Episode 124 Week 7 Mentoring, In-person Battle (9)
The magic circle glows red and emits a bright pillar of fire.
– Kwaaaaah—!
I turned sharply to avoid the pillar of fire.
But as if it had been waiting, a pillar of fire rose from the magic circle located there.
– Kwaaaaah—!
He had no choice but to retreat, but Hong Yeon-hwa, who was watching him, snapped her fingers again.
This time, a fire pillar is activated from behind.
If you look around, you will see that everything is covered in magic, so there is no room to even step.
A duel with Hong Yeon-hwa.
Hong Hyun-hwa seemed to be conscious of the feedback I gave her, and waited until I was well within her territory before casting the magic circle.
At first, he was scared when I approached him and activated his Fire Pillar, but as we continued to train, he was able to maintain his composure.
The prerequisite that ‘I take damage from fire magic’ was also applied in this duel, so I had to step forward, backward, left, and right to avoid the fire pillar.
Fire Pillar operation is basic, and Hong Yeon-hwa also casts magic herself.
A large fireball is flying towards me.
– Hururuk!
I created a compressed whirlwind above my hand and blew it away.
The tornado spread in the opposite direction the moment it collided with the fireball, scattering the flames.
A move using [Twister].
Hong Yeon-hwa and I each practice our own skills.
– Kwaaaaah—!
Fire pillars continue to bloom here and there.
Depending on the situation, two or three of them activate simultaneously, restricting my movements.
Since the number of pre-installed magic circles is limited, you might think it would be a waste to activate several at once, but before you know it, a new magic circle is being engraved on the floor.
Even during battle, try setting up a magic circle from time to time.
This was also one of the feedbacks I gave to Hong Yeon-hwa.
Meanwhile, even while I was busy moving my feet, I managed to find weak points in the defense and slowly infiltrate them.
As this happened, the distance between Hong Yeon-hwa and me gradually decreased, and eventually, I got close enough to lightly hit Hong Yeon-hwa’s crown with the root.
– Exactly,
“… … .”
Hong Yeon-hwa looks up at me, holding the part that was right.
It’s an expression that looks somehow aggrieved.
I didn’t even hit him that hard.
At that moment, Dang Gyu-yeong came out of hiding and approached us.
Since Dalian is in a lull, we plan to conduct an interim inspection during this time.
She glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa and quickly realized that she looked tired.
“Let’s stop here for today. Go and rest.”
“Thank you for your effort.”
Hong Yeon-hwa bowed her head to Dang Gyu-yeong and awkwardly waved to me.
“Oh, thank you, thank you for your hard work… … .”
“Oh. Good work.”
Before Hong Yeon-hwa stepped onto the teleportation magic circle, she paused for a moment, gave me an incomprehensible look, and then quickly disappeared.
After seeing that sight, Dang Gyu-yeong asked me.
“Aren’t you going?”
“Where am I going? I have to spar.”
“No, how come you don’t get tired?”
If I go, Dang Gyu-yeong can also go rest, but my stamina is still a long way from running out.
Dang Gyu-yeong takes a seat in front of me while grumbling.
Within seconds, the shadows beneath your feet begin to attack in various forms, such as fists, hammers, and greatswords.
– Kwaaaaah!
I wrapped the twister around my roots and hands, and repelled the approaching shadows one by one.
Then, Dang Gyu-yeong, who rose up from behind, stabbed me with his shadow dagger, and I avoided it by tilting my body left and right.
We move our hands and feet in a very fierce manner, but we speak in a very normal tone.
“But Kim Hoya.”
“Yes, senior.”
“You don’t have any plans this weekend, do you?”
“I left it blank. You told me to take my time.”
“Hehe, do you remember? I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t done it.”
Dang Gyu-yeong smiled happily.
Utilizing mentoring events allowed me to grow much faster than before, but the cooperation of my mentor, Dang Gyu-young, was essential.
Fortunately, Dang Gyu-yeong actively participated in my training and even kept the details a secret.
For example, the fact that I constantly evaded the attacks of Tang Gyu-yeong, a third-year student, while practicing [Distortion], and the effect of [Distortion] are known only to Tang Gyu-yeong.
Instead, I gave Dang Gyu-yeong the wish certificate (middle) that he asked for, and with that, the following promise was made.
– What wish can I grant you?
– You, do you have anything going on next week? Let’s go somewhere together.
– Where are you going? Even using the wishing ticket.
– It’s no fun if I tell you everything in advance. I’ll tell you the details then.
I leaned back and narrowly avoided the shadow blade.
And then I asked a question.
“Let me ask you one thing. Is that related to the Thieves Club?”
Dang Gyu-yeong paused for a moment, as if thinking, and then shrugged his shoulders as if he thought he could say at least this much.
“Oh, that’s our job.”
“But they’re taking a freshman who hasn’t even signed up… … . It smells fishy.”
“What do you mean by award? It’s just a field trip!”
If you follow Dang Gyu-yeong around and observe what exactly the Thieves’ Club does at Yongsal Academy, you might become interested and decide to join.
‘You got it wrong again this time.’
I’ve graduated countless times and even served as the president of the thieves’ club, so there’s no way I’d suddenly become interested in something like this.
Even though I didn’t join the club, I was interested in the event that the Thieves’ Club would hold this time.
