All at once, the sudden declaration of war caught Dang Gyu-young off guard, but only for a moment before she flashed a bold grin.
“Honestly, it’s nothing new.”
“You already took first place in Bond.”
“And you’re saying you won’t give up anything else?”
“I’ll try.”
“Good. But I don’t plan on giving it up easily either.”
Then Dang Gyu-young turned to look at me.
“Kim Ho, use Hardship this time, and tell me when the cooldown’s up.”
“You’re going to chain it right away?”
“Mhmm, all the way through the challenge.”
“Didn’t you say before there’d be no more challenges?”
“I changed my mind.”
Her eyes seemed to burn with intensity.
She gestured slightly toward Seo Ye-in as she continued.
“She suddenly starts sprinting. How am I supposed to just sit still? I’ve got to run with her.”
“So you’re maintaining the dignity of first place.”
“Exactly.”
It looked like her competitive spirit had fully kicked in.
At least until the effect of the “less-annoying potion” wore off, it seemed like they’d be going back and forth.
Honestly, it worked out better this way. No need to persuade her anymore.
Soon, I stood facing Seo Ye-in.
“I’m using it.”
“Go ahead.”
[Activated ‘Hardship’.]
[‘Stage 11 Hardship’ has been applied to the target.]
When it comes to the hardship race, Seo Ye-in is usually last place.
Probably because “less than 9 hours of sleep per day” left a bad impression on her, so she tends to avoid accepting it.
Though once she does take it, she usually clears it the fastest.
For reference, first place is Hong Yeon-hwa, who’s currently on Stage 24.
She handles everything on her own so well that she requires the least attention.
Anyway, when I checked the quest details:
[Side Quest: Stage 11 Hardship] (In Progress…)
▷ Objective: Win an evasion match against a hologram
Flaaaaash—
A multi-directional light projection appeared a short distance away, forming a human-shaped hologram.
At a glance, it was clear she’d be having an “evasion match” against that.
Next, I handed her the Challenge Book.
“Use it.”
“Okay.”
[Would you like to use the ‘Challenge Book’?]
[Accept / Decline]
The moment the notification popped up, Seo Ye-in chose “Accept” without a second of hesitation.
Soon, the hardship quest was updated.
[Side Quest: Stage 11 Hardship] (In Progress…)
▷ Random turbulence occurs
▷ Disabled: Distortion, Ghost Dance, Immortal Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot, Fluffy Cloud Bracelet
▷ Objective: Win an evasion match against your mirror self
Flaaash—!
Another burst of intense light poured down, refining the previously rough, human-shaped 3D hologram into something far more detailed.
What soon took shape was none other than Seo Ye-in herself.
However, while the appearance was identical, there was a clear difference from the original.
– ……
She looked two or three times more exhausted than usual.
Her shoulders drooped, and her head tilted slightly as if she were about to fall asleep standing up.
Not just a sloth. She was more like an ultra-dragging, barely functioning sloth.
On top of that, her expression seemed oddly gloomy.
If I had to give her a nickname based on all that,
Gloomy Sloth.
As if reading my mind, the figure muttered:
– Sad……
“Why are you sad?”
– Rest gone……
“Because you said you’d rest for two days but ended up doing it right away?”
The gloomy sloth gave a small nod.
Then it shot a questioning look this way, so I casually passed the responsibility to the less-lazy Seo Ye-in.
“She said she’d do it.”
For a few seconds, the gloomy sloth and the more energetic version of her stared at each other.
– …Why.
“First place matters more.”
– Challenge… the day after tomorrow……
“I might feel too lazy by then. It has to be now.”
– …That makes sense.
The gloomy sloth accepted it without much resistance.
After all, it was true that no one knew when the potion’s effect would wear off.
Even so, she still looked bothered, trudging slowly to one side of the training ground.
Seo Ye-in immediately took her position across from her, and as the two sloths faced each other, the wind began to rise.
Whoooosh—
Not just a simple gust, but chaotic winds twisting together. Gusts blowing from all directions at once.
Just as the quest described, random turbulence had begun.
Flaaash—
Then once again, light was projected, and a hologram was created.
One appeared in front of Seo Ye-in and one in front of the gloomy sloth.
They took the form of soldiers, and without warning, they raised the bows in their hands and drew the strings.
Swiiiiish—!
The two sloths dodged using feather step.
At the same time, Seo Ye-in pulled out her magic gun and fired back.
Tududududu!
Blue bullets tore through the upper bodies of the hologram soldiers.
However, they showed no reaction and remained focused on continuously firing arrows.
Seeing this, the gloomy sloth muttered a single word.
Invincible…….
As if she had known this from the start, she didn’t even take out a weapon, simply letting her arms hang as she continued stepping.
It’s a dodging contest.
They were holograms made to be avoided; if they were defeated, the quest itself would lose its meaning.
So they were essentially set to be invincible.
“……Confirmed.”
Seo Ye-in tilted her head slightly, then put the magic gun back into her inventory.
Then she also began dodging the arrows with empty hands.
Swish-swish-swish-swish!
Since it was just the beginning, both of them were avoiding the attacks without much difficulty, but the quest had only just started.
As it was a dodging “contest”, it would inevitably create a situation where one of them would be eliminated.
I had barely thought that when another hologram was projected.
Flaaaash—!
This time, it was a soldier holding a long spear.
Just like the hologram archer, it immediately launched an attack.
