Episode 59 Week 4 Strategy (1)
Go Hyun-woo got busy writing reports and doing the extra homework I gave him.
Your head will be in a lot of pain this weekend.
Meanwhile, I spent more time in the magic engineering workshop.
The work wasn’t much different from the past few days.
I prepare the groundwork in the 4th workshop, and sometimes disassemble the failed items that the Magic Engineering Club seniors bring me.
When a space opens up in the first workshop, quickly go in and make an item.
But this time, the quality of the ingredients was much higher.
[Magic Engine]
[Floatstone extract]
[Weather Chip]
Here, all the high-quality materials that other seniors gave as rewards for their requests were used in production.
A few days passed like that, like a hamster wheel… … .
Weekend morning.
It was just after dawn, and daylight was slowly breaking outside the window.
I put down the tool in my hand.
‘It’s over.’
A thin, elongated core-shaped component.
After struggling with this for several days, I finally completed it.
As I breathed mana into the parts, a faint upward current was created, causing the miscellaneous items scattered all over the workbench to float up.
When it floats a few centimeters, I cut off the mana and it falls back down like corn.
“… … !”
The seniors who happened to be taking a short break opened their eyes wide when they saw the sight.
Perhaps because they thought I would be a burden, they didn’t rush towards me in a big crowd. Only Bong Jae-seok and the senior I saw earlier approached me.
Both of their faces were filled with curiosity.
“I wonder what kind of materials you’ve been working so hard to gather… … . You’ve created something new.”
“Can I just look at it for a moment?”
“Yes, senior.”
When I agreed, the two seniors stuck their heads close to the part and looked around.
Take turns exclaiming.
“It’s this kind of structure… … .”
“I wondered why I needed the extract of floating stones, but it turns out it has many uses… … .”
“Wow, look at this. It’s amazing, it’s amazing.”
The principle of this part is largely divided into three steps.
If you supply mana through [Magic Organ],
[Weather Chip] causes climate change within a certain range,
[Floatstone extract] determines the type of climate.
Bong Jae-seok handed me the part and asked.
“It looks like it’s going to be a weapon, a staff? A scepter?”
“Similar.”
“Did you get the main body?”
As of now, it is just a component and must be equipped to something to function as an item.
I took out a bar about a meter long from my inventory.
“I’m going to use this as I please.”
This is a slightly modified version of the F-grade horizontal bar provided free of charge by Yongsal Academy.
When I put the parts together, it came together without any problems.
[Floating Bar (E)]
▷’Levitate Zone (F)’ always activated
Leviathan zone. Floating area.
A wind spell that causes an upward current of air, causing everything within range to float.
Since each object or monster has a different weight and magic resistance, the degree to which they float will vary, but anything that floats even a little bit will be susceptible to physical forces.
That means you become more vulnerable to [Windforce] within range.
However, the rank of this [Floating Bar] is only E.
Even the always-activated [Leviticus Zone] is only F-class.
Its power is weak and its range is narrow. It’s like a one-room apartment.
‘Because I used a horizontal bar.’
Magic engineering items are greatly affected not only by the parts, but also by the material of the metal that makes up the main body.
It’s a stopgap measure, but since we used a horizontal bar, the maximum we can get is an E grade.
If you use better metal to create a better body, the rank and performance will naturally increase.
So where do we get that ‘good metal’?
‘I have to go down.’
To the basement of Dungeon-dong.
I put the horizontal bar into my inventory.
As if he sensed that it was time for me to leave, Bong Jae-seok looked at me and spoke with a slightly regretful tone.
“I won’t be coming for a while.”
The reason he is so sure is because I have used up all the materials I had collected just in time to complete [The Floating Bar].
If I had planned to make more, I would have left some.
I didn’t deny it because it was true.
“Yes, thank you very much for your help.”
The senior female colleague sneaked into the conversation,
“If you owe me a lot, please join our club!”
“What’s your status? If you ever want to make something else, come visit me.”
