Chapter 71
“What are you guys up to?”
I gazed at the guys surrounding me from three directions with a composed posture.
Meanwhile, there was no way those guys wouldn’t recognize me holding the flashlight.
“…Dogyeongwoo?”
“Why is it you, Gyeongwoo….”
“What? It was Dogyeongwoo?”
“Yeah, it was Dogyeongwoo.”
The triplets straightened up, looking puzzled.
Confusion appeared on their faces.
Well, that makes sense.
“Say it again now.”
“….”
“What? Are you going to tell me to hand over the exam ticket if I don’t want to die? How stupid.”
“Hey, hey, it’s a misunderstanding. Why would we say something like that to you?”
“Right. Why would we do that to you? It was dark, we couldn’t see well.”
“If you were Dogyeongwoo, you should have said so in advance.”
“Then should you have said you were thugs in advance?”
“Anyway! Gyeongwoo! It’s great to meet you like this!”
“You’re also planning to spend the night here, right? Great! We were looking for you too!”
“If we act together from now on, it’ll be a piece of cake to gather exam tickets with you around!”
The triplets desperately flatter.
It seemed like they were trying to cover up the slip of the tongue from earlier.
“No way. Are these guys trying to act cute?”
No matter how much of a mistake it was, I had no intention of letting it slide.
A dog that doesn’t recognize its owner deserves a good scolding.
I drew the military police sword from its sheath.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Hold on!”
“Why are you drawing your sword!?”
“We apologized!”
“Why draw it. You guys suggested a showdown. Fine, let’s do this. I’ll see how good you are after a while.”
“Hey, why are you doing this!?”
“We said we were wrong, didn’t we!?”
“Do we really have to do this!?”
“Well, do we really have to? So, you guys better draw yours quickly too.”
“Seriously… Are you sure you won’t regret this.”
“Gyeongwoo, there are three of us.”
“It’s different from the old days.”
Whether they sensed that I had no intention of sheathing the sword.
The attitude of the triplets changed completely.
Each of them drew their swords and adjusted their stance.
“Well, this turned out well! Weren’t we already quite discontent!?”
“We looked like puppies wagging our tails all this time, didn’t we!?”
“Do Seungwoo didn’t act like that!”
“What? What did you just say?”
“…Still, you’re better than Do Seungwoo.”
“Yeah, that’s right! Even so! It’s okay if our treatment changes a bit now.”
“We’ve been your lackeys for how long! 5 years, 5 years!”
“But?”
“But what?… Are you asking because you don’t know?”
“Just like how the minimum wage goes up every year, we want our treatment to improve!”
“Right! Let’s get better treatment!”
The triplets shouted in unison.
I could only laugh.
But there was some truth in what they were saying.
“Well, you’re not wrong. I’ve been quite overbearing all this time.”
“Yeah, Gyunwoo. We’re not saying we won’t be your lackeys anymore, right?”
“Just let’s change a few things.”
“Finally, you understand our hearts!”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll do as you say. But first, hand over my exam ticket.”
“….”
“I’ll think about it then.”
“In the end… words aren’t enough.”
“If you want rights, you have to fight for them. Is that what you mean?”
“Alright. Fine, take it! Don’t come crying to us after losing it!”
The triplets attacked from three directions.
Their coordination was exceptional.
But unfortunately….
“Well, you’ve grown.”
“Ugh….”
I couldn’t be their opponent.
I took the exam ticket from the triplets, who were lying on the ground as I pleased.
It was a 50-point red exam ticket.
Three of them, totaling 150 points.
“Hey! Why are you taking that!?”
“You’ve already collected them all!”
“D-Don’t do that! Give it back!”
“If you were trying to take my exam ticket, you should have been prepared to lose yours as well. Who’s to blame? But don’t worry, I won’t take the exam tickets you’ve earned.”
“Take something else instead, you rascal….”
“That’s worth 100 points to us!”
“Please, Gyungwoo….”
The triplets pleaded.
I ignored their words.
“Goblin gold, silver, bronze.”
“Goblin gold!”
“Goblin silver!”
“Goblin bronze!”
“Do I wish for your growth? So….”
Though the triplets might misunderstand, I felt warmly towards them.
In a way, they were like childhood friends as dear as the sky.
The memories of being bullied by them in elementary school had become distant reminiscences.
So….
“Study hard. I’ll give you your exam papers, take them!”
“…!”
I forcefully sent the triplets’ exam papers flying into the darkness.
Shock spread across their faces.
“Gyungwooooo!”
“Hey, you rotten guy!”
“That lunatic for real!”
The triplets hurriedly got up to chase after the exam papers.
Even though the exam papers had already disappeared into the darkness.
I turned away from them.
“This is all for your own good.”
There’s no friend like me.
Since the triplets seemed too preoccupied searching for the flying exam papers, I decided to personally make use of the shelter they intended to use.
This is true friendship, isn’t it, give and take?
—
The sun sets, and the sky darkens.
The first night on Honrim Island was approaching.
The sporadic sounds of revelry and clanging metal had suddenly ceased, indicating that most of the examinees engaged in fierce competition had begun preparing for the night.
“There can’t be anyone who’s collected more than me, right?”
The small griffin of Mado Village.
Minarin felt the same way.
Adding her exam papers, she, who had collected nearly 300 points in total today, also decided to find a safe place to spend the night.
＜Owl Eyes＞
The path was too dark.
