Episode 7 Hidden Piece Pick (3)
One of the three skills obtained as a reincarnation quest bonus, [Amplification].
It has the effect of increasing the rank of the specified skill for the duration.
For example, the F-rank [Amplification] I currently have raises the skill rank by two levels for one minute.
If it’s E-class, go to C-class, and if it’s C-class, go to A-class.
It only boosts by 1 minute and has a cooldown of 1 hour, but the effect is powerful enough to make up for the limitation.
– Wow!!
Unlike just before, when he was pushed back helplessly every time he crossed weapons, Go Hyun-woo held his position like an iron tower.
The blue energy flowing from the gripped scabbard.
This was possible because [Core]’s rank went up from E to C.
Rather than stopping at blocking, they launch an active offensive.
Han So-mi seemed momentarily flustered by Ko Hyun-woo’s rapidly increasing momentum, but soon regained her composure and dodged and countered each of his attacks.
The back and forth between the two became much faster and more intense.
So much so that you can’t even see it if you don’t concentrate.
‘That’s great.’
It would be difficult to handle the suddenly increased mana, but Go Hyun-woo was skillfully distributing it as if it had been his from the beginning.
Like a fish in water.
‘If possible, I’d like to see swordsmanship as well.’
[Duration 00:00:16]
That would be greedy.
No matter what you want to see, one minute is the limit.
And it looks like the match will be decided before the duration runs out.
– Damn it,
“this!”
Go Hyun-woo stopped fighting and lowered his gaze.
The scabbard was cracked like a spider web.
The tiny crack that appeared while blocking Han So-mi’s blow continued to grow larger and eventually resulted in this.
Within moments, the iron sword was split in two with a loud crash, along with its scabbard.
If the material had been just a little better, it might have held up.
It was the limit of a cheap iron sword.
‘I’ve seen everything there is to see.’
It was quite a fruitful time.
I opened the cork of [Dark Ice Crystal] and poured the contents into my mouth in one gulp.
“omg!!”
Han So-mi was terrified when she saw me like that.
He quickly closed the distance and grabbed my hand, but the dark blue crystals had already disappeared into my stomach.
Han So-mi’s face turned pale.
“You, you, if you eat that… … .”
What happens if you eat this?
At first, it’s refreshing, like drinking a glass of ice.
Then, the coolness gradually changes into a cold chill.
A feeling of freezing from the inside out.
[The ‘Freezing’ status effect applies.]
For beginners who are just starting out with
If you put just one ice cube the size of a fingernail in your mouth, you will instantly become an ice sculpture.
Of course, I am an exception.
Because it has S-rank [Elemental Resistance].
[The ‘Freeze’ status effect is removed.]
[The ‘Freezing’ status effect applies.]
[The ‘Freeze’ status effect is removed.]
… … .
The dark ice crystal continues to emit cold air, but it is quickly dispelled as if it is nothing.
While the cold air that negatively affects the player disappears, the massive energy contained in the ice crystal remains.
The energy builds up in the body little by little.
‘Poison and elixir are only a sheet of paper apart.’
If you can control the side effects of poison, wouldn’t that be an elixir?
If [Purgatory Lava] had come out instead of [Dark Ice Crystal], I would have controlled the flames and made it mine.
From the beginning, I believed in [Elemental Resistance] and came to find this hidden piece.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Han So-mi’s face was still pale.
Because you probably had a rough idea of what this ice crystal was.
At the very least, you should have known that it was a dangerous item that students should never have or eat.
So you would have expected me to freeze or fall over.
But as I just stood there blankly, my complexion gradually returned to normal.
He asks, carefully examining my face.
“……are you okay?”
“Ugh… … !”
The moment Han So-mi asked if I was okay, I grabbed my neck with both hands and distorted my face in pain.
And then he started to shiver and shiver, his body gradually bending down.
“Brother Kim!”
“Uh, uh, I’ll go and call the kids quickly!”
The moment Han So-mi was about to leave,
I came back with a relaxed face and normal posture as if nothing had happened.
“—was an act.”
“ah!!”
“Hahaha. Brother Kim, you’re taking this joke too far.”
Han So-mi, who realized she had been fooled, scolds Ko Hyun-woo, and he bursts into laughter.
I shook the empty bottle to Han So-mi.
“I don’t know what you were thinking, but this doesn’t seem to be it? Did I see something wrong?”
“… … Is that so?”
[The ‘Freeze’ status effect is removed.]
[The ‘Freezing’ status effect applies.]
… …
… …
Even at this very moment, a war is going on inside you, but there is no need to tell you that fact.
Han So-mi took the empty bottle from me and examined it carefully.
It was all in vain though, because the contents went straight into my stomach without leaving a single crumb behind.
“No, it was definitely that.”
“I told you I saw it wrong.”
There was no clear evidence, so I stuck my neck out until the very end.
Han So-mi still had a suspicious expression, but there was a limit to pursuing the case based on circumstantial evidence alone.
