gyu-young would be there, she had been a bit worried. She had feared she might feel stifled, unable to even breathe between them. But contrary to her worries, both of them had treated her extremely well. They always asked for her opinion, even on the smallest matters, and were considerate, so she never once felt left out. If anything, most of the times she had felt uncomfortable had been due to her own needless anxiety. Moreover, Dang Gyu-young and Kim Ho both had mischievous sides, and they would often tease each other whenever they found the chance. As she recalled how she had managed to beat Kim Ho twice in the Bar 33 draw matches, a smile naturally formed on Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s lips. ¡°...Hehe.¡± Meanwhile, Hong Ye-hwa, unaware of what her sister was thinking, could only see her as a complete lunatic. ¡°Why are you suddenly grinning like that?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just... everything was really good.¡± ¡°Are you sure? You really didn¡¯t have any complaints or regrets?¡± ¡°None at all. Seriously.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa shook her head nonchalantly, but in truth, there was one thing she regretted. A regret she couldn¡¯t possibly confess to her sister. Kim Ho pillow... I never got to try it... She had had a whole month, and yet. Unfortunately, the training center and lodging that Dang Gyu-young had arranged were extremely well-equipped. The rooms were even separated. Because of that, she hadn¡¯t even had the chance to sleep in the same room with him, let alone stick close together. During finals, she had been a crazy girl rolling around, but back then, there had been some grounds for leniency. The secret room had been so cramped, and it was terribly uncomfortable to sleep there. In contrast, during mentoring, unless she blatantly barged into Kim Ho¡¯s room, there was simply no way. And if she got caught doing that, she would be a crazy girl sneaking around ... at best, a crazy girl with sleepwalking. That¡¯s just impossible... There was no way she could bear such a label. No, maybe barging in outright would have been the right answer. During finals, even when she had been caught rolling around, Kim Ho had just shrugged and told her to sleep next to him. However, Hong Yeon-hwa hadn¡¯t been brave enough. She wasn¡¯t as nonchalant as Seo Ye-in nor as confident as Dang Gyu-young, so she couldn¡¯t take that final step. As she hesitated over and over about whether she should or not, the mentoring ended. Her last chance came on the train ride back, and this time, Hong Yeon-hwa mustered up what little courage she had and made her move. ¨C Next to you! However, despite her bold move, she had no choice but to give up Kim Ho¡¯s lap pillow to Dang Gyu-young. The main reason for her defeat was the existence, or lack of teleportation magic. It was a clear difference in ability. If only I had Blink too... Hong Yeon-hwa made a vow to herself. She would train even harder and reach Core A-rank. And she would learn Blink too! Chapter 357: Back to School After leaving the principal¡¯s office, I called out Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. Since school was starting tomorrow, everyone should have already arrived on Dungeon Island by now. As expected, a reply came back quickly, saying they would be there soon. While I was waiting near the training center, surprisingly, Seo Ye-in arrived first. Judging by her messy hair and disheveled clothes, it seemed she had come straight from sleeping at the dormitory. When I lightly waved at her, Seo Ye-in walked right up to me and stared blankly up into my face. ¡°.......¡± ¡°How have you been?¡± ¡°Not well.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t? Why?¡± ¡°I missed you.¡± Immediately after, Seo Ye-in rummaged through her inventory and pulled something out. It was a bundle of rope. She had sent me a rope and handcuff emoji by message, and now she had actually brought them for real. Though the purpose was obvious, I asked just to confirm. ¡°What are you planning to do with the rope?¡± ¡°Imprisonment.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to imprison me?¡± ¨C Nod, Seo Ye-in boldly declared her intention to imprison me. Then she held out the end of the rope toward me. I wondered what she meant by this, but decided to just watch and grabbed the rope. Soon, Seo Ye-in, holding the rest of the rope, began circling around me. One round, two rounds... up to five rounds, wrapping the rope around my body, and then she silently looked down at her own hands. ¡°.......¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know how to tie this, do you?¡± ¡°......A little?¡± ¡°If you only know a little, it¡¯s going to be hard to imprison someone properly.¡± ¡°.......¡± Seo Ye-in once again stared down at the rope, deep in thought. Then, as if she had realized something, she slightly raised her eyes and gently hugged me along with the rope. ¡°......Imprisonment.¡± ¡°This is imprisonment?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s say I can¡¯t leave.¡± I slowly patted her grayish hair. Soon after, Seo Ye-in released her imprisonment hug and rummaged through her inventory again. I thought maybe the next thing would be handcuffs, but surprisingly, what came out was a small box. ¡°A gift.¡± ¡°A real gift, huh.¡± For a brief moment, the thought crossed my mind that it might be a device releasing sleeping gas, but it was an unnecessary worry. The densely packed runes covering the surface immediately caught my eye. It was of a level that only someone like the chairman of Hye-seong Group or the Underworld Dragon King could engrave. Given that, I could also guess what was inside. It must be spatial-type materials. I had asked for a few materials compatible with [Crow Branch], but they didn¡¯t align with the Underworld Dragon King¡¯s tendencies, and they were extremely rare, so I had decided to wait patiently. Yet somehow, he had managed to obtain one of them in just a month and sent it through Seo Ye-in. How did he find it so quickly? Maybe he had gone and beaten up the dragon next door or something. Of course, the source wasn¡¯t that important, so I decided to let it go. The method to open the box was very simple. As I infused mana into it, the engraved runes all reacted at once, emitting a blue light. Flaaash¡ª! The box disassembled itself, revealing a single leaf glowing with a faint purple color. [Leaf of Dimension (S)] ¡°Thanks to this, I¡¯ll have a much easier time. I really need to thank him.¡± ¡°Come to my house.¡± ¡°You mean go there and say it directly?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Seo Ye-in nodded and added, ¡°During winter break.¡± ¡°I might not be able to during winter break.¡± ¡°......?¡± ¡°I might be going somewhere else.¡± Dang Gyu-young had been persistently pestering me to visit her family home with her whenever she got a chance, so I was also considering that option. Though it wasn¡¯t 100% decided yet. At those words, Seo Ye-in rummaged through her inventory again and this time pulled out an S-rank adamantite pot. Then she slowly lifted it and said, ¡°You can¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°And what happens if I do?¡± ¡°Kidnapping.¡± Did she mean she would stop me from leaving, even if it meant knocking me unconscious? I mimicked Seo Ye-in¡¯s tone. ¡°Kidnapping is not allowed.¡± ¡°Not allowed?¡± ¡°Of course not. Hand over the pot first.¡± When I tugged at the pot, Seo Ye-in resisted weakly for a moment before letting it go. However, she kept pulling at my sleeve, alternating between saying ¡°winter break¡± and ¡°my house¡±. While this was happening, I noticed Go Hyeon-woo approaching from a distance. He must have spotted us too, because his pace quickened, and he greeted us with a bright smile. ¡°Kim-hyung, Miss Seo. Have you both been well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been fine. What about you?¡± ¡°I have been well, of course. However....¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes lingered on the rope loosely wrapped around my body and the indestructible Kim Ho Kim Ho pot in my hand. Then, he cautiously asked, ¡°...May I ask what the two of you were about to do?¡± ¡°Kidnapping and imprisonment.¡± Seo Ye-in answered without a hint of hesitation. I quickly flipped the pot over her head to cover her mouth, then added an explanation. ¡°It just means she missed me that much.¡± ¡°Indeed, seeing the bond between the two of you deepen is truly heartwarming.¡± ¡°And what about you? What¡¯s with the coffee?¡± At times like this, the best tactic was to counterattack, so I pointed out something that had seemed odd to me. The half-finished iced coffee in Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s hand. Moreover, unlike a typical training machine, he was coming from the direction of the convenience store, not the training center. Which meant he had been drinking coffee with someone. Go Hyeon-woo let out a wry smile and said, ¡°I was having a conversation with Miss Han.¡± ¡°Han So-mi? You two even grab coffee together?¡± ¡°Haha, it just happened.¡± Since the first mentoring session, the two of them had occasionally sparred and had gradually grown closer. Besides, they had stayed together on Dungeon Island throughout the winter break and even taken part in the second mentoring program, so sharing a coffee wasn¡¯t all that surprising. I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s good to get along. Besides, you don¡¯t seem to have been slacking off. I can tell just by looking. You¡¯ve gotten stronger.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no fooling Kim-hyung¡¯s eyes. Of course, I prioritize the affairs of the sect above all else.¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s goal was to inherit the sect¡¯s sacred relic. He had been training day and night for that one goal alone. ¡°Did you do some extra training related to [Hardship] too?¡± ¡°Yes. I gained more from it than I expected.¡± ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s move straight to Stage Two.¡± ¡°I am ready whenever you are.¡± It was nice to see him so full of motivation. No matter how tough it got, there was no need to coax or encourage him. With that thought in mind, I activated a skill. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [¡®Stage 2 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] Go Hyeon-woo checked the quest details and gave a competitive smile. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look easy this time either. All the more reason to take on the challenge.¡± As expected of a training machine, his mindset was on a different level altogether. Go Hyeon-woo who was itching to move was about to head to the training center when I stopped him for a moment. ¡°Hold on. There¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± I took out a small eye drop bottle from my inventory. Inside, a milky-white liquid sloshed gently. When he saw it, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s face was overtaken by surprise. ¡°...Gongcheong Oil!¡± ¡°I saved it for you.¡± ¡°Are you sure I can accept such a precious item?¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± While I was at it, I also handed him the Special Training Room Season Pass for the second semester. One had been won from a bet with Kim Gap-doo during the first mentoring session, and the other had been obtained through a deal with Mo Yong-jun after the final exams. I decided it was right to invest one of them in Go Hyeon-woo. The other one, Seo Ye-in and I would take turns using. Go Hyeon-woo looked even more burdened. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever be able to repay all of this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. There are plenty of ways.¡± There were already lots of dungeons scheduled for the second semester, and he could also hand over the rewards from event participation. When I answered casually, he eventually accepted both the Gongcheong Oil and the Season Pass. They were simply too tempting to refuse. Then, looking straight at me, Go Hyeon-woo spoke. ¡°No matter how much gratitude I show, it won¡¯t be enough. I will find a way to repay this debt no matter what.¡± ¡°Good. There¡¯s no rush, so for now, focus on leveling up your specs. You need to hit Core B-rank too.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the plan.¡± After Go Hyeon-woo once again expressed his thanks and left for the Special Training Room, I handed the last remaining drop of Gongcheong Oil to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Here. You take some too and power up.¡± ¡°...Hoodie.¡± ¡°You want to borrow it?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± A-rank equipment, the Hoodie of the Hidden Master. It had the effect of greatly boosting mana circulation efficiency. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t lend it out since I needed it myself, but when the potency of the elixir was as high as it was now, I figured I could make an exception. On top of that, Seo Ye-in added another request. ¡°Kim Ho Pillow.¡± ¡°That has nothing to do with mana circulation.¡± ¡°It does.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Because I want to.¡± She was being completely unreasonable. Still, I had no intention of giving her everything she wanted without conditions, so I added a condition. ¡°Then, you can use the Kim Ho Pillow, focus on mana circulation, and once your cooldown for Hardship is over, you move up to stage four, deal?¡± At that, Seo Ye-in averted her eyes and backed away. ¡°...Later.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this? Where¡¯s all that spirit? Weren¡¯t you the one saying you¡¯d punish the witches?¡± ¡°...Later.¡± *** The first day of the second semester. After having a light breakfast with Seo Ye-in, I headed to the classroom. The classroom looked the same as it had in the first semester, but the atmosphere had changed noticeably. Everyone¡¯s skills have improved a lot. The main reason was probably the stronger presence each person now radiated. Since they were aiming to become heroes after graduation, they must have spent their vacation dedicated to their own training. After two months of that, it would have been stranger if they hadn¡¯t improved. Song Cheon-hye, as usual, was playing along with Han So-mi¡¯s antics, but when she sensed my gaze, she turned her head and gave a small nod. I returned the nod and thought to myself. She¡¯s improved a fair bit too. Judging by how much more relaxed and composed she seemed, she must have gained a lot of real combat experience. Of course, not everyone had changed much. ¡°Ah, good to see you all again!¡± ¡°Shin-hyung, it¡¯s been a while.¡± It was Shin Byeong-cheol. I had no idea what he had been doing during those two months, but his skills hadn¡¯t improved even a bit.... not even by the size of an ant¡¯s leg. Naturally, I had to ask. ¡°What have you been up to?¡± ¡°Obviously, this, this.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol made a circle by touching his thumb and index finger together. It meant he had been making money diligently. I kept asking. ¡°Judging by how confidently you say that, you must have made quite a bit.¡± ¡°Ah, of course!¡± He had once buried himself in debt after causing massive losses to the Thieves¡¯ Club, but now he had earned enough to not only cover it all but still have plenty left over. Well, no wonder he was boasting. ¡ª ????¡ª Before long, a familiar melody flowed from the speakers. The teacher¡¯s podium was still empty, but the students immediately closed their mouths and found their seats. They had learned that keeping quiet from now on was the wisest course of action. Soon, the sound of footsteps approached the classroom. Then the door burst open, and Lee Soo-dok walked in. What on earth had he been through to end up with even more scars? In the stillness, as if cold water had been poured over us, Lee Soo-dok slowly scanned the classroom. As always, his gaze lingered especially long on my side. Then he spoke words that were very close to what I had been thinking. ¡°Your skills have improved a little. It seems you didn¡¯t waste your vacation. Good.¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°As I announced before the break, we will begin the second semester with duel battles.¡± Right after, the key theme for the upcoming matches appeared on the blackboard. [Rematch] Chapter 358: 1stWeek Rematch (1) Rematch. The word meant exactly what it sounded like. Facing off in a match once again. And it was as clear as day who we would be facing in that rematch. ¡°The pairings will be limited to opponents you faced during duel battles in the first semester. It could be someone you beat or someone you lost to.¡± Soon, Lee Soo-dok¡¯s gaze pierced into a few of the students. The common factor among them was that they were in the lower ranks, having started the placement exams with either zero or one win. ¡°It reminds me of the old days. I also started with zero points. Everyone looked down on me and laughed. They told me I had no talent, that I should just drop out and look for something else to do. I couldn¡¯t bear it, so I trained like a madman.¡± And it had been around this time of year, he said. That was when the [Rematch] rule had come up, just like now. ¡°I cut down every single one of the bastards who had looked down on me. From that point on, even they started gaining some self-awareness. By the time I became a second-year, no one dared to underestimate me.¡± Come to think of it, from that point on, it probably hadn¡¯t been about looking down on him; they had been scared of him. Considering what he had likely become back then, it wasn¡¯t surprising. The other students seemed to share similar thoughts, their faces pale with dread, but Lee Soo-dok paid it no mind and continued speaking. ¡°This week will be a great opportunity for all of you. You¡¯ll be able to see just how much your skills have improved or whether you¡¯ve been complacent.¡± The rest of the rules and environment appeared on the board. MAP: [Random] RULE: [Death Match] [Rematch] [10-Minute Time Limit] It would be a death match that continued until one side either collapsed or surrendered. And if the 10-minute limit passed, the winner would be decided based on remaining health. Since both were commonly used rules, Lee Soo-dok didn¡¯t bother explaining them and instead focused on elaborating on the rematch. ¡°As I mentioned earlier, the pairing will be with someone you¡¯ve faced at least once during the duel battles.¡± At that moment, a female student in the front row very cautiously raised her hand. And when Lee Soo-dok gave a slight nod of his chin, she asked her question. ¡°Um... if the point gap is too big, couldn¡¯t the match end the moment it starts...?¡± ¡°There will certainly be cases where the match ends quickly due to a difference in skill. But wouldn¡¯t the opposite be possible as well?¡± Taking down an opponent with several hundred more points than yourself. If that happened, you¡¯d be able to steal a huge chunk of points from them. It wouldn¡¯t be common, but it was definitely within the realm of possibility. ¡°Of course, the academic board anticipates that most matches won¡¯t have major upsets, so they¡¯ve prepared one more mechanism to balance the score.¡± When you lose again to someone you¡¯ve already lost to once, the points you lose are reduced. On the other hand, if you manage to get revenge on someone who previously beat you, you gain extra points. And the same applies in reverse. ¡°So even if you¡¯re matched with a strong opponent again, give it your all. I¡¯ll be keeping a close eye on anyone who slacks off or forfeits on purpose.¡± ¡°......!¡± A few students flinched at Lee Soo-dok¡¯s cold, threatening tone. *** As soon as class ended, nearly all the students rushed to the arena. Naturally, that included me, Go Hyeon-woo, and Seo Ye-in. We usually preferred to get our practical evaluations done early, but even the other students were unusually eager this time, and there was a good reason for it. If you¡¯re late, your opponent might already be gone. This week¡¯s duel battles would only match you with someone you¡¯d already fought once before. But what if you hesitated or waited around until the weekend, and all of those opponents had already finished their matches? There was a real chance you wouldn¡¯t get matched at all. And then any unplayed matches would automatically be counted as losses by forfeit. In that case, it was far better to get them over with early. Students from other classes seemed to think the same, and the arena was packed with people in a way that felt unusual for the first day of the semester. We scanned our student IDs at the terminal and waited for our matchups. As we waited, I turned to Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in and asked them a question. ¡°Who do you two want to face again?¡± ¡°Of course, it would be you, Kim-hyung.¡± Go Hyeon-woo answered without a moment of hesitation. Since I had faced them once in the Cloud Stairs duel battle, there was a good chance we could be matched again. I grinned and asked him, ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re confident?¡± ¡°Haha, how could I possibly be confident going up against you, Kim-hyung? I¡¯m just hoping I get the chance this time. We¡¯ve never really had a proper match to test each other¡¯s skills, have we?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. If we get matched, let¡¯s see how it goes. Anyone else?¡± ¡°The next one that comes to mind is definitely Jang-hyung.¡± That was the Black Faction¡¯s promising student, Jang Sam. His real name was Jang Moo-geuk. He had once faced off against Go Hyeon-woo in a 2-on-2 match, and they had ended in a draw. Of course, considering how much Jang Moo-geuk had adjusted his style to counter Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s during that match, it wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say he was at least a step or two ahead. What he was like now, though, remained to be seen. Next, I turned to Seo Ye-in and asked her, ¡°Anyone on your list?¡± Seo Ye-in stared at me for a few seconds, then pulled out a pot. That alone was as good as a response. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson.¡± ¡°I must¡¯ve built up quite the bad karma.¡± To think there were so many people eager to give me a hard time. When I asked again if there was anyone else, Seo Ye-in paused for a moment before answering. ¡°Cha Hyeon-joo.¡± ¡°So you do have someone. Why her?¡± ¡°She keeps saying nasty things.¡± Well, Cha Hyeon-joo was known to be pretty foul-mouthed even on normal days. And even more so when it came to me. She was like a hellhound, always trying to sink her teeth into me somehow. From Seo Ye-in¡¯s perspective, there was no way she could ever like her. Besides, the two of them were both in the ranged combat class and had even gone head-to-head in a one-on-one bombardment match before. At the time, Cha Hyeon-joo had been in a significantly weakened state, so although Seo Ye-in had technically won, she was probably still hoping to secure a victory in a proper match. This time, it was Go Hyun-woo who asked. ¡°Kim-hyung, is there anyone you want to face?¡± ¡°Not really. They¡¯re all more or less the same.¡± ¡°I see.¡± To be honest, a few people did come to mind. Shin Byeong-cheol, Baek Jun-seok, Kang Hee-chan... They all had one thing in common. They were easy to beat. All I need is to rack up wins anyway. [Side Quest: 1st Week Duel Battle] (In Progress...) ? Objective: Complete 3 Duels (-/3) ? Deadline: By Sunday at midnight ? Reward: Varies based on performance Whether I defeated three promising students in a row or just beat Shin Byeong-cheol three times, the highest reward was the same. So wouldn¡¯t it make sense to go the easy route? Of course, I wasn¡¯t some kind of lucky charm. Things didn¡¯t always go the way I wanted. Soon, the matchmaking was completed, and the scoreboard displayed my opponent¡¯s name. Wow, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen that guy.¡¯ [Kim Ho 818 points vs. Yang Ji-hong 573 points] Yang Ji-hong. He had been my opponent in the first duel battle of the semester. He had the same placement test record as I did. One win and two losses which earned him 300 points. Back then, I had forfeited my match against Song Cheon-hye which earned me the nickname ¡°coward¡±, so Yang Ji-hong had looked down on me and tried to pick a fight. But after suffering three consecutive losses, he admitted his mistake and apologized with surprising humility. I hadn¡¯t seen him for a while since then, so I¡¯d wondered what he¡¯d been up to. Turns out he¡¯d been steadily climbing in points. He¡¯d probably improved quite a bit too. As I made my way toward the arena, I said, ¡°I¡¯ll head in first. Good luck, you two.¡± ¡°May fortune smile upon you.¡± Leaving behind Go Hyun-woo who gave a slight smile, and Seo Ye-in who waved her hand gently, I stepped onto the teleportation magic circle in front of the arena. In the next moment, I found myself standing in a flat, wide-open wasteland. Opposite me stood Yang Ji-hong who was gripping a long spear tightly with his eyes fixed on me. *** Yang Ji-hong let out a sigh under his breath. This won¡¯t be easy... Ever since he saw the word [Rematch], he had a bad feeling...and sure enough, he ended up facing off against Kim Ho again. If I¡¯d known this would happen, I should¡¯ve watched some replays. He had never been particularly interested in other people¡¯s matches. He thought it was better to spend that time focusing on his own training. Looking back now, he regretted being so short-sighted. ...What¡¯s done is done. He¡¯d make a point to watch replays from time to time going forward. Right now, he needed to focus on the task in front of him. Yang Ji-hong tried to gauge Kim Ho¡¯s abilities. He was overwhelming even back then. At the beginning of the first semester, there had been such a wide skill gap that he couldn¡¯t even put up proper resistance and lost three times in a row. And now, Kim Ho seemed even stronger. The score said it all. [Kim Ho 818 points vs. Yang Ji-hong 573 points] What the hell did he do to reach 800 points? Hadn¡¯t they both started from the same 300 points? He himself had been steadily building up his score with a decent win rate, but he couldn¡¯t even guess how many consecutive wins it would take to reach 800. It already felt like defeat was looming over him, but he had no intention of giving up just yet. If you call yourself a warrior, you fight to the end. If he gave it his all, he might at least be able to land a solid blow. If he lost after that, he wouldn¡¯t have any regrets. On the contrary, it would be proof that his skills had grown. And truthfully, he did have one thing he was counting on. I¡¯ve prepared a countermeasure for lightning magic. When he lost to Kim Ho, he¡¯d made a vow. No matter who he faced, he would never again be paralyzed and left helpless. Because of this, he had taken multiple elixirs that increased resistance to lightning attributes and was also wearing a bracelet that neutralized paralysis. With this much preparation, he was confident he could withstand even Kim Ho¡¯s thunder magic, including Hummingbird. Soon, both sides locked eyes and took their stances as the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kim Ho 100% vs Yang Ji-hong 100%] [Time Remaining: 9:59] Just as Yang Ji-hong was about to launch forward off the ground¡ª Kim Ho slowly raised one hand and pointed somewhere with his finger. As if to say, ¡°Look over there.¡± ¡°......?¡± Instinctively, Yang Ji-hong turned his head, but all he saw was a lone rock and a tall cactus. What was the meaning behind pointing at that? Is he trying to buy time? Not that a few seconds would make much of a difference... As that thought passed through his mind and he turned back to Kim Ho, Yang Ji-hong¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He felt something wrong in his body. At the same time, a system message appeared, confirming his suspicion. [Status Effect ¡°Poisoned¡± has been applied] When did he poison me?! Had he really been poisoned in just that brief moment of distraction? But the distance between them was too great. How could that even be possible? He¡¯d never heard anything about Kim Ho learning poison techniques. A flurry of questions ran through his mind, but that wasn¡¯t the issue right now. What mattered now was¡ª There¡¯s no time. [Yang Ji-hong 99%] [Yang Ji-hong 98%] His situation was only going to get worse from here. He had no choice but to finish the fight as quickly as possible. With his decision made, Yang Ji-hong dashed forward. At the same time, he began thrusting his spear wildly through the air. Shweeeek! Shweeeek! Concentrated spear energy shot forward like arrows. In response, Kim Ho used fist-sized dark clouds to deflect each of the spear strikes one by one. Then, electricity began to gather in his hand, and two hummingbirds shot into the air. Fzzzzzzzt! He¡¯s using it after all! Yang Ji-hong¡¯s eyes sharpened with determination. This was his first and only chance. He surged forward with even greater speed, charging headlong. Screeeeeech! Chapter 359: 1stWeek Rematch (2) Yang Ji-hong was confident. I can handle this much. With all the lightning and paralysis resistance he had built up, even if he got hit by Hummingbird, the paralysis would only last a moment. That meant there was no need to waste energy dodging or blocking it. I¡¯ll pour everything into attacking. So Yang Ji-hong took the incoming Hummingbirds head-on without hesitation. Crackle, crackle! Just as he expected, his body stiffened briefly and then loosened right away. He kept his speed and continued charging forward. As soon as Kim Ho came within range, he pushed his spear forward. Or at least, he tried to. Boom! A sudden explosion rang out, and the next thing Yang Ji-hong knew, he was flying backward through the air. His mind froze for a moment. Only after landing on the ground did the question hit him. Whatever had knocked him back¡ª Was it wind? Things were getting more and more confusing. He had thought lightning was Kim Ho¡¯s main element, but now there was poison...and even wind magic. He really went and learned everything. Yang Ji-hong regretted again not watching any replays. But just like before, there was no time to dwell on regret. [Yang Ji-hong 93%] [Yang Ji-hong 92%] His health was still going down, second by second. So he pushed off the ground again without delay. He went over his quick plan in his head. I¡¯ll take the Hummingbirds, but stay alert for poison and wind blasts. Yang Ji-hong closed the gap fast, stepping carefully and quickly. Kim Ho watched him with a blank expression. Then he reached out one hand¡ª Whoooosh¡ª A bitterly cold wind rushed toward Yang Ji-hong. He immediately noticed his speed drop. It¡¯s not just cold... It felt like the wind was slowing him down and pushing him back with force. On top of that, when he turned his head at the cracking sound, he saw that his elbow was covered in ice. [¡®Frozen¡¯ status effect has been applied.] He really has all sorts of tricks. It seemed that prolonged exposure to the cold wind would lead to being frozen. In truth, it was because Kim Ho had cast [Mutual Destruction Eye] once again, but there was no way Yang Ji-hong could have known that. He could only associate it with the cold wind. Things are getting more and more hopeless. Yang Ji-hong sensed it instinctively. Even though he still had a fair amount of stamina left, he realized he didn¡¯t have much actual time remaining. I have to make my move now. Even at that moment, he was still being dragged along by Kim Ho¡¯s pace. If this continued, he wouldn¡¯t even get the chance to make a decisive move later. Having made up his mind, he took his stance and drew upon his inner strength. Then, leading with his spear, he unleashed his strongest finishing move. Swooooosh¡ª! Yang Ji-hong shot forward like a beam of light. At that moment, even the bitter wind blowing against him couldn¡¯t slow him down in the slightest. As he charged, he was gathering all his energy into the tip of his spear. To pierce through the front with his fully accelerated speed and the spear energy compressed to its limit¡ª That was the essence of this final technique. Let¡¯s see you take this. Whether the move landed or not, he was ready to accept the result without regret. But then, suddenly, a thick wall of ice sprang up in front of him and blocked his path. Yang Ji-hong¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Ah.