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 no(v)eLb(i)n.com 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.