In the end, there was no choice but to send us away with a pout.
“Both of you, go back to your rooms. You are not allowed to use this again. Don’t even come near it!”
“Okay. Sorry for bothering you. Have a drink on the way.”
He handed me the [Vitamin Drink (E)] from the slot machine as a gesture of generosity.
As it says in the description, it is said to be good for skin beauty.
Han So-mi snatched the vitamin drink from my hand.
“I don’t know, I’ll tell you all about Cheonhye.”
“let’s go.”
“Young Lady Han, it was a good match. Then, see you next time.”
It was Go Hyun-woo who paid his respects politely even as he left.
As I was walking, I felt a tingling sensation on the back of my head and looked back, and Han So-mi was still glaring at us.
When our eyes met, he tried very hard to force his eyes and make a scary expression… but it didn’t seem to work very well.
It’s just cute.
* * *
“Do you think Miss Han is convinced?”
“No way. If you openly turned a blind eye and pretended not to know, you’d be an idiot.”
“Then I guess you’ll be picking a fight again soon.”
“100 percent. Even if Han So-mi goes over, the leader won’t stay still.”
“Was it worth it?”
The question is whether it was worth it to clash with the leadership and risk being penalized from the beginning of the semester.
“Even if we call it friction, no one got hurt, and it’s hard to say that we’re completely at odds with the other side. It’s a minor issue compared to what we gained.”
“Hmm… … That makes sense. Lady Han didn’t seem too upset either. So, what was the identity of that glass bottle?”
“It’s a long explanation, but to put it simply, it’s like an elixir. When you eat it, it builds up mana.”
He showed his open palm.
A handful of mana hovers above it and then disappears.
Go Hyun-woo nodded.
“If the price of the elixir is only minor friction, then it’s a very profitable business. It was worth helping Kim Hyung.”
“Originally, it would have been normal if we hadn’t even encountered the leader, let alone had any friction, but I was unlucky this time. Still, it went well thanks to you buying time.”
“Haha… … . For me, I was able to help Hyung Kim and also get to see a little bit of Geomhu’s swordsmanship, so it was killing two birds with one stone. Furthermore, thanks to Hyung Kim’s help, I was able to have an even fight with Young Lady Han until the very end.”
Thanks to the [Amplification] upgrade, I was able to trade attacks and defenses for nearly a minute with an opponent I would have defeated quickly.
There would be much to be gained by simply reliving that battle.
Go Hyun-woo clenched and unclenched his fist as if the afterglow of his overflowing strength was still there, and then he asked me a question cautiously.
“If it’s not too much trouble… … . Would it be okay if I tried Kim Hyung’s technique again?”
“Next time. It’s a limited skill, so I can’t use it that often.”
There is a 1-hour cooldown, and even if it is not cool, I have no intention of recklessly showing off my capital.
Full-scale support comes after building a bit more trust.
Go Hyun-woo responded that he was sorry, but understood.
“I guess there’s nothing I can do. Since it’s such a powerful technique, I expected there to be some limitations.”
“It’s not just today. There will be more occasions to use it in the future. And,”
I gave him [Mana 2% (D)] that I had luckily dropped from the slot machine.
“This came out. It’s yours.”
“… … !”
When he looked at the item description, Go Hyun-woo’s eyes widened in surprise.
[Mana 2% (D)]
▷Contains condensed mana.
▷When taken, maximum mana slightly increases.
“I don’t know if I deserve to receive something so precious.”
“I received a lot of help, and I borrowed a silver coin earlier, so it’s only right that I give you that much.”
“Still… … . I think it’s excessive compared to 1 silver.”
If Go Hyun-woo hadn’t helped, the slot machine plan would have been ruined the moment he met Han So-mi.
It is not a waste at all to pay for letting me eat [Dark Ice].
However, Go Hyun-woo still seemed hesitant, as if he didn’t think so.
I playfully tapped the guy on the shoulder.
“Just take it. If you do something, buy me a meal or something.”
“I think that would be more comfortable for you. I happened to see a snack corner on my way here. How about buying some snacks there?”
“I’m fine.”
We headed to the snack corner with light steps.
* * *
When we returned, the calligrapher was still lying face down on the table, lost in dreamland.
I woke up from my deep sleep only after opening one or two of the snacks I had picked from the snack corner.
My eyes are half open, but I’m still half-asleep.
“You’re awake.”
“Would you like to have some too, Miss Seo?”
“……huh.”
A thin, white hand wandered between the cookies for a moment before picking up a stick-shaped cookie.
The calligrapher brought it to his mouth and began to gnaw on it, starting from the tip.
What I confirmed while watching him eat a little more here and there is that he prefers mild flavors over sweet ones.
The reason my homemade cookies weren’t sweet enough wasn’t because I accidentally put in too little sugar, it was purely my personal preference.
“Oh, what is this candy made of? It has a truly mysterious taste.”