¡± Baang¡ª! And, with all the speed he had built up, he crashed directly into the ice wall. *** [Kim Ho Win] vs [Yang Ji-hong Lose] [818+7 points in the duel battle match] It really barely went up. The score gap had been large, and it was a rematch against someone I¡¯d already beaten before, so it couldn¡¯t be helped. What mattered was that I¡¯d snagged a win in the side quest without lifting a finger. Before long, the next match was scheduled. I looked at the scoreboard and felt thoroughly satisfied. Looks like I¡¯ll breeze through the second match too. [Kim Ho 825 points vs Son Hyeong-taek 620 points] Son Hyeong-taek, a member of the Gap-doo Family. His skills were average, and he had a clumsy sort of slyness. Naturally, against someone truly cunning like me, he always ended up losing. This time would be no different. As I stepped onto the teleportation portal, I happened to spot Son Hyeong-taek nearby. So I greeted him with a bright, cheerful smile. ¡°Hey, Hyeong-taek!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act like we¡¯re close.¡± Son Hyeong-taek was already making a face like he¡¯d just bitten into something sour. It looked like the memories of all the times he¡¯d suffered at my hands were flooding back. The time he swam through the river of lava, the time he fell from the cloud staircase, the time he got trapped in the field of traps, and so on. For me, on the other hand, they were all delightful memories, so my attitude was equally cheerful. ¡°We¡¯re not close, sure. But I can still say hi, can¡¯t I, Hyeong-taek?¡± ¡°......¡± Son Hyeong-taek ignored me and walked into the arena. Man, that guy was really small-minded. He should learn to have a generous heart, like big toad senior Gap-doo. After following him into the arena and getting ready, the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kim Ho 100% vs Son Hyeong-taek 100%] ¡°Hyeong-taek, look over there.¡± Just like I¡¯d done with Yang Ji-hong, I pointed somewhere completely unrelated with my finger. It was part of a psychological tactic, while also creating a smokescreen. The biggest strength of [Mutual Destruction Eye] was that it activated with nothing more than eye contact. As long as the opponent didn¡¯t realize this, I would always have the upper hand in psychological warfare. In other words, If I got caught, I¡¯d lose that advantage. This match, like the last one, would be recorded and replayed. Someone would surely try to analyze the Mutual Destruction Eye after watching it. If I didn¡¯t make any noticeable moves, it would be easier for them to deduce the activation conditions. To delay that moment of discovery, I needed to make things as confusing as possible. ¡°......?¡± Son Hyeong-taek reflexively turned his gaze in the direction I pointed. Of course, there was nothing there, so he frowned even more deeply and glared at me. And the moment our eyes met¡ª [The target has been afflicted with the ¡®Weathering (C)¡¯ status effect.] [Cooldown: 00:00:59] Whoosh¡ª! As the Mutual Destruction Eye activated, wind spiraled around Son Hyeong-taek¡¯s body. Startled, his eyes widened in shock. [Son Hyeong-taek 99%] [Son Hyeong-taek 98%] Since he didn¡¯t cancel it right away, it seemed he didn¡¯t have any skills or traits related to debuff removal. That meant he was now like a terminally ill patient. I kept a bright, innocent smile on my face and gave a little finger wave. ¡°Run away.¡± *** At around the same time, a similar scene was playing out elsewhere. Hong Yeon-hwa swung her wand like a skilled conductor. Each time she moved, the ruby glowed with a red light as her magic came to life. Kwooooom! A pillar of fire surged upward, giving birth to a three-headed fire serpent that relentlessly launched fireballs at her opponent. Boom-boom-boom-boom! Bukgong Han-seol moved frantically, stepping across the battlefield to avoid the incoming fireballs. She occasionally fired back bursts of force to try to keep her opponent in check, but instead of weakening, the shield only burned more fiercely. Since she specialized in cold-type martial arts, Hong Yeon-hwa, with her Aqua Flame, was practically her natural enemy. Because the flames completely devoured any cold she generated, even exchanges of equal power left Han-seol at a disadvantage. Because of that, even in the Dang Gyu-young¨CKim Gap-doo wager match, Bukgong Han-seol had been thoroughly beaten by Hong Yeon-hwa, and now that they faced each other again, Hong Yeon-hwa had become even stronger than before. At this point, it was hard for Han-seol to even catch her breath. Whoooooosh! Even so, Bukgong Han-seol desperately kept moving her feet, using her movement technique, but her effort was meaningless as the hydras kept multiplying endlessly. In the end, the number of fireballs being hurled became too many to dodge, and she began to take hits one by one. Boom-boom-boom-boom! [Hong Yeon-hwa Win] vs [Bukgong Han-seol Lose] [723 + 68 points in the duel battle match] 68 points! Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up. There had been a slight point adjustment since she had already defeated this opponent once in a duel battle, but because Bukgong Han-seol had a high score to begin with, she had managed to reap a lot of points. Even more gratifying was the clear sense of her own growth. Though she had held the upper hand against Bukgong Han-seol in the past as well, now she had displayed a nearly 10-to-0 level of dominance in the match. Unable to control her expression, Hong Yeon-hwa kept grinning uncontrollably. ¡°......Hehe.¡± The future looked incredibly bright. If she kept burning through her opponents one after another, her score would keep climbing, and before long, she¡¯d be standing shoulder to shoulder with the other promising students. However, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s smile vanished the moment the next match was assigned and the name appeared on the scoreboard. [Seo Ye-in 842 points vs Hong Yeon-hwa 791 points] Why......? Why can¡¯t I ever be happy......? What did I do wrong to deserve being thrown into despair every time I try to feel just a little happiness? Seo Ye-in was one of the few opponents Hong Yeon-hwa couldn¡¯t confidently predict a victory against. She had gained both skill and confidence over a month of mentoring with Kim Ho, but the same went for Seo Ye-in. There was no advantage to be had. And if what she¡¯d heard in passing was true, Seo Ye-in was already ahead of her. She¡¯d even achieved a B-rank core two months earlier. No, I won¡¯t know until I face her. She had even learned three different spells to reinforce her defenses, and had a powerful main skill at her disposal. Maybe, just maybe, she could win. With that thought to steady herself, Hong Yeon-hwa stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, and a grassy plain thick with foliage unfolded before her eyes. Whoosh¡ª A gentle breeze brushed softly against her hair. For a dueling arena, the scenery was surprisingly picturesque, but Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s gaze remained fixed straight ahead the entire time. ¡°......¡± As always, Seo Ye-in returned her gaze with that same indifferent look. Maybe it was the familiarity from seeing each other so often, she gave a faint wave. ...Yeah, I guess a greeting¡¯s okay. Hong Yeon-hwa returned the gesture, and soon the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Seo Ye-in 100% vs Hong Yeon-hwa 100%] Seo Ye-in¡¯s figure shimmered for a moment, then vanished completely. She had probably slipped on her invisible ghillie suit. Unfortunately, Hong Yeon-hwa hadn¡¯t learned any detection-type magic. Her utility skills were still sorely lacking. Still, there was plenty to do besides just locating her opponent. First, the defense spells. Since the opponent was a gunner, securing stability was the top priority. She quickly began chanting, layering herself with [Reverse Curtain], [Scorching Armor], and [Blaze Shield]. Even so, Seo Ye-in had yet to make any move. Good. Next. Hydra. Crimson magic circles etched themselves into the ground, and pillars of fire erupted, scorching the field. Booooooooom¡ª! She was just about to chain the spells together and summon the Hydra when¡ª ¡ªa sharp, clean gunshot rang out by her ear. Bang. When Hong Yeon-hwa hurriedly turned her head, she saw a magic bullet¡ªno, a grenade¡ªnearly the size of a fist, flying in an arc toward her. The grenade collided with the Blaze Shield and exploded. Booom¡ª! Not only did the layered defensive spells shatter completely, but the shockwave also struck Hong Yeon-hwa beyond them. Its destructive power was far beyond imagination. It was the result of combining a [Magic Bullet] nearing B-rank with [Ejection] and [Shock Bomb]. ¡°Guhk.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa rolled helplessly across the ground. Chapter 362: 1stWeek Rematch (5) Song Cheon-hye simply shrugged her shoulders without responding. ¡°......¡± ¡°Why are you crying?¡± I poked her a few more times with the sapling, and only then did she mumble a reply. ¡°...wasn¡¯t...¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°...I said I wasn¡¯t crying.¡± Eventually, Song Cheon-hye staggered to her feet. When I looked at her face, it was clear she hadn¡¯t actually cried, but it also looked like she had just barely held back the tears at the last second. After taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, Song Cheon-hye faced me and spoke. ¡°I have something to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did it really have to be like this? We could¡¯ve had a proper fight.¡± ¡°Sure, we could¡¯ve. But did we have to?¡± I threw her own words right back at her. There were plenty of ways to beat someone up. I could¡¯ve used Spiral Explosion, or blasted her around with Wind Force. But a straightforward fight meant exchanging blows, and that was always more of a hassle. Running around and stacking debuffs with the mutual destruction eye was much easier, wasn¡¯t it? There was no reason to reveal all my cards this early anyway. This wouldn¡¯t be the last time I¡¯d face off against Song Cheon-hye in a duel battle. We¡¯d keep seeing each other, and the disciplinary committee members might share information too. So revealing all my skills and traits now would be the worst strategy. And the last, most important reason was¡ª Because it pissed her off more. After all, someone else¡¯s frustration was my joy. From the beginning, Wind Force and the mutual-destruction eye were skills designed for that very purpose. If I hadn¡¯t meant to get under her skin, I would¡¯ve chosen something else.. Of course, I only said the first reason out loud, but even that seemed to rub Song Cheon-hye the wrong way, as her eyebrows drew together in a frown. ¡°So you¡¯re going to keep doing things this way, then.¡± ¡°If I can help it. Still, you never know. A situation might come up where I have to fight head-on.¡± Like in a crystal duel, where movement could be restricted, or in a team-based match with two or more people. In that case, running away alone wouldn¡¯t be ideal. It¡¯d make more sense to protect your teammates. On the other hand, judging by her expression, Song Cheon-hye seemed to interpret my words as a challenge: ¡°Try creating a situation where I have no choice but to fight head-on,¡± or ¡°Try cornering me.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll remember that.¡± ¡°Alright. So, are we continuing this?¡± We glanced over at the scoreboard. [Kim Ho 100% vs. Song Cheon-hye 82%] [Time remaining: 3:35] Like being soaked by a drizzle, the damage had steadily accumulated, and there wasn¡¯t much time left. Considering she hadn¡¯t managed to shave off even 1% of my health so far, it was safe to say a comeback was unlikely. Even so, Song Cheon-hye clenched her fists with a resolute expression. Sparks crackled from her black gloves. ¡°Of course we¡¯re continuing.¡± Flaaash! At that moment, a halo of light enveloped her body. It meant she had removed the debuffs using [Purification]. The odds of success should¡¯ve been pretty low, but I guess luck was on her side this time. I silently nodded. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve got spirit at least.¡± [The target has been afflicted with the ¡®Weathering (C)¡¯ status effect.] And then I cast the mutual-destruction eye again. ¡°Argh! Again?!¡± ¡°Catch me if you can.¡± ¡°Get back here!!¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re not even using honorifics.¡± ¡°I said stop!!¡± I spun around and ran off again, and Song Cheon-hye chased after me, hurling lightning bolts in every direction. Boom! Crash! Thunder rumbled across the battlefield without pause. *** The chase continued on, but no unexpected turn came in the end. [Time remaining: 0:04] ¡°Ah...¡± Up until then, Song Cheon-hye had been chasing me like she meant to kill me, but she gradually began to slow down. Eventually, she trudged to a stop and came to a complete halt. She stared blankly at the scoreboard, stunned. It was as if she wished time would freeze, but the timer heartlessly continued its countdown until it hit zero, And the match result appeared. A decision victory due to time running out. [Kim Ho Win] vs [Song Cheon-hye Lose] [839+87 points in the duel battle match] I took a lot from her. There must have been a significant point gap between us, and it looked like I earned bonus points for getting revenge. The score I had started with in the first semester¡ªjust 300¡ªhad now climbed into the upper tier, somewhere in the 900s. In contrast, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s face had gone pale. ¡°E-Eighty points...?¡± She looked like she¡¯d just lost her entire country. She may have accepted the loss, but she clearly hadn¡¯t expected to lose that many points. That must sting. Eighty-seven points from a top-ranked student were worth far more than eighty-seven from a lower tier. Mid-to-lower ranks were usually matched with students at a similar level, but those dominating the top tier rarely had to face each other. Most of the time, they went against lower-ranked opponents and only earned 15 or 20 points per win. She had painstakingly built up nearly 1,100 points over the first semester, only to lose a huge chunk of it in a single defeat. It was going to take a lot of effort to recover from this. Of course, the real reason Song Cheon-hye seemed furious didn¡¯t appear to be the lost points. But the fact that I had toyed with her for ten whole minutes. As I stepped onto the teleportation circle, she stopped me. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°...Let¡¯s go again.¡± ¡°You want a rematch?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll probably run into each other again soon.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be long before our scores aligned again. But Song Cheon-hye insisted. ¡°R-Right now.¡± ¡°You mean like a duel?¡± ¡°Even a sparring match is fine.¡± ¡°No thanks.¡± Of course, I turned her down without a second thought. What possible benefit would there be in accepting a sparring match? Even if she offered an item as a match fee, it just didn¡¯t appeal to me. Sometimes, information was more valuable than any item. Still, I figured I could leave a little room for negotiation, so I shrugged. ¡°If you really want to, use a Wish Ticket.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a Wish Ticket.¡± ¡°Then win one. Beat me in a bet.¡± Of course, she¡¯d have to get rid of all my Wish Tickets first. For reference, I still had two small Wish Tickets and one large one. I thought she¡¯d drop it out of sheer frustration by this point, but to my surprise, Song Cheon-hye nodded without much hesitation. ¡°...Let¡¯s do it. A bet.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you hate those?¡± ¡°I changed my mind.¡± In other words, she was willing to do even something she disliked just to face me again. Her light brown eyes blazed with determination. In contrast, I maintained a nonchalant attitude. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really have anything worth betting right now.¡± ¡°Just pick something. Anything.¡± ¡°Anything, really?¡± Like predicting the breakfast menu the day after tomorrow or guessing the next team match event. Of course, I was confident I could win no matter what it was. But Song Cheon-hye didn¡¯t seem to feel the same. She flinched and took a step back. ¡°...Let me correct that. Not just anything.¡± ¡°At least I know you¡¯re serious. I¡¯ll let you know when I see a good opportunity.¡± ¡°I hope you don¡¯t make me wait too long.¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± I answered with a broad grin. There was no way I¡¯d make her wait long. This was a golden opportunity to get a Wish Ticket. *** [Wang Bin 95% vs Seo Ye-in 98%] Seo Ye-in stood in the middle of a ruined building, staring blankly as she slowly took in her surroundings. Collapsed walls and pillar stumps surrounded her on all sides. For a marksman, this abundance of cover was bad news. Her opponent could use it as a shield to close the distance without being seen. And just as Kim Ho had predicted, ¡°Wang Bin¡± really was Wang Cheon-sam. That meant her opponent belonged to the Assassin class. He was someone who could use this terrain better than anyone. If it had been the usual Wang Cheon-sam, he would have hidden his skills and approached the duel as an assassin should. But he owed Seo Ye-in a debt. He wanted to get revenge for the beating he took in the glacier zone duel. And, as a bonus, he wanted to see just how much stronger he¡¯d become. So the match had been agreed upon in secret, and Wang Cheon-sam was going all out. He could pop out from anywhere at any time, and a surprise attack like that would be devastating for a gunslinger with weak defenses. ¡°......¡± Even so, there wasn¡¯t a hint of tension on Seo Ye-in¡¯s face. As always, she maintained a detached, indifferent expression. She gently patted the pot sitting on her head, then once again scanned her surroundings. Seo Ye-in had a gift. She had eyes. Eyes that could see far more than others ever could. And those eyes had grown even sharper over the past month. That was thanks to the Underworld Dragon King, who had stuck close by her side during the second mentoring period and taught her personally. ¨C Niece, it seems you¡¯re finally starting to get ready. The power was so immense that, when her core was still below C-rank, it had been too much for her to handle. Because of that, neither the Underworld Dragon King nor the chairman had dared to intervene recklessly. But now that she had reached B-rank, the burden was far lighter, and it was finally time for her to take her first real steps. With steady training here and there, Seo Ye-in had learned to use her eyes more efficiently and with much greater skill. ¡°......¡± Her gray pupils collected all kinds of information. Things like the flow of the wind or the drifting of dust. Those seemingly trivial and meaningless details. But all of that came together to reveal one key piece of information: The airflow near the pillar in front of her was ever so slightly unnatural. As expected, Wang Cheon-sam was hiding there. The moment Seo Ye-in¡¯s gaze settled in his direction, he felt it. She¡¯s spotted me. He didn¡¯t know how she did it, but she had seen right through his concealment. Even if he changed locations, there was a high chance he¡¯d be discovered again. In that case, it was best to act before it was too late. Having thought this far, Wang Cheon-sam kicked off the ground and charged at Seo Ye-in. Whooosh! In a single breath, the distance between them closed. At the same time, Wang Cheon-sam unleashed a thrust as fast as a bolt of light. It looked as though Seo Ye-in¡¯s heart might be pierced by the steel blade at any moment. Clang! But in the final instant, something Seo Ye-in thrust forward blocked the attack. It was the pot she had just been wearing on her head. Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. ¡°What¡ª?¡± He had put his sword energy into that strike. How could it possibly be blocked by nothing more than a kitchen utensil? Shouldn¡¯t it have gone straight through or at least split it in half? No, maybe if he gave it a huge amount of benefit of the doubt, it could be blocked. If the pot was made from ten-thousand-year cold iron or something, its durability might be that high. But what truly baffled him was the fact that Seo Ye-in hadn¡¯t budged an inch from her spot. Given the difference in close combat ability between a swordsman and a gunslinger, shouldn¡¯t she have at least staggered back a few steps from the clash? Of course, Wang Cheon-sam had no way of knowing. That the pot was made of adamantite, boasting such formidable defense that it could block not just sword energy, but even reinforced aura. Nor could he have known it even carried the A+ rank trait [Impact Nullification]. Seo Ye-in¡¯s gray eyes gleamed as she spoke a single word. ¡°Kim Ho is strong.¡± Her tone was as indifferent as always, yet somehow it carried a hint of pride. While she had perfectly defended with one hand, her other hand was already pointing a mana-powered gun straight at Wang Cheon-sam. And before he could even react, it began to fire a continuous stream of blue flames. Drrrrrrrrt! ¡°Graaaargh!!¡± Chapter 363: Funding (1) When I came outside, Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa had already finished their matches and were waiting. I had used the full ten minutes and won by decision, but those two had highly offensive styles, so they had probably taken down their opponents much earlier. Among them, Hong Yeon-hwa looked particularly cheerful, so I asked her, ¡°Looks like you won.¡± ¡°Mhmm.... I did.¡± ¡°Well done. I told you. You just have to do it.¡± She might get beaten up constantly by me or Seo Ye-in, but against other opponents, she was probably like Lu Bu on the battlefield. Upon being praised, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s lips melted into a loose, bashful smile. She even looked like she was expecting more praise, but that was all I had to say, so I turned to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Wang Bin was really Wang Cheon-sam, right?¡± ¡°The same person.¡± ¡°Seriously, that guy is terrible at naming himself. I assume you won?¡± ¡°Kim Ho is strong.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Seo Ye-in gently patted the immortal pot. ¡°I blocked it.¡± ¡°With the pot?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± So that meant she had blocked Wang Cheon-sam¡¯s strike with the pot and then counterattacked. Given how powerful that equipment was, it was certainly possible. But that didn¡¯t mean it was easy. An assassin¡¯s strike aimed for a single point in an incredibly short window. To block it, you had to pinpoint that exact spot and thrust the pot forward at precisely the right moment. Maybe the close combat training she¡¯d done through hardship had unexpectedly paid off. Soon after, Go Hyeon-woo stepped out of the teleportation circle and, upon spotting us, walked over. ¡°So you were all gathered here.¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re all done. What about you?¡± ¡°I also just finished my last match.¡± ¡°How was it?¡± Go Hyeon-woo gave a smile filled with complicated emotions. ¡°It was disappointing that I still didn¡¯t get to face Kim-hyung in a match. But meeting Miss Park made up for it somewhat.¡± ¡°Park Na-ri? Did you win?¡± ¡°It was better than last time.¡± Go Hyeon-woo had previously lost by decision to Park Na-ri¡¯s team in a 2-versus-2 match. The main reason was his lack of offensive power. He simply couldn¡¯t break through the endurance of Park Na-ri¡¯s team. On top of that, his iron sword kept breaking at the worst possible moments, which certainly didn¡¯t help. But throughout the first semester, Go Hyeon-woo had undergone relentless training and gained extensive real-world experience, showing great progress in his martial arts. The weapon issue had also been resolved once he acquired a magic sword. As a result, he had managed to narrowly secure a victory in the rematch. I nodded in satisfaction. ¡°You took down a promising student. That¡¯s a big deal.¡± ¡°Haha, I wouldn¡¯t go so far as to boast. Miss Park is a support type. Wouldn¡¯t she shine more in group battles?¡± ¡°Still, a win is a win. Nice work.¡± We continued chatting for a while about the rematch and various other things. Eventually, Hong Yeon-hwa left for the Ruby Magic Tower on club business, and Go Hyeon-woo headed to the training center to continue his practice. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was practically asleep on her feet. She hadn¡¯t looked this exhausted just a short while ago. Maybe she had drained a ton of Sloth Batteries during her third match. I gently shook Seo Ye-in¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Young miss, young miss, let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°You can¡¯t sleep in the middle of the street, you know.¡± ¡°I can...¡± ¡°If I just leave you here, that¡¯s on you.¡± The moment I took a step toward the training center, Seo Ye-in suddenly grabbed the hem of my shirt. ¡°Come with me...¡± ¡°Come with you for what?¡± ¡°Pillow.¡± ¡°You know being a Kim Ho pillow means you also have to go through Hardship training, right?¡± Seo Ye-in paused for a second, then remained still with her eyes closed. I thought maybe she had just fallen asleep right then and there, but on closer inspection, it looked like she was deep in thought, agonizing over the decision. Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she looked at me and spoke. ¡°...Upfront payment.¡± ¡°Excellent. Let¡¯s go.¡± If it meant I could make her do Level 4 training, then being a human pillow was a small price to pay. So, with Seo Ye-in trailing behind me like a tail, I headed toward the training center. On the way, I checked the side quest. [Sub Quest: 1st Week Duel Battles] (Complete) ? Objective: Complete 3 duel matches (3/3) ? Reward: Random Rank-Up ¡Á3 Since I¡¯d earned them anyway, I decided to use them right away. Naturally, it didn¡¯t matter even if they failed. [Stamp Coupon (C+)] ? Stamps: 9/15 I still had some of the stamp coupons from the first semester. In fact, just one more failure would earn me the next reward. ¡°......?¡± As we walked, maybe the movement helped wake her up a bit, because Seo Ye-in blinked open her eyes halfway and peeked at the random rank-ups. Thinking that using one herself might wake her up a little more, I handed her one. ¡°You want it?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Then I used the remaining two at the same time. Flaash¡ª The glow lasted oddly long today. That little flicker of hope started to rise inside me. ¡ªFssshhhh....... But before long, that hope turned to ash along with the random rank-ups. [Rank-Up Failed.] [Rank-Up Failed.] Yep, this was about average. Shrugging it off, I checked the rewards. [Stamp Coupon (C+)] ? Stamps: 11/15 ? 10-Stamp Reward: Rank-Up (C) I had already decided what I¡¯d use it on. The only real options were [Time Share] and [Chillwind], and long-term, it made more sense to invest in the cooldown management skill. Chillwind was already strong enough, so there was no rush there. [Activated ¡®Rank-Up (C)¡¯] [The rank of ¡®Time Share¡¯ has increased. (C¡úB)] Next up was Seo Ye-in. I asked her casually. ¡°Gonna show me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡± Flaaaaash¡ª The glow from the random rank-up gradually brightened, then slowly began to dim. Well, of course. Even Lucky Charm doesn¡¯t breeze through this. ¡ªJust as I was thinking that, Flaaash¡ª! The light grew even brighter and seeped into Seo Ye-in¡¯s body. That meant it had succeeded. ¡°What got ranked up?¡± ¡°Bullet Time.¡± ¡°From C to B?¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod. Random rank-ups weren¡¯t influenced by any external factors, but she was suspiciously lucky with them. Even though she only ever used one ticket at a time. I couldn¡¯t help but tease her a little. ¡°Would you quit cheating already?¡± ¡°Just lucky, I guess...¡± ¡°Well then, since you¡¯re on a lucky streak, open this too.¡± With that, I pulled out a random box and handed it to her. [Even More Chaotic Old Sapphire Temple Random Box (B)] I had picked it up while clearing a dungeon in the first semester, but I still hadn¡¯t opened it. The main reason, of course¡ª Shake shake¡ª Was that from then until now, Seo Ye-in had consistently refused to open any boxes. Considering how her lucky streak kept hitting everywhere else, it was clear the box itself was jinxed. ¡°Still no go?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± I placed my hand on the lid. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want me to just open it?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then when will you?¡± ¡°Later.¡± ¡°When exactly is ¡®later¡¯?¡± ¡°Later.¡± Seo Ye-in just kept shaking her head. In the end, the chaotic box opening was postponed yet again. *** After playing pillow for Kim Ho in the special training room for a while, I finally sent Seo Ye-in back to the dorms. I had some business to take care of. First, I tried sending a message to Dang Gyu-young. [Kim Ho: (Keng! Fox emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: (Keng! Fox emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: What] [Kim Ho: I have something to tell you] [Dang Gyu-young: What is it?] [Dang Gyu-young: (Curious fox emoji)] [Dang Gyu-young: (Fox with perked ears emoji)] [Kim Ho: Let¡¯s talk in person] [Dang Gyu-young: Where are you] The meeting place was the same as it often had been before. A bench on the outskirts of the walking trail. After grabbing two canned drinks from a nearby vending machine, I sat on the bench and waited. It wasn¡¯t long before I saw Dang Gyu-young walking toward me from a distance. I gave a small wave and started the conversation. ¡°You must be busy with club stuff, but thanks for coming.¡± ¡°Well, if our Kim Ho calls, I have to make time. Even when I don¡¯t have any.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled warmly and perched on the seat next to me. A moment later, she took the canned drink I handed her, and her eyes lit up. ¡°This is the one I always drink, huh?¡± ¡°You like sweet things, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Huhum. I like this kind of thoughtfulness.¡± Dang Gyu-young smiled even more brightly. After sipping her drink for a bit, she got to the point. ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡± ¡°I wanted to discuss some business.¡± ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°The auction house is opening soon, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm, that¡¯s right.¡± The downtown auction house. As one of the major events of the second semester, a large number of items that had been lying dormant in the inventories of students and faculty were released. They were even more valuable and rare than the ones that had appeared at the downtown marketplace in the first semester. It¡¯s easy if you think about it from the seller¡¯s perspective. If it was an item that everyone was eager to buy, there was no reason to list it on the marketplace and settle for a fixed price. It made more sense to raise the price as high as possible through an auction. Besides, if the competition got heated, there was a good chance the final price would go beyond expectations. Dang Gyu-young asked. ¡°So, do you have anything you want to buy?