Bong Jae-seok blocked the mouth in the middle.
It seemed like he had decided to let me go coolly since he could see that my heart was gone.
I bowed my head politely and left the first workshop.
– No, why don’t you just send it?
– Arthur, he’s not going to join the party. He’s not the type of person to be tied up.
– You don’t know until the end!
– Just give up.
A light argument ensued inside the workshop.
* * *
I spent the rest of the weekend at the training center practicing [Windforce] and [Core].
monday.
The student cafeteria was bustling from morning.
The calligrapher and I chose to go outside rather than join the crowds for breakfast.
Coffee in one hand, a folded waffle in the other.
We sat side by side on a bench in one corner of the school yard.
As I observed people walking by while eating waffles, the proportion of people in plain clothes increased significantly.
Graduates invited for mentoring.
The fact that the student cafeteria is starting to get crowded this week is largely due to their influence.
Mentoring will begin in earnest next week, in the fifth week of the second month of the semester.
This week is a time for them to receive basic instructions and mentoring from the academic side.
In this regard, I had something to say to the calligrapher.
“Notice. Kim Ho’s Magic Bullet special lecture is temporarily suspended.”
“… … ?”
The calligrapher took a bite of her waffle and turned her head towards me.
Then, a little cream got on her cheek, but she seemed to have been too focused on what I was saying to notice.
Gray eyes stare at me intently and ask, ‘Why is class cancelled?’
I explained in a calm tone.
“You’ll learn new skills during mentoring next week anyway, so there’s no need to rush now. It’d be better to focus on building up your skills this week.”
In order to grow efficiently, you need to spend time not only blindly increasing the types of skills, but also increasing the proficiency and rank of the skills you have.
It’s a process that everyone must go through, and I think this week is a perfect time to do it.
I was about to tell him to practice well on his own, but then I remembered that the calligrapher would be more efficient if he was given some direction or goal.
“Let’s aim for C-ranks for both [Magic Bullet] and [Injection]. Let’s surprise Mentor. Oh no! A first-year student uses this kind of magic bullet?”
It’s a bit awkward to call him ‘uncle’ since we don’t know yet whether his mentor is a graduate or a third-year student, but the point is that he will train hard and surprise his mentor.
The calligrapher nodded slowly.
“… … Okay, I’ll try.”
As I remember, the magic bullet was D and the injection was E, so it felt like it would be difficult to get a C rank in one week.
Still, the reason I set my goal high on purpose is because I thought I would practice harder that way.
It was also because of a glimmer of anticipation that it might be possible given the calligrapher’s overwhelming talent.
“Hey, but you have cream on your cheek.”
“?”
“No, not there. On the other side.”
“??”
“A little bit to the side.”
“???”
* * *
Strategy class.
Teacher Seo Cheong-yong wrote two words on the blackboard.
[Resources] [Time]
“The last offensive was conducted in a way that maximized the savings of your most precious resource, time.”
Time attack.
The key was to achieve the goal in the dungeon in as little time as possible.
“Let’s raise our hands here. Actually, there was something peculiar about halfway through that swamp. Does anyone remember?”
“… … ?”
The students of Class 3 looked at each other in confusion.
It’s written all over their faces.
– There was something like that?
Since the rules were the rules, everyone was only focused on clearing the dungeon as quickly as possible, and behind them, a goblin decapitator was chasing them with a cleaver.
In such an urgent situation, who would have the leisure to take a good look around?
The person is not a veteran player or anything… … .
Of course, I wasn’t the only one who raised my hand in such situations.
After no one came forward for a long time, Seo Cheong-yong smiled and wrote the answer on the blackboard.
In the middle of the Goblin Swamp, there was a geometric pattern engraved on the base of a tree.
“Even if you look closely, you can’t see it. If you’re in an urgent situation, it’s even easier to miss it. But you always have to be careful to catch these seemingly small things. Why is that?”
This question was answered by the female student in the front row.
