Ch 96
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 96
It looked dangerous at first glance, so I approached while slowing down, and beyond the fog, all the kids and a Hunter named Pan-su were collapsed.
Hunter Go Dong-hyeok was nowhere to be seen.
I don't know what happened, but it seems like I shouldn't lead the monsters over there.
Just then, I saw Jae-hyeon running from the opposite direction, so I headed that way.
"Class president! Are you crazy? Why are you coming this way?"
"You can't go over there right now. Everyone's collapsed."
"Collapsed? What do you mean?"
"I don't know either. There's this strange green fog, and everyone's collapsed inside it, unconscious... They looked in bad condition. Hunter Go Dong-hyeok is nowhere to be seen."
"What? Then what do we do?"
"What do you mean what do we do? We have no choice but to fight, just the two of us."
"Fight with just the two of us? How many did you bring?"
"Four on my side. You?"
"I have six. How are we supposed to take down 10 monsters by ourselves...?"
I know.
No matter how slow and weak these sick Orcs are, monsters are still monsters.
Two monsters... No, maybe three at most I could handle somehow, but five is absolutely impossible.
"Class president, can you still run? Let's run to the safe zone."
"What?"
"Those guys are slow."
"If we go into the safe zone, we'll lose aggro. If those guys go back and find the collapsed people and attack them..."
Everyone dies.
"We have no choice. You said they all looked in bad condition. They might already be dead. At least we need to survive."
"Lee Jae-hyeon, how can you say something like that?"
"Then what should we do? If we fight like this, we'll both die. I don't want to die."
I don't want to die either.
The distance to the safe zone is quite far, so I can't be certain, but I still have stamina, so if I run away like Jae-hyeon says, I might be able to survive.
But then everyone will...
"Decide quickly. They're almost here."
"Alright. Let's go for now."
I ran toward the portal entrance with Jae-hyeon.
My breathing gradually became labored and the distance kept closing, but finally I could see the safe zone in the distance.
Now I should probably talk about it.
"Hey, Lee Jae-hyeon."
"Class president, if you have energy to talk, run! Don't you see? Just a little more and we'll reach the safe zone."
"Listen carefully. I'm not going in, so you exit the portal and immediately request support."
"Wha, what do you mean? We came all this way... Are you out of energy? Just a little more and we'll make it. Save your energy for talking and running. If you really can't run anymore, tell me. I'll help you."
"Who's helping who? You're always falling behind during PT runs. I have more energy than you."
"What? Then why aren't you going in?"
"Why? You idiot. I told you earlier. If we both go to the safe zone, everyone left behind will die."
I never had any intention of going to the safe zone from the beginning.
***
"Class president, wake up."
"Huh? What time is it?"
"7:50. I thought the class president had already left for attendance check, but I saw your shoes, so I checked just in case... What's this, the class president oversleeping. How unusual."
"Things changed after Minha became class president. I used to oversleep often in my first year."
"Right. Thanks to that, I survived. Thank you."
Since it was my first practical training, I couldn't sleep and went to bed late, which caused this mishap.
The teacher isn't coming today either, so for attendance check I need to get to the field by 8:30...
I guess I'll have to skip breakfast.
I hurriedly prepared, skipped breakfast, and went to the field... Huh? It's the teacher.
"Teacher? You said you weren't coming today because of an event."
"That starts at 10. Actually, I was thinking of sleeping in for once, but someone nagged me to at least see you off if I wasn't going early in the morning."
"By any chance, the vice principal?"
"Correct. As expected of the class president. But the class president overslept too, right?"
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb, I heard it all from Yeon-su. You didn't eat breakfast either, right?"
"Ah... I'm fine."
"Fine my foot, it's your first practical training and that won't do. How can you tackle portal raids while starving... That's right! Wait a moment. Oh, all our class kids are here except Min-cheol and Gyu-hwan."
"Huh?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he ran toward the dormitory at tremendous speed.
About 5 minutes later, he came back carrying a black plastic bag.
"Whew, I'm out of breath. Running in the morning is tough. Here."
He handed me the plastic bag, which contained a sandwich and coffee milk.
"How did you buy this? The store doesn't open in the morning. Does the faculty store open?"
"No, that doesn't open in the morning either. I bought this last night to eat for breakfast today, but you can eat it in the car on the way."
"Uh... Then what about you, teacher?"
"Teacher can buy something on the way to the association later."
"Hey, teacher! Why are you only taking care of Minha? Me too."
"Me too..."
"Hey now, where do you kids get off? You guys would have eaten breakfast."
"Teacher! I overslept and didn't eat either."
"How proud of you. Jinsu, you're not even in our class, how dare you eye our class president's food. Get lost."
"Wow, a biased teacher who only favors their own class students. Boo."
"Our Jinsu wants to get penalty points, doesn't he?"
"Ah, no sir."