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll have to see the list first.¡± Just like with the downtown marketplace and the black market, the change in participating characters also influenced the items they held. No one could know for sure what would show up, but since it was still an auction, I figured there would be at least one or two things worth picking up. Dang Gyu-young asked again. ¡°Right, we¡¯ll think about that when the time comes. What about your points?¡± ¡°Not a lot. Around eighty thousand.¡± ¡°Eighty thousand¡¯s pretty decent for a first-year... but still a bit iffy.¡± The currency used in the auction was points. I had earned them through raids and replay sales and had saved them up without spending a single one throughout the first semester. For this very auction. Though it¡¯s only been one semester. Seniors had likely been accumulating points for two or even three years. That meant I couldn¡¯t compete with them in terms of purchasing power. Still, my eye for value was far superior, so it was possible I could pick up items no one else recognized at bargain prices. But in most cases, everyone wanted the good stuff. To get it, competition was inevitable. I¡¯ll probably need to be ready to spend at least 200,000 to 300,000 per item. To get more than two, you¡¯d need to prepare at least 600,000 to 700,000 points. Dang Gyu-young glanced sideways at me and asked. ¡°Want me to lend you some? I may not look it, but I¡¯m the club president, you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not why I brought it up.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be shy! Just say the word! Grab my wrist like this! Qyu, bring the money! Bring it all!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do things that make me look like a gigolo.¡± When I answered firmly, Dang Gyu-young pouted with a look of disappointment. ¡°Then what are you going to do? Pool it together with the others?¡± ¡°Not that either.¡± If it were Go Hyun-woo or Seo Ye-in, they¡¯d be just as willing as Dang Gyu-young to empty out their points for me. Maybe even Hong Yeon-hwa would, too. But they were all first-years like me, so even combined, we¡¯d only have about 400,000 to 450,000 points. Still not enough to reach the goal. More importantly, I had no intention of asking them for help. I planned to gather points in a different way. ¡°I¡¯m going to put something up for auction myself.¡± ¡°Hmm? I wonder what our senior who graduated many times has prepared this time?¡± Curiosity lit up Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face. Putting something up for auction meant having that much confidence. Confidence that everyone would want it and that it could bring in the hundreds of thousands of points I lacked. And just as she guessed, I answered with a quiet smile. No student at Dragon Slayer Academy would ever just pass this up. ¡°A strategy guide book.¡± Chapter 361: 1stWeek Rematch Part 4 Almost at the same time, it seemed that Seo Ye-in had also been matched. [Seo Ye-in 883 points vs. Wang Bin 735 points] Wang Bin was a name I had never seen before, but I had a strong hunch. No matter how you look at it, he¡¯s Wang Cheon-sam. A 0.8 promising student who usually hung around with Jang Moo-geuk, a promising student of the black faction. For some reason, those two always went around using aliases, but their naming sense was seriously terrible. Even now, wasn¡¯t it completely obvious? I decided to give them an earful the next time we met. I made a suggestion to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Wanna swap bracelets?¡± My dark cloud bracelet blocked physical attacks, While Seo Ye-in¡¯s cumulus cloud bracelet blocked magical attacks. But since Song Cheon-hye specialized in magic and Wang Cheon-sam was a physical type, it would be hard for us to benefit from them as-is. Seo Ye-in must have thought the same, because she nodded without hesitation and we exchanged bracelets. ¡°Well then, shall we go?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Make sure to take out Wang Cheon-sam with your pot too.¡± ¡°Clang.¡± Her gray eyes sparkled with determination. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa had been watching us exchange bracelets with a complicated expression in her eyes, one that I couldn¡¯t quite decipher. To her, I gave a small smile and spoke. ¡°You can get matched now. We¡¯ve both been matched.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm...!¡± ¡°Good luck.¡± ¡°Thanks, you too...¡± And finally, after giving a last wave, I stepped onto the teleportation magic circle. My vision flipped in an instant, and I found myself standing on what looked like a rugged, hilly terrain. The elevation wasn¡¯t that high, but since it was a hill, movement seemed like it would be somewhat inconvenient. Across from me, Song Cheon-hye was putting on black gloves on both hands. It was the kind of gear used by all-rounder-type mages. It was highly mobile and served a role similar to a staff. As she clenched and unclenched her fists once, she asked, ¡°You¡¯re not going to forfeit again, are you?¡± ¡°Well, should I?¡± I had no intention of forfeiting, but I pretended to hesitate on purpose. Because I knew that deep down, Song Cheon-hye had been looking forward to this match. If she thought I was only participating because I¡¯d been reluctantly convinced, maybe I could squeeze in one small condition. As expected, although she frowned slightly, Song Cheon-hye kept pressing. ¡°Why do you keep avoiding me? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re lacking in skill.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you rather go easy if you could? It¡¯s not like I¡¯d lose that many points even if I did lose this.¡± ¡°Mr. Lee Soo-dok probably warned you. He said he won¡¯t sit still if you slack off.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something for later me to worry about.¡± ¡°......¡± Just as she tried to persuade me again, I casually brought up my condition as if in passing. ¡°If you agree to keep this match private, maybe I¡¯ll reconsider.¡± ¡°......Fine. Let¡¯s proceed.¡± Considering what was about to happen, it was probably best to keep this one private. For both sides. After reaching an agreement, we finished our final preparations and soon the countdown began. [3] [2] [1] [Start!] [Kim Ho 100% vs. Song Cheon-hye 100%] [Time remaining: 9:58] Like in the previous two matches, I decided to open with a smokescreen. Pointing off to one side with a start, I shouted, ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not falling for that.¡± However, Song Cheon-hye kept her gaze firmly fixed on me, refusing to look away even for a second. I deliberately hardened my expression. ¡°...Did you see through it?¡± ¡°I watched all the replays. You divert their attention like that and then apply a debuff, right?¡± ¡°You already watched those?¡± This time, I was genuinely surprised. She¡¯d only stepped out for a quick coffee break, yet in that short time, she¡¯d managed to watch both replays? I bowed my head politely with exaggerated respect. ¡°Turns out you¡¯re not just a casual viewer. You¡¯re a real-time follower.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°Do you, by any chance, check every five minutes to see if a new Kim Ho replay has dropped? Refreshing the page nonstop?¡± ¡°No! I just happened to check and it was there!¡± ¡°Right, of course. You just ¡®happened¡¯ to watch both. I appreciate your dedication.¡± ¡°I said that¡¯s not true!¡± While Song Cheon-hye scrambled to make excuses, I saw my chance. The perfect opportunity to cast the mutual-destruction skill. [The target has been afflicted with the ¡®Poisoned (C)¡¯ status effect.] [Cooldown time: 00:00:59] I flashed a grin at Song Cheon-hye as she glared at me. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t let your guard down.¡± ¡°Wait, when did you¡ª?¡± ¡°Look at your knee.¡± ¡°......!¡± Song Cheon-hye quickly dropped her gaze and inspected her knee carefully. But soon after, she tilted her head and asked, ¡°...There¡¯s nothing there?¡± ¡°Of course there isn¡¯t.¡± There never was, really. She¡¯s easy to trick. I often noticed this, but she had a surprisingly gullible side to her. [Song Cheon-hye: 99%] Flaash! But in the next moment, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s body was enveloped in a radiant glow, and her health no longer dropped beyond that point. She had removed it using [Purification]. As expected, once you reached the top ranks, you started bringing utility skills as well. They always carried at least one way to remove debuffs. Did that make the mutual-destruction tactic meaningless? Not necessarily. That skill has a long cooldown. The cooldown for Purification was three minutes. In contrast, mutual destruction reset every minute. Unless she had another way to remove debuffs, it meant she would have to endure the next two strikes just as they were. And there¡¯s still the chance factor to consider. Purification removed debuffs based on a ¡°certain probability¡± and that probability varied depending on the rank difference between the Purification skill and the debuff skill, and how many stacks had accumulated. There was no way Song Cheon-hye¡¯s Purification was already at Rank B. At best, it was probably Rank C. That meant it was on par with my mutual destruction skill, so the chance of cleansing it was about 80%. If the debuffs stacked two or three times, the odds would drop even further. If she were incredibly lucky, she might break through that kind of probability easily¡ªbut whether Song Cheon-hye¡¯s luck would hold out remained to be seen. For now, I just have to buy time. At least until the next mutual destruction skill was ready. So I turned around with a spin and started running. Song Cheon-hye looked dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re seriously running away right now?¡± ¡°Is that not allowed?¡± ¡°Hah, unbelievable.¡± Despite letting out a frustrated breath, she came chasing after me. At the same time, she concentrated electricity into both hands and summoned three Hummingbirds into the air. Fzzzzzzzt! This time, it was my turn to be dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re using Hummingbirds on me?¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± ¡°Well, it can work, sure.¡± Whoooosh¡ª I cast Wind Force in a wide area. The Hummingbirds of lightning, shaken by the physical force of the opposing wind, trembled in midair before scattering away in vain. ¡°It¡¯s useless, that¡¯s why.¡± Just like that, the Hummingbirds couldn¡¯t even get close to me. Even after seeing that with her own eyes, Song Cheon-hye cast the Hummingbirds again. Fzzzzzt¡ª And then she stopped me just as I was about to respond with Wind Force. ¡°Wait a second.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just let me try once.¡± I had a pretty good idea of what she wanted me to watch. It was obviously her Hummingbird control. Since stalling for time like this actually worked in my favor, I gave a small nod, signaling her to go ahead. Fzzzzzt¡ª Two Hummingbirds flew toward me, tracing erratic paths through the air. One zigzagged from side to side, while the other spiraled in a sharp, angular pattern. I waited for the Hummingbirds to come close, then summoned a cumulus cloud and easily swallowed them up. Soon after, Song Cheon-hye asked in a slightly tense voice. ¡°...What do you think?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve definitely improved. Looks like you trained hard over the break.¡± ¡°I focused on control training.¡± When I acknowledged her progress, Song Cheon-hye¡¯s face lit up with confidence. Of course, that expression didn¡¯t last long. [The target has been afflicted with the ¡®Poisoned (C)¡¯ status effect.] [Cooldown Time: 00:00:58] Because I had activated the mutual destruction skill again. Song Cheon-hye¡¯s mouth opened slightly. ¡°Wait. When did you cast that again?¡± ¡°I told you to watch your knees.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Song Cheon-hye lifted each of her legs in turn and started checking her knees. ¡°What exactly is supposed to be there? There¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s continue now.¡± Since there was no reason to tell her, I turned my back and resumed my escape. [Song Cheon-hye 98%] [Song Cheon-hye 97%] [Time remaining: 7:42] From this point on, Song Cheon-hye began to show signs of growing nervousness. Her health would continue to drain, and if she failed to damage me within the remaining time, she would lose by decision. Crackle, Electricity crackled around her entire body, and with one hand gripping a thick bolt of lightning, she charged at me. It was clear she intended to close the gap and engage in close combat. But do you really think I¡¯ll just let that happen? When she had closed about half the distance, I cast [Ice Wall]. A thick wall of ice suddenly rose up from the ground. ¡°Ah.¡± Startled, Song Cheon-hye hastily changed direction and narrowly avoided crashing into the ice wall. However, because her speed dropped sharply, the distance between us widened once again. Song Cheon-hye voiced her frustration. ¡°Another ice wall?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a speed bump.¡± Of course, it was a pretty high one. The moment I said that and leaped diagonally, a lightning bolt grazed the spot where I had just been. She must¡¯ve thrown it in anger....but there was no way I was going to let myself get hit. Even after that, Song Cheon-hye continued the chase, firing off various lightning spells, but they either missed or were swallowed up by cumulus clouds. Then, once the cooldown was up, I cast the mutual destruction eye again. Whiiir¡ª This time, wind spiraled around Song Cheon-hye¡¯s body. It meant she had been afflicted with ¡°Weathering¡±. As she chased after me, Song Cheon-hye called out, ¡°Be honest. It wasn¡¯t the knee, was it?¡± ¡°This time, it was somewhere else.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Not telling.¡± [Song Cheon-hye 90%] [Song Cheon-hye 89%] Because the debuff had stacked twice, her health drained away twice as fast. Song Cheon-hye, equally twice as desperate, pushed her speed harder, but the gap between us showed no sign of closing. That was because I kept summoning speed bumps along the way. If she reacted even a little too late, she¡¯d end up kissing an ice wall. So she was probably on high alert, wondering when I¡¯d cast it again. [Time Remaining: 6:39] Amid all that, another minute passed, and finally the Purification cooldown was up. Just as Song Cheon-hye¡¯s body began to glow with a halo of light¡ª Fwhooosh... It dispersed weakly halfway through. She had failed the probability check. ¡°Ah...¡± Song Cheon-hye looked on the verge of tears. It meant she¡¯d have to suffer the debuff for at least three more minutes. And there was no guarantee the next Purification would succeed either. All in all, the situation only increased her need for close combat, so Song Cheon-hye kept chasing after me. And while waiting for the right moment, I cast the mutual-destruction eye again. Crackle. This time, it seemed the freeze effect had taken hold. Ice spread across Song Cheon-hye¡¯s ankles. Since she had been running at full speed, she tripped forward as if she¡¯d caught her foot on a rock and tumbled messily across the ground. If there had been sound effects, it probably would¡¯ve gone thud-thud-thud. And then, she stayed down without moving. ¡°......¡± If she had been incapacitated, she would¡¯ve been teleported out of the arena, so seeing her still there meant that wasn¡¯t the case. It didn¡¯t seem like a serious injury, either. But the slight, occasional tremble of her shoulders suggested she had taken a serious emotional hit. I walked over and poked her with sapling. ¡°Hey, are you crying?¡± Chapter 364: Funding (2) The strategy guidebook was practically the answer sheet when it came to dungeon raids. It contained high-quality information that couldn¡¯t be gleaned just from watching replays. The benefits gained from it were also considerable. Since it drastically reduced the difficulty. Anyone entering a dungeon risked their life or, at the very least, braced themselves for injury. That was because they didn¡¯t know what kind of powerful enemies they might face or what unexpected situations could arise. But if one could grasp and prepare for every single aspect from start to finish¡ª It became possible to proceed much more safely. That also meant saving on resources. Potions, scrolls, relics, and other items prepared for emergencies could be brought out unused. Each one came with a hefty price tag, so saving them essentially meant earning. And the extra rewards weren¡¯t bad either. There were bonus items, of course, but also skills and traits that could only be obtained from specific dungeons. A prime example was [Ghost Dance] obtained from the Villains Gathering. Most of these things likely weren¡¯t even known to exist. Considering how life-threatening dungeon runs already were, who had the luxury to poke around every corner like I did? In short, a strategy guidebook was no different from a treasure map. These facts had already been proven through my raids on the Black Death Dungeon, Villains Gathering, and the Teleportation Labyrinth, and I had confirmed the massive demand through the reactions of the club presidents. Dang Gyu-young gave a slight nod. ¡°This is definitely going to work. Smells like a jackpot. How many are you planning to sell?¡± ¡°Around fifteen to twenty copies per guidebook.¡± With the ranks ranging evenly from C to A. And naturally, I would focus on dungeons I wouldn¡¯t be entering myself. To be precise, I planned to focus on dungeons where the reward efficiency was relatively low, didn¡¯t suit my preferences, or had already been milked for everything they were worth. If I released them carelessly, there was a risk someone might preemptively enter the dungeons I intended to challenge or even snatch away the hidden pieces. Dang Gyu-young asked again. ¡°Fifteen to twenty per guidebook. Sounds good. So how many guidebooks?¡± ¡°Just two for the first run.¡± ¡°Going for that limited-edition vibe?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Would the strategy guidebook business end with just this one time? There would definitely be more opportunities in the future, so rather than mass-producing from the start, it was better to keep it moderately limited. The rarer an item, the more valuable it became. And as the value of volumes 1 and 2 rose, so would the value of volumes 3 and 4 when they were released later. After hearing that, Dang Gyu-young looked slightly puzzled. ¡°Then do you really need me involved? Feels like you could handle it fine on your own.¡± ¡°I do. You¡¯re very important Qyu.¡± ¡°What do you need Qyu for?¡± ¡°If I just upload it like this, it won¡¯t sell.¡± There was a high chance it wouldn¡¯t even fetch its proper value, let alone spark a bidding war. At those words, Dang Gyu-young frowned slightly and pondered for a moment, then nodded as realization dawned. ¡°...I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a matter of credibility.¡± No matter how well-made and content-rich a guidebook might be, if people couldn¡¯t trust it, it was no better than a scrap of paper. How could a buyer know? What if someone had planted misleading information out of malice? What if there was a deadly trap lying in wait where a hidden piece was supposed to be? In that case, rather than risking not only themselves but their party members too, most would prefer watching replays, even if they were lacking. And the more people thought that way, the lower the auction participation rate would become. Therefore, the trust issue had to be resolved at all costs. Dang Gyu-young rested her chin on her hand and thought for a while. ¡°The first thing that comes to mind is changing the author¡¯s name.¡± If the author name on the guidebook were changed to Dang Gyu-young¡¯s? It¡¯d be better than using my name as a first-year, but still not entirely trustworthy. Even if she was a club president, she didn¡¯t have much of a track record in the lower floors. Besides, I had no intention of borrowing her name anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll be using a pseudonym.¡± ¡°Hey, that just makes it harder. What are you thinking?¡± ¡°I told you. You¡¯re very important Qyu.¡± ¡°What do you need Qyu for?¡± ¡°We need promotion.¡± Next week was Strategy Battle Week. There were probably already quite a few parties bidding on dungeons and getting ready. And everyone could see who had bid on which dungeon; it was all publicly available. ¡°Let¡¯s pick out a few parties from that list.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of selling the guidebook to them?¡± ¡°Well, we have to let them try a sample somehow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Have you decided who to sell it to?¡± ¡°I need help with that part.¡± ¡°You really are relying on Qyu for the important stuff.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be very effective to hand it out to just anyone, so I planned to limit it to those who had some connection with either me or Dang Gyu-young. Even if they didn¡¯t trust an anonymous guidebook, they would trust Dang Gyu-young. It¡¯s a kind of guarantee. Those who got the guidebook that way might be skeptical at first, but in the end, they¡¯d use it. Once they cleared the dungeon, their trust would grow considerably. And so would their interest. ¡°Still, that alone might not be enough.¡± ¡°I do have something else in mind.¡± ¡°Of course you do~ I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got everything all planned out~¡± Dang Gyu-young gave me a playful glance, but I stayed serious. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, your role is the most important, noona.¡± ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯ll poke around here and there. But if it works out, I get a cut, right?¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯re in this together.¡± At that, Dang Gyu-young suddenly looked intrigued. ¡°Together? I like the sound of that.¡± ¡°You always only hear what you want to hear.¡± *** The Martial Arts Club. Kim Gap-doo had to deal with an unexpected visitor. That visitor, of course, was Dang Gyu-young. She had barged into someone else¡¯s clubroom and was casually looking around as if it were her own living room. Her eyes sparkled like she was on the hunt. From experience, he could already tell what was coming next. ¨C Hey, Kim Gap-doo. I¡¯m taking this chair. ¨C This table would go perfectly with that chair. ¨C This tea set is so pretty. Byeong-cheol¡¯s going to love it. ¨C You just bought it yesterday? Then buy another one. Or just sell it to me. Every time Dang Gyu-young paid a visit, one way or another, the Martial Arts Club¡ªor more precisely, Kim Gap-doo¡¯s inventory¡ªended up with one less item. So from his point of view, it was impossible to see her behavior in a positive light. I¡¯d like nothing more than to throw her out right now. However, he couldn¡¯t exactly kick her out. Because he still owed Dang Gyu-young quite a bit. He was the one who had proposed the bet in the first place, and he had been the one to wager recklessly, so he had no one to blame but himself. As he worked to calm the frustration burning inside him, Dang Gyu-young, having finished inspecting the clubroom, finally opened her mouth. ¡°Hey, Kim Gap-doo.¡± ¡°...Just take it.¡± Kim Gap-doo sighed in resignation and gave up quickly. But to his surprise, Dang Gyu-young widened her eyes as if she had no idea what he was talking about. ¡°What are you talking about? Take what?¡± ¡°...Wasn¡¯t that why you came? Then what is it?¡± In response, Dang Gyu-young started rummaging through her inventory and pulled out a thick bundle of papers. ¡°Take a look.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you see it.¡± Putting aside his suspicion for the moment, Kim Gap-doo quickly flipped through the bundle and checked its contents. And soon, a gleam appeared in his eyes. ¡°...A strategy guide.¡± And not just any strategy guide. This was for the dungeon his team was scheduled to enter next week. The timing was too perfect, which immediately raised his guard. ¡°What¡¯s your reason for showing this to me?¡± ¡°What do you think? If you¡¯re interested, buy it.¡± ¡°The source?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a certain anonymous expert.¡± ¡°.......¡± Kim Gap-doo still couldn¡¯t shake his suspicion, but then a memory suddenly surfaced in his mind. So he checked. ¡°This anonymous expert... are they the same one who gave out the strategy guide for the Teleportation Labyrinth?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Dang Gyu-young acknowledged it without hesitation. This much, she could reveal. And doing so would only help build credibility. Back during the Witch of Corruption Subjugation Raid¡ª Right before they entered the Teleportation Labyrinth, she had handed out a revised strategy guide to the club presidents she knew. The conversation that had taken place back then had been nearly identical to this one. ¨C A revised version? What¡¯s the source? ¨C Sorry, can¡¯t say. Whether you trust it or not is up to you. ¨C Do you trust it? ¨C Yeah, I do. ¨C ...Is that so? Then I¡¯ll trust it too. He had saved his life more than once thanks to that strategy guide. If that was the case, then this stack of papers in his hands would surely be just as useful. Kim Gap-doo made a quick decision. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it. How much?¡± ¡°Just 20,000 points.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cheaper than I expected.¡± He would¡¯ve been willing to pay 40,000¡ªno, even 50,000 for it. Of course, there was always a reason when something came cheap. Dang Gyu-young replied with a sly smile. ¡°But there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°A condition?¡± ¡°Mhmm, you have to go over it with your party members.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t tell you everything. So, are you buying it or not?¡± ¡°......¡± Kim Gap-doo quickly ran the numbers in his head. If he shared it with his party members, not only the existence of the strategy guide but also its contents would spread. In other words, he wouldn¡¯t be able to monopolize the information. Still, 20,000 isn¡¯t a bad deal. It was half the price he¡¯d expected. Even if it was one-time information that he couldn¡¯t keep to himself, it would more than pay off in value. Besides, there¡¯s no avoiding a leak anyway. This run was going to be recorded as a replay. In that case, it might be better to disclose the strategy guide from the start and use it to cement his position within the party. Once he finished weighing the pros and cons, Kim Gap-doo handed over the points. ¡°I¡¯ll accept the condition.¡± ¡°Thank you~¡± Now that their business was done, he figured she¡¯d leave. But then Dang Gyu-young pointed to a corner of the club room. ¡°Hey, that coffee machine looks pretty nice. Is it a new model?¡± ¡°I bought a new one. Someone took the one that was working well.¡± ¡°Our kids broke it.¡± ¡°...Take it.¡± *** Swordsmanship Club. Vice President¡¯s Office. Dang Gyu-young sat across from Jegal So-so and handed over the strategy guide, just as she had done with the other club presidents. Flipping through a few pages, Jegal So-so gave her usual gentle smile. But her eyes were sharp and piercing. ¡°Kim Ho wrote this, didn¡¯t he?¡± The writing style and structure were nearly identical to the strategy guides Kim Ho had written before. Even the information and details that would be nearly impossible for most to find were just like his work. ¡°Mhmm, it¡¯s Kim Ho.¡± Dang Gyu-young didn¡¯t bother denying it. She could tell from Jegal So-so¡¯s tone that she was 100% certain. This wasn¡¯t their first year knowing each other. Things like this were obvious by now. Jegal So-so smiled gently again. ¡°Then I have to buy it, no matter what the price is. But I heard you¡¯ve sold it elsewhere too.¡± ¡°Here and there.¡± ¡°If you really wanted to, I¡¯m sure you could¡¯ve sold it for even more... So, is there another reason?¡± A sharp observation. Dang Gyu-young stalled for a moment to buy time, pretending to be distracted, wondering whether to explain. In the end, she thought, Doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s a reason not to. In fact, if anything, it could work to her advantage. So Dang Gyu-young laid out the conversation she had with Kim Ho. What she didn¡¯t expect, however, was Jegal So-so¡¯s explosive reaction. ¡°S-Strategy guides...?¡± Even a single guide held immense value....and they were planning to sell a whole bundle of them? Jegal So-so suddenly jumped to her feet and tried to rush out the door. Dang Gyu-young blocked her path. ¡°Sho! What are you doing all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Get out of my way! I¡¯m going to see the Young Monarch!¡± ¡°Go where! Sit back down!¡± Jegal So-so turned her frustration toward Dang Gyu-young. ¡°Why do you get it all? You should share good stuff!¡± ¡°Share what? He¡¯s not a cake!¡± ¡°Just one bite!¡± ¡°Sho!¡± Chapter 365: Funding (3) [Dang Gyu-young: Keng-keng! Fox emoji] [Dang Gyu-young: Flustered fox emoji] [Dang Gyu-young: What are you doing] [Kim Ho: Just hanging around] [Dang Gyu-young: Sho wants to see you for a bit] [Kim Ho: Sure] [Kim Ho: Where should we meet?] [Dang Gyu-young: Snack bar (let¡¯s go)] There was only one possible reason she¡¯d suddenly want to see me. Must be about the strategy guide. With Jegal So-so¡¯s uncanny sense for these things, it wouldn¡¯t have taken her long to connect the sample guide I sent with the ones I¡¯d written before. I hadn¡¯t tried to hide it either. It was more beneficial to let her figure it out. If a major club like the Swordsmanship Club showed interest, the other clubs would naturally start paying attention too. As I waited in front of the snack bar with those thoughts, Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so appeared. Even as they walked over, they were bickering the whole time. Judging by the shapes of their mouths, the conversation probably went something like this: ¨C Just one bite! ¨C I said no! Jegal So-so kept pestering, and Dang Gyu-young stubbornly refused. I don¡¯t know what it is, but one bite wouldn¡¯t hurt, would it? But the moment they spotted me, they exchanged glances and smoothly changed the subject. Their vibe flipped instantly to cheerful and friendly, as if they hadn¡¯t just been arguing. It wasn¡¯t like I could ask, ¡°What were you just talking about?¡± without killing the mood, so I decided to let it go for now. Soon, Jegal So-so smiled warmly and waved. ¡°Hi, Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Want something to drink? My treat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have a coffee, thank you.¡± Soon, I was holding an iced coffee, while Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so each carried a frappuccino loaded with whipped cream as we headed to a table. Figures. Typical childhood friends, even their tastes are similar. We exchanged small talk for a while. Things like how our vacation went, how she¡¯d heard I got mentored by Qyu, whether anything happened while we lived together for a month, and so on. When the topic of ¡°33 Bar¡± came up, her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Seriously? She ate that in one bite?¡± ¡°Mhmm, like a squirrel stuffing its cheeks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit much.¡± Dang Gyu-young didn¡¯t chime in but kept pouting as if she was clearly displeased. Her frappuccino was disappearing quickly too, as if it shared her annoyance. Eventually, Jegal So-so got to the point. ¡°I heard you¡¯re planning to put the strategy guides up for auction.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± ¡°I feel a little awkward asking this, but... how about selling them to us instead? We¡¯ll match the price.