Chapter 36: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (3)

Chapter 36: 2nd Week Strategy Battles (3)

A standoff in which Seo Ye-in who wore an invisible ghillie suit and I faced off against the beheader goblin.

Grrrr

As the beheader let out a low threatening growl, the ordinary goblins didnt dare intervene and merely watched from a distance.

Just as the creature was about to leap forward and swing its rusted cleaver,

Thump

A magic bullet, fired from somewhere, struck it squarely between the eyes.

Its face contorted and its head snapped back violently.

However, the beheader goblin jerked its head back to its original position. What a tough guy.

Its eyeballs rolled around wildly before focusing on the direction from which the bullet had come.

Ajhussi, dont get distracted. Look this way.

I had to keep its attention on me to allow Seo Ye-in a safe shot at its weak spot.

I charged at the beheader as I swung the Earth Staff (melee) and cast a hummingbird simultaneously.

Both the staff and the hummingbird targeted the creature from opposite sides.

Grrrr!

The beheaders body blurred in place and split into two as if using a duplication technique.

Its cleaver also split into two, attempting to cut through both the staff and the hummingbird at the same time.

Since it was a boss monster, it evidently knew how to use skills.

This is actually better.

I had planned to hit only one of them anyway so its diversion of power was a welcome development for me.

I quickly retrieved the staff, stepped back, and maneuvered the hummingbird.

Fzzt

The beheader swung its cleaver at me as if it was unaffected by this level of paralysis.

I leaned back and narrowly avoided the rusty blade as it whooshed by.

I then lunged back in, hitting its side with the staff, but it seemed to take little damage.

This creature was wrapped up in physical abilities and traits; my attack which was fueled only by mana, naturally did little damage.

Thump

Seo Ye-ins magic bullet hit for the second time.

Again, it struck the creatures face.

Even as its head snapped back, the beheaders bulging eyes were locked in the direction from which the magic bullet had come.

Didnt I tell you not to get distracted?

Grrraaah!

As I stretched out my staff and tapped the area where the magic bullet had just hit, the beheader got enraged and rushed towards me.

Such was its fury that streams of sword energy were visibly emanating from its cleaver.

But I used the [Thiefs Step] and kept a close distance, weaving through its attacks with precise timing.

Thump

Another magic bullet struck the head of the beheader goblin.

The creature seemed momentarily torn between focusing on me or going after Seo Ye-in.

While it was clearly angered by me, the real threat was coming from Seo Ye-ins direction.

The goblin seemed to have decided to catch the latter first, so it bent its legs and crouched in place.

Not so fast.

[Activate Amplification.]

[Th rank of Hummingbird increased (E->C)]

Fzztzztzzt!

When it was hit squarely by the C-rank hummingbird, the beheaders movements came to a complete halt.

Thump

And then a fourth magic bullet embedded itself in its face.

The beheader, unable to maintain its balance, began to stagger.

The creature then gathered up as much mana as it could, infused it into the cleaver, and hurled it with all its might toward the place where Seo Ye-in was hiding.

The thrown weapon ruthlessly tore through the area.

Kaka-gaga-gak!

Swamps and damp soil were wildly overturned.

The air wavered, revealing Seo Ye-ins form.

Even amidst the chaos, Seo Ye-in stood motionless in her place and aimed her rifle.

Thump!

The fifth sniper shot hit its mark.

The goblin beheader bent one leg and then eventually knelt on both knees.

Guru

And finally, it collapsed with a thud.

Its body turned to ash and was scattered.

Gotcha. Lets go.

Mhm.

We started running again.

The rifle was immediately reassembled into two pistols and they started shooting out blue fire.

Tutututu!

Keruruk? Keruk!

Kekkek??

Due to the defeat of the boss monster, the goblins were in disarray.

After all, its said that a swordsman treats their sword as an extension of their body, and a sword is an extension of the arm.

The relationship between a gunslinger and a magic gun isnt much different.

Watch again.

I formed the flick again and placed the magic bullet within.

This time, while aiming at the wooden stump I concentrated the mana on my index finger and fired it like a magic bullet.

Snap!

The speed of its flight and the sound it made were distinctively different.

The wooden stump swayed from the impact.

This skill is called [Ejection]. Lets try to master it.

I gathered mana in my hand, focusing it on the area from where it would be launched, namely the index finger.

Then, in sync with the flicking of the finger, I released the mana.

The principle was similar to how martial artists launch a finger-force energy.

.

Seo Ye-in awkwardly formed the shape of a flick.

She placed a magic bullet between her thumb and index finger, concentrated her mana, and flicked it.

Ping!

The magic bullet flew off in a large arc but landed in the wrong place.

It seemed less an issue of poor aiming and more that the action of flicking was unfamiliar to her.

I had to immediately modify the training content.

At this rate, we would be stuck at the basic stage of flicking, which wasnt even necessary to practice.

Lets try without the magic bullet. Just managing to send mana flying will already be counted as a success.

Seo Ye-in diligently flicked her finger in the air.

Gathering mana at her index finger had been achieved without much effort, but sending it flying posed a bit of a challenge.

Even after flicking her finger, the mana would sometimes remain on her index finger, or she would release it a beat too soon.

Timing the release was just as important as the act of sending it off.

After all, it was a skill used while firing a magic gun.

Thwack

Finally, after several attempts, a faint blob of mana sprung from Seo Ye-ins fingertip and it managed to brush against a wooden stump.

Though more mana remained on her index finger than what was sent flying, even taking that into account, her progress was quite fast.

I nodded my head.

Youre doing well. Keep it up.

All right.

***

By the time evening arrived, the training had progressed even further.

Now, she could easily send mana flying with a flick of her finger.

From this point on, I had her train using her own magic gun.

Completing this would grant her the [Ejection] skill, and then she could move on to using D-rank magic bullets.

But what should we do for dinner?

..?

Seo Ye-in found herself in a somewhat awkward position.

She was in the midst of intense training and wanted to continue focusing, but skipping a meal altogether wasnt an option as she was hungry.

She was caught in a state where she could neither do this nor that.

Eventually, I decided to run an errand for her.

Ill just go to the student cafeteria and grab some food.

Thank you.

Seo Ye-in handed me her card, which meant that I should use it for the payment.

It was a heavy thick black card with a black sheen on it.

***

I picked various types of bread at the student cafeteria.

Chocolate, sausage, cream puff, muffin, croquette

This seemed like enough for a snack.

After grabbing a few drinks as well, I was about to leave when,

Hello!

I made eye contact with Han So-mi who was sitting at a table eating her meal.

Seeing her wave cheerfully at me with a bright smile on her face, it seemed she no longer harbored any hard feelings about the incident on the train.

I too held no ill will towards Han So-mi.

After all, she was just doing her duty as a member of the student disciplinary committee, and technically, it was I who had broken the school rules.

Moreover, since we were both in the same class, I thought it would be nice to at least exchange greetings, so I waved back.

.?

When Han So-mi waved her hand, Song Cheon-hye who was sitting across from her, turned her head as if to see whom she was greeting.

She had a happy smile on her face as she took a bite of her cake, but as soon as she saw me, she immediately changed her expression.

Was there really a need to change her expression that drastically?

Anyway, while I was at it, I casually waved to Song Cheon-hye as well before continuing on my way, when suddenly,

Hey! Wait!

Song Cheon-hye approached me.

What?

That is Could you show me your hand, please?