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,
I’ll 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-in’s 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 [Thief’s 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 couldn’t match my speed as I made use of my Thef’s 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 didn’t 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 didn’t 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 it’s a drive hunt.
I clenched my empty hand that wasn’t 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 goblin’s 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.
As I looked at the devastation I had created, I exerted pressure on my thumb and cleanly snapped the neck of the goblin totem.
“I don’t want to save a replay.”
[Remaining Time: 2:44]
+ [Goblins Killed: 71]
+ [‘Strong Enemy’ Killed: 120]
—————
[Remaining Time: 5:55 = 355 Points]
+ [Clear Bonus: 500 Points]
—————
[Total Score: 855 Points] * 0.8 Multiplier
= 684 Points
In the process of maximizing the bonus, the remaining time actually exceeded the five-minute limit.
The quest also far surpassed its clearing conditions.
[Side Quest: 2nd Week Strategy Battle]
▷Objective: Clear the strategy battle dungeon
Single Dungeon (Remaining Time 5:55/5 Minutes)
Double Dungeon (Remaining Time 3:48/5 Minutes)
▷Rewards will be Increased.
[Please select your reward.]
▷Seed of Abundance
▷Phantom Eyes
▷Blessing of the West Wind
One of these three traits can be chosen and acquired.
The Seed of Abundance provided bonuses to healing and buff skills.
The Phantom Eyes enhanced debuff skills, particularly those of the illusion category.
And the Blessing of the West Wind granted bonuses to wind-type skills.
There’s no need to think about it.
[Acquired the ‘Blessing of the West Wind’.]
I was aiming for this trait from the beginning of the quest.
My future route was already chosen.
I envisioned myself as an all-rounder supporter, balancing my own strength while also faithfully playing the role of support for Go Hyeun-woo and Seo Ye-in.
Specifically, a wind-type supporter.
Of course, having the trait is meaningless without actual wind spells, but,
I can just get the spells.
And for that reason I was using the [Cube of Life].
As I mentioned to Dang Gyu-young, it was worth at least the value of four season passes.
That is by my standards at least.
It’s about time they started moving too.
Having confidently dealt with Kwak Ji-cheol and sent him packing back to his club, the Emerald side was likely in disarray about now.
The likelihood of them trying the same strategy was slim; perhaps the presidents would come to face me themselves?
***
“Kr…ugh!”
Kwak Ji-cheol found himself struggling to breathe properly.
He desperately tried to remove the huge wooden hand that was pressing him against the wall.
The hand belonged to a hefty wooden golem, each of its hands as large as a human body.
Meanwhile, the Emerald club president Mok Jong-hwa who controlled the golem was in the midst of a furious outburst.
“What an utter—disgrace—!!”
He bellowed in tremendous anger.
When the wooden golem momentarily loosened its grip, Kwak Ji-cheol gasped for air in that brief respite.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
But in the next instant, he was struck by the golem’s swinging hand and rolled across the floor.
Mok Jong-hwa slowly approached Kwak Ji-cheol.
“Are you and your brother both set on disgracing me? Your brother who is a member of the disciplinary committee gets beaten by a thief.”
Kwak Ji-cheol’s older brother, Kwak Seung-jae, was among the top second-year students and was even discussed as a potential future president of the school’s disciplinary committee.
However, his reputation was severely shaken last week when he was defeated by an unidentified masked intruder during a break-in at the temporary storage room.
Regardless of whether the opponent had used Inferno Fist or not, it was inconceivable for a member of the discipline committee, a symbol of undefeatedness, to be defeated by a mere thief.
Due to that incident, the prestige of the Emerald Magic Tower plummeted and now Kwak Ji-cheol had also been defeated.
Worse still, even with the support of Jung Soo-ji, he ended up getting knocked out in a two-against-one confrontation.
“You spoke with such confidence at that time, what was it you said? A known coward? A guy like that wouldn’t stand a chance even if he had a truckload of backup?”
Thud!
The wooden golem struck Kwak Ji-cheol again.
“Yet you get thrashed by this so-called coward? How am I supposed to show my face in the Magic Tower Association now, huh?!”
Thump! Thud!
Ha Soo-yeon, the president of the Mother Nature Club, sighed softly.
She came to see how the situation with Kwak Ji-cheol had been handled only to find this mess.
For some reason, I had a bad feeling from the beginning.
The moment Mok Jong-hwa chose to show off his power, a conflict, big or small, was inevitable.
However, she hadn’t expected that a first-year named Kim Ho would defeat both Kwak Ji-cheol and Jung Soo-ji.
Considering both were in the 600-point range, it indicated that Kim Ho had considerable skill.
At the very least, his nickname “coward” was a gross underestimation.
And then there was Kim Ho’s attitude.
After subduing the two he confidently declared:
– If they need something, they should come in person instead of sending someone else.
Typically, the freshmen would obediently follow when called by a third-year senior.
But to provocatively say such a thing indicated that he too was a force to be reckoned with. At the same time, it meant he wouldn’t show even a hint of submission in the dealings involving the mysterious box.
It also implied that the item was worth the stance he was taking.
He didn’t seem like an easy opponent to deal with.
I better change my approach.
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, don’t 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. Emerald’s prestige has hit rock bottom. I can’t settle this with just the item.”
Kwak Ji-cheol staggered to his feet.
“I will make amends… Cough! I’ll 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, there’s 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 wasn’t long, so I couldn’t 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-hwa’s words, Kwak Ji-cheol immediately purchased all of Kim Ho’s 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-in’s performance was dazzling.
Bang!
A single sniper shot rendered the beheader goblin incapacitated.
Mok Jong-hwa and Ha Soo-yeon couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration
“She’s 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 couldn’t 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 can’t 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.
“There’s 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 wouldn’t be paralyzed.
Next, they needed to compensate for Kwak Ji-cheol’s lack of close combat.
“I’ll lend out my golem. You think you can win?”
“…It’s a sure victory. With this, it’s impossible for me to lose even if I want to.”
Kwak Ji-cheol’s 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-hwa’s golem made him feel invincible.
“Challenge Kim Ho to a duel.”
“Understood.”
“Since you’ve already been defeated once, a win here would only bring you back to square one. You need to defeat him overwhelmingly.”
“Of course. I won’t disappoint you.”
Wow… that’s 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 student’s 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 couldn’t see such underhanded actions in a favorable way.
In Ha Soo-yeon’s mind, Mok Jong-hwa’s unfavorability score was rapidly increasing.
She felt the need to have a separate conversation with Kim Ho.
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