¡± She was suggesting that instead of auctioning them off, I could just sell them to her directly at the expected final bid price. A few hundred thousand points per volume wasn¡¯t a small sum, even for a third-year club vice president. It¡¯d be easier for her if the Swordsmanship Club paid for it collectively, but even then, it¡¯s not exactly pocket change. Of course, she must¡¯ve already crunched the numbers before coming here. No matter how much it cost, she must¡¯ve decided it would be worth it. Even if a dungeon¡¯s core was destroyed, it would regenerate after a certain time. And if you had a perfect strategy for that dungeon, you could harvest items from it steadily. Like mining ore from a quarry. By managing the dungeons that way and collecting items regularly, they¡¯d eventually pass the break-even point. And she probably figured it wouldn¡¯t take that long, which is why she was making such a bold offer. From my end, selling directly to the Swordsmanship Club would certainly be less of a hassle. But I gave her a polite reply. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t think I can do that this time.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who should apologize for bringing it up out of nowhere. If it¡¯s okay, can I ask why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m putting the strategy guide up for auction partly for the points, but also for the exposure.¡± A strategy guide packed with incredible information exists, and everyone¡¯s scrambling to outbid each other to get their hands on it? There¡¯s no better way to advertise than that. If I made a private deal with the Swordsmanship Club, I might earn points quickly, but I¡¯d have to give up the exposure. In the long run, that¡¯d be a loss. After hearing this much, Jegal So-so seemed convinced. But then something clicked in her mind, and her eyes lit up. ¡°So when you say exposure... that means you¡¯re planning to keep selling them?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± There¡¯s no way I¡¯d stop after just one lucky sale with a business this good. I plan to print a copy here and there and sell them over time. I let a small smirk rise on my lips. ¡°When that time comes, I won¡¯t insist on auctions.¡± ¡°You know our Swordsmanship Club, right?¡± ¡°I do. You give good offers.¡± Jegal So-so grinned back, clearly satisfied. Once the conversation wrapped up, Dang Gyu-young who had been watching from the side asked, ¡°So, what about Volumes 1 and 2? Are you going to bid on them?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Jegal So-so answered without a second of hesitation. She didn¡¯t manage to buy them from me directly, but that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d given up on getting the strategy guides. She fully intended to participate in the auction. ¡°The Swordsmanship Club will take both volumes.¡± Her voice brimmed with confidence. *** After that, Dang Gyu-young sold the strategy guides to a few other senior members. Pang Mi-ryeong, the Swordsmanship Club¡¯s raid leader, Jeong Chong-myeong, the president of the White Magic Club, and Hong Ye-hwa, the president of the Ruby Magic Club. Even with steep discounts for promotional purposes, I still earned over 100,000 points, which says a lot about how valuable the strategy guides were. That should be everything I can do for now. From this point on, it was a waiting game. In order for the effects of the strategy guide to be felt and for word to spread, the seniors naturally had to enter the dungeon. And for that to happen, the strategy battle week needed to arrive. While waiting, as usual, I focused on building up my stats. I practically lived in the special training room and squeezed in ranking matches with Seo Ye-in whenever I could. Of course, I didn¡¯t forget to apply Hardship whenever its cooldown reset. [¡®Seo Ye-in¡¯ has been granted ¡®Stage 4 Hardship¡¯.] The sloth had already paid in advance and was dozing off on a Kim Ho pillow, so as promised, she entered Stage 4. Thankfully, there wasn¡¯t a time limit on sleep duration this time. ¨C This should be doable, right? ¨C ...Confirmed. A few days later, when the cooldown reset again, I cast Hardship on Hong Yeon-hwa. [¡®Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯ has been granted ¡®Stage 6 Hardship¡¯.] From what I heard, this quest also involved enhancing the Hydra. Since she seemed to be handling it well on her own, I decided not to interfere unless she asked for advice. Next is Dang Gyu-young, then Go Hyeon-woo. From what I¡¯d heard, they were likely to finish before the cooldown even expired. With four people on the team, all incredibly talented, their quest-clear speed was naturally fast. Thanks to [Time Share], I had already reduced the cooldown by more than half, and yet I still ended up with small idle gaps. Would¡¯ve been nice if I could¡¯ve pulled off some tricks. Unfortunately, every trick I could think of was blocked. For example, if I could just transfer [Hardship] using [Enchantment], I could hand out quests almost indefinitely and even apply quests to myself. Skills and traits granted through [Enchantment] used the recipient¡¯s cooldown timer, after all. But regrettably, [Hardship] was my unique skill, so it couldn¡¯t be granted in the first place. The same applied to things like [Amplification] and [Monarch]. [Time Share] can be granted, but the problem is, they can¡¯t actually use it. To use a skill, a certain level of understanding in the relevant field was required. I might be a stagnant water who could do everything except the things I don¡¯t know, but I couldn¡¯t expect the same from the others. Even if I gave Go Hyeon-woo Hummingbird, would he really be able to control it freely and land hits with precision? Likewise, even if I gave Shin Byeong-cheol Wind Force, it¡¯d be unrealistic to expect him to push, pull, and toss enemies around like I do. [Time Share], in particular, was a space-time skill with an especially high level of difficulty. It wasn¡¯t something you could just teach. And even if you could, it would probably be a painful process. For all these reasons, trying to game the system through Enchantment just wasn¡¯t a viable option. Still, no need to rush. Even just rotating [Hardship] among the four of them from the start of the semester was already a fast enough pace. And it¡¯s the kind of problem that¡¯ll solve itself soon enough. [Hardship] gets more difficult and time-consuming as the stages go up, so the further we go, the more breathing room we¡¯ll probably have. Of course, the more ways I have to shorten cooldowns, the better. So I¡¯ll keep looking. The next thing on my mind: I should go check out the statue. To pay the dimensional crow for its work, I needed to prepare an item that was both dazzling and artistically valuable. As part of that plan, I¡¯d left some spare Kraketite and rubies with the sculpture club. That was before the finals, so by now, the results should definitely be ready. With that, I headed over to the sculpture club. After finding the tucked-away clubroom, I gave the door a light knock. ¡ªKnock, knock, knock. ¡°Come in.¡± Back when I first came here, I had to knock for a while. But today, I got a reply almost immediately. The club president was a second-year, so I gave a polite bow as I stepped inside. ¡°Hello, senior.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s you.¡± The sculpture club president seemed to remember me. Was it because the materials I used for the request were so rare? Or because I¡¯d acted a bit too brazenly for a first-year? Maybe both. Either way, I must¡¯ve left quite the impression. The club president wasn¡¯t at the workbench but was instead sitting in a corner of the clubroom, scribbling something in a sketchbook. It must not have been a task that required much focus, because the reply came quickly. Of course, the expression on her face still read, ¡°Get to the point and leave,¡± just like before, so I skipped the small talk and got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯d like to check on the sculpture I requested earlier.¡± ¡°Oh, that. It¡¯s done.¡± The sculpture club president responded casually, then led me to a display shelf in the corner of the room. There, a deep blue metallic octopus sculpture stood with its arms curling and stretching in every direction. On top of that, it had been exquisitely decorated here and there with sapphires. So that¡¯s how she used them. Back then, the president had said that Kraketite and rubies didn¡¯t go well together, and suggested using sapphires instead. I respected her opinion and made the request accordingly. Since I didn¡¯t have any sapphires on hand at the time, I paid with rubies instead. Plus, I¡¯d even provided a chunk of Kraketite, so all in all, I¡¯d put quite a bit into it. But looking at the result, it more than earned its value. [Octopus Sculpture (A)] With no special options, it earned an A-rank purely for its artistic value. You don¡¯t get that kind of rank just from using quality materials. Even though she was a second-year and just a club president, I hadn¡¯t expected much....but clearly, her skills far exceeded my expectations. I felt genuinely satisfied. ¡°It turned out great. Thank you.¡± ¡°I had fun making it too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be asking for your help again in the future.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t come too often. It¡¯s a hassle.¡± The sculptor club president replied up to that point, then returned to her seat and opened her sketchbook. That was her way of saying, ¡°You¡¯ve got what you came for, now leave.¡± She really did seem bothered. I let out a small chuckle, then gave a final respectful bow. And as I left the clubroom, I thought to myself: At this rate, I might be able to move the plan up a little. Originally, I¡¯d planned to gather more trade materials before visiting the crow, but unexpectedly, the sculpture had ended up with an A-rank. That should be enough to ask for at least something, even if it¡¯s small. I¡¯ll go see it next week. Chapter 366: 2nd and 3rd Week Large Scale Dungeon (1) Late at night. Song Cheon-hye tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Not just tonight. It had been like this all week. The reason? Kim Ho. More precisely, the mysterious debuff skill he had revealed for the first time in this week¡¯s duel battle. What on earth triggers it? She had replayed the ten minutes she spent fighting Kim Ho dozens of times but couldn¡¯t find a clear answer. All it did was tangle her thoughts. ¨C You can¡¯t lose focus. Watch your knees. ¨C I told you, be careful of your knees. ¨C Catch me if you can~ Knees? What about them? What did he do to the knees! If only there had been a replay, she could¡¯ve analyzed it in more detail.... but unfortunately, the match had been private. He might have anticipated this and requested it not be recorded. Nothing to do now but make do with other replays. With that thought, Song Cheon-hye pulled out two crystal balls. They contained the replays of Kim Ho¡¯s matches against Yang Ji-hong and Son Hyeong-taek. Their situation had been no different from hers. Debuffed, turned into walking time bombs, and left to desperately chase Kim Ho around until the match ended. He¡¯s so annoying. Completely unfair. Despite muttering complaints, Song Cheon-hye played the replays over and over again. It wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d done this either. She had already watched them dozens of times. And yet, the exact condition for the debuff skill remained a mystery. ...Don¡¯t tell me it triggers just from making eye contact. That thought crossed her mind for a brief moment. But she brushed it off with a self-deprecating laugh. No way. That would be far too ridiculous. There¡¯s no way such an overpowered skill exists in this world. Grasping at random ideas just because she couldn¡¯t find an answer...Song Cheon-hye knew that was a bad habit. There had to be some condition she wasn¡¯t aware of. If I just straight-up ask him... he probably won¡¯t tell me. Not knowing the trigger for the debuff was a huge advantage. From Kim Ho¡¯s perspective, there was no reason to give up that edge. He¡¯d most likely respond like this: ¨C If you¡¯re curious, use a wish ticket. So, after several days of deliberation, she came to one conclusion. A bet is the only way. Win a series of wagers, strip him of his wish tickets, and collect more of her own. Then she could either get her answers or challenge him to a direct duel....whatever she wanted. This time, I¡¯m going to win for sure. Song Cheon-hye renewed her resolve. *** Monday. Strategy Battle class. Seo Cheong-yong¡¯s demeanor hadn¡¯t changed at all between the first and second semesters. Wearing his usual gentle smile, he slowly swept his gaze across the room. One thing he had in common with Lee Soo-dok was that his eyes lingered on Kim Ho longer than anyone else. So many teachers seem to love giving me attention. Soon, Seo Cheong-yong smiled again and began to speak. ¡°There¡¯s an important announcement first. Starting this week, students who have earned over 10,000 points in Strategy Battle can now access the E-Floor.¡± 5,000 points earned you access to the F-Floor. 10,000 got you access to the E-Floor. Seo Cheong-yong glanced at Kim Ho and a few others. There was a subtle hint of meaning in his gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the top students are already approaching 20,000 points. At this rate, you¡¯ll reach the D-Floor in no time.¡± In fact, students like Kim Ho, Go Hyeon-woo, and Seo Ye-in had already surpassed 15,000. They had finished nearly every Strategy Battle with the highest score, and their midterm and final exam results were outstanding. Even among first-years. Scoring 5,600 points in just the final exam says it all. At this pace, just like Seo Cheong-yong said, they¡¯d hit 20,000 points in no time. You do need to pass a separate test to get access to the D-Floor, though. Some students just mindlessly repeat the F-Floor dungeons, so starting from the D-Floor, additional conditions are required beyond just accumulating points. The academic office designated a specific dungeon and then reviewed the student¡¯s clearing process to decide whether to grant access. Of course, that wasn¡¯t something worth worrying about right now, since we didn¡¯t even have the necessary points yet. Seo Cheong-yong only mentioned it briefly, then continued the lesson. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk about the next Strategy Battle. Even if dungeons are the same rank, their size can vary drastically.¡± For example, in the Defense Strategy Battle, the goal was to protect the Goddess Statue, so it took place within the extremely confined space of a temple. The Rainbow Lake, where Gap-doo Fish appeared, was also limited to the lake and its surrounding area. On the other hand, there were huge dungeons like the deserted island from the midterms or the Iron Maiden from the finals. So large you could walk around all day without finding an exit. Seo Cheong-yong continued. ¡°It goes without saying, but the larger the dungeon, the longer it takes to clear. The difficulty tends to go up as well.¡± Just moving around takes up a lot of time, and sometimes the objectives are scattered all over the place. There¡¯s a high chance you¡¯ll be spending several days inside the dungeon. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ll need to prepare much more thoroughly. During the midterms and finals, the evaluation standards were different, so we deliberately left out that aspect.¡± The key focus of the midterms was crystals; for the finals, it was a hostile environment. Too many rules could become distracting, so supplies were either dropped periodically or hidden in secret rooms. ¡°But this time, you¡¯ll be preparing everything yourselves and clearing the dungeon from start to finish.¡± Rules and environmental conditions appeared on the board. MAP: [Large Scale Dungeon] RULE: [4-Person Team] [Custom Rules] ¡°Some of you might be going underground for the first time this semester, so I¡¯ll say it again: You can only earn Strategy Battle points in designated dungeons. You must submit a replay recording. No exceptions.¡± There was nothing surprising about this, and most students nodded in understanding. ¡°Lastly, for this Strategy Battle, you¡¯ll be given plenty of time. The dungeon area will be open for two weeks.¡± In the first semester, the scale of Duel Battles and Strategy Battles was small, so they were held on alternating weeks. But in the second semester and especially from the next academic year onward, it won¡¯t be unusual for a single practical evaluation to take up several weeks. ¡°We¡¯ve got plenty of time, so it¡¯s best to analyze things carefully and prepare thoroughly, right? Then, I wish you the best of luck!¡± *** As soon as class ended, students immediately started gathering in groups, forming parties, and discussing which dungeon to enter. We were no different. Go Hyeon-woo looked quite pleased. ¡°Good thing it¡¯s a four-person limit. That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°Lots of spots available.¡± Seo Ye-in chimed in after him. When it was a two-person rule, Go Hyeon-woo usually gave up his spot to Seo Ye-in and paired up with Shin Byeong-cheol instead. He acted like he didn¡¯t mind, but it was clear he felt a bit disappointed. But now that it was a four-person rule, we actually needed to bring in one more person. Sensing the situation instantly, Shin Byeong-cheol sidled over and casually approached us. ¡°Well, well, everyone. Looks like you¡¯ve got a spot left. Any interest in recruiting a trap master, an expert in mechanical magic?¡± ¡°Sorry. We¡¯re full.¡± ¡°...Full?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol looked around, as if wondering who besides him could possibly be the fourth. And then he locked eyes with Hong Yeon-hwa who was approaching from behind. As soon as she confirmed it was a four-person dungeon, she had messaged us and come over from another class. Hong Yeon-hwa gave Shin Byeong-cheol a cold stare. ¡°You want to compete with me?¡± ¡°Oh no, not at all. I had no idea you already had a full party. Well then, good luck to you all. Hope you get lots of loot. Fighting! Hehe...¡± Shin Byeong-cheol quickly backed away and began scouting out another party. ¡°......¡± Even after that, Hong Yeon-hwa continued glaring at Shin Byeong-cheol for a while, and for some reason, it reminded me of a puppy fiercely guarding its food bowl. But when our eyes met, her expression softened immediately, as if nothing had happened. Anyway, since our party was now complete, I looked at the three of them in turn and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else. It¡¯s way too noisy here.¡± ¡°That would be best.¡± Whether we headed to the store or found a quiet bench somewhere, it would be better than staying in the classroom. Just as we were about to walk off¡ª ¡°Excuse me.¡± Surprisingly, Song Cheon-hye called out to me. Beside her, Han So-mi was cheerfully waving her hand with a bright smile. I jerked my chin over my shoulder and said, ¡°Our party¡¯s full.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s not why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± At that, Song Cheon-hye hesitated slightly before lowering her voice. ¡°...Can we talk for a minute?¡± ¡°Is it something you can¡¯t say here?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Whatever it was, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s face lit up with curiosity, and Hong Yeon-hwa looked around in confusion. Of course, it probably wasn¡¯t for the reason they were thinking. It¡¯s obviously about the wish ticket. I had brought up the wish-ticket bet on the first day of the duel battle week, but now that a whole week had passed without any follow-up, she must have been getting impatient. And asking to talk in private likely meant she didn¡¯t feel great about it. She was part of the disciplinary committee, after all. What would it look like to others if she seemed obsessed with a bet or swayed by a wish ticket? I understood how she felt, so I took her to a corner of the classroom. Even though I already knew, I asked the obvious question out of courtesy. ¡°So, what is it?¡± ¡°When are we doing it?¡± ¡°The bet?¡± ¡°Yes. You said you¡¯d bring it up when the time was right.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Nothing¡¯s come to mind yet.¡± ¡°Then... would it be okay if I suggested something?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it first.¡± At that, Song Cheon-hye took a small breath, looking slightly tense, and then spoke. ¡°This upcoming large-scale dungeon. Let¡¯s bet on who clears it first.¡± ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re confident.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bring it up if I wasn¡¯t. So, are you in?¡± It made sense for the four members of the Disciplinary Committee to be confident. Even if I didn¡¯t count myself, by standard four-person party metrics, they probably had the upper hand. From my perspective, it wasn¡¯t a bad offer either. Challenging the author of strategy guides with a strategy-based bet....how naive. Of course, I didn¡¯t say any of that aloud. Instead, I paused on purpose before nodding. ¡°Sounds fair enough. But we should set some conditions. We¡¯re going into an E-rank dungeon.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. We are too.¡± ¡°Well, you are the Disciplinary Committee. So, what kind of wish are we betting? Small, medium, or large?¡± Apparently, Song Cheon-hye hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead, and she hesitated for a moment. After a brief pause, she answered. ¡°...Let¡¯s go with a small one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit underwhelming. Come on, we might as well go big if we¡¯re doing this.¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°...We¡¯re just starting small! From the next bet, it¡¯ll be medium.¡± Song Cheon-hye was clearly irritated, but she didn¡¯t fall for the provocation. Maybe she was being cautious since it had been a while since her last bet. Pushing further would probably backfire. There¡¯d be plenty more chances after today anyway. So I simply nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it that way. Just to be clear though. Don¡¯t rush it or cut corners. You could get hurt in the lower levels.¡± ¡°Of course. Safety comes first, then the practical evaluation.¡± ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll see you after it¡¯s done.¡± With that, we wrapped up our conversation and returned to our respective parties. Chapter 367: 2nd and 3rd Week Large Scale Dungeon (2) Like I originally intended, I moved with my party members to a quieter spot. Fortunately, there was a table available, so we sat around it, and Go Hyeon-woo was the first to speak. ¡°Based on experience, I¡¯d wager that you, Kim-hyung, already have a destination in mind.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re heading to the White Wolf Tribe territory.¡± The White Wolf Tribe was a branch of werewolves, known for their white fur, just like their name suggested. Most of them inhabited polar regions and were known for wielding ice-type skills. And the dungeon we were entering this time was #566, the White Wolf Tribe territory. The objective was to endure waves of attacks as we crossed their land and ultimately defeat the boss monster. The chieftain of the tribe. Go Hyeon-woo asked again, ¡°May I ask why you chose that place?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. The rewards are great. Of course, the difficulty is pretty high too.¡± To be precise, it was rated above E+ rank. It was practically a D-rank dungeon. Naturally, no one had any complaints about that. Especially Go Hyeon-woo who actually looked more enthusiastic. ¡°A higher level of difficulty? Sounds promising.¡± ¡°And another reason we picked it is because it suits us. It¡¯s an ice-themed dungeon.¡± The perfect stage for Hong Yeon-hwa to shine. Thanks to her unique trait [Aqua Flame], most ice-type monsters wouldn¡¯t even be able to resist. They¡¯d just melt away. ¡°.....!¡± Hong Yeon-hwa already looked excited. Her expression was full of anticipation. On the other hand, as soon as she heard the word ¡°ice¡±, Seo Ye-in¡¯s motivation seemed to plummet. In a rare move, she raised her hand to express her opinion. ¡°I object.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± The sloth really was sensitive to the cold. She could sleep so deeply that she wouldn¡¯t notice being carried away, but even the slightest chilly breeze could wake her up. And since the dungeon was almost certainly going to be full of cold winds, she was already dreading the idea of going. Still, that was only an issue of motivation. Her skills didn¡¯t drop much because of it. Of course, motivation does matter, but it wasn¡¯t enough of a reason to give up the opportunity for Hong Yeon-hwa to shine and consider a different dungeon. There¡¯s also a specific reason we need to go to this one. So I made a suggestion to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Then how about we decide by majority vote? I vote yes.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa rolled her eyes. It looked like she didn¡¯t want to go against Seo Ye-in, but she also didn¡¯t want to give up a rare chance like this. Carefully, she raised her hand. ¡°I-I¡¯m okay with it...¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in looked between the two of us, then raised her other hand. ¡°Against.¡± ¡°You already voted against it.¡± ¡°Two votes.¡± Now that¡¯s just unreasonable. Raising both hands doesn¡¯t give you two votes. And even if I let that slide, the outcome wouldn¡¯t change. Naturally, everyone turned to Go Hyeon-woo, and he gave a sheepish smile. ¡°Haha... Sorry, Miss Seo. I¡¯d like to follow Kim-hyung¡¯s lead. This dungeon piqued my interest quite a bit.¡± ¡°......¡± The current vote tally was three in favor, two against (not really). A look of desperation spread across Seo Ye-in¡¯s face. Then, as if something came to mind, she eagerly rummaged through her inventory. But it seemed she couldn¡¯t find what she was looking for. I had a pretty good guess, so I asked gently, ¡°Looking for the tiger plushie?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± ¡°Guess it¡¯s in the dorm, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get it.¡± ¡°Get it? Like it¡¯s some object? Then the plushie can¡¯t vote.¡± Seo Ye-in paused for a few seconds, then changed her wording. ¡°...I¡¯ll go bring her.¡± ¡°Too late. Voting¡¯s over.¡± ¡°No way...¡± Seo Ye-in¡¯s shoulders slumped in defeat. Since the matter was already settled, I didn¡¯t bother pointing out that the tiger plushie was just a toy. Returning to the original topic, I continued my explanation. ¡°The last reason¡¯s kind of personal. I want to grab a hidden piece.¡± ¡°What kind of hidden piece are you talking about?¡± ¡°A dimensional crow appears.¡± According to the stagnant water¡¯s big data, a crow craftsman is expected to visit Dungeon No. 566 tomorrow. At that, not only Go Hyeon-woo but even Hong Yeon-hwa looked intrigued. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that dimensional crows are incredibly powerful beings.¡± ¡°Just watch from the sidelines. Don¡¯t pick a fight.¡± ¡°Haha, is that supposed to be advice?¡± I then explained the dungeon¡¯s progression from start to finish and handed out a short guidebook to each of them. ¡°We won¡¯t follow the replay exactly, so focus on the guide instead.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°M-Mhmm.¡± The three nodded in agreement without complaint. Next, we began preparing the necessary supplies. We¡¯d be spending two to three days in the cold after entering the dungeon. The thermal effect of our school uniforms alone wouldn¡¯t be enough, so each of us prepared a set of winter clothing. We also packed plenty of heat packs. Next came food. We swept various instant foods from the school store into our inventories. Even if they were just instant meals, they were still way better than the calorie bars for finals week. Lastly, we borrowed various camping supplies from the future camping enthusiast, Dang Gyu-young. Though she did have a few complaints during the process. ¨C Hey, why are only you guys going? You¡¯re leaving me out? ¨C It¡¯s part of the practical exam. We can¡¯t take a third-year with us. ¨C I¡¯ll be a first-year starting today. Just let me join! ¨C Senior, please don¡¯t be unreasonable. ¨C Ugh, whatever. I¡¯m upset now. Hurry up and make it up to me! Though she kept grumbling, Dang Gyu-young eventually lent us a tent, a camping stove, and more. The next day. We gathered in front of the dungeon building at the appointed time and began descending the stairs to the basement. Since No. 566 was located near the very bottom of the E-floor, it would normally take a long walk to get there. But we already had E-floor access. After switching elevators a few times, we got there in no time. [No.566] [White Wolf Tribe Territory] Everyone put on their winter gear. I looked over each of my companions and spoke. ¡°If everyone¡¯s ready, let¡¯s move out. I¡¯m going first.¡± With that, I stepped into the portal. The next moment, I found myself standing in the middle of a snow-covered forest. A cold blizzard kept lashing against my face. Whoooosh¡ª! Soon after, Go Hyeon-woo, Seo Ye-in, and Hong Yeon-hwa came through the portal one by one, only to be hit by the same fierce wind. Whoooosh¡ª! Seo Ye-in immediately flinched. She seemed to try hiding behind me to escape the wind, but then, to my surprise, she gave Hong Yeon-hwa a little nudge. ¡°Fire...¡± ¡°M-Me?¡± ¡°Fire...¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. Just a second.¡± In a rush, our portable lighter chanted a spell over her. Red magic circles appeared on the ground, and a pillar of flame shot upward. Fwoooosh¡ª! The blaze was so intense that the snow around it melted instantly, exposing the ground beneath. The air grew noticeably warmer. Drawn to the heat, Seo Ye-in slowly crept closer. She probably wanted to warm up as much as possible. ¡°So warm...¡± ¡°Warm is nice, but look over there.¡± I stopped her for a moment and pointed in one direction. Through the blizzard, we could make out the silhouette of a structure. It was a totem set up by the White Wolf Tribe. It was the source of the blizzard and enhanced ice-type skills within its range. For now, the fire pillar was keeping the area warm, but its magic had a time limit. To keep it going, Hong Yeon-hwa would have to keep feeding it mana. The totem, on the other hand, generated the blizzard just by existing. ¡°We need to destroy it, right?¡± ¡°Destroy it...¡± Despite shivering, Seo Ye-in pulled out her magic gun and shifted it into rifle mode. Seeing that, I asked, ¡°Can you hit it from here?¡± ¡°I can...¡± The totem was quite far, and visibility was terrible due to the snowstorm, so I figured we¡¯d have to get closer. But maybe her eyesight was just that good....or maybe the cold had her pushing her skills to 120%. Seo Ye-in aimed at the totem for a few seconds, then pulled the trigger. Boom¡ª! The next moment, the totem snapped in half at the waist and collapsed, and the blizzard noticeably let up. Our once-blurry vision also cleared up significantly. In many ways, it was now much easier to move. Top priority is securing a safe zone, then meeting the crow. And conveniently, both objectives could be accomplished in the same place. So I scanned the surroundings, picked a direction, and began to lead the way. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± After walking for a while, the blizzard, which had quieted down, suddenly grew fierce again. Immediately, Seo Ye-in ducked behind my back. I pointed off into the distance to the right. ¡°There¡¯s another one, right?¡± ¡°A totem.¡± ¡°We need to destroy that too, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Destroy it...