On the other hand, Go Hyun-woo put any snack he could into his mouth, regardless of whether it was plain, sweet, spicy, or salty.
And yet, as if tasting a master’s cooking, he savors each bite and exclaims in admiration.
“Is it that delicious?”
“Because the temple originally lived deep in the mountains, there weren’t many opportunities to come across things like this. All I could come across were the occasional gifts from my master’s close friends.”
“Yes, there’s nothing we can do about a sect located deep in the mountains.”
He pushed the bag of chips away.
Go Hyun-woo, who was enjoying a chicken leg snack, suddenly looked out the window and asked.
“How much longer do you think it will take to arrive?”
“Are we almost there?”
The reason I answered that way was because outside the window everything was blue.
A lake so large that it resembles the ocean.
The train had been crossing the middle of the lake for some time.
Looking out the window, it may seem like the train is running on water, but in reality, it is running on shallow tracks laid out on the surface of the water.
I pointed to the vague outline of an island in front of me.
“It’ll be quick, as long as you get there.”
“Indeed, we’ll get there in about 15 minutes at most.”
A huge lake and an island located right in the middle of it.
The final stop of this train is a strange island comprised of countless labyrinths called ‘Dungeon Island’.
In the past, Dungeon Island was a lawless area teeming with all sorts of vicious criminals.
If you’re running away, all you have to do is choose a moderately dangerous dungeon and hide there.
On the other hand, from the point of view of the pursuer, you have to first figure out which dungeon they are hiding in, and even if you are lucky enough to find them, you will be pursued inside the dungeon, so things become much more complicated.
So, it was a place that was left as a lawless zone for a long time.
One day, a new warrior and dragon slayer set foot on this dungeon island.
He wiped out all the criminals without leaving a single one behind,
I have completely conquered the dungeons,
He founded a city and established an academy.
That’s Yongsal Academy.
It’s Dragon Slayer Academy.
The image of the dungeon island that had been blurry became clearer.
As it got closer to land, the train’s speed slowed down, and by the time the once blue outside the window changed to a well-paved road, it had come to a complete stop.
Until then, Go Hyun-woo was celebrating alone among the snack bags.
When it was time to leave, I gathered the bags together and crushed them without any regrets, even though there were still quite a few snacks left.
He lightly tosses the lump into the trash can and says:
“We’ve arrived. Let’s get up.”
Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in, who had been dozing off, stretched out in her seat.
His clothes are a total mess, as if he slept with his head against the table or the wall.
I couldn’t stand to watch, so I gently pulled on the hem of her clothes and straightened her out.
As I got off the train, the area was teeming with students.
A small spark burns from the cane held by the red-haired schoolgirl,
A cat the size of a palm sat on the shoulder of a timid-looking schoolgirl.
He keeps throwing cat punches at students who pass by.
Everyone has such distinct personalities that it’s harder to find someone who’s just ordinary.
And when you put so many students with distinct personalities in one place, the confusion just doubles.
“First graders! First graders, this way!”
“I won’t come this way! I won’t follow my seniors!”
“Hey, catch him!”
Seniors wearing the captain’s armbands waved their batons and shouted at the top of their lungs.
Since the second and third year students and freshmen have different destinations, the freshmen who are trying to follow the seniors are stopped and guided to go in the same direction.
I’ve been to Dungeon Island more than once or twice, so I can walk around with my eyes closed.
If you continue walking following the guidance of the leadership, you will come across a large auditorium where the entrance ceremony will be held.
The three of us also followed the student in front of us, only looking at the back of his head.
There was someone who stopped us along the way.
“… … .”
Song Cheon-hye crossed her arms and glared at me with an expression that said, “You told me about your sins!”
A faint electric current crackles through the glove on one hand, as if in a show of force.
If it’s one hundred, ninety-nine, you must have come to me because of what happened at the slot machine earlier.
There is no clear evidence on that side, though.
From my perspective, I think it would be neat to tie the knot here and leave.
“Please follow me for a moment.”
“Do I have to come along too?”
When Go Hyun-woo asked, Song Cheon-hye turned her gaze to him.
“I heard you had a duel with Somi.”
“When I heard that you were the disciple of the Sword Master, my spirit of victory was stirred.”
“I hope you will be more careful about time and place from now on. If something like this happens again, I won’t let it slide like this.”
“Keep that in mind.”
This time, I guess he won’t take issue with the fact that you helped me.
That’s good.
I waved lightly at Go Hyun-woo and Seo Ye-in.
“Don’t worry, you guys go first.”
“Understood. I’ll keep a seat for you, Miss Seo.”
“… … .”
Seo Ye-in looked at me and Song Cheon-hye alternately with sleepy eyes, not knowing what she was thinking.
When Go Hyun-woo urged him, he nodded slightly and headed towards the auditorium together.
Song Cheon-hye also started walking as she watched the two people moving away.
“This way.”
“Let’s do that.”
The supporters eat it all
