Chapter 79
It was time to prepare for battle once again.
Suddenly, particles of light descended from the sky above me and Yeonha.
＜Vigor Boost＞
Shimmering blue particles seeped into my skin.
Following the mana circuit within, a refreshing energy circulated through my body, invigorating me.
The speed at which mana surged in my body increased.
It was a buff magic.
I turned around to find the person who cast the buff.
Lisa Grace was clutching her chest, breathing heavily.
“Ha, Heaven…! What if something happened to you by going alone? How could you just dash out like that and not realize how flustered I’d be?”
“I’m really sorry for leaving you alone. I must have been absent-minded and couldn’t pay attention…”
“I know your intentions, Heaven. I want to help Gyungwoo too. But please be more careful next time.”
“Okay, I will.”
As Lisa spoke with a hint of resentment, Yeonha bowed her head and apologized.
Listening to their conversation, it seemed they were quite close.
“It looks like Heaven, who spotted the signal flare, forgot about looking after Lisa and came straight to me.”
Even though I hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, I could vividly picture Yeonha fretting about me in her mind.
Quietly chuckling to myself, I glanced at her.
“Did you worry that much about me?”
“Ugh… would I not worry then?”
Avoiding eye contact,
Yeonha abruptly turned her head.
Her reluctant response alone revealed how much she had worried about me.
Meanwhile, Lisa, having caught her breath, cautiously observed Lee Gahyeon.
“By the way… what is that creature resembling an Arachne? Could it be…?”
“It’s a mine.”
“Why would a mine be here…?”
“Why else would a mine be here? To scout us out.”
“I see…”
Lisa quietly accepted the situation, perhaps having already suspected it.
She pounded the ground with her fist.
“Leave the healing and buffs to me. I’ll assist both of you.”
“I beg of you.”
Lisa cast a healing spell.
Through the medium of a gemstone, the activated healing magic thoroughly treated the wounds accumulated from the battles with Lee Gahyun.
I felt the long-standing wound on my cheek healing.
Furthermore, she cast various buffs on me, enhancing my abilities as a warrior.
“What’s this? I’m all healed up too. My mana has been greatly restored.”
“Do you think you can stand against Mine just because you received those buffs? This body of mine must be different from the one you faced earlier, right?”
It was a surprisingly pleasant turn of events that Lisa joined as a supporter.
I provocatively said to Lee Gahyun.
She smirked with a face that said nothing had changed.
But the pleasant surprises didn’t end with Lisa.
“I’ve arrived, Dogyunwoo! You were fighting against a strong opponent, even though you might not know what it is!”
“Yonghaerang?”
Suddenly, two monsters were thrown into the field from the forest.
Following them, Yonghaerang appeared.
Clad in black attire, he greeted me warmly without hiding his joy.
And from another direction.
“Oh, Gyunwoo Gyunwoo! We meet again like this? I sensed a strong presence and came over, only to find out Gyunwoo Gyunwoo was dealing with the monsters. Huh? No, not monsters… Ah! It’s Mine! I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but the situation seems to be quite interesting, doesn’t it? Hm… Seems like being by Gyunwoo Gyunwoo’s side never lacks excitement.”
Yeonseong Namga’s Nam Yuli also showed up.
Her pristine white dress was stained with monster blood, and her cheerful smile seemed more like madness, eerie.
Lastly, from yet another direction…
Rustle.
As if the bushes were being shaken, someone stepped into the field.
With fiery red hair, an impressive female examinee from the Magic Tower Academy stood there.
“…Arachne? You’re not the type of monster that comes out of this gate… And you guys…?”
Mado Minga’s Min Arin.
For some reason, she also appeared on the scene.
Soon, her yellow eyes widened, taking in Mine and me.
She exclaimed suddenly.
“Oh, it’s you…!”
“…”
Does she know me?
Well, being part of the Ten Families, she must have heard about other same-generation members.
Given Min Arin’s strong pride and perfectionism, it was likely she had gathered information on her peers.
‘Even so, her reaction makes it seem like she’s looking at an enemy…’
While Min Arin’s response was puzzling, Mine and I were in a standoff with Lee Gahyun.