¡± When Seo Ye-in sniped the totem, just like before, the blizzard and cold weakened. Of course, this was only the second one. Totems were scattered all throughout White Wolf territory. So we had to keep stopping to destroy them after walking just a bit, over and over again. Watching us, Go Hyeon-woo commented, ¡°Thanks to Miss Seo, we¡¯re saving ourselves a lot of trouble.¡± ¡°No need to go all the way there.¡± If we had to approach each totem directly, the travel distance would easily double. And the chances of encountering combat on the way would also increase. On the other hand, with a ranged class in the party like now, all that hassle was significantly reduced. That was one of the reasons we chose this dungeon in the first place. ¡°There¡¯s another totem.¡± ¡°Taking it out.¡± Thunk! Clearing the totems as we went, we eventually came upon a gently sloping hill. At the top was a relatively open space. In the center stood a wide, flat rock like an airship dock. It was similar to the one we saw at Rainbow Lake. Which meant the crow would appear here. Now all that¡¯s left is to wait for it to show up. No need to just stand around shivering in the cold. So I said something everyone would be glad to hear. ¡°Let¡¯s start a fire first.¡± ¡°Campfire.¡± Seo Ye-in who was uncharacteristically enthusiastic jumped in. Apparently, the cold had turned even a sloth into an energetic person. Although Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa didn¡¯t show it, they must have been feeling the cold too. They each began carrying out their roles without hesitation. When Go Hyeon-woo swung his sword with brush-like grace, a large tree was sliced apart in an instant and turned into firewood. Seo Ye-in and I carried the pieces over and stacked them neatly, while Hong Yeon-hwa skillfully controlled her fire magic. Fwoosh, The large pile of firewood caught fire, and the surrounding temperature began to rise quickly. It wasn¡¯t an ordinary fire, but one enhanced with Aqua Flame. Its effect at driving away the cold was several times stronger. Thanks to that, the area warmed up in no time, and we spent our time basking in the heat. Seo Ye-in had already begun dozing off. We decided to let her rest for the time being, checking the time periodically. Then, when the moment came, I stood up. ¡°It¡¯s about to appear.¡± ¡°.......!¡± At my words, the group quickly gathered near the rock. They then focused their attention as if determined not to miss a single detail. Moments later, the air rippled violently a few times, and a dark figure burst out. It flapped its wings furiously and landed on the rock. ¡°Caw.¡± Its appearance was slightly different from the crow tailor and the crow sage I had seen before. It wore something like overalls, and a variety of tools hung from its waist. The Crow Craftsman. Chapter 368: 2nd and 3rd Week Large Scale Dungeon (3) The Crow Craftsman, just like the others before, casually ignored Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa. Even Dang Gyu-young didn¡¯t catch his eye, so it was no surprise those two didn¡¯t either. But when he spotted me, he flapped his wings violently. That reaction meant I was something truly unusual to him. I thought he¡¯d immediately start talking about the ¡°Young Monarch¡± again, but his dramatic reaction didn¡¯t stop there. As soon as he saw Seo Ye-in, he flinched and began hopping in place in shock. ¡°Caw!! Young Monarch, what in the world is this!?¡± How would I know? Our lucky charm still has plenty of secrets. She claims even she doesn¡¯t know what they are. Of course, if I said that out loud, there was a risk of being underestimated. It¡¯d sound like I brought her here without knowing what she really is. And getting underestimated in a situation like this could easily ruin negotiations. So I responded calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She won¡¯t eat you.¡± ¡°Then why did you bring her?¡± ¡°Just to let her watch from the side. Is that a problem?¡± ¡°Caw, I suppose that¡¯s fine!¡± The Crow Craftsman seemed to accept that explanation. Since things were going smoothly, I got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯d like you to craft an item.¡± ¡°My commission fees are high, Young Monarch. Can you afford it?¡± ¡°How about this?¡± I took out the Kraketite Octopus Statue from my inventory. As expected, the Crow Craftsman¡¯s attention was immediately caught. Leaning forward eagerly, he asked, ¡°Caw! I¡¯ve never seen something like this! May I take a closer look?¡± ¡°Be my guest.¡± I agreed readily, and the octopus statue floated up and flew over to him. The Crow Craftsman examined it from every angle, then started hopping up and down in excitement. ¡°Caw, a shiny octopus! I want it!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as payment enough, then.¡± ¡°Yes! Tell me what you want!¡± I showed him my weapon first. [Deep-Root Sapling] was a modular weapon. At the bottom was the ritual dagger of the Feathered Serpent Priest, followed by a shaft made of Millennium Iron and Black Mithril, and above that, a section made of Kraketite. ¡°I want to add one more level to this.¡± ¡°Caw. You¡¯re aiming for the big picture, Young Monarch.¡± ¡°This much is necessary. Think you can handle it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do! What materials will you be using?¡± ¡°These.¡± I then pulled out two more items from my inventory. A tree branch dyed with the colors of the night sky and a translucent purple leaf. [Crow Branch (S)] [Dimensional Leaf (S)] ¡°Caw, I can feel the sage¡¯s mana in these.¡± ¡°I got some investment.¡± Though I¡¯m not sure when I¡¯ll be able to pay it back. The Crow Craftsman alternated his gaze between the two items, then slowly nodded. ¡°Caw. Normally, I¡¯d charge extra, but I want that shiny octopus. I¡¯ll make it for you. Just this once, Young Monarch!¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± ¡°And let me say this in advance. I don¡¯t know what kind of grand plan you¡¯re working on, but these materials alone won¡¯t be enough. I¡¯m just building the foundation.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s good enough for now.¡± This commission was moved up a bit earlier than planned, mostly because the octopus statue turned out to be higher grade than expected. To fully complete the equipment I had in mind, I would¡¯ve needed at least two or three more materials of the same grade. And the labor cost would¡¯ve been much higher, too. For now, I¡¯m satisfied with this. Once I gather the remaining materials, I¡¯ll visit the tailor or whoever¡¯s next. Having come to an agreement, the Crow Craftsman nodded again, bobbing his head up and down. ¡°Caw, fine. I¡¯ll make it for you.¡± Soon, the branch and the leaf floated into the air. Their shapes turned soft and fluid before merging into one. Like a clump of night sky crudely mashed together into a single mass. Then, with a flap of one wing, the tools at his waist floated up on their own and began rhythmically tapping the mass. They looked ordinary on the surface, but each of those tools was a high-grade spatial item. Wielded with the precision of a craftsman¡¯s own limbs, the tools quickly shaped the mass into form. What was completed soon after looked much like the previous branch. But now it had a faint purple color, and the bottom end was shaped like a rod. It was made to be attachable and detachable from the sapling. [Crow Branch (S+)] ?An intense dimensional power can be felt. ?Caw¡ª! (C) ?Currently unstable. The skill ¡°Caw¡ª!¡± which had disappeared before had returned. With a single use of that skill, I was once able to open every teleportation portal in the entire teleportation labyrinth and summon the entire Witch of Corruption subjugation force to one place. The effect attached to this ¡°Caw¡ª!¡± was probably similar. But right now, the rank was only C, so I couldn¡¯t expect the same level of power as back then. Because the equipment itself is incomplete. The tooltip outright says it¡¯s ¡°unstable¡±. If I use it carelessly, it¡¯ll come back to bite me. For example, I might suddenly get flung somewhere because of a spatial distortion. There¡¯s no need to fuse it right away. So I decided to store the Crow Branch in my inventory for now and only take it out when I needed to use the skill. The craftsman emphasized that point again. ¡°Caw! As I said before, I only built the foundation. The rest is up to you, young monarch.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m grateful enough for just this much.¡± ¡°Is that all you needed?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it for today.¡± ¡°Caw! Then I¡¯ll be on my way!¡± ¡°You just got here. Why not stay a bit longer?¡± Might as well warm up by the campfire while you¡¯re at it. At that, the crow craftsman began inspecting his tools one by one, before casting a brief glance toward Seo Ye-in. ¡°I can¡¯t stay with those eyes on me. That stare¡ªcaw!¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°Until next time, young monarch!¡± With a loud caw¡ª! he leapt into the air. Then he started flapping his wings and vanished into the sky. The space rippled briefly and then settled again. Only then did I turn to the others. ¡°He¡¯s gone. What did you think?¡± ¡°As expected of his reputation. I could feel an overwhelming power beyond imagination.¡± Go Hyeon-woo let out a series of admiring remarks, all while fiddling with the magic sword at his waist. He must have really wanted a spar, even if it killed him. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was still staring into the empty sky, tilting her head as if confused by the crow¡¯s strong reaction. Honestly, I was starting to get curious too. I¡¯ll have to find the right moment to ask the Underworld Dragon King, the Chairman, or even the Meteor Dragon about it in more detail. Then Hong Yeon-hwa carefully asked me, ¡°Um... hey...¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well... the replay... is it okay?¡± After all, we were here in this dungeon for our practical exam. To get our scores, we had to submit the replay no matter what. In the midst of it all, the Dimensional Crow had appeared and even crafted an item for us. The question now was whether it was okay for that to be left in the replay. I answered without a second thought. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Even if it¡¯s in the replay, they won¡¯t be able to copy it anyway.¡± Even if someone watched the replay and waited at the same spot, meeting the Dimensional Crow would be impossible. Those things flit between countless dungeons, and to see one again in the territory of the White Wolf Tribe would take at least a month. Miss the exact timing, and that¡¯s another month gone. If you want to see them when you want, you need to have big data like I do. ¡°And it¡¯s not like everything gets revealed.¡± The replay only records visual information. In other words, the truly important conversations won¡¯t be leaked. ¡°Same goes for the item¡¯s options.¡± From the viewer¡¯s perspective, they might see me offering some sort of statue and having a unique item crafted. But would they be able to tell just by looking that the item was an S-rank space-type artifact? Not unless they had skills on par with the Principal. And honestly, part of it is intentional. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m obligated to only sell full guides. Arranging meetings with the Crows could be a valuable bargaining chip in itself. I¡¯m just leaving some proof behind in advance for when that time comes. After hearing all that, Hong Yeon-hwa looked thoroughly convinced. ¡°Oh, then... I guess it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± With the hidden piece taken care of, it was time to focus on the main strategy battle again. Of course, the strategy battle was already progressing even at that moment. From the instant we set up base and lit a fire here. Awoooo¡ª A wolf¡¯s howl rang out from somewhere, and in response, wolves howled in chorus from various directions. Looking down from the hill, I saw white-furred wolves gathering below. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re taking the bait.¡± ¡°Now it begins.¡± Since we smashed every totem we came across on our way in, the White Wolf Tribe must have realized someone had invaded their territory long ago. On top of that, we were currently positioned at the peak of a hill with a steep elevation. Even without doing anything, we were clearly visible...let alone the large pile of firewood we¡¯d stacked and set ablaze. It was basically an open advertisement: ¡°We¡¯re right here. Come and see us.¡± Of course, that was my intention all along, and the advertisement worked extremely well. Awoooo¡ª More and more white-furred wolves began to gather at the base of the hill. Among them were unusually large, bipedal werewolves. That was the White Wolf Tribe. One of them must have felt our gaze, as he looked up at us with eyes full of hostility. I met his eyes for a moment, then turned my head slightly and casually spoke to Seo Ye-in. ¡°I don¡¯t like the way that guy¡¯s looking at us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Thump¡ª! Her rifle flared with a burst of blue flame, and the White Wolf Tribe member who¡¯d just been glaring at us was sent sprawling backward. He¡¯d been sniped cleanly. They were E+ rank name-level monsters, practically on par with D-rank in terms of power. But Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets were at least two ranks higher, B+ rank. No way something like that hitting square between the eyes wouldn¡¯t be deadly. Thump¡ª! A heavy gunshot rang out, and another member of the White Wolf Tribe collapsed. The others, startled and flustered, began to panic. But realizing they couldn¡¯t just stand around, they started charging toward us, leading the wolves behind them. Just as they¡¯d closed about half the distance, a red glow lit up beneath their feet. And then, pillars of flame shot up violently. Kwooooosh¡ª! They had triggered the Fire Pillar magic circles I had Hong Yeon-hwa set up in advance. When they all activated at once, most of the enemies were incinerated on the spot. They vanished without even leaving ashes behind. Go Hyeon-woo watched the scene, idly rubbing the hilt of his sword with a hint of regret. ¡°Looks like there won¡¯t be much left for me. You two are handling things too well.¡± ¡°Ranged attacks are more effective here. Just look forward to the boss fight.¡± ¡°Hmm, fair enough.¡± Even after wiping out a wave of the White Wolf Tribe, more white-furred wolves and werewolves were still gathering at the foot of the hill. Looking down at them, I spoke. ¡°Now this is what I call efficient.¡± Originally, the standard way to conquer the White Wolf Tribe territory was to fight through continuous battles as you explored every corner. It was a large-scale dungeon after all. But from my perspective, that was a waste of both time and stamina. No reason to make things harder for myself. Especially when there¡¯s a more efficient way. Just cause a bit of noise, wait in place, and they come to you. Hunting is best done as a drive hunt. Chapter 369: 2nd and 3rd Week Large Scale Dungeon (4) ¨C Awoooo¡ª! The White Wolf Tribe continued their relentless wave attacks. Just when we thought we¡¯d dealt with them all, more would gather from somewhere and climb the hill again. And when we cleared those out, even more would come. In response, we mechanically continued our defense as if performing a repetitive task. Seo Ye-in sniped the chieftain-level members of the White Wolf Tribe, while Hong Yeon-hwa spread fire magic over a wide area, burning the wolves. Occasionally, some still managed to break through. Like the one from the White Wolf Tribe now standing before us. Up close, the thing was at least two heads taller than us and as bulky as a bear. It bared its fangs and growled¡ª ¡°Grrraaargh!¡± With a single roar, it leapt high. Its movements were surprisingly agile for its size and it closed the distance in an instant. But the next moment, Go Hyeon-woo stepped in its path. A soft breeze wrapped around his diagonally tilted sword. When the beast¡¯s forepaw struck the blade¡ª Thud. A powerful rebound force flung it backward. Go Hyeon-woo didn¡¯t stop there. Stepping forward, he slashed his sword. Slash. The White Wolf Tribe member collapsed where it stood and died. After casting a glance at its fallen body, Go Hyeon-woo calmly moved on to the next target. With everyone fulfilling their roles like this, the seemingly endless onslaught from the White Wolf Tribe gradually weakened and eventually came to a halt. It¡¯s probably one of two things. Either they decided this wasn¡¯t working, or they still had the will to fight but had all died. Whichever it was, it was good news for us. ¡°Looks like they won¡¯t come anymore today. Let¡¯s take a break.¡± ¡°......!¡± At those words, everyone brightened and began tidying up the area. No one was injured, but fatigue had quietly built up. We added more firewood to the campfire and set up alarm spells just in case of another ambush. Then we pitched the tents and sat down for a meal. On the menu were piles of instant food we¡¯d picked up from the supply store. Hong Yeon-hwa handed a triangular rice ball to Seo Ye-in. ¡°Here.¡± ¡°......¡± But Seo Ye-in subtly backed away without taking it. She had a bad experience with a spicy cookie once, so she was being cautious. Hong Yeon-hwa seemed to notice and quickly added, ¡°D-Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not spicy at all.¡± But can she really trust those words? For her, even things with names like ¡°Inferno~¡± aren¡¯t spicy at all. Still, Seo Ye-in seemed willing to give it a shot. She accepted the triangular rice ball and carefully took a small bite from the corner. Once she confirmed that it truly wasn¡¯t spicy, she began eating the rest. ¡°...Pass.¡± Relieved, Hong Yeon-hwa also started munching on her own rice ball. Go Hyeon-woo watched them with a satisfied smile. ¡°The relationship between you two young ladies seems reasonably friendly. That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re getting along just fine.¡± Both Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa had fairly strong personalities. So I expected there to be some friction between them, but it looks like that phase passed quicker than expected. ¡°They¡¯ve already fought enough times.¡± ¡°True. They¡¯ve clashed more than once or twice.¡± From the first semester up to last week, they¡¯d faced each other countless times in duels, trading blows and more or less settling the pecking order. And through midterms, finals, and other experiences, they¡¯d grown closer too. At the very least, they¡¯d confirmed that they weren¡¯t incompatible. In other words, there¡¯s no real reason left for them to butt heads. Though it¡¯s not completely over yet. As long as Hong Yeon-hwa keeps that competitive fire in her heart, they¡¯ll probably clash again someday. Other problems could arise too. Go Hyeon-woo smiled lightly in agreement, then stared into the campfire for a moment before changing the subject. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard this dungeon is considered roughly D-rank in difficulty. How does it compare to the ones we¡¯ve been through before?¡± ¡°Pretty similar, I¡¯d say.¡± The Feathered Serpent Temple we snuck into in the first semester, the Great Eagle Escort Agency, the Sealing Demon Chest....all of those. In terms of difficulty, they¡¯re more or less on the same level as this place. I asked back, ¡°But why do you bring it up?¡± ¡°Back then, I felt a strong sense of urgency while going through them. But this time, things feel a bit... underwhelming.¡± ¡°That just means we¡¯ve gotten stronger.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite the change over time.¡± A faint smile appeared on Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s lips. I smiled back and added a word of my own. ¡°We need to get even stronger. Strong enough that even B-rank dungeons feel easy.¡± ¡°I fully intend to.¡± ¡°If we keep at it, the day will come when we see the White Elder again.¡± ¡°......!¡± Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes sharpened with a piercing energy. The White Elder. The hidden boss of the Black Death Dungeon and an elder of the Demon Sect. Back then, Go Hyeon-woo and Shin Byeong-cheol had stumbled across him while digging for a way out, and by sheer luck, they managed to survive by passing his ¡®test.¡¯ It was then that Go Hyeon-woo made a promise to the White Elder, warrior to warrior: That someday, they would meet again to settle the unfinished match. Go Hyeon-woo gave a slow nod. ¡°That promise is still etched in my heart. I¡¯ll continue to train.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s you, I know you¡¯ll do it.¡± After that, we kept talking as we gazed into the campfire. Before we knew it, the night had deepened, and Seo Ye-in who was nodding off grabbed my arm and led me toward the tent. ¡°Pillow.¡± ¡°Right, time to get some sleep.¡± We¡¯d spent the whole day in the cold. What¡¯s a pillow after all that? Hong Yeon-hwa, who¡¯d been lingering nearby, quietly followed us. Then Go Hyeon-woo peeked into the tent, gave a soft smile, and said, ¡°It¡¯s a bit cramped, so I¡¯ll spend the time outside in meditation.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to take watch. I set up an alarm trap, remember?¡± ¡°I know. I just need some time alone to gather my thoughts.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Whether it was true or not, I decided to let him be. Staying up one night wouldn¡¯t do much harm, and someone like Go Hyeon-woo could manage his condition just fine. Even with the fire blazing just outside, the inside of the tent felt cool. So we each crawled into our sleeping bags and lay side by side. ¡°Pillow.¡± Seo Ye-in rolled over inside her sleeping bag and bumped into me. Maybe it was colder than usual because she was clinging even more than normal. Then she actually climbed on top of me, so I pushed her off. ¡°I need to breathe too. Get down, please.¡± ¡°...Okay.¡± Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa had settled on the opposite side of the tent. But as Go Hyeon-woo had said, the space was cramped, so she was only a few hand spans away from me. It was a setup quite similar to the one during finals. ¡°......¡± Maybe because of that, Hong Yeon-hwa kept pretending to sleep, only to sneak glances at me with half-closed eyes. It looked like she was waiting for a chance to roll over quietly. Wondering if all that effort was really necessary, I said something. ¡°If you¡¯re cold, come over and huddle.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to make a big deal out of it.¡± ¡°......¡± Embarrassed that I¡¯d seen through her, Hong Yeon-hwa looked away awkwardly. But in the end, unable to resist the temptation, she rolled over and pressed her sleeping bag against mine. *** The next morning. I woke to a sharp sound. Kiiiiing¡ª! It was the alarm magic. Someone had triggered the trap. Meaning someone was approaching. And of course, that someone had to be the White Wolf Tribe. I immediately sat up, and so did Hong Yeon-hwa. Seo Ye-in, who had lost her Kim Ho pillow in her sleep, also woke up with a disgruntled expression. When we stepped outside the tent, Go Hyeon-woo was already there with his sword in hand. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Hey. Did you get some rest?¡± ¡°I managed to get some, in my own way.¡± We exchanged greetings calmly as we finished preparing for battle. Before long, just like the day before, the White Wolf Tribe¡¯s wave attack began. Wolves climbed the hillside, with large werewolves scattered among them. Just like yesterday, we held our ground, and the battle raged on until the sun was high in the sky. Kwoooosh¡ª! The last remaining pack of wolves was engulfed in a pillar of fire and melted away. Hong Yeon-hwa slowly surveyed the battlefield, then spoke in a puzzled tone. ¡°It¡¯s... over? Already...?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± Judging by how long we¡¯d fought, it hadn¡¯t even lasted a quarter as long as yesterday¡¯s battle. And yet, it was already over. This time, it wasn¡¯t a ¡°maybe¡±. It was definitely the latter. Looks like the White Wolf Tribe around here has been completely wiped out. If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s time to wrap up the hunting operation. From here on out, it was our turn to move. We quickly grabbed a bite and made our way down the hill. Then we picked a direction and began moving straight ahead. Fwooooosh¡ª ¡°I hate the cold wind...¡± Seo Ye-in gave a slight shiver and glanced around. The moment she spotted a totem, she took aim and shot it down. She¡¯s handling things on her own now, without even being told. Along the way, we occasionally came across small huts. Likely the nests of the White Wolf Tribe. Normally, the moment we stepped close, someone would have come rushing out. But now, the huts were completely empty. They must have all been swept up in the hunting raid. In effect, all the battles we might¡¯ve faced along the way had been concentrated on that hill. To sum up the operation so far: cause a commotion, herd the enemies, then raid their empty homes. And now, we were on our way to take down the boss. Despite being a dungeon, it felt more like a leisurely hike. After passing by a few more huts, The scenery slowly began to change. Ice structures began appearing in place of the forest. We¡¯re getting close. We exchanged glances and quickened our pace. Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before a fortress made of ice came into view. The walls weren¡¯t particularly high, but with the White Wolf Tribe standing guard, charging in recklessly would be tough. They¡¯d already noticed our approach, too. Of course, our party had someone who could handle this easily. ¡°Hong Yeon-hwa.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded and stepped forward. Sensing what was about to unfold, her face brimmed with anticipation. The spell incantation lasted longer than usual. The magic circle was more than twice its normal size, signaling that she was preparing a large-scale spell. There was no way the White Wolf Tribe couldn¡¯t see this from their side, and a wave of unrest rippled across the fortress walls. Still, instead of rushing out recklessly, it seemed they¡¯d chosen to hold their position. Of course, that was a very poor decision. At last, the magic circle flared with a vivid crimson light as Hong Yeon-hwa raised her staff high above her head. [Phoenix Flutter] Whooosh! Flames surged up, taking the shape of a huge phoenix. As it beat its wings with power, fiery feathers scattered wide and rained down across the entire fortress. ¨C ...! ¨C ...! Another stir ran through the White Wolf ranks, but they still appeared to place their trust in the strength of their fortress. Even if it was a large-scale spell, each feather was only about the size of a palm. They must¡¯ve thought it was hardly enough to damage a structure. But that was a serious underestimation of Hong Yeon-hwa. The moment the fiery feathers touched down¡ª Fwoosh¡ª The fortress that seemed sturdy began to melt violently and was on the verge of collapse. She¡¯s got Aqua Flame, after all. Chapter 370: 2nd and 3rd Week Large Scale Dungeon (5) When ice and flame meet, it was natural for the ice to melt, but the flame also tended to lose some of its vigor. However, flames imbued with Aqua Flame were an exception. They held an overwhelming elemental advantage over water and ice. Just like now. Fwoooosh ¡ª Sparks began to land and ignite all over the ice fortress. The flames melted and evaporated everything they touched without showing any signs of dying out. They would probably burn until not even the foundation stones were left. Naturally, the White Wolf Tribe descended into chaos. ¨C Grgh! Grrgh! ¨C Whimper!! The unlucky ones hit directly by the flaming feathers turned into living fireballs, flailing wildly. Even those who weren¡¯t hit began to flee en masse before the fortress could collapse. Among them stood out a particularly large werewolf. It was none other than the dungeon¡¯s boss monster, the chieftain of the White Wolf Tribe. ¨C ...! He glared at us with murderous intent. Then his gaze met mine¡ª [¡®Poisoning (C)¡¯ status ailment has been inflicted on the target.] [Cooldown: 00:00:59] He was caught in my Mutual Destruction Eye. ¡°He¡¯s coming, isn¡¯t he?¡± Either way, it¡¯s a countdown to death. Might as well end it quickly, right? Maybe he understood what I meant, because the White Wolf chieftain let out a deafening roar¡ª ¨C Kraaaaaagh¡ª¡ª! Then, leading all the wolves and White Wolf Tribe members, he began a full-on charge. I watched him and gave the command. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Seo Ye-in replied briefly before she pulled out an assault rifle and flipped a cooking pot over her head like a helmet. Everyone had already discussed and agreed on their roles. Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in would handle the chieftain, while Hong Yeon-hwa would focus on ranged attacks. As for me, I would move flexibly, protecting Hong Yeon-hwa as needed. ¨C Kraaaaaagh¡ª! The chieftain roared once more and charged forward on all fours like a mad beast. He was clearly furious. He even ignored his subordinates and sprinted ahead alone. At the same time, his entire body was enveloped in a pale blue aura that was nearly white, signaling that he was preparing an ice-type skill. ¡°......¡± Watching this closely, Hong Yeon-hwa gave her wand a small twirl. Pillars of flame erupted to intercept the chieftain. Booooom¡ª! But he wasn¡¯t fazed in the slightest. With sharp agility, he weaved through the flames in a zigzag and avoided them with ease. Then, with a mighty leap, he landed in front of Go Hyeon-woo and began slashing with both front claws in succession. Go Hyeon-woo calmly deflected and blocked the strikes. A slight smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Now things are starting to get interesting.¡± Ratatatatata! Then Seo Ye-in supported him with a burst of magic bullets, but the White Wolf chieftain nimbly leapt to the side, then forward again, aiming to slash at her. He¡¯s fast, no doubt about it. The chieftain was an E+ rank boss monster, with overall stats slightly higher than a standard D-rank monster like an ogre. What set him apart was that most of those stats were focused on speed. And he could use skills. At least to a basic degree. Crackle¡ª The ground suddenly froze, and large icicles shot up from below. Then they exploded, sending sharp shards flying in every direction. Clink! Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in dodged them with relative ease, but the real problem was the lingering cold. Seo Ye-in gave a slight shiver and glanced toward me. ¡°Fire...?¡± ¡°Not yet. You know why.¡± ¡°Right...¡± For now, we had to stick to our assigned roles. Seo Ye-in, perhaps just speaking out of habit, resumed her battle with the chieftain. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa was focusing all her remaining strength on Fire Pillar. Red magic circles began appearing one by one on the ground, steadily increasing in number. As a result, the White Wolf Tribe had approached close enough. After glancing briefly in my direction, as if seeking permission, Hong Yeon-hwa activated all the magic circles at once. Booooooom! The entire area ahead was engulfed in towering pillars of flame. The White Wolf Tribe charging at the front was likely erased on the spot. Though the rear group still remained, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s spell wasn¡¯t over yet. Whooooosh... From each pillar, a writhing movement stirred, and three-headed serpents were born. They began spewing flames toward the enemies. Boom, boom, booom! Some of the hydras in between breathed long streams of fire like flamethrowers. Probably a result of enhancements gained from recent trials. One way or another, the firepower was more than enough to wipe out the White Wolf Tribe. So we left the rest to the hydras and joined the boss fight. ¡°Kurrrgh!