“You have to check to see if it’s really that trivial.”
“That’s it.”
What if that seemingly trivial thing is actually the core element of the dungeon?
What if it were a device that activated a whole series of traps?
What if it was a device that additionally summoned monsters?
What if it’s an entrance to a hidden room?
There is no good in passing it by without a second thought.
“Okay, so this week’s strategy topic is—”
MAP:[random]
RULE:[Sweep][2-person dungeon][Random matching]
“—It’s a sweep.”
Sweep.
How cleanly do you clean the inside of the dungeon?
For example, if there are 100 monsters, how many of them can you discover and kill?
Of course, there is no chance that 100 of them will rush in as soon as you enter the dungeon, and they will be hiding in various places.
You can get a high score only if you carefully examine every corner of the dungeon.
Seo Cheong-yong counted on one finger.
“One important thing. There is no time limit this time. If you don’t rush and just look carefully, anyone can get the highest score! What do you think?”
A smile appeared on the students’ faces.
After being beaten in a one-on-one battle, a time attack, a strong opponent, and a 2-on-2, this is a relaxing strategy battle.
Seo Cheong-yong smiled and folded his second finger.
“Two important things. The terrain is random. It could be a jungle, a ruins site, a cave… … . Each person fights in a different dungeon.”
The student in the front row raised his hand.
“Teacher, then the terrain in practice mode and real mode are different?”
“No difference.”
“Then there’s no use in practicing mode?”
“Do you really think it’s useless?”
“……ah.”
The student who asked the question realized something and lowered his hand.
Even if you enter a different dungeon each time, you will continue to gain experience.
Your powers of observation will also improve as you practice them.
Such improved observation skills will ultimately help you in real life and even in other strategic battles during the semester.
“Don’t be too obsessed with your score, and try practice mode several times to gain experience. Those of you who plan on cheating should save points this time.”
Some students avoided Seo Cheong-yong’s gaze because they felt stung.
Since it is a random dungeon anyway, tricks like watching someone else’s replay and copying them won’t work.
Seo Cheong-yong checked the time and finished the class.
“Before I send you off, you have homework this week.”
As soon as Seo Cheong-yong uttered the cursed word, the students’ faces instantly turned red with betrayal.
I never thought that even you, the person I trusted, would give me homework… … .
It was Seo Cheong-yong who was smiling awkwardly and saying sorry.
“Each of you can watch the replay and draw a map. Don’t forget to mark the monster locations. The deadline is next Monday. That’s it for class! See you next time!”
Today, I decided to move separately from calligrapher Koh Hyun-woo.
Anyway, the team members are chosen randomly.
Those two need to gain experience, so we should start in practice mode.
On the other hand, I’m a guy with a lot of experience, so practicing mode is a waste of time.
It goes from the beginning to the real thing.
I headed straight to the upper floor of the dungeon.
I took a moment to think while tapping my student ID on the terminal and waiting for my teammate to show up.
‘I wish I could find a good friend… … .’
If you check out this week’s quests,
[Sub Quest: 4th Week Strategy]
▷Goal: Clear the dungeon before the attack
▷Deadline: ~Sunday midnight
▷Reward: Differential payment based on completion level (??/100%)
As long as I’m here, it’s a given that whoever I choose as my partner will be 100% complete.
To be honest, I don’t mind doing everything from A to Z by myself.
So what does ‘a useful friend’ mean here?
This refers to a person who has the skills to bring [copy] right away.
Since I’ve finished the work that needs to be done at the Magic Engineering Workshop, I won’t be using the [Magic Engineering] skill for the time being.
I plan to cover that spot with combat-related skills.
How long have I waited,
A teleportation portal opened nearby.
As I walked inside, the air instantly became refreshing.
Judging from the irregularity of the ground elevation, it is assumed to be a mountainous area.
And my partner is… … .
‘You again?’
Red hair and flaming ruby.
And as soon as he saw me, the color drained from his face.
It was Hong Yeon-hwa.