I decided not to pay unnecessary attention to it.
Anyway.
“Lucky me.”
Yeonnah and Lisa, along with Yonghaerang, Nam Yoori, and Mina Rin, gathered.
If we classify the monster that Ee Ga-hyun transformed into as a phantom, it would be around Rank 3.
While I could have taken it down alone, having reinforcements made me feel more secure.
So, I infused mana into my voice and spoke to the people gathered around me.
“Some may have already noticed, but our opponent is a Mind of the Mind Conference. You must have heard about the Flesh Horse, Doll Ghost Ee Ga-hyun as well. That Mind is his phantom.”
“…!”
“So, let’s not let our guard down.”
The people’s gazes changed.
As disciples of a prominent figure, as the princess of the empire, and as members of a distinguished family, they could not be unaware of the Doll Ghost.
Hence, they showed a sense of duty not to fear, but rather to see the Mind as a hunter’s enemy.
“Just bringing in a Mind isn’t the case, and it’s the Doll Ghost… You really…”
“Everyone… be cautious.”
“Oh, the Doll Ghost, is that so?”
“A Flesh Horse of the Mind Conference? This will be interesting!”
“I can’t even gather my exam tickets properly, and now I have to fight the Mind of the Mind Conference… Why is my fate like this?”
It was a chance to prove one’s worth in the world and build a reputation.
We couldn’t miss that opportunity.
To bring down Ee Ga-hyun.
Our goals were aligned.
—
Having informed Yeonnah of Do Gyunwoo’s whereabouts, Goeunbi’s role could be considered finished.
Yet, unlike the friends she had sent ahead, she didn’t try to escape into the forest but remained in place.
“While Gyunwoo and Haneul are fighting, I can’t just run away alone.”
It had only been a few days, but these friends had grown on her.
Do Gyunwoo, despite his unexpected quirks, turned out to be surprisingly thoughtful, showing subtle consideration beneath his outward demeanor, taking care of people well within his boundaries.
From Noble mtl dot com
Yeonnah, unlike her indecisive self, was someone with a firm personality.
Though she might have had some fear of people, covering it up at first, gradually opening up showed her acceptance and sense of accomplishment.
Above all, they were cute and pretty.
Goeunbi didn’t want to leave such friends behind.
“I want to be close with Gyunwoo and Haneul even at the academy.”
If she left like this, she might just be seen as one of those who took the test together.
After entering the academy, without any substantial contact, their relationship might fade away.
She didn’t want that.
“Let’s find something I can do.”
Friendship should be mutual.
A friendship cannot be established if one side only receives without giving back.
There is giving and receiving, and the same goes for the opposite.
It’s a way where we help and support each other.
Go Eunbi, who wanted to help the two, approached the field as quietly as possible, suppressing any movement.
“….”
For some reason, it was unclear.
Do Gyungwoo and Yeon Haneul were not ordinary examinees; they were in a battle with a being that was half human from the waist up and half spider below.
Not realizing her opponent was a mage, Go Eunbi judged them as a monster.
Meanwhile, not only the two but also other people were engaged in combat with that monster.
“Lisa is there too.”
Princess Lisa Grace of the otherworldly Empire, who shared ramen at the dreamy hotel.
Yonghaerang of the Medical Dragon Clan.
Minaarin of the Magic Folk Clan.
Namyuri of the Dragon Star Clan.
They were all familiar faces.
It was strange not to know them since they were so famous among the examinees.
“Good.”
With their arrival, the two’s coordination would undoubtedly improve.
While inwardly relieved, Go Eunbi didn’t let her guard down completely.
Surveying the situation from the bushes, she climbed a nearby tree.
“I want to join the fight up there, but I’ll only be a hindrance with my current skills. So, I must help in the way I can.”
It seemed like the opponent was too preoccupied with fighting the group to notice her.
If that was the case, there was only one thing she could do.
Quietly holding her breath, she planned to shoot an arrow at the opponent’s abdomen at a crucial moment during the battle.
Girik.
An arrow made of mana wouldn’t do.
It could get her exposed.
Go Eunbi took an arrow from her quiver and nocked it on the bow.