¡± The chieftain, apparently tireless, was still rampaging back and forth. He¡¯d lunge at Go Hyeon-woo or Seo Ye-in, swipe at them with his claws, retreat while scattering icicles, then pounce again to repeat the attack. ¡°He¡¯s all over the place.¡± Of course, this grasshopper-like behavior was about to end. After Hong Yeon-hwa cast several Fire Pillars in quick succession¡ª Whooooosh! The ice and icicles covering the ground melted away in an instant. Immediately, the chieftain turned his head this way and leapt toward Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Krrahh¡ª!¡± ¡°Yeah, no, not this way.¡± I¡¯d been waiting for this. When I stepped forward to meet him, I cast Wind Force¡ª Whoooooosh! Compressed air exploded, sending the chieftain¡¯s body flying backward. Though he managed to land on all fours, he seemed to lose his balance, staggering in place for a moment. The party didn¡¯t miss the opening that was revealed. Slash. Go Hyeon-woo dashed past the chieftain, slashing at his legs, and Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets hit in rapid succession, erupting into bursts of blue. Boom-boom-boom! ¡°Guh...!¡± Even though he¡¯d been leaping around just moments ago, the White Wolf Tribe chieftain was now on the verge of collapse after just one solid round of attacks. Having put nearly everything into speed, his endurance left much to be desired. As he stumbled, Seo Ye-in approached and grabbed the pot she¡¯d been wearing on her head. Then, without hesitation, she swung it down hard. ¡°No more icicles.¡± Clang! The chieftain of the White Wolf Tribe collapsed flat onto the ground. Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s hydras had already burned away the remaining enemies. After looking at the scene for a while, everyone offered words of praise to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°This time, Miss Hong deserves the most credit.¡± ¡°She did most of the work. Great job.¡± ¡°Fire warm.¡± ¡°I-I mean... it was just a good matchup for me...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa tried to play it humble, but as the compliments kept coming, her lips gradually curled into a pleased smile. She may act like it¡¯s nothing, but she clearly enjoys being praised. Rumble... At that moment, a rumbling sound echoed in our ears. With the boss monster defeated, the dungeon had begun to collapse. At the same time, the exit revealed itself and next to it were several small boxes. [White Wolf Tribe Territory Random Box (E+)] *6 Being a large-scale dungeon, there were a whopping six random boxes. The low rank was a drawback, but I had already thought of a solution for that. Looking around at the party, I spoke. ¡°If we open them here, we can combine them. The rank will go up, of course.¡± ¡°How many do you need to combine into one?¡± ¡°Three E-rank boxes make one D-rank.¡± The problem was that would leave us with only two boxes, which could complicate distribution. That¡¯s why I wanted to get the party¡¯s agreement in advance. Go Hyeon-woo replied. ¡°That actually works out. I was planning to give my share to you anyway, Kim-hyung. I¡¯ve already received so much from you.¡± Back at the start of the semester alone, I¡¯d given him Gongcheong Oil and a season pass for the Special Training Room. He owed me a lot in both material and practical terms, so this was his way of gradually repaying the debt. Seo Ye-in, as usual, wasn¡¯t particularly interested. And Hong Yeon-hwa didn¡¯t take long to answer either. ¡°Combining them... sounds fine to me.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯ll open them now.¡± Right then and there, I opened two of the random boxes. A biting cold aura burst forth, quickly enveloping the remaining boxes. Moments later, what appeared were two boxes transformed into chunks of ice. [Chief¡¯s Frozen Random Box (D+)] *2 But this isn¡¯t the end. A hidden piece connected to ¡°Frozen¡± items. If melted with magical fire, the restriction can be lifted or the rank enhanced. So I handed the random boxes to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°Could I trouble you once more?¡± ¡°U-Uh, sure... Just a moment.¡± Having dealt with similar things before, Hong Yeon-hwa quickly summoned a flame in one hand. The ice encasing the boxes melted rapidly, and the item names changed. [Chief¡¯s Rare Random Box (C)] *2 C-rank random boxes, from an E-rank dungeon. A reward far too generous for the effort involved. I spoke to the group. ¡°Let¡¯s open them a bit later. For now, let¡¯s head out.¡± One by one, we stepped through the teleportation portal and exited the dungeon. On our way back to the surface, I casually checked the recently uploaded replay listings. I wanted to see if Song Cheon-hye¡¯s party had completed their run. And as expected¡ª Not there. Which meant they were still inside the dungeon. While our dungeon-clearing speed was definitely faster than most students, we were so much faster that they couldn¡¯t even compete. That¡¯s another wish ticket saved up. When we stepped out of the dungeon, the sun was still high in the sky. It was broad daylight. Since it was still early and no one looked particularly tired, we decided to wrap things up with the random box opening before heading our separate ways. We sat in a circle on a quiet patch of grass, and I looked around at everyone before speaking. ¡°It¡¯s that time again. The box-opening season. First one of the semester, right?¡± Clap-clap¡ª Seo Ye-in welcomed the moment with a rare round of finger claps. Taking that as a good sign, I held out the box. ¡°Want to do the honors?¡± ¨C Shake shake. She shook her head and, surprisingly, pointed at Hong Yeon-hwa. I asked to confirm. ¡°You want her to go first?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± I handed the box to Hong Yeon-hwa and asked, ¡°Up for the challenge?¡± ¡°Mhmm, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± She looked a bit nervous. After taking the random box, she hesitated for a moment. Then, after a deep breath, she slowly opened the lid. Fwoosh! A burst of cold air swept over the group. It was a rare effect, which meant we could expect something good. And just as expected, the item revealed was: [Rank Up (C)] ¡°That¡¯s an amazing pull.¡± ¡°Congratulations, Miss Hong.¡± ¡°Th-Thank you...¡± Hong Yeon-hwa¡¯s face lit up with joy. Since she had contributed so much in this run, no one had any complaints about her taking half the rewards. Now, only one random box remained. I turned to Seo Ye-in again and asked, ¡°Ready?¡± ¨C Shake shake. But Seo Ye-in shook her head again and this time pointed at me. Guess I won¡¯t be getting lucky off her today. Well, I suppose there are days like this. Thinking that, I opened the box lid without hesitation. Flash! [Random Box Enhancement Scroll] An item that adds a bonus to a random box, increasing the chance of a high-grade item appearing. A little underwhelming for a C-rank, but not a total bust. Just then, Seo Ye-in gently tugged at my sleeve. ¡°That one.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°The later box.¡± For a moment, I wondered what she meant by ¡°later box¡± but then it hit me. I dug through my inventory. [Even More Chaotic Old¡¤Sapphire Temple Random Box (B)] ¡°This one?¡± ¡°The later box.¡± ¡°So the time has finally come?¡± Seo Ye-in slowly nodded her head. Her gray eyes sparkled. ¡°The now box.¡± Chapter 371: Randomized Dungeon There was hardly any information known about Lucky Charm¡¯s luck. Whether to open a random box or not, who should open it, and when...everything was left entirely to her whim. Still, because every result so far had exceeded expectations, I thought there must be a reason for the delay in opening the chaos box. And finally, after several months, she gave the go-ahead. Maybe she had been waiting for this very moment when the enhancement scroll would be ready. I made a gesture of placing the scroll onto the Chaos Box. ¡°Should I use it?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± [¡®Random Box Enhancement Scroll¡¯ has been used.] The scroll radiated a bright light and seeped into the box. Fwoooosh! [Even More Chaotic Old Sapphire Temple Random Box (B+)] The rank had been boosted with a bonus. I handed it to Seo Ye-in with great courtesy. ¡°Here you are, young miss.¡± ¡°......¡± With Go Hyeon-woo, Hong Yeon-hwa, and me all watching intently, Seo Ye-in stared at the random box for a long time. Then she looked up and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Would you actually pull it if I said?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Could that really be something you can just ¡°try¡± to do? Even for someone as lucky as her, that seemed like a stretch. But no harm in voicing a wish. And dreams are best when they¡¯re big. ¡°I want equipment materials. So I can finish making [Crow Branch].¡± ¡°Request accepted.¡± Seo Ye-in slowly nodded her head up and down, then turned her gaze back to the random box. And with great deliberation, she opened the lid. Fwoooosh! The next moment, everything went dark. No matter where I looked, it was pitch black. I couldn¡¯t have suddenly gone blind, so I tried calling out into the void. ¡°Guys?¡± ¡°Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa responded right in front of me. Then I felt something groping around in my direction. It was obviously Seo Ye-in¡¯s hand, so I quietly held onto it. Once I confirmed everyone was in place, I understood what was happening. ¡°It¡¯s the random box effect. Let¡¯s wait it out.¡± Random box effects vary depending on the item¡¯s type or grade. Usually, you can guess the outcome by the color or intensity of the light, but sometimes special effects occur. Like when we drew the Cloud Bracelets and the whole area was filled with clouds. And when it¡¯s not just dark, but so black you can¡¯t see a single step ahead¡ª That means jackpot. I stared straight ahead with rising anticipation. Soon, the darkness began to fade, and the surroundings returned to normal. Where the random box had been, a single leaf as black as charcoal lay on the ground. But when I recognized what it was, I couldn¡¯t help but gasp. This... came out of that? [Leaf of Chaos (S)] An S-rank equipment material. And it perfectly matched my request. Something usable for crafting the Crow Branch. She said she¡¯d ¡°try¡± but she actually pulled it off? Maybe Shin Byeong-cheol only kept getting teacups because he didn¡¯t try hard enough? Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa also looked thoroughly astonished. ¡°Miss Seo¡¯s luck never ceases to amaze. I believe this is the first time I¡¯ve seen an S-rank pulled.¡± ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°Very lucky.¡± In contrast, Seo Ye-in¡¯s attitude was as indifferent as always. Of course, she didn¡¯t show it much, but she did seem satisfied. Then she looked at me and said, ¡°Praise me too.¡± She didn¡¯t show it outwardly, but I guess she was secretly a bit jealous of how Hong Yeon-hwa had been showered with praise in this dungeon. Well, that much I could definitely do. Especially since she¡¯d pulled such an incredible item. I shook Seo Ye-in¡¯s hand back and forth. ¡°As expected of our lucky charm, you¡¯re the best. You¡¯ve got amazing luck, you fight well, you listen well, you sleep a lot, you sleep soundly, you sleep all day.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sleep all day.¡± ¡°Okay, you sleep just the right amount.¡± No matter how shameless it sounded, everything the lucky charm said was true this time. Even after all the praise I gave her, it seemed Seo Ye-in still wasn¡¯t done making requests. ¡°When are we going out?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go sometime soon. I promised, didn¡¯t I?¡± Originally, our ¡°hangout promise¡± was made back during stage 1 of hardship training. But then we ran into the Witch of Death while wandering around the new city, ended up fighting, and later got caught up in training again. So our plans had been postponed for a while. Still, we couldn¡¯t keep putting it off forever. If I wanted her to keep her promises, I had to keep mine too. So I made a suggestion. ¡°Let¡¯s go when the auction opens.¡± ¡°Auction?¡± ¡°It¡¯s happening in a few weeks, in the downtown area.¡± ... But it seemed the word Seo Ye-in focused on wasn¡¯t ¡°auction¡± or ¡°downtown¡±. It was ¡°a few weeks.¡± Judging by her slightly displeased expression. ¡°That¡¯s too long.¡± ¡°Then when would you prefer?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s too soon.¡± Then Seo Ye-in quietly pulled a rope out of her inventory and started wrapping one end around my wrist, emphasizing her point once again. ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯ll drag me there if you have to?¡± ¡°Kidnap.¡± ¡°And where¡¯d you learn that one? The butler?¡± ¨C Shake shake. Meanwhile, Go Hyeon-woo was watching our little scuffle with great interest. Hong Yeon-hwa, too, was sneaking glances our way, unable to resist the temptation, even as she averted her eyes like she was seeing something she shouldn¡¯t. Needless to say, I had no intention of meeting any of the three¡¯s expectations. As I untied the rope, I gently tried to reason with Seo Ye-in. ¡°Just hold out a little longer. We¡¯re going down into the dungeon together this week.¡± ¡°Dungeon?¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll sneak in.¡± The raid period lasted two weeks. But we cleared the dungeon in just a few days. With time to spare, we were planning to sneak in at least a couple more times and collect the hidden pieces. Seo Ye-in was intrigued and spoke up. ¡°I want to go too.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go together. I think you¡¯ll especially like this dungeon.¡± ¡°......?¡± Seo Ye-in tilted her head in confusion. So I added an explanation. ¡°We¡¯re going into a randomized dungeon.¡± The underground dungeons each have different narratives, rules, and objectives. And among them are ¡°random-type dungeons¡±, where a large part of the strategy relies on luck. Up until now, we¡¯ve only chosen the reliable ones. Neither I nor Go Hyeon-woo were particularly lucky, and Shin Byeong-cheol was destined to be a future tea shop owner. With that kind of luck, challenging a randomized dungeon would¡¯ve been asking for trouble. Not to mention, our skills were a bit lacking. In the first semester, our skills and trait combinations weren¡¯t complete, and our ranks were mediocre at best. Even a small variable could have quickly turned dangerous. But of course, it¡¯s different now. All of us had grown far stronger compared to the first semester. Even if the worst-case scenario happened, we had the ability to push through with skill alone. Besides, we¡¯re taking along our lucky charm. Would things really go that badly? As expected, Seo Ye-in showed strong interest in the randomized dungeon. ¡°I want to go.¡± Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa also looked quite intrigued. ¡°So it¡¯s a different style than what we¡¯ve done before. Are you all participating too?¡± ¡°Not just yet, but soon.¡± Even with our lucky sloth in tow, we weren¡¯t about to jump headfirst into our first randomized dungeon recklessly. The plan was to start with somewhere relatively short and easy and gradually raise the difficulty based on how it goes. ¡°There¡¯s no need for all four of us to rush in together right away.¡± ¡°True. Then I¡¯ll wait for now.¡± Then I turned to Hong Yeon-hwa. ¡°We need to go down sometime too.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Going into the dungeon with Hong Yeon-hwa was mainly for training [Aqua Flame]. So, we chose dungeons like Winterhalt Fortress or the Sapphire Temple, where water and ice-type enemies would keep coming in waves. Just a bit more, and she might even reach B-rank. ¡°It¡¯s better to fully master Hydra first. Let¡¯s focus on the grind for now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Hong Yeon-hwa nodded without complaint. *** After disbanding the group, I called out Dang Gyu-young separately. She had been busy with other things, so it took her a while to show up at the meeting spot. ¡°Why¡¯d you call me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a favor to ask.¡± ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°I need to borrow Byeong-cheol.¡± When sneaking into the lower floors, it¡¯s much better to have a guide. It greatly reduces the risk of getting caught by the disciplinary committee or the staff. Dang Gyu-young furrowed her brows slightly. ¡°That¡¯s fine, but you could¡¯ve just asked him directly. I¡¯m really busy today.¡± ¡°I wanted to give you this too, while I¡¯m at it.¡± I returned the camping gear I¡¯d borrowed. As she stored each item back into her inventory, Dang Gyu-young asked, ¡°Wasn¡¯t the tent a bit cramped?¡± ¡°We slept all huddled together.¡± ¡°Well, it is a two-person tent. I bought it to lie down snugly with someone, you know.¡± ¡°Still, we got good rest.¡± When I smiled, she pouted and asked again, ¡°Who are you going down with this time? Go Hyeon-woo? Hong Yeon-hwa?¡± ¡°Seo Ye-in.¡± Dang Gyu-young blinked, pausing for a moment. ¡°...Didn¡¯t her family disapprove?¡± ¡°I got permission over break.¡± ¡°So you went and took care of everything, huh? I guess you¡¯ll be with her all this week?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± ¡°When are you going with me, then?¡± ¡°Next time.¡± ¡°When¡¯s next time?¡± ¡°Next time.¡± Dang Gyu-young leaned in close to my face. ¡°Kim Ho, it¡¯s not okay to keep treating only me like this.¡± ¡°As you know, I¡¯m not doing it on purpose.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. When are we going down together? Hurry up and tell me before I really get upset.¡± I replied in a calm tone. ¡°You¡¯ll need to keep up with Hardship first.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°It has everything to do with it. You¡¯ve finished Stage 7, right?¡± ¡°Mhmm, just the other day.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s activate it and talk.¡± To be honest, calling Dang Gyu-young out was partly because of Hardship. You have to meet in person to activate it. [Activated ¡®Hardship¡¯.] [¡®Stage 8 Hardship¡¯ has been granted to the target.] I continued explaining. ¡°Stage 9 will probably be the final stage for laying the foundation.¡± Stages 1 to 3 were about maintaining the shadow in any environment and even in light. Stages 4 to 6 took it a step further, reinforcing the shadow¡¯s structure so it wouldn¡¯t collapse easily. Stages 7 to 9 were about learning to control multiple reinforced shadows and getting used to operating at a legion scale. Dang Gyu-young¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Really? What comes after that?¡± ¡°You start building anew.¡± Now that she could manage shadows on a legion scale, there was no reason to only drag around a bunch of butterflies. So starting from Stage 10, she¡¯d rebuild her setup with skills and traits far more powerful than before. ¡°You can think of it like a class advancement quest.¡± ¡°...Looks like I¡¯ll have to work hard.¡± Excitement filled Dang Gyu-young¡¯s face. I added, ¡°And from then on, you¡¯ll be going down with me so much you¡¯ll get sick of it. I¡¯ll drag you along whether you like it or not.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll drag me even if I don¡¯t want to? How?¡± ¡°There you go pretending not to know again.¡± ¡°Really? I seriously don¡¯t get it. Show me, just once.¡± With that, Dang Gyu-young quietly held out her wrist. Looks like she was caught up in another roleplay again. Times like this, it¡¯s best to just play along. If not, she might actually sulk. Just like she said earlier. Putting on the most forceful expression I could muster for the sake of perfect method acting, I suddenly grabbed Gyu-young¡¯s wrist, yanked her toward me, and commanded in a low serious voice: ¡°Qyu, cancel your entire schedule for the week. We¡¯re going down.¡± Dang Gyu-young¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, and she answered in a faint fragile voice. ¡°But... I have classes... and I need to manage the club too...¡± ¡°World peace comes before all those trivial things. Am I wrong?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right... For world peace... hehe!¡± She couldn¡¯t keep the act going any longer and burst into laughter. She kept slapping my shoulder over and over as she giggled uncontrollably. ¡°Pffffthahahahaha!¡± ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really loving this, huh?¡± It took a good long while before Dang Gyu-young¡¯s laughter finally settled down. Chapter 372: No. 336 Rabbit Room (1) If you¡¯re trying to sneak into the dungeon building, it¡¯s best to choose a time when few people are around. So, after getting some rest, I made my way to the dungeon building around midnight. I looked around, but there was no sign of Shin Byeong-cheol or Seo Ye-in. Guess they¡¯re not here yet. Since I had arrived a little early, I decided to use the time for a quick check-up. [Side Quest: 2nd and 3rd Week Strategy Battle] (Complete) ? Objective: Clear the Conquest Dungeon (1/1) ? Bonus Objective: Clear within 4 days (2/4 days elapsed) ? Reward: Varies depending on completion level Even among similar side quests, the biweekly ones generally offer bigger rewards than weekly ones. That¡¯s been the trend since the second semester. The higher difficulty of the entered dungeon must have factored into the reward too. I far exceeded the objective anyway. We cleared a large-scale dungeon not in four days, but in just two which was half the time. And the reward I received was: [Material Selection Ticket (B)] ? Obtain a B-rank material of your choice. That¡¯ll save me some trouble. Thanks to Seo Ye-in pulling the Leaf of Chaos, the completion of [Crow Branch] was pushed significantly forward. Now all that¡¯s left is to obtain the final S-rank material and bring everything to the Crow Seamstress to combine. Of course, I¡¯ll need to prepare the crafting fee separately. Since the octopus statue worked so well before, I could probably make another statue this time too. It¡¯d be neat if I could use the Material Selection Ticket to get one of the required items for that. While I was thinking about all that, Shin Byeong-cheol appeared in the distance. He walked over lightly and smiled. ¡°You got here first. Am I late?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not even time yet.¡± ¡°What about Seo Ye-in?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll come.¡± The next moment, we both turned our heads toward the girls¡¯ dormitory. We must have had the same thought. Shin Byeong-cheol scratched his chin and said, ¡°...She¡¯s not asleep, is she?¡± ¡°...She might be.¡± Could our sloth of a lucky charm really wake up after midnight? Even I couldn¡¯t say for sure. Shin Byeong-cheol asked again, ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll have no choice but to cancel and go another day.¡± Any other dungeon might be fine, but with our luck, a randomized dungeon without her would be unthinkable. Sure, we could brute-force our way through it if we had to, but it would just mean unnecessary hardship. And the reward likely wouldn¡¯t be worth the trouble. Fortunately, our worries turned out to be unfounded. We each stared at the girls¡¯ dormitory and said a few words. ¡°She¡¯s coming.¡± ¡°Coming.¡± Seo Ye-in was approaching very slowly. She had managed to wake up and come, but she still seemed half-asleep. After trudging forward, she came to a halt and her head slowly tilted to one side. She looked like she was dozing off while standing. I waved my hand broadly and called out to her. ¡°Hey, Miss Seo!¡± ¡°.......¡± ¡°Hurry up! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°.......¡± At my shout, Seo Ye-in lifted her head, which had been leaning at a 45-degree angle. Then while swaying like a jellyfish, she shuffled over to us. ¡°Sleepy...¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll finish quickly so you can go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Carry me...¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll wake up even less. We¡¯re entering the dungeon soon, so try walking a bit.¡± I gently pushed away the hand Seo Ye-in had extended, then turned to Shin Byeong-cheol. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡± ¡°Is she gonna be alright? She¡¯s really out of it.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll wake up on the way.¡± ¡°Well, you guys know what you¡¯re doing. Let¡¯s roll~¡± We all stepped onto the underground stairs together. As we rode the elevator down, Shin Byeong-cheol double-checked. ¡°Was it the D floor?¡± ¡°Yeah, Room 336.¡± ¡°[Rabbit Room]. This is the random-type dungeon?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± At that, Shin Byeong-cheol smacked his lips and asked in a casual tone. ¡°Hey, mind if I come in too?¡± ¡°Out of nowhere?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s boring just waiting outside. I want to see what it looks like.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this.¡± It felt like just having him with us would make the dungeon harder to clear. But unexpectedly, Shin Byeong-cheol answered confidently. ¡°I¡¯m not who I used to be. I¡¯ve changed over the break. Didn¡¯t you see I paid off all my debt?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impressive and all, but I doubt your luck improved.¡± ¡°Come on, you¡¯re missing the point. When you accumulate wealth, fortune naturally follows. That¡¯s how the world works, right?¡± Shin Byeong-cheol boasted loudly, but to me, he still didn¡¯t seem all that reliable. So I decided to ask the original good luck charm for permission. ¡°What do you think? Should we take him?¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in glanced at Shin Byeong-cheol for about half a second, then gave a slight nod. It felt more like she couldn¡¯t be bothered and just gave a half-hearted response, but permission was permission. So I told Shin Byeong-cheol, ¡°Come if you want. But you¡¯re clearing all the traps.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the least I can do.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not getting a cut of the rewards.¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely. I do have some sense of decency, you know.¡± Following us just to watch and then demanding a share would be worse than a thief. He would be more like an outright robber. Besides, Shin Byeong-cheol had already received more than his share of random boxes during the first semester, so he owed us a few rounds of unpaid guiding. He seemed to understand that point and agreed to all my conditions without complaint. Soon, the elevator stopped at the lowest level of the E floor, and we cautiously began descending the stairs to the D floor under Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s lead. ¡°......¡± By then, Seo Ye-in seemed to have shaken off quite a bit of her sleepiness. She looked around with curious eyes or stared off into the distance. It was probably her first time coming this far down. As I kept walking, just going with the flow, we eventually arrived in front of the target dungeon. [No.336] [Rabbit Room] ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol bustled around the area, setting up a few devices. They were meant to help us stay out of sight from the patrolling staff or members of the student council. They weren¡¯t all that effective, so there was a good chance we¡¯d get caught. But it was better than nothing. ¡°Okay, all done.¡± Before long, Shin Byeong-cheol finished his preparations, and after exchanging glances, we each stepped into the teleportation portal one by one. The next moment, we were standing in the middle of a spacious room. It wasn¡¯t just big. It felt even more empty because there wasn¡¯t a single piece of furniture or item in sight. The only things in the room were the four doors. One on each wall. Each had a cute little rabbit drawing on it. Seo Ye-in and Shin Byeong-cheol spun around, checking out the doors. Then Shin Byeong-cheol was the first to speak. ¡°So, I guess we¡¯re supposed to open a door and move on to the next room... Do the rabbit drawings look different?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re all the same.¡± ¡°Then how are we supposed to know which way to go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s basically luck.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no walkthrough or anything?¡± ¡°There is, technically, but it¡¯s mostly luck.¡± The progression system of the [Rabbit Room] was simple. You just keep opening doors and moving from room to room. At a glance, it seemed similar to the [Teleportation Labyrinth], but the key difference was that all the rooms were randomly arranged. That¡¯s why walkthroughs don¡¯t really help much here. Shin Byeong-cheol asked another question. ¡°So, we just pick any door and go through?¡± ¡°Not just any door.¡± Doing that would make it all too easy to end up wandering aimlessly. Of course, we had already prepared a solution for that. I stood beside Seo Ye-in. ¡°Lucky Charm Radar, activate.¡± ¡°Wheein¡ª¡± The Lucky Charm Radar slowly spun around a few times. Then she suddenly stopped and pointed to one of the doors. ¡°Wheein.¡± ¡°Is it that one?¡± ¡°Wheein.¡± We opened the door chosen by Lucky Charm and stepped inside. At first, nothing was visible, but as soon as the door behind us shut, the room came into view. It was an empty room, similar to the last one. However, the door behind us had turned into a wall, and in front of us and to the left were doors just like before. To the right, a staircase led upward. Shin Byeong-cheol nodded. ¡°So this is how it works. Got it.¡± ¡°This is how we reach the boss room.¡± The location of the boss room was random, too. If you were really lucky, you could find it after just a few rooms. But if you were unlucky, you might have to search for days. And my goal didn¡¯t end there. I added an explanation. ¡°While we¡¯re here, I want to check out the hidden boss and bonus rooms too.¡± ¡°There¡¯s stuff like that?¡± ¡°There is. If we¡¯re lucky, we¡¯ll find it.¡± Back when I played the game, it was rare to even see them once. But with Lucky Charm¡¯s luck, it was definitely possible. I glanced at Seo Ye-in and asked casually, ¡°So, Lucky Sloth, where to next?¡± ¡°......¡± Seo Ye-in alternated her gaze between the left door, the front door, and the stairs to the right. Then Shin Byeong-cheol quietly joined the conversation. ¡°Hey, hey, can I pick this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I trust that at all.¡± ¡°Just trust me this once.¡± ¡°And if it turns out to be a weird room?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take whatever¡¯s coming.¡± I gave another sidelong glance, and Seo Ye-in gave a slight nod as if to say, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Honestly, I was a little curious too. Had the teahouse owner really accumulated fortune and luck over the break? Besides, since we were still early in the game, even if we did hit a strange room, we could recover. With my thoughts settled, I said to Shin Byeong-cheol, ¡°Alright, your pick.¡± ¡°I choose... I choose...! The left one! I feel auspicious energy coming from the left room!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± We opened the left door and stepped inside. As the door closed behind us, the next room came into view. ¡°......¡± Several life-sized rabbit dolls stood in the center. Each held some kind of bladed weapon. Like swords, axes, spears. Then, all at once, the rabbit dolls turned their heads toward us. Snap! Shin Byeong-cheol began backing away with cold sweat on his brow. ¡°Why did the mood suddenly turn so nasty?¡± ¡°I thought you said you felt auspicious energy.¡± ¡°Ahem, well... let¡¯s deal with them first.