If there is an event that could happen during this time… … .
‘Black Market.’
* * *
The duel with Hong Yeon-hwa continued all week.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s magic circle operation became more and more smooth, and I also achieved the desired results.
[‘Twister’ has been upgraded (E+->D+)]
It’s a high-difficulty skill, so growth is quite slow, but thanks to the mentoring bonus I received last week and the constant use of it, I was finally able to advance to D-rank.
If the opponent is a first-year student, the skill has been improved to a level where it can be used in real life situations.
thursday.
Arena.
As I followed Dang Gyu-yeong and the other crew members to one side of the stands, I noticed a team walking from the opposite direction.
The student walking in front was a third-year senior, and judging by the fact that he was following the first-year students behind him, he seemed to be a mentor, just like Dang Gyu-yeong.
His face reminded me of a toad at first glance, and in this game world full of handsome men and beautiful women, if you resemble a toad, you must have had quite a rough life.
Three first-year students followed behind.
Of those three, two looked familiar.
One is the attack that was applied to the opponent in the last 2-on-2 match.
At that time, I beat the calligrapher with Windforce, and Ilgong fought with Gohyeonwoo until the last moment, but eventually lost.
And Ilgong also recognized me and smiled broadly and clasped his hands together.
Next is Bukgung Hanseol, who appeared on the same side as Go Hyunwoo’s replay.
I tried to corner Park Na-ri’s tiger with a Han-Bing style of attack, but it ended in failure because my attack power was a bit lacking.
The third one was a complete stranger, but judging from the classes of the previous two, it was not difficult to infer that they were a martial arts team.
Just as the two teams were about to pass each other,
A senior with a toad-like appearance blocked Dang Gyu-yeong’s path.
“Dang Gyu-yeong.”
“Kim Gap-doo.”
The third grade toad, Kim Gap-doo, spoke as if he was being questioned.
“Why aren’t you receiving my messages?”
“I blocked you?”
“… …Why?”
“Why? Because you keep contacting me with useless things.”
“Useless, I meant it.”
“Anyway, I have no intention of accepting it, so let’s stop.”
Based on the flow of the conversation, it seems that Kim Gap-doo was so pushy towards Dang Gyu-yeong that he ended up getting blocked on Messenger.
Even though Dang Gyu-yeong firmly cut him off, Kim Gap-du seemed to have no intention of backing down.
“I heard you’re really into a first-year student these days. Is he really that handsome?”
“I’m completely absorbed—”
Dang Gyu-yeong was about to refute me because he was so dumbfounded, but then something occurred to him and he pulled me next to him.
And then he puts his arm around my shoulder.
“Honestly, he’s pretty good-looking. His eyes are a bit annoying though.”
AKA ‘don’t worry, I have a boyfriend’ operation.
Since Dang Gyu-yeong desperately winked at me to get along just once, I didn’t ask him tactlessly, “Senior, since when have we been like this?”
As I stood there silently, Kim Gap-du glared at me with eyes that were half envious, half jealous, and half envious.
“He’s that first-year student. How long have you been dating him?”
“We’re not dating yet?”
Dang Gyu-yeong answered honestly, saying that he could not bring himself to lie even to this extent.
Kim Gap-du’s eyes flashed.
“Then you’re saying I still have a chance?”
“No. Not at all.”
When Dang Gyu-yeong cut him off firmly again, Kim Gap-du became a wounded toad again.
And all that sadness and anger was directed at me.
“… … I wonder what the first-year student’s abilities are. Is he qualified to be with you?”
“What does it matter to you whether it exists or not?”
“I’m just curious. Since there are four of you and four of us, why don’t we give it a try?”
Dang Gyu-yeong did not immediately reject this proposal, but seemed to think it over carefully.
Kim Gap-du’s group is a martial arts class.
These are opponents that walk towards you at close range, so if you are a magician aiming to be an all-rounder, you must prepare for them.
In that case, it would be a better experience to stick with them rather than trying to get random matches.
Dang Gyu-yeong asked whether they had reached a conclusion.
“You said there were four of you, where did one go?”
“I’m a little late because I have something to do. I’ll be back soon.”
“Really? Then let’s try it out.”
When Dang Gyu-yeong nodded, Kim Gap-du added a subtle suggestion.
“If we’re going to do it anyway, wouldn’t it be more fun if there was money at stake?”
“Ah, I knew it. Stop being so clingy.”
“You can say it’s sticky. If we win, give me a chance.”
Kim Gap-du uses his mentees’ victories and defeats to satisfy his own selfish desires without any hesitation.
Dang Gyu-yeong asked, wondering why it was so sticky.
“Let me just come in. What kind of opportunity are you asking for?”
“If we win… … .”
The third grade toad gradually turned into a red toad.
Soon, Kim Gap-du stared at the floor and groped, but shouted loudly.
“If we win… … . Come on a date with me to the downtown area this weekend!”
Everyone in the room frowned at the excessive awkwardness.
Not only Dang Gyu-yeong, but also Song Cheon-hye, Hong Yeon-hwa, Kwak Ji-cheol, and even Bukgung Han-seol.
Only Ilgong maintained a calm and composed expression and quietly recited the Taoist mantra.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha… … .”