She gazed down at the field.
“Hey! Watch your heads! If you lose your head by accident, I won’t know!”
Namyuri hurled a massive sickle.
The sickle spun around, cutting the spider threads hanging in the night sky as it circled around the opponent.
In the meantime, she ran towards the opponent without a weapon in hand.
Her right hand, spread horizontally on the ground, was covered in red scales.
＜Partial Transformation: Right Hand of Yeom Yongja (炎龍子)＞
Beside Namyuri’s petite frame was a massive hand, the origin of which – lizard or dragon – was unknown.
The hooked, black nails seemed to glow red as if heated, flames flickering at their tips.
Nam Yuri dug her nails in with force.
The man dodged the attack and stepped back.
Right at that moment.
◈Blast Hammer◈
◈Explosive Fist◈
Yeon Haneul and Yong Haerang rushed in from both sides of the man who was retreating.
Almost simultaneously.
Yeon Haneul swung a hammer using the wind as propulsion.
Yong Haerang delivered a compressed mana-infused punch to the man.
“aaargh!”
The attacks hit home.
A sound of something snapping echoed from one side, while an explosion erupted from the other.
The man, screaming in pain from the impact, seemed greatly enraged.
“These pests!”
The man’s hand gestured into the air.
Around him, a spiderweb-like structure appeared, enveloping the area.
At that moment, Mina Rin ignited flames.
Whoosh!
The flames in the air spread out along the spiderweb, quickly engulfing it.
The flaming spiderweb shape soon melted into the night sky with a thud.
◈Royal Water Dragon Attack Form 6◈
Lions Roar
Dogun Woo took advantage of the gap and rushed towards the man.
He darted around, wielding his sword at the man.
Following him, Nam Yuri, Yeon Haneul, and Yong Haerang attacked from all sides.
Lisa, under Mina Rin’s protection, buffed the group, while Mina Rin prepared long-range magic attacks.
Even though it was their first time coordinating, their teamwork flowed smoothly.
And as they pressed the man.
“….”
Goeunbi suppressed her tension, waiting for the chance to strike the man’s weak spot.
There was only one opportunity.
The moment the man realized her presence, she would no longer be able to exploit his weakness, and any assistance she could offer would vanish completely.
Failure was not an option.
She aimed at the man, pulling the bowstring to its limit.
‘If I can just momentarily distract the man’s focus…’
Do Gyeon-woo would exploit that gap.
Go Eun-bi, without doubt, believed him and met his eyes.
Unable to focus on the attacks coming from all directions, he concentrated on him.
It seemed he had no hesitation in blocking his attacks.
“Now!”
Go Eun-bi aimed for that moment.
She released the bowstring.
The arrow flew, cutting through the night sky.
Although she seemed to have gained some insight, her attention was fixed on the arrow released from the bowstring, leaving no room for reflection.
However, the sensation of releasing the arrow vividly seeped into her body.
[Acquired a skill.]
[Sharpshooter’s Eye Lv 1]
[Sharpshooter’s Eye Lv 1]
◆ Skill Classification
―Passive
◆ Detailed Effect
―Increases accuracy by 5%.
* * *
As Yi Ga-hyun transformed into a mine, she could lay traps in the air.
Although it was annoying to deal with, she didn’t cause significant damage.
Nam Yoo-ri threw her sickle to cut them down, while Min Ah-rin set them on fire.
“With this, the traps won’t be a threat, and we can fight comfortably.”
If Yi Ga-hyun’s traps were sealed, she would no longer pose a threat.
As a mere projection and not her actual body, she couldn’t possess another power.
To maintain our momentum, we relentlessly unleashed our attacks.
Facing her head-on, I attacked from the sky and alongside Yonghaerang, diverting her attention.
Nam Yoo-ri alternated facing her each time I retreated to catch my breath, Min Ah-rin cast spells from a distance, and Lisa managed our condition.
“Do you think you can survive this… if we keep this up?”
As Yi Ga-hyun, who had to fight without a moment’s rest, must have felt a sense of impending doom.
Initially appearing relaxed, she showed signs of weariness as we persistently attacked her.