¡± We each drew our weapons, and the rabbit dolls charged at us and swung their blades. Not that we felt even a hint of danger. They¡¯re just D-rank mobs, after all. Whoosh¡ª I used an explosive blast to group them together. Seo Ye-in followed up, unloading a burst from her assault rifle and launching a grenade. Boom¡ª! A moment later, the rabbit dolls were neatly wiped out. Shin Byeong-cheol had been about to throw his chopsticks like a weapon but awkwardly put them back. ¡°Wow, you two have gotten even stronger. Hehe.¡± ¡°Byeong-cheol.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯d take whatever came, didn¡¯t you?¡± It was a promise he made himself. Seo Ye-in chimed in too. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°...Yep, shutting up now.¡± Without another word, Shin Byeong-cheol zipped his lips. From that point on, he left all decisions to Seo Ye-in, and we moved from room to room without much trouble. Seo Ye-in took the lead again, this time pointing toward a staircase off to the side. ¡°There.¡± ¡°Sounds good. Let¡¯s go.¡± We hurried up the stairs in a rush, opened the door attached to the ceiling, and stepped into the next room. At that moment, as if he couldn¡¯t take it any longer, Shin Byeong-cheol unzipped his mouth. ¡°So, what does the hidden boss look like?¡± ¡°A rabbit.¡± ¡°Yeah, but what kind of rabbit?¡± ¡°Like that.¡± Where I nodded toward with my chin, sure enough, there was a rabbit. It was about the size of a large dog, similar to the dimensional crows. It was neatly dressed in a suit, with a thick chain connecting the suit to a large pocket watch. It looked very much like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. The Clock Rabbit. The hidden boss of the Rabbit Room, with a difficulty level of A-rank or higher. Soon, it turned its head toward us. ¡°Kyuuik?¡± The Clock Rabbit was startled for just a moment before curling into a sly smile. Then it held out its pocket watch toward us. Immediately, everything before our eyes turned black and white like an old screen and froze, while a rhythmic ticking echoed in our ears. ¡ª tick¡ª tock¡ª tick¡ª tock¡ª tick¡ª tock¡ª Time freeze. That¡¯s why its difficulty was rated A-rank or higher. The moment it sees you, it stops time. And that pocket watch is especially powerful, too. Even the Underworld Dragon King could only manage a 4¨C5 second freeze at best, but this thing could freeze time for much longer. Maybe that¡¯s why the Clock Rabbit didn¡¯t flee immediately. Instead, it took its time, bouncing toward us playfully. It looked up at us and sneered. ¡°Kyuit, you foolish humans. Did you really think you could capture me? Far too soon for that.¡± Of course, that sneer didn¡¯t last long. Because it made eye contact with me who wasn¡¯t frozen. Looking down at it, I asked Shin Byeong-cheol and Seo Ye-in, ¡°Well, that¡¯s what it says. What do you two think?¡± ¡°What a nasty little rabbit.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll teach it a lesson.¡± We surrounded the Clock Rabbit from three directions. Chapter 373: No. 336 Rabbit Room (2) ¡°Wh-What is going on here?!¡± The Clock Rabbit was aghast, glancing between us and its pocket watch while darting its eyes around. It must¡¯ve thought the watch was broken. Tick¡ª tock¡ª tick¡ª tock¡ª Of course, the surroundings were still locked in that black-and-white film-like state. It meant [Time Freeze] was still in effect. ¡°Kyuit, time is definitely frozen!¡± ¡°Yeah, time is frozen alright. It just couldn¡¯t freeze us.¡± Because we had S-rank [Time Resistance]. I even granted it to Seo Ye-in and Shin Byeong-cheol for the experience. [Activated ¡®Octopus Limbs¡¯.] [¡®Time Resistance¡¯ has been granted to the target.] [Granted ¡®Time Resistance¡¯ Rank: A] [Duration: 00:19:52] [Cooldown: 01:39:52] Come to think of it, this is the first time I¡¯ve used [Enchantment] since upgrading it to B-rank. Not only had the duration and cooldown improved, but the resistance rank now only dropped by one tier instead of two. Meaning, even without pairing it with [Amplification], the skill could perform on its own. An A-rank Time Resistance should be more than enough to move freely inside frozen time. Only then did the Clock Rabbit realize things had gone wrong and tried to flee, but Seo Ye-in and Shin Byeong-cheol each grabbed one of its ears and lifted it up. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± ¡°In a hurry, are we?¡± ¡°K-Kkiiik! Let go of me! You filthy humans!¡± The Clock Rabbit flailed in midair, suspended a few inches off the ground. Pretty pitiful for a hidden boss. Well, time magic is all it¡¯s got. Time-type skills and traits were notoriously difficult to acquire. So much so that even experts like Lee Soo-dok or Ahn Jeong-mi were practically helpless against them. But once you¡¯ve secured a means of resistance, their power drops dramatically, just like now. Not to mention, it¡¯s not even his skill. He was just borrowing the power of the pocket watch; the rabbit itself was no more than a talking critter. In fact, you could say the pocket watch was the real core. And even that didn¡¯t work on us. Still, maybe because he hadn¡¯t fully grasped the situation or maybe it was just his nasty personality, the Clock Rabbit kept thrashing around. ¡°Kyiiik! I said let me go!¡± In times like this, you had to respond firmly. I crouched down to meet his eyes and pointed my ice-cold index finger at him. ¡°Not quite ready to talk yet, huh...? Should we punch a few holes in you to get started?¡± The moment he felt the chill radiating from the Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger, the Clock Rabbit shuddered slightly and immediately calmed down. ¡°W-Wait! Alright! I¡¯m ready to talk!¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure! What do you want from me?¡± The reason I didn¡¯t go straight into attacking him, of course, was that there was nothing to gain from it. According to both my own experience and big data gathered from community users, the Clock Rabbit doesn¡¯t drop any items. But hey, this was a game world; we couldn¡¯t be completely sure. I fiddled with the pocket watch. ¡°Hey, this thing looks nice. All shiny and flashy. Lend it to me for a week.¡± ¡°Kyik! Absolutely not! That item is bound to my soul!¡± ¡°What happens if I take it?¡± ¡°The watch breaks, and I die.¡± ¡°Not lying, are you? Nothing to lose¡ªI might as well try it.¡± ¡°Kyuuit! I¡¯m not lying! Ask for something else!¡± The Clock Rabbit desperately snatched the watch back and stuffed it deep into his suit pocket. Judging by his reaction, he seemed to be telling the truth. Not that I had expected much. I only poked around just in case. A time-stop item would be at least S-rank. No way something like that could be obtained so easily. Though I might be able to craft ¡°something similar¡± later on. Still, he¡¯s got plenty of other uses. Even if it didn¡¯t drop any items, it was a hidden boss, after all. The mood felt just right, so I laid out my terms. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for anything huge. You just need to come with us.¡± ¡°...Is that really all?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Kyuit, and for how long?¡± ¡°Obviously, until we reach the boss room.¡± After we beat the boss, like it or not, we¡¯d be kicked out of the dungeon anyway. At that, Shin Byeong-cheol, who had been listening nearby, clapped his hands. ¡°That¡¯s a clever trick! He¡¯d be perfect for guiding us!¡± ¡°Kyuk, ugly human. I can¡¯t guide you.¡± ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t you live here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡± The Clock Rabbit trailed off, clearly reluctant to explain. But when everyone turned to look at him, he finally spoke up. ¡°...I don¡¯t have a good memory.¡± ¡°So you forgot the room layout?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Seriously? Of all things to forget. You really do have rabbit brains.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol let out a dry laugh. The Clock Rabbit flared up and pointed at the doors. ¡°Kyuik! Look at those! Honestly, wouldn¡¯t you get confused?¡± ¡°Still, you live here. You should remember. Useless.¡± ¡°The only useless thing here is that bald spot on your head, you future baldhead!¡± ¡°What¡¯d you say, punk?¡± The two of them started bickering. They seemed to be on the same level, more or less. Not wanting to waste time, I stepped in to break it up. ¡°That¡¯s enough. He¡¯s got other uses besides finding the way.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so.¡± ¡°Now let him go.¡± At my signal, Seo Ye-in and Shin Byeong-cheol set him down on the floor. The Clock Rabbit immediately activated his pocket watch. ¡ª tick¡ª tock¡ª tick¡ª tock¡ª His movements suddenly became much faster. Since he could shrug off time magic cast on us without a care, he must have used it on himself as a self-buff. Using that speed, the Clock Rabbit bounced away toward one of the doors. A smug grin plastered across his face. ¡°Kyuik! You let your guard down! Just as I thought; humans are hopelessly stupid. I¡¯m off, farewell!¡± But the next moment, a gray shadow blocked his path. Seo Ye-in had caught up to him by casting [Ghost Dance]. A startled yelp escaped him as the Immortal Kim Ho-Kim Ho Pot came crashing down on his head. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± Clang!¡ª He seemed fairly sturdy, but the Clock Rabbit staggered, unable to keep his balance. At that moment, we closed in and surrounded him again. ¡°Hopelessly stupid, huh...¡± I looked down at him and twitched my index finger. As if I might drive Mysterious Yin Jade Demon Finger straight through him at any moment. The Clock Rabbit who was dizzy and desperate blurted out, ¡°Kyuik. I-I take it back! I was the stupid one! I won¡¯t run anymore...¡± ¡°Not very convincing.¡± ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything. But we do need a safety measure.¡± Just then, I remembered that Seo Ye-in happened to have the perfect item. ¡°Lend me that rope.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± It was a rope meant for kidnapping me. I looped it around the Clock Rabbit¡¯s neck and tied it into a tight knot. Tight enough that he¡¯d never get it off on his own, no matter what. Seo Ye-in watched with sparkling eyes, then glanced back and forth between me and the rabbit before nodding to herself. ¡°A leash.¡± ¡°What kind of thoughts are you having?¡± ¨C Shake, shake, Seo Ye-in averted her gaze and started shaking her head innocently. Then she pointed to the door. ¡°...Shall we go?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s move on.¡± Still a bit wary, I opened the door. The next room was... extreme. To the left, a staircase led upward; to the right, one descended. Directly ahead was a single door. The problem was that the room was filled with traps and mechanical devices. Fine lines crisscrossed the ceiling, walls, and floor. Signs that something heavy might drop from above, or arrows and spears could fire out, or the ground might suddenly collapse. The stairs were simple enough. You just had to go up or down. But to open that door, you¡¯d have to get through all those mechanisms. Just then, Shin Byeong-cheol let out a confident chuckle and pulled out his chopsticks. ¡°This is definitely a trap. Watch closely; witness the greatness of Trap Master Shin Byeong-cheol in action.¡± ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Shin Byeong-cheol.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You remember what we talked about earlier, right?¡± ¡°...Ahem. Of course I do.¡± Seemingly reminded of their promise to keep quiet, Shin Byeong-cheol looked sheepish and took a step back. Still, with a one-in-three chance, he looked to Seo Ye-in with hope in his eyes. ¡°......¡± That hope didn¡¯t last long. The lucky charm radar pointed decisively to the staircase on the right, the one going down. Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s face twisted in disbelief. ¡°What? After all that suspicious setup, the stairs were the answer?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all just luck.¡± I replied indifferently, while the Clock Rabbit let out a mocking snort and chimed in. ¡°Kyukkyut, the sharp-eyed human knows what¡¯s up! In this place, choosing the harder path doesn¡¯t guarantee a better outcome. If you¡¯re unlucky, all you¡¯ll get is double the trouble.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol snapped. ¡°Hey, you said you didn¡¯t know the way either. We¡¯re in the same boat.¡± ¡°Kkyuik, I know more than you do, you future baldhead!¡± ¡°This rabbit keeps bringing up baldness every time it opens its mouth.¡± ¡°Enough already. Stop fighting.¡± I stepped in to break up their bickering once again, then took the lead down the stairs. The room we arrived in was almost identical to the last. Stairs on either side, a door ahead, and packed with traps. ¡°......¡± ¡°......¡± Everyone immediately turned to look at Seo Ye-in. Which way would the lucky charm radar point this time? Would it be the easy path again? Seo Ye-in glanced around the room before slowly raising her hand and pointing straight ahead. ¡°That way.¡± ¡°Oooh, finally, it¡¯s my turn to shine!¡± Shin Byeong-cheol lit up with excitement. He pulled out a pair of chopsticks and blew a puff of air dramatically over the tips. But before he could take action, I grabbed him by the shoulder. ¡°Hold on.¡± ¡°What now? Let me pull my weight too. My manly pride can¡¯t just sit back and do nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the sentiment.¡± I could give him some credit. Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s trap-disarming skills were solid. Toss a few chopsticks, and he¡¯d probably clear a path. But right now, we had a method that was faster and far more reliable. First, I handed Seo Ye-in a rope. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Then, without warning, I grabbed the scruff of the clock rabbit¡¯s neck and hurled him forward with all my strength. ¡°Kkyuueeek¡ª!¡± The rabbit flew in an arc, bounced across the floor a few times, then sprang up while fuming. ¡°Human! What in the world do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± I acted as if I hadn¡¯t heard a thing and started speaking to myself in the tone of a textbook narration. ¡°Oh no, that poor rabbit¡¯s gotten himself into danger.¡± ¡°Kiik! You¡¯re the one who threw me!¡± ¡°Looks like he triggered some traps... This could end very badly.¡± Sure enough, we began to hear clunks and clanks echoing from all around the room. The rabbit, rolling across the floor, had activated several mechanisms. Then, just as something began to drop from the ceiling above¡ª The clock rabbit hurriedly fiddled with his pocket watch. In an instant, the entire room turned black and white. Tick¡ªTock¡ªTick¡ªTock¡ª He¡¯d used [Time Freeze]. Naturally, with time stopped, none of the traps could function. Seeing this, Shin Byeong-cheol let out a string of awed gasps. ¡°My deepest apologies, sir. I never imagined you¡¯d planned this far ahead...¡± ¡°Right? Now let¡¯s move.¡± Before the effect wore off. We strolled casually across the room toward the door on the other side. Chapter 374: No. 336 Rabbit Room (3) After that, we continued exploring the dungeon, putting our faith in our lucky charm. Then we entered a room lined with armed rabbits. Shin Byeong-cheol and I looked at Seo Ye-in in surprise. ¡°A battle room? That¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°......¡± Instead of answering, Seo Ye-in pointed to one of the doors. She was telling us that we had no choice but to go through this room to get to that one. Sure, we could probably find a way around, but there was no guarantee it would be any easier. I nodded my head. ¡°So you had a plan all along. No way our lucky charm¡¯s luck would just run out.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol tried to slip in a little self-defense. ¡°Actually, I had a plan too, you know?¡± ¡°You were just unlucky, that¡¯s all.¡± I dismissed his nonsense without a second thought. At the same time, I grabbed the Clock Rabbit by the scruff of his neck. I was planning to throw a time-freeze bomb before the fight broke out. But the rabbit struggled and shouted, ¡°Kkyuik! Use your words! Talk to me!¡± ¡°I figured you wouldn¡¯t listen. Will you do it if I ask?¡± ¡°I will! So stop throwing me around already! You horrible human!¡± ¡°In that case...¡± I let go without complaint, and the Clock Rabbit huffed and puffed before casting [Time Freeze]. Tick¡ª tock¡ª tick¡ª Immediately, all the charging armed rabbits froze in place. They weren¡¯t difficult enemies to begin with, but now they were practically scarecrows. Seo Ye-in took the opportunity to do some target practice. Ratatatatata¡ª! She wiped them out in an instant, and we leisurely opened the door and moved on to the next room. Then we all paused. ¡°This must be it, huh?¡± ¡°A hidden room.¡± The room had a cozy interior, with furniture arranged for sitting or lying down to rest. Compared to the bare, empty rooms we¡¯d passed through so far, the contrast was striking. On top of that, a few small boxes sat on the table in the center of the room. [Rabbit Room Random Box (D+)] ¡Á3 Three extra boxes, with a bonus on top. We¡¯d beaten the odds to make it this far, and this was our reward. After storing the random boxes, I turned to the group. ¡°Let¡¯s take a short break here.¡± The path to this point had been almost like a highway. It was smooth and fast, with barely any real fights. Even so, the reason for taking a break was simple: Need to wait out the cooldown. The duration of [Enchantment] had ended, and it was currently on cooldown. If the Clock Rabbit were to use [Time Freeze] again while we were in this state, Seo Ye-in and Shin Byeong-cheol who didn¡¯t have resistance would be frozen in place. I could handle things alone if I had to... But it was better not to show any openings to this guy at all. He had a particularly nasty personality, and even now with a leash around his neck, he was constantly looking for a chance to escape. So, we decided to kill some time before moving on. Shin Byeong-cheol laid his chopsticks out in a neat line and started polishing them, while Seo Ye-in flopped down and rested her head on my lap. ¡°Pillow.¡± ¡°Yeah, get some rest.¡± She¡¯d been the MVP of this run, so what¡¯s a lap pillow, really? Seo Ye-in wiggled around to find the perfect sleeping position and fell asleep in less than five seconds. Looking down at her, I thought to myself: At this rate, we could handle a higher difficulty. This dungeon was basically a test run. The goal was to see whether our ¡°lucky charm¡± could carry us through and if we were ready to tackle more advanced random-type dungeons. If anything went wrong, even if I came out fine, my teammates could get seriously hurt. Still, things have gone incredibly smoothly so far. Couldn¡¯t ask for a better run. We¡¯d have to wait and see how things turned out, but I didn¡¯t expect any major surprises. If all went well, we could trust Seo Ye-in to lead us through the next random-type dungeon too. Meanwhile, the Clock Rabbit who had apparently pulled it out at some point was busy chomping away at a huge carrot. I threw a question at him. ¡°You know, calling you ¡®Clock Rabbit¡¯ all the time doesn¡¯t really sound that great. Don¡¯t you have a name or something?¡± ¡°Kkyuit, of course not! What¡¯s wrong with ¡®Clock Rabbit¡¯ anyway?¡± ¡°Well, since we¡¯ve crossed paths, might as well give you a name. How about Chompy?¡± ¡°No¡ª!! Way¡ª!!¡± The Clock Rabbit shouted. He was practically having a meltdown. I asked him again. ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± ¡°Kkyiit, how dare a lowly human try to name me? I absolutely will not allow it.¡± Guess that hidden boss status came with a lot of pride. I slowly nodded. ¡°Alright, I should respect your opinion. I¡¯ll give you a choice.¡± ¡°...What choice?¡± ¡°Do you want to be Chompy, or Hole-in-the-head Chompy?¡± ¡°......¡± I asked, channeling my best serious face, and Chompy shut his mouth and looked away. He didn¡¯t want to rebel, but he clearly didn¡¯t like the name either. Shin Byeong-cheol chuckled at that. ¡°Chompy, we¡¯re counting on you again.¡± Even in her sleep, Seo Ye-in mumbled, ¡°...Chompy...¡± *** After a little while had passed¡ª Once the cooldown for assigning roles reset, we started moving again. We¡¯d already met the hidden boss, the Clock Rabbit, and cleared the bonus room for extra loot. There was only one thing left. Just gotta beat the boss. So we began navigating the rooms in search of the boss room. As always, we left it entirely up to our lucky charm radar. ¡°Which way should we go?¡± ¡°That way.¡± ¡°Is it a door or stairs?¡± ¡°Stairs.¡± ¡°Left or right?¡± ¡°Left.¡± Of course, even the lucky charm radar wasn¡¯t perfect. Facing three doors, Seo Ye-in tilted her head again and again. She seemed uncertain. I asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t tell?¡± ¡°.......¡± Then Seo Ye-in raised both hands and pointed at two doors at once. It seemed the results were nearly identical. Still, there had to be at least a slight difference. After a moment¡¯s thought, I gestured to the side. ¡°Mr. Shin, come over here for a second.¡± ¡°Huh? Me?¡± ¡°Tell me what you think. Honestly.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol looked at me with a very surprised expression. ¡°What¡¯s this all of a sudden? You usually just tell me to shut up.¡± ¡°Just want to hear your opinion.¡± ¡°Hmm... in that case...¡± Tensing his whole body, Shin Byeong-cheol examined the two doors back and forth and started pondering deeply. And finally, he raised his hand and pointed dramatically at the left door. ¡°That one!¡± ¡°Great. Let¡¯s go.¡± As if prearranged, the rest of the group spun around and started walking toward the opposite door. Shin Byeong-cheol was dumbfounded and said, ¡°Wait, why are you going the other way after making me choose?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I had you choose.¡± Whichever one the teahouse owner didn¡¯t pick was likely to be at least a little better. He might¡¯ve just come along for the show, but he¡¯s surprisingly useful at times like this. Whenever we ran into a trap room or a battle room, we made use of Time Freeze Chompy. ¡°Chompy, freeze time.¡± ¡°...Kkyuit.¡± Chompy grumbled, clearly displeased with the new name, but obediently operated the pocket watch as instructed. He learned that if he didn¡¯t, I would throw him. Tick¡ªtock¡ªtick¡ªtock¡ª With time frozen, we strolled out of the area at our leisure. After passing through several more rooms, We entered one where a large, fluffy lump sat in the center. Sensing our presence, the lump slowly began to stir and soon stood on two legs. Seo Ye-in looked up at it and said, ¡°Big rabbit.¡± ¡°Sure is. Giant rabbit.¡± At some point, we¡¯d made it to the boss room. Chompy fiddled with the pocket watch and asked, ¡°Kkyuit, should I freeze time again?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re good.¡± Whether time was frozen or not, it didn¡¯t really make a difference. I had the party stay put while I walked forward. Staring at the giant rabbit taking slow, deliberate steps toward us, I clenched my fist. Whoosh, From deep within my fist, dark crimson flames flared to life and blazed fiercely. As I hurled it forward with all my might, a storm of fire surged out and engulfed the giant rabbit. Booom¡ª! This is what a D-rank boss amounts to. Most were dealt with by the time I unleashed Inferno Fist. The difference was just two ranks, but with the strong elemental penalty attached, the destructive power was overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t like this rabbit was any tougher than other D-rank bosses. As expected, all that remained after the storm passed were the charred, blackened remains. Soon, the flames died down a little, and the exit opened. I checked the boxes placed in front of it. [Rabbit Room Random Box (D)]*3 With the rewards collected, it was time to part ways with Chompy. Before saying goodbye, I began in a surprisingly gentle tone. ¡°Chompy, I¡¯ve got one last favor to ask.¡± ¡°What now, you mean-eyed human?¡± ¡°Combine these for me.¡± I smiled and held out the random boxes. The ones I¡¯d just earned, plus the extras from the bonus room. Every dungeon has a different way of combining boxes, and in this one, the hidden boss Chompy handles that job. Chompy¡¯s face twisted in displeasure. ¡°Kyuit... How in the world did you know that?¡± ¡°Is that really important?¡± What matters is that if you don¡¯t do it soon, you might end up full of holes. He shuddered at the sheer ruthlessness with which I squeezed things out. He had no choice but to activate the pocket watch. Tick¡ªtock¡ªtick¡ªtock¡ª The rapid ticking echoed around us. The boxes began to melt and soften and then slowly merged. One for every three. [Clock Rabbit¡¯s Random Box (C)] [Clock Rabbit¡¯s Random Box (C+)] The quantity had decreased, but the rank of each had gone up by one level. Grinding his teeth, the creature asked, ¡°Kyuit, are we done now? That¡¯s the last of it, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it. Thanks, Chompy.¡± ¡°It was filthy working with you. Let¡¯s never meet again!¡± ¡°Sure. Take care of yourself.¡± I answered with a bright smile and stepped into the teleportation portal with the group. ¡°Kyuiiit!! Wait! Aren¡¯t you at least going to take the leash off before you go?!¡± I heard Chompy¡¯s urgent cry in my ear, but it was already too late. He¡¯ll manage to get free on his own. Once we exited the dungeon, Shin Byeong-cheol was scanning the area as he collected the various concealment devices he had set up. He¡¯d installed them just in case, but as expected, it didn¡¯t seem like any faculty or disciplinary committee members had noticed. Shin Byeong-cheol lowered his voice and said, ¡°Let¡¯s move quickly. Follow me.¡± We followed his lead toward the ground level. To avoid surveillance, we had to take a roundabout route, using hidden passages between stairways, but since it was only one level up from D-Floor, the distance wasn¡¯t too far. Still, since the next dungeon would take us even deeper, the risks would be that much greater. Soon we reached E-Floor and got into the elevator. Only then did Shin Byeong-cheol breathe a sigh of relief and ask, ¡°So, is the next dungeon also going to be something about rabbits and rabbit rooms again?¡± ¡°Probably, yeah.¡± Just like the Great Eagle Escort Agency was tied in with Great Eagle Escort Mission and Sealing Demon Chests, the Rabbit Room also connects to several dungeons. And since the Lucky Charm test turned out well, there was no reason not to attempt a high-difficulty chain dungeon. Shin Byeong-cheol looked over his shoulder with a sympathetic expression. ¡°Man... so we¡¯re going to see Chompy again too.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± That¡¯s exactly why I made an effort to bond with him ahead of time. And even gave him a name. He would probably be even more friendly the next time we meet. Chapter 375: Rumors The Deep Levels of the Dungeon. A dungeon on Floor B. Kim Gap-doo stood with his fists lightly clenched, staring straight ahead. At the end of his gaze, monster corpses were piled like a mountain. It was a result of the fierce battle they had just finished. Though the battle had been a resounding victory, there was still the possibility that a few enemies were hiding, so he remained on guard, ready to react at any moment. Rumble... Then a sound like something collapsing rang in his ears, and the ground quivered slightly as if an earthquake had occurred. Not far away, a teleportation portal opened. ¡°...It¡¯s over.¡± That meant the dungeon was collapsing. Which also meant the dungeon had been cleared. Only then did Kim Gap-doo turn around, and the party members began to relax and exchange a few words. ¡°Phew, good job, everyone.¡± ¡°Another one down.¡± ¡°Hey, that skill combo earlier was on point.¡± They were all third-year students like Kim Gap-doo. Their classes varied from warrior, mage, archer, and support. They belonged to different clubs, which involved a web of complicated interests, and there were plenty of rivalries among them. But when it came to raiding dungeons, they set all that aside and formed parties based purely on efficiency. That was the only way to clear high-risk dungeons like those of B-rank. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean all grudges vanished. When a raid didn¡¯t go well, infighting could erupt. On the flip side, when everything went smoothly, even usual rivals would get along cheerfully. Now was obviously one of those times. One party member grinned and expressed their thanks to Kim Gap-doo. ¡°Man, that strategy guide you brought really hit the mark.¡± The strategy guide Kim Gap-doo had brought. At first, everyone had been very suspicious, but the content sounded plausible, and Kim Gap-doo vouched for it strongly, so they decided to use it for the dungeon run. The result was a huge success. The path proposed by the strategy guide was the most efficient route for party movement, detailing everything from which monsters would pop out along the way to how best to deal with them; it was all described meticulously, down to the smallest detail. As a result, the perceived difficulty of the dungeon dropped significantly. It felt more like tackling a C-rank dungeon rather than a B-rank one. What¡¯s more, thanks to collecting hidden pieces along the way, the rewards exceeded expectations. Because of all this, the other party members swarmed around Kim Gap-doo with a barrage of questions. ¡°Where did you say you got that again?¡± ¡°Do you have any others?¡± ¡°How about grabbing a coffee? My treat.¡± Kim Gap-doo had already explained when he first shared the guide. That it had been sold through Dang Gyu-young by some unidentified individual. If they could just find out who that person was and make contact or secure more guides... Then they could continue clearing dungeons as easily and comfortably as they had today. Information is power. Just knowing a smoother, easier way forward lets you speak louder in a party, and you can claim a greater share of the rewards. Naturally, the other party members were eager. But Kim Gap-doo responded in a calm, detached tone. ¡°I already told you. I don¡¯t know exactly. Dang Gyu-young recommended it, and since I¡¯ve benefited from his help in the past, I trusted him and bought it.¡± ¡°...I see. What about asking Dang Gyu-young directly?¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t say. Though I¡¯m sure he knows more than I do.¡± Another party member asked a different question. ¡°Still, was it okay to share something like that so easily? That guide must be worth tens of thousands of points.¡± ¡°Sharing was part of the deal. I got a discount too, of course.¡± ¡°Wait, seriously? Why?¡± From Dang Gyu-young¡¯s perspective, it would make more sense to sell it for a high price, and from Kim Gap-doo¡¯s side, wouldn¡¯t it be better to monopolize the info? But the sharper ones had already guessed the reason. It¡¯s for publicity. This was a promotional move. If it¡¯s being promoted, that means other guides definitely exist. And that those guides will be made available one way or another. Probably in the near future. The party members¡¯ eyes lit up with excitement. Dang Gyu-young said she sold it, right? Time to contact the Thieves Club right away.