I couldn’t see what was ahead of me.
While I could use Light magic to illuminate the darkness, revealing my position to the enemy was not an option.
Minarin unfolded a Third-Rank magic to enhance her vision to peer into the darkness.
Now, she could peer into the darkness that stretched far ahead.
‘Somewhere around here, I must have marked a spot for myself…’
Moving towards the sound of waves crashing,
Minarin surveyed the surroundings of the forest.
There should have been traces of her markings nearby.
‘Found it.’
Before long, Minarin spotted an arrow that was only visible to her eyes.
She followed the arrow on foot.
It was then that Inyeong came into view.
“….”
Hair as white as snow, even visible in the darkness.
It seemed to have a hint of blue.
And something long shaking above her head.
They were rabbit ears.
‘…The apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch.’
Minarin immediately identified the individual.
It seemed that the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch was capable of spending a day in this forest.
She seemed to be searching for a good place to rest.
‘Should I just pass by, or…’
Should she pick a fight?
Minarin pondered, hiding behind a tree.
Her opponent was the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch.
Undoubtedly, she would demonstrate extraordinary skills unlike those encountered by examinees so far.
It could lead to a fierce battle.
In that case, both she and her opponent would inevitably consume a considerable amount of energy.
“Mmm….”
Yet, there were three potential gains to be made.
First, the Black Exam Ticket was valued at 100 points.
Moreover, being the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch, she wouldn’t have only her own exam ticket.
She would likely have taken exam tickets from other examinees as well.
‘If I can get what she has… the top spot in the entrance exam is as good as mine.’
And secondly, there was no need for Minarin to compare herself to the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch.
Though the Hunter lineage was diverse, among them, ten lineages were the most prominent.
Magic, swordsmanship, spear techniques, alchemy, dark magic, white magic, spirit magic, archery, martial arts, shield techniques.
Minarin belonged to the magic lineage.
The apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch is highly likely to come from a magical lineage.
It’s the same lineage.
“I’ll probably keep competing with her while attending the academy.”
At the same age, she had competitors like Hyeokma Oga and the direct descendants of Gwangmyeong Castle, but they were from different lineages, so there was no comparison as pure sorcerers.
However, the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch is different.
She and the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch would likely be compared by people in the world for being the same age and from the same lineage.
Perhaps even after graduating and becoming a hunter, they might be compared for a lifetime.
Of course, Min Arin was confident she wouldn’t lose even when compared to her.
She had tired of competition within the family, and it was an ongoing process.
She wouldn’t lose to her.
Yet, the assumption that she would be compared to someone for a lifetime disturbed her.
Pride, dignity were at stake.
Griffin was always a majestic being, descending from high in the sky to the world alone.
She couldn’t bear the thought of being on the same level as someone else.
So, by taking her down here, she could eliminate any chance of that happening in advance.
Finally, three.
“If I just pretend not to notice… It feels like I’ll definitely avoid it, right? Me, Min Arin?”
She could maintain her dignity.
It seemed that the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch hadn’t noticed her presence.
In such a situation, if she decided not to fight her, it would be like admitting defeat.
Some might think it was petty pride.
But from a magical perspective, petty pride was the foundation of magic itself.
Magic that materializes imagination, therefore, the more concrete the imagination, the stronger the will to materialize, the higher the realism it holds.
But if she backed down now?
Her subconscious might perceive her as inferior to her.
It would create a magical superiority between her and the witch’s apprentice.
Even the slightest thought could influence magic.
Min Arin couldn’t ignore it.
That’s why.
“Well, might as well greet her warmly, right?”
Min Arin made up her mind.
It was an opportunity while the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch hadn’t noticed yet.
She activated magic through the wand in her hand.
＜Fire Rush＞
A huge fireball appeared in the air.
It was a second-class elemental magic of fire, considered superior in size, power, and speed to the commonly known fireball.
Min Arin immediately cast the spell.
Whoosh!
Fire Rush swiftly flew, illuminating the darkness.
The flames engulfed the tardily alerted apprentice of the seven-colored witch.
Watching where she had been consumed by fire, Minarin murmured,
“…Did I eliminate her?”
She uttered words that shouldn’t have crossed her lips.
And then, it happened.
───!!
The flames flickered violently.
The flames that had been engulfing the surroundings turned into embers in an instant, scattering into the night sky.
“….”
Within them, the apprentice of the seven-colored witch appeared unscathed.
Her gaze, holding a massive hammer larger than herself, fixed on Minarin.
Instantly, she pounded the ground.
‘Hurry…!’
The apprentice of the seven-colored witch charged.
Was it magic she had used?
Or was it due to her being an Ein?
She rapidly closed the distance.
In the darkness, her crimson eyes left traces, leaving long lines behind.
＜Fire Rush＞
Closing the distance like this is dangerous.
Minarin quickly unfolded the magic she had cast a while ago.
Once again, a massive fireball engulfed the apprentice of the seven-colored witch.
Whoosh… Sizzle!
“That was risky. You almost got hurt.”
“…!”
Without evading, the apprentice of the seven-colored witch swung her hammer.
The flames dispersed with just one move from her, turning into embers and dissipating.
“What kind of power is that!?”
Almost like physics is akin to magic.
Minarin, witnessing her extinguishing magic with the swing of the hammer, was taken aback.
It seemed like she couldn’t avoid a struggle.