She even resorted to threats in desperation.
“My soul is connected to the main body. If I die like this, my memories will be transmitted to the main body. Then, they will know exactly how I died.”
“….”
“I might become the target of the Mine Conference, but you won’t regret it, right? It might be harsh on you… It’s not too late even now. Let me go as I am. Then, I will make you forget what you have done today.”
Eunsa unfolded and slashed Nam Yoori, warning us while embracing herself as if fixing something.
I responded incredulously.
“Your soul is connected to the main body, so you will share memories. But isn’t that when you physically go through the gate?”
“….”
Igahyeon was trying to deceive us.
The world inside and outside the gate is disconnected.
Whether from inside to outside or vice versa, interference in the world was impossible.
The reason the communication equipment connecting the inside and outside does not work is the same.
The soul is no different.
As long as one is within the gate, the avatar Igahyeon and the main body Igahyeon cannot share souls.
That’s why I wanted to kill the avatar at this opportunity.
‘If I kill Igahyeon’s avatar here, the main body won’t even realize it.’
It was an excellent opportunity for me.
On the other hand, when Igahyeon’s lies were exposed, she gnashed her teeth in frustration.
“So you knew even that….”
“So, stop trying. There’s no way for you to survive.”
“Gah!”
There was no more time for words.
I dodged left and right.
Igahyeon, trying to regain strength within the avatar, glared at me.
“Why is there no way for me to survive? Eventually, I just have to get out of here. Even if I can’t kill you, do you think I can’t break through your encirclement?”
“Then try to break through, where?”
Igahyeon was clearly cornered.
If she were to die like this, her soul would not go to the main body but would come to me.
It seemed like she was trying to prevent that from happening at all costs.
I could sense her determination in her eyes.
Right after that, she rushed towards me.
“Move, quickly!”
Eunsa rushed towards me.
Multiple threads tried to cut me.
Unsheathing my sword, I cut the threads and advanced towards her.
She tried her best to push me away.
Swoosh!
But I had no intention of fulfilling Igahyeon’s wish.
Knowing that if I got closer, the surrounding Eunsa would attack, I did not back down.
The moment I stepped aside, she would immediately leave the field, hiding her presence.
If that happened, all the efforts made so far would be in vain.
I must cut off her breath like this.
I blocked her, rejecting the instinctual urge to move away for safety.
I shifted my body to cut through her clothes and delve into her embrace.
Yeonsa, Yonghaerang, Nam Yuri, Minarin, all seemed to have read my mind, creating openings for me to explore.
From behind, Lisa unleashed healing magic, soothing the wounds that appeared on Yeonsa as she brushed past.
So, I was narrowing the remaining distance, getting closer to her.
And then, it happened.
“…Huh?”
Something was flying through the night sky behind Lee Gahyun.
It looked like an arrow.
Amidst the loud noises around and the mana being undetectable, it was too late to realize what was happening.
“Was it Eunbi who shot it?”
The question was brief.
Whoever had intervened could be checked later.
The crucial point was that an arrow had flown from outside perception and pierced Lee Gahyun’s side.
“What!?”
Lee Gahyun, avoiding my sword, noticed the arrow flying belatedly.
The arrow was heading towards her eye.
Surprised by the unexpected attack, she twisted her waist to the side.
I didn’t miss that moment when her gaze was momentarily captivated.
＜Military Blue Sword: Current Discharge＞
It releases accumulated electric energy from the Military Blue Sword.
Thick, blue currents fiercely envelop the Military Blue Sword.
I released the accumulated energy from the sword.
────!!
In front of me, the energy discharged rapidly, expanding the air explosively.
The sound of the explosion reverberated incessantly as the blue pillar shot up into the sky, illuminating the upper atmosphere brightly.
The sight flashed blue and dazzling.
“aaah!”
Amidst the thunderous sound as if lightning struck, Lee Gahyun’s scream echoed.
Her scream gradually subsided, eventually drowned out by the noise of the energy discharge.
[Physical Limit has been surpassed.]
[Agility has increased by 1.]
[Mana has increased by 1.]
[The level of the skill has increased.]
[Instinct Control Lv 5 → 6]