¡± Similar scenes were unfolding elsewhere. After all, Kim Gap-doo wasn¡¯t the only one who had purchased the guide. The rumors were snowballing fast. *** We set aside the two random boxes we had gotten from the Rabbit Room for now. Since I¡¯d be heading into another random-type dungeon in a few days, it made more sense to open everything at once, including whatever I¡¯d pick up there. During this bit of downtime, there was something else I had to deal with. The strategy guide. It didn¡¯t have enough credibility or buzz to go straight onto the auction, so to fix that, I sold a few samples to Kim Gap-doo and some of the other third-years. It¡¯s about time it started taking effect. By now, they should¡¯ve started clearing the dungeon and they¡¯d definitely be feeling the effects of the guide. So I checked in with Dang Gyu-young to see how things were going, and her response was exactly what I was expecting. ¨C Man, I¡¯ve been getting bombarded with messages because of that thing! Where did you get it, who made it, can you hook me up...? It¡¯s complete chaos, I¡¯m telling you! And with the rumors just starting to spread, it looked like attention wouldn¡¯t be a problem going forward. The next thing I had to think about was, When should I release the rest of the information? Right now, people just knew that a variety of guides existed and that they would be up for sale soon. But only Dang Gyu-young and Jegal So-so knew the full picture. That the guides will be bundled into complete ¡°guidebooks¡± and sold at auction. Revealing that now would definitely stir up massive interest, but¡ª It¡¯d be a waste to pull the trigger this early. There had to be a better moment, one that would make an even bigger impact. Besides, there was still one more thing to take care of. I need to raise the credibility. The samples had built a decent level of trust, but honestly, some doubt still lingered. Since the guidebooks would continue to be traded even after the auction, I needed to make sure this part was almost flawless from the start. Fortunately, I already had a plan. It¡¯s about time to bring an adult into this. It was time to start working with the faculty. I sent a message to the principal, and the reply came back right away: come now. He didn¡¯t even ask what it was about. He must have a lot of free time. Isn¡¯t a principal usually packed with a tight schedule? In any case, not having to wait was definitely a good sign. I headed toward the principal¡¯s office. *** Just as I guessed, the principal was casually lounging in his chair, passing the time like a carefree man of leisure. The vice principal was watching him with clear disapproval in her eyes. As I stepped into the room, the principal waved a hand lazily in the air. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Good afternoon.¡± ¡°Have a seat.¡± Once I sat down on a nearby chair, the principal slowly stretched and shifted into a more upright posture. Then, with a wide grin, he began. ¡°Wanna guess why you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°There¡¯s been talk going around. A few guidebooks are making the rounds, and people say they¡¯re extremely well made.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°We did a bit of digging and traced it back to the Thieves Club, but the whole thing feels pretty different from their usual work.¡± He added with a hint of pride. Like someone who¡¯d been in this role long enough to know the patterns. His eyes flashed for a moment. ¡°Which means someone¡¯s pulling the strings behind the scenes. And lately, the person most closely associated with Dang Gyu-young... is you, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I must¡¯ve looked suspicious.¡± I nodded. The administration¡¯s information network was definitely impressive. They might avoid interfering directly in student matters, but they always saw the bigger picture. The principal asked for confirmation. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who made the guidebooks?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°You admit it pretty easily.¡± ¡°Well, without that, the conversation can¡¯t really go anywhere, can it?¡± ¡°...Fair enough.¡± The principal looked slightly embarrassed. In a way, it felt like I was revealing one of my cards a little too easily, but I had plenty more where that came from. Besides, for a Hero, this kind of thing is no big deal. It would benefit him more to stay on good terms with me than to get greedy. That was the calculation behind my easy admission. I got straight to the point. ¡°As you¡¯ve probably guessed, the guidebooks I recently distributed were just groundwork.¡± ¡°I figured as much. Now that I think about it... what is it, two weeks? Three? The auction¡¯s coming up, right?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m planning to put this up.¡± I pulled two thick books out of my inventory. Pre-made strategy guides. As soon as the principal received them, he began flipping through the pages with intense focus. Unable to contain his curiosity, the vice principal drifted over at some point and started peeking over his shoulder. For a while, the only sound in the room was the steady rustle of pages turning. Then, just as the principal was about to close the guidebook, I beat him to it. ¡°Mind if I guess what you¡¯re about to say?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°These guides are incredibly useful! Would you be willing to share a copy?¡± ¡°...Bit of an exaggeration, but you¡¯re right. How¡¯d you know?¡± ¡°I figured you¡¯d want it. Even if your purpose is different.¡± From the principal¡¯s or the academy¡¯s standpoint, dungeon strategies themselves aren¡¯t all that valuable. After all, acquiring C-rank or B-rank items doesn¡¯t mean much to them. Even so, the reason they¡¯d want the most efficient strategy guides on hand is simple: You never know what might happen. If something goes wrong in a dungeon where students have entered, the staff has to go in to rescue them. Every minute, and every second counts, so they need to move with maximum efficiency. And when it comes to chasing down villains hiding in dungeons like the Witch of Corruption or the Blood Cult Elder, these guides were equally useful. In fact, during the Teleportation Labyrinth incident, the academy had even distributed its own set of strategies. The principal scratched his stubbly chin. ¡°If you leave us a copy, we¡¯d appreciate it. What do you want in return?¡± ¡°There are two things. Would it be alright if I told you one of them later?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit suspicious. Let¡¯s hear the other one first.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like official certification.¡± Certification that this guide was trustworthy. Wasn¡¯t it far more credible to get that from the administration than from dozens or even hundreds of students? ¡°Hmm...¡± The principal fell silent for a moment, as if weighing the terms. On one side, guaranteed strategies for dozens of dungeons. On the other, certification, plus some future request I might make. He¡¯ll take it, no doubt. They¡¯ll have to verify the guide either way and whatever I end up asking for will still be within acceptable limits. Sure enough, he exchanged a brief glance with the vice principal, then nodded. ¡°Alright. We can ask a few of the teachers. Just need it done before the auction, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s more than enough.¡± ¡°Then the deal¡¯s settled.¡± The vice principal immediately made and stored a copy of the guide. Just as I was about to leave, the principal called out to me again. ¡°By the way, Kim Ho.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I get the feeling what you showed us is just the tip of the iceberg.¡± ¡°I do know a bit more.¡± ¡°...Don¡¯t tell me.... you¡¯ve got S-rank strategies too?¡± The principal¡¯s expression turned unusually serious. Instead of answering, I asked a question of my own. ¡°Are you planning to challenge one?¡± ¡°...No, forget it. You can go.¡± Just like that, his face relaxed as if nothing had happened, and he waved me off. Chapter 376: No.207 Rabbit Tower (1) The auction for the strategy guides was to be postponed until the academy¡¯s official certification was complete. Time to head back down. Now was the time to finish clearing the random-type dungeon. I put in a guide request with the Thieves Club and made my way to the dungeon building late at night. At the designated meeting spot, Go Hyeon-woo was already waiting. He noticed my presence and looked over. ¡°Hey, Kim-hyung.¡± ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°I arrived a bit early. It¡¯s my first time trying out one of these random-type dungeons, so I was actually looking forward to it.¡± Just as he said, his face looked a bit more animated than usual. This time, the party consisted of just the two of us and Seo Ye-in. We probably could¡¯ve cleared it with just the two of us, but to be safe, we decided to go in at full strength. Next to arrive unexpectedly was Seo Ye-in. It seemed she¡¯d somehow managed to wake up again tonight, but judging from the way she sluggishly trudged over, she wasn¡¯t quite fully awake yet. Watching her, I said: ¡°What are you, a jellyfish or a sloth?¡± ¡°Neither...¡± ¡°Then what are you?¡± ¡°Carry me...¡± She slowly reached out her hand. She looked exactly like a jellyfish, so I took her hand and gave it a wobbly shake. While we were doing that, Shin Byeong-cheol came rushing in while panting. Go Hyeon-woo greeted him with a friendly smile. ¡°Welcome, Shin-hyung.¡± ¡°Ah man, I¡¯m the last one. Sorry~¡± ¡°Haha, looks like you were busy.¡± ¡°Yeah, something like that. Actually, I¡¯m still busy. Shall we head in?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± We descended the spiral staircase into the basement. Our destination this time was a C-rank dungeon. One step above where we usually went. At the front of the group, Shin Byeong-cheol lowered his voice and spoke. ¡°Man, I¡¯m kind of nervous. Honestly, this is my first time guiding someone on the C level.¡± Shin Byeong-cheol¡¯s stealth skills were average for a first-year. That¡¯s why almost all his clients were also first-years. They typically aimed for F- or E-rank dungeons...occasionally a D-rank. Up to D-rank, Shin Byeong-cheol could manage decently enough. But we had grown faster than most first-years, and by now, clearing a D-rank dungeon was barely a warm-up for us. We¡¯ll probably be focusing on C-levels for a while. The real issue was that just one level below the C floor was the deep zone of the B floor where security tightened drastically. Which meant the pressure on the guide was that much heavier. I spoke casually. ¡°Just give it a shot. Think of it as experience.¡± ¡°What if I get caught?¡± ¡°Then it is what it is. We¡¯ll just plan for next time.¡± Of course, next time we¡¯d bring a second-year guide instead. Shin Byeong-cheol clicked his tongue. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to lose my clients. I still owe you guys.¡± ¡°Good to know you¡¯ve got a conscience.¡± ¡°Of course. When it comes to trust, you¡¯re looking at Shin Byeong-cheol. Alright, follow me.¡± Doing his best, Shin Byeong-cheol guided us using every detection and stealth skill at his disposal. Unfortunately, his skill had its limits, and our descent through the C floor was painfully slow. ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa¡ªback, back, back! Retreat!¡± More than once, he panicked and rushed us backward or ducked into secluded spots to wait for the right moment. Still, despite all the hiccups, Shin Byeong-cheol managed to get us safely to our destination. [No.207] [Rabbit Tower] Shin Byeong-cheol marveled at himself. ¡°Wow, I actually pulled it off. This is a real human victory.¡± ¡°Nice work.¡± ¡°Can I tag along again?¡± ¡°No chance.¡± I shook my head firmly. D-rank dungeons were easy enough for us that we could afford to drag Shin Byeong-cheol around. But in a C-rank dungeon, there was no guarantee of 100% safety. Shin Byeong-cheol asked, ¡°What¡¯s the cutoff point?¡± ¡°If you can solo-kill an ogre, you¡¯re in.¡± ¡°...Take care, everyone.¡± ¡°See you later.¡± We gave Shin Byeong-cheol a wave and all stepped through the teleport portal together. But just then, a familiar sound rang in my ears. Rumble-rumble... Go Hyeon-woo must¡¯ve heard it too, because he turned to me with a puzzled expression. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Pretty sure we¡¯ve been found.¡± The source of the sound was probably Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s unique magic. He could connect spaces through wooden doors and move freely between them. On top of that, Kwak Seung-jae¡¯s detection and tracking skills were so sharp, even Dang Gyu-young occasionally got caught. The fact that Shin Byeong-cheol managed to guide us this far was basically a miracle. Of course, in the end, we still got caught. Most likely, once we leave, the disciplinary committee will be waiting outside. Maybe even a few faculty members. Either way, we¡¯re probably getting dragged off to the Disciplinary Office. With a grave expression, Go Hyeon-woo asked, ¡°Should we leave right away?¡± ¡°No need. We¡¯re already here. We might as well finish what we started.¡± To leave now, we¡¯d have to use an escape scroll, and those cost a fair number of points. Better to clear the dungeon and get what we came for. Go Hyeon-woo nodded. ¡°Reasonable. For now, we should focus on the mission.¡± ¡°If we get distracted and someone gets hurt, it¡¯s our loss. We¡¯ll figure it out when the time comes.¡± With that, we turned our attention forward. Before us stood a massive clock tower. It was tall and wide like a skyscraper. At the very top, a giant rabbit-shaped clock ticked away, perfectly fitting for the scale. Just then, the hands of the clock struck the hour, and the sound of bells rang out. Dong¡ª Dong¡ª Dong¡ª Listening to the chimes, I said to Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°...Let¡¯s move.¡± As expected from its skyscraper-like size, the inside of the clock tower was vast. However, the first floor was almost entirely empty, with nothing but a single elevator installed at the center. That¡¯s clearly the key here. Up close, the elevator was made up of two components: A large pullable lever and a roulette wheel the size of a door. The roulette was divided into several categories like , , , and , each further split into (Small), (Medium), and (Large) tiers. Go Hyeon-woo examined the roulette and guessed, ¡°Pulling the lever must activate the roulette.¡± ¡°Right. And whatever shows up determines what¡¯s on the next floor.¡± With something like this, it¡¯s faster to try it than explain it a hundred times. So I gestured toward the lever with a nod. ¡°Give it a pull.¡± ¡°From the looks of it, luck plays a big role here. Is it okay if I go first instead of Miss Seo?¡± ¡°For a test run, just once.¡± ¡°Hmm... if you say so.¡± Go Hyeon-woo, looking slightly tense, slowly pulled the lever. Clunk¡ª We heard the sound of mechanisms activating all around us as the roulette began to spin faster and faster. The three of us watched in silence. Shrrrrk¡ª! Soon, the roulette began to slow, and finally stopped, pointing to one of the segments. [Battle (Medium)] Go Hyeon-woo gave a wry smile. ¡°Seems my luck isn¡¯t all that great, after all.¡± ¡°Still better than Byeong-cheol.¡± He probably would¡¯ve landed [Boss (Large)] on his first try. With another clunking sound, the elevator slowly began to rise. I looked between the two and gave instructions. ¡°Get ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Go Hyeon-woo drew his magic sword, while Seo Ye-in loaded her assault rifle. Soon, the elevator reached the next floor where dozens of human-sized rabbit dolls were waiting. Each one armed with a variety of bladed and ranged weapons. They moved in perfect unison, quickly surrounding us. Clack! I stepped forward and clenched my fist. A dark crimson flame flared up from within. ¡°Let¡¯s clean this up.¡± Then I hurled an Inferno Fist with all my strength. Boom-boom-boom¡ª! The blast blew a hole through their encirclement, but the remaining rabbit dolls charged in without hesitation. *** Go Hyeon-woo sheathed his magic sword. ¡°As expected, not so easy.¡± ¡°It is C-rank, after all.¡± These rabbit dolls were noticeably stronger than the ones back in the Rabbit Room. When grouped in twos or threes, they could even take down an ogre. Because we were forced into a chaotic battle against dozens of such enemies, both Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in had a few close calls. Still, in the end, we managed to take care of all the rabbit dolls without any major injuries. We returned to the elevator to move on to the next floor. Of course, Go Hyeon-woo didn¡¯t go anywhere near the lever. ¡°From here on, it would be best to leave it to Miss Seo.¡± ¡°That was the plan.¡± As Go Hyeon-woo had just demonstrated, the way [Rabbit Tower] works is simple: take the elevator and move up floor by floor. What awaits on the next floor depends entirely on the roulette. So this place is all about luck, too. With bad luck, it could be battle, battle, maybe a boss, then battle again. And more battle after that. If your luck is really terrible, you might even have to face bosses back-to-back. Even someone like Go Hyeon-woo, who thrives on combat, would find that overwhelming. So from this point on, it only made sense to leave things to our lucky sloth. ¡°Go ahead and pull it.¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± As soon as I finished speaking, Seo Ye-in pulled the lever. The roulette spun rapidly, then stopped on a spot. [Rest] ¡°Knew it. Our lucky charm strikes again. Nailed the rest floor.¡± ¡°Very lucky...¡± Seo Ye-in wore her usual expressionless face, but a hint of anticipation flickered in her eyes. Probably because of the word ¡°rest¡±. Go Hyeon-woo who sounded genuinely curious asked, ¡°What¡¯s on the rest floor?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see. You¡¯ll like it.¡± Honestly, this was part of the reason I brought him along. The elevator slowly ascended again and came to a stop on the next floor. Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s eyes widened the moment the doors opened. ¡°This is...!¡± The mana in the air was incredibly dense. Dense enough to almost feel tangible. I added an explanation. ¡°In terms of efficiency, it¡¯s probably better than a special mana cultivation room.¡± ¡°Impressive...! Are there any specific rules?¡± ¡°None. Just do whatever suits you.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll begin right away.¡± Go Hyeon-woo immediately picked a spot and started training with mana. Right after, Seo Ye-in tugged lightly on my sleeve and looked up at me. ¡°The hoodie.¡± ¡°I¡¯m using it.¡± [Hoodie of the Hidden Master], which greatly boosts mana training efficiency. I had lent it to Seo Ye-in now and then, but right now, I needed it myself. I had to reach Core A-rank and learn Blink as soon as possible. At my firm refusal, Seo Ye-in stared at me again, then offered a second-best option. ¡°...Pillow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, but don¡¯t move around too much.¡± Mana cultivation could be dangerous if interrupted midway. Seo Ye-in gave a small nod, then curled up and leaned her body against my knee. *** After cultivating mana for a while, the mana density in the area had noticeably thinned. Since continuing wouldn¡¯t be more efficient than using a special cultivation room, we decided to move on to the next floor. As soon as we got into the lift, Seo Ye-in pulled the lever. Clunk. The roulette spun with a sharp shrrrk sound and then came to a stop. [Rest] Go Hyeon-woo and I each made a comment. ¡°Rest again, huh.¡± ¡°Miss Seo¡¯s luck never ceases to amaze me.¡± And the next floor. [Rest] ¡°It landed on that again?¡± ¡°Huh...¡± And the floor after that. [Rest] Before Seo Ye-in could pull the lever again, I stopped her. ¡°Let¡¯s stop resting already.¡± Chapter 377: No.207 Rabbit Tower (2) The rest floor wasn¡¯t all bad. You could train your mana with very high efficiency there. Still, it felt like a waste to spend all our time doing mana cultivation after going through the trouble of entering a C-rank dungeon. Especially considering we¡¯re likely to get dragged to the Disciplinary Committee afterward. It made more sense to prioritize rewards and hidden pieces. I persuaded Seo Ye-in. ¡°We can drop by the rest floors once in a while, but for now, let¡¯s do something else.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re well-rested, so how about warming up a bit?¡± In other words, head to a battle floor. Seo Ye-in glanced at the roulette for a few seconds, then asked, ¡°...Boss?¡± ¡°Sure, why not.¡± Honestly, I felt like Go Hyeon-woo or I could¡¯ve landed the boss room ourselves, but once again, we left it to Seo Ye-in. As a kind of bad-luck-cleansing ritual, or maybe to charge up our luck. Clunk¡ª Without hesitation, Seo Ye-in pulled the lever, and the roulette began spinning rapidly. The result was exactly what we expected. [Boss (Medium)] Go Hyeon-woo and I chuckled dryly. ¡°She really just gets whatever she wants.¡± ¡°Almost like she can control it at will.¡± In response, Seo Ye-in slowly raised her hand and flashed a peace sign. Soon after, the elevator ascended and dropped us off on the next floor. And then, a flustered voice greeted us. ¡°K-Kyuik!? You again!¡± It was the clock rabbit, the hidden boss of the [Rabbit Room]. Here too it played a significant role as both the floor boss and the guardian of a hidden piece. Seo Ye-in and I waved cheerfully. ¡°Hey, Chompy.¡± ¡°Chompy.¡± ¡°Kieeeee!! Don¡¯t call me that name!¡± Just like the first time I named him, Chompy freaked out and hated it. I sighed. ¡°That kinda hurts, Chompy. After everything we¡¯ve been through, how can you be so cold?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, human! What part of that was a meaningful memory?!¡± ¡°If that wasn¡¯t a memory, then what was it? I even gave you a necklace as a token of our friendship.¡± Chompy trembled with rage and clutched his neck. ¡°Kyiiik!! That cursed leash! Do you know how much trouble I went through to take it off?!¡± ¡°Which makes me wonder. Why even take it off? You¡¯ll just end up wearing it again anyway.¡± Seo Ye-in quietly took out a rope, her eyes gleaming. ¡°...Practice.¡± ¡°Absolutely, under no circumstances are you touching my neck.¡± Chompy spat the words out and then pulled out a pocket watch. Seeing that, I casually reminded him of one simple fact. ¡°Chompy, you know time magic doesn¡¯t work on us, right?¡± ¡°Kyuek, of course I know. But that¡¯s not the only way I have to deal with you.¡± As he raised the pocket watch above his head, a massive hunk of machinery suddenly dropped from the air. Thud!! The rectangular object unfolded with a series of clanking noises and transformed into a rabbit-shaped robot. It was only slightly smaller than an ogre. Where its head should¡¯ve been was a cockpit, and in the center of its chest was a circular recess which was exactly the size of the pocket watch. ¡°Kyuit.¡± When Chompy inserted the pocket watch into the socket, the rabbit robot powered on. Next, he leaped up and settled himself into the cockpit. Go Hyeon-woo and I watched this scene unfold, quietly murmuring in admiration. ¡°He¡¯s an enemy, but I must say, it¡¯s pretty cool.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a certain charm to it.¡± ¡°By the way, how do you know that rabbit?¡± ¡°We saw him in a previous dungeon. It connects to this one.¡± ¡°I see.¡± As we continued chatting in the most casual tone, Chompy¡¯s face twisted in irritation. ¡°Kyuek! Do you still not understand the situation!?¡± ¡°Oh, I get it. The robot¡¯s cool, Chompy. Can I take it for a spin?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see how long you can keep acting so calm!¡± The Chompy robot crouched low as if gathering strength, then made a huge leap, trying to crush us. Go Hyeon-woo stepped back using his movement technique, and I grabbed Seo Ye-in¡¯s arm and jumped far away, landing safely in the distance. Apparently aiming to eliminate the closer target first, the Chompy robot turned its attention to Go Hyeon-woo. It wielded a greatsword as tall as itself in one hand and a broad shield in the other. It swept the greatsword across the floor in a wide arc. Go Hyeon-woo wrapped a gentle wind around his magic sword and deflected the greatsword¡¯s path. Clang! Clang¡ª! At the same time, he unleashed several waves of sword energy, but surprisingly, the Chompy robot moved its shield with unexpected agility and blocked the attacks. Its balance of offense and defense was quite good. While swinging the greatsword and shield in turn, Chompy narrowed its eyes and looked down at Go Hyeon-woo. ¡°Kyuit, you¡¯re a new face. Where did that future baldy human go?¡± ¡°When you say the baldy one, are you talking about Shin-hyung?¡± ¡°I think that was his name. The guy with the growing bald spot on his head.¡± Go Hyeon-woo gave a wry smile. ¡°There were circumstances, so I came in his place. I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Kyut, at least you¡¯re a human with some manners. I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s very kind of you.¡± Just then, a dozen or so magic rounds struck the Chompy robot¡¯s body, causing small explosions. Tututututu! Boom-boom-boom-boom! They were Seo Ye-in¡¯s shock bombs. Each one was packed with serious power, but as to be expected from a C-rank dungeon boss, the rabbit robot had fairly thick armor. Still, if left alone, it would eventually be pierced. So Chompy glanced our way and fiddled with something. The next moment, the robot¡¯s shoulders and thighs opened up, launching a barrage of missiles. Shushushushooong¡ª! Go Hyeon-woo and I paused, once again letting out gasps of admiration. ¡°Whoa. It even has those?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, there¡¯s a certain charm to it.¡± Missiles streaked through the air in dazzling arcs. Seo Ye-in raised her gun, but I lightly waved my hand to stop her. ¡°I¡¯ll handle these. You keep hammering the robot.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± In situations like this, using a wide-area attack is more efficient than shooting them down one by one. I stuck the sapling into the ground and extended my other hand forward. [Earth Line] [Spiral Explosion] Whiiing¡ª A swirling wind distorted the missiles¡¯ paths, and as the compressed air exploded, the missiles triggered a chain reaction of blasts. Booooom¡ª! Even so, the missiles kept coming, as if being resupplied from somewhere, and I continued to counter with wind magic. At the same time, I reminded the other two: ¡°Guys, we can¡¯t let Chompy get hurt.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± To be honest, just a few inferno fists would be enough to take down both Chompy and the robot at once. But if I turn Chompy into barbecue like that, the main body, which was the pocket watch, will be blown away too. So it was better to leave this to Go Hyeon-woo and Seo Ye-in. Vwoooom¡ª! Once again, the greatsword swept through the air with a piercing sound. It looked powerful enough not just to cut someone in half, but to completely shatter them. Even so, Go Hyeon-woo kept parrying the blows without showing the slightest sign of struggle. Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets continued to pound away at the Chompy robot, gradually wearing down its armor. Go Hyeon-woo smiled faintly. ¡°I could leave this to Miss Seo as things stand, but since it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had a formidable opponent, I¡¯d like to show what I can do as well and revisit some newfound insights.¡± ¡°Kyuit! You humans never cease to displease me. If you think I¡¯m just some training dummy, you¡¯re sorely mistaken!¡± As Chompy fiddled with something again, smoke rose from various parts of the robot¡¯s body, and its attacks became even fiercer. It seemed the robot was being pushed to its limits. But it looked like Chompy was willing to do whatever it took to bring us down. As he intended, Go Hyeon-woo began to show signs of strain. Up until a moment ago, he had been parrying the greatsword while occasionally launching sword energy attacks, but now he was focused solely on defense. Even so, with a smile still on his lips, he began to speak. ¡°The Heavenly River Wind-and-Cloud Sword Technique contains a different secret in each form. For example, the Clear Stream embodies the mystery of softness, while the Rapid Current captures the mystery of swiftness.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Fwiiiiish¡ª At some point, a faint breeze had started swirling around Go Hyeon-woo and the Chompy robot. The strange thing was, it was impossible to tell where the wind was coming from. Unease flickered across Chompy¡¯s face, while Go Hyeon-woo continued with a gentle smile. ¡°The form I¡¯m about to show now contains the mystery of illusion.¡± ¡°.......!¡± Sensing instinctive danger, Chompy gave up trying to keep us in check and poured everything into attacking Go Hyeon-woo. The greatsword sliced through the air in deadly arcs, and missiles came flying in from all directions. Shushushushung¡ª! But in the very next instant, Go Hyeon-woo¡¯s form blurred and vanished....only to reappear at the robot¡¯s flank. He had activated [Ghost Dance]. Immediately after, as his magic sword slashed across, the erratic breezes swirling around them transformed into sharp sword energy. Swish, swish, swish, swish¡ª! ¡°K-Kyuit!¡± The rabbit robot raised its shield, but it was a useless gesture. The range was one thing, but it wasn¡¯t even possible to tell where the sword energy was coming from. The once-thick armor had been riddled with holes by Seo Ye-in¡¯s magic bullets, leaving its defense greatly weakened. Through those gaps, the sword energy seeped in and shredded the rabbit robot in an instant. Creaaaaaaaaak¡ª! Chompy sat in the wrecked cockpit that was now just a pile of scrap metal, staring blankly before turning to Go Hyeon-woo with a question. ¡°...So, what¡¯s the name of that technique?¡± ¡°Turbid Flow.¡± ¡°......¡± Chompy ground his teeth while glancing around nervously. It looked like he was waiting for a chance to escape. Sensing it, Go Hyeon-woo pointed his magic sword at him. ¡°I suggest you abandon such thoughts. You¡¯ve experienced it firsthand. You should know what kind of person Mr. Kim is.¡± ¡°...Kyut.¡± Perhaps the threat had worked. Chompy merely fiddled with his pocket watch, unable to muster the nerve to run. Under normal circumstances, even after the Chompy robot was destroyed, he could¡¯ve used [Time Freeze] to get away, but that didn¡¯t work on us. I¡¯d immediately grant [Time Resistance], after all. While Chompy hesitated, Seo Ye-in and I approached him. ¡°Chompy, it¡¯s best if you come quietly, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°...Fine. Do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with the symbol of friendship again.¡± When Seo Ye-in pulled out the rope once more, he recoiled in horror and protested. ¡°Kkyu, kkyuit. Can¡¯t we skip that part? I told you, I¡¯m not even thinking of running!¡± ¡°You were the one who broke our friendship first. How can we trust you?¡± Maybe things would¡¯ve been different if he¡¯d come quietly from the start. Seo Ye-in proceeded to try various types of knots on Chompy, and the poor thing ended up leashed once again. With leashed Chompy in tow, we boarded the elevator once more. Seo Ye-in held the lever and asked, ¡°...Rest?¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one floor left. Taking a break now feels a bit premature. Let¡¯s keep going.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Perhaps because we¡¯d already passed four rest floors, Seo Ye-in agreed without complaint. She looked at the roulette and asked again, ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°Something a bit different this time? What do you think?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Clunk¡ª When she pulled the lever, the roulette spun rapidly. The selected category was: [Puzzle (Large)] Go Hyeon-woo slowly stroked his chin. ¡°A puzzle, hmm. Interesting, but it won¡¯t be easy. With ¡®large¡¯ in the title, we¡¯ll need to put our heads together.¡± ¡°Why would we need to use our heads?¡± I asked, genuinely puzzled, and Go Hyeon-woo looked just as confused. ¡°You have another plan in mind, Kim-hyung?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± I pointed at Chompy.