Flaaash—
Next, another archer was added.
With arrows flying in double the volume and a soldier thrusting a spear as well, the footwork of the two sloths became incomparably busier than before.
Seo Ye-in leaned back, then tilted to the side, repeatedly stepping in a zigzag as she retreated.
In the middle of that,
Flaaash!
Another hologram was projected.
But unlike before, instead of one appearing on each side, only one appeared in the center.
Its form wasn’t human, but something like a table.
On top of it was a large button.
“……!”
At the sight of it, her gray eyes flashed for a moment.
She didn’t know what it was, but she instinctively felt it was important.
She immediately kicked off the ground and rushed toward the button.
However, unfortunately, the gloomy sloth was a little closer and reacted just a bit faster.
She arrived a split second earlier and placed her hand on the button.
Click,
In the next moment, one of the hologram soldiers attacking the gloomy sloth disappeared.
With the difficulty of dodging reduced, she now had the advantage in the contest as well.
She raised her hand and flashed a V sign.
– ……Super genius.
“……!”
The gray pupils widened slightly.
She looked at her mirror image, then at us, then back at her mirror image again.
Being surrounded by your own self was bound to feel strange.
Soon, she clenched her fist and spoke.
“……I’ll take it down.”
– Take it down…….
As the gloomy sloth parroted the words, the dodging contest resumed.
Swish-swish-swish-swish-swish-swish—!
Arrows and spears came flying without pause.
The number of hologram soldiers kept increasing.
Before long, there were two spearmen, two archers, and on top of that, a fifth….an assassin was added.
It lingered at the flanks or rear before suddenly rushing in.
Shrrrk!
Twin blades slashed wildly as if to shred everything apart.
In response, Seo Ye-in lightly kicked off the ground and was swept away like a balloon caught in the wind.
She had used [Sailboat], riding the flow of the turbulent air.
“……I learned well.”
Seo Ye-in murmured with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the hologram soldiers and the assassin regrouped and resumed their assault.
Then,
Flaaash—!
Once again, a hologram button appeared in the center.
At the same time, both of them rushed toward it, but Seo Ye-in’s response was slightly different from before.
Stepping with Feather Step, she extended her hand forward.
[Destructive Gale]
Booooooom—!
A compressed blast of wind shot forward.
A clear path opened through the previously chaotic turbulence.
Right after, Seo Ye-in lightly kicked off the ground, lifting herself just slightly, and using [Sailboat], she shot forward at tremendous speed.
She arrived far faster than the gloomy sloth and placed her hand on the button.
Click,
Watching the hologram assassin disappear, Seo Ye-in raised her hand and formed a V sign just the same.
“Super-duper genius.”
– …!
The gloomy sloth’s pupils dilated.
Dang Gyu-young who had been watching let out an amused laugh.
“Looks like her personality hasn’t changed.”
“She actually hates losing more than you’d think.”
“Who doesn’t? Anyway, I’ll finish mine too. This hardship.”
“You’re almost done, right?”
“Mhmm.”
[Sub Quest: Stage 18 Harship] (In progress….)
▷Objective: Achieve proficiency (82/100%)
At the earliest, it would be finished by today; at the latest, by tomorrow.
The Dang Clan Twin Heroes, her original sparring partners, had stepped away for a moment, but there wouldn’t be any issues with the training.
Just then, sensing a presence, I turned my head to see Ahn Jeong-mi approaching with the Hye-seong Group employees.
It seemed Seo Ye-in’s surprise “I’m grateful” had been quite a hit. Her eyes were still slightly swollen.
Soon, Ahn Jeong-mi returned to her usual businesslike expression and spoke,
“It seems there’s no room for us to intervene in the young miss’s training.”
“Yes, at least for this quest, she’ll be doing it on her own.”
“In cases like this, it tends to depend on the individual’s motivation, but fortunately, she seems to be working hard.”
As Ahn Jeong-mi said, Seo Ye-in was even now locked in a neck-and-neck evasion battle with the gloomy sloth.
Glancing at them, I spoke.
“If it’s alright, we’d appreciate your help with our training.”
“I’d be happy to.”
Ahn Jeong-mi nodded readily.
The four of them had been dispatched in the first place for escort, training, and sparring, making them perfect substitutes for the Dang Clan Twin Heroes.
In terms of skill, they were only slightly behind or roughly on par.
Before long, Dang Gyu-young took her position at the center of the training grounds, and I stood beside her.
As she focused her mind, shadows spread out, forming a large garden plot.
“……”
“……”
The four from Hye-seong Group exchanged glances before each drawing their weapons.
Only Ahn Jeong-mi carried an assault rifle, while the others were equipped with either dual pistols or a combination of a pistol and a three-section baton or other close-range weapon.
Their primary weapons would be different, but this was adjusted to meet the requirement of “entering the garden”.
“We’ll begin.”
At those words, both sides nodded, and the battle commenced.
The moment a huge shadow rose up, the four marksmen focused their magic bullets on it.
Tududududu!
Bursting through the Qyu Lab Director as he scattered after being engulfed like a beehive, Dang Gyu-young charged in.
One of the Hye-seong Group employees blocked by striking back with a three-section baton, and once again, magic bullets were concentrated.
Tududududu!
They moved as one, as if they had long practiced together.
A bold smile spread across Dang Gyu-young’s lips.
With a flick of her hand, shadow undead rose once more and rushed toward their opponents.
Whoooooooosh—!
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