"Teacher, I'll eat well. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Compared to how Minha usually helps me as class president and takes good care of the kids, this is nothing."
"Huh? That's just natural since I'm the class president..."
"Still, gratitude is gratitude. There are three kids from our class in Group 6, right? Since the teacher won't be there today, please take good care of the kids."
"Yes. Don't worry and have a good time at the event."
"Having Minha as class president is really reassuring. Minha, have a safe trip too."
***
Among the collapsed people is Yeon-su too, and after confidently telling the teacher not to worry, I can't just run away like this.
If Yeon-su could have escaped with me... No, then Jae-hyeon would have collapsed over there, so we couldn't have gotten out anyway.
"Park Minha..."
"Are you crying? Hey, Lee Jae-hyeon... Don't cry so pathetically. I'm Park Minha, class president of Class 10, 2nd year. I'll somehow buy time, so you hurry out and ask them to call the strongest magician who can use recovery magic among the nearby Hunters."
"Ah, got it."
I was worried he might recklessly stay behind like me, but thankfully he's selfish.
We had already arrived right in front of the safe zone.
"Class president, just hold on a little. I'll... I'll come back."
"Stop talking nonsense and just run. I'm going to turn right up ahead!"
Who does he think I am, an idiot like him?
This is a 10-person portal.
If that guy comes back, the support Hunters won't even be able to enter, so what does he mean he'll come back?
Jae-hyeon entered the safe zone and I turned left.
Looking back, fortunately the aggro transferred safely as they continued chasing me without scattering.
No, honestly speaking, it's not fortunate at all.
What I told that idiot about having energy was a lie.
I can feel my heart beating like crazy and my breath has reached my chin.
I'm almost at my limit now too.
I wondered if the guys were getting tired too, so I looked back once more... Sigh.
They're following at almost the same speed as before.
For sick Orcs, they sure run well...
If I stop while running away like this, I'll probably get killed without even swinging my sword once. Should I fight instead?
No, to buy even a little more time, I need to keep running.
Even if I die without swinging my sword once, the aggro will be maintained while they eat my corpse…
***
When the class president said to run, she pretended not to care, but I guess the class president didn't want to die either, I was thinking, rationalizing to myself...
I never imagined she would say such a thing when we were almost there.
I really want to kill myself for being so pathetic... No, even thinking such thoughts is a luxury right now.
I quickly passed through the safe zone and exited the portal.
"Huh? Student, why did you come out alone?"
"HUFF, HUFF... Code Red. Please call the strongest magician capable of recovery magic in this area."
"What? Take a breath and speak slowly."
"It's Code Red! Please call the strongest magician capable of recovery magic!"
I screamed with all the strength I had left, and finally understanding, the soldiers quickly made phone calls.
"Student, the sergeant is calling now. What exactly is the situation?"
"Everyone inside has collapsed and the class president is alone... No, just quickly call a magician who uses recovery magic!"
"Sergeant, this seems really urgent. How long will it take?"
"I'm telling them too. Yes, Code Red! Among the magician capable of recovery magic in this area, the strongest... No, the closest magician... Yes, understood."
"How long will it take?"
"There's a party cleaning up corpses 12-13 minutes from here, so if they contact them and depart, they'll be here within 15 minutes."
"15 minutes? Isn't there anywhere closer?"
"For magician capable of recovery magic, that's the closest distance."
15 minutes is too long.
The class president is in the upper ranks of the swordsmanship class, but honestly, the difference between her and me isn't that huge.
"Soldier mister, your phone... No, can I borrow that watch you're wearing?"
"Watch? Why suddenly... No, my girlfriend gave this to me as a gift, so it's a bit..."
"If it breaks, I'll get the same one... No, I'll save money and compensate with a better one, so please lend it to me. I need to go back in!"
"Student, what are you saying? Going back in, then how will the support Hunters get in?"
"I'll come back out after 10 minutes... No, 12 minutes. There's no time. Our class president might die! Please lend it to me..."
"Sergeant Kim, hurry up and lend it to him. Someone's life is at stake here."
"I know... I'm taking it off right now."
Not wanting to waste time putting on the watch, I held it as is, checked the time, and immediately entered the portal.
I quickly passed the safe zone and ran toward the direction Minha had turned, and I could see Minha in the distance, running while leading the Orcs.
"Class president! I came back!"
***
"Class president! I came back!"
I thought I might be hearing things because I was so exhausted, but looking toward where the sound came from, Lee Jae-hyeon was running toward me.
I made a foolish choice too, but that guy is truly an irredeemable fool.
Even if he requested support, since it's a 10-person portal, more people can't enter, so what was he thinking coming back in...
Does he want us both to die?
"Class president, let's switch!"
"Switch what, you idiot! You said you didn't want to die!"
"I promised, didn't I? I called for support too. It'll take about 15 minutes, so if we switch off and buy time, then exit at the right time, it'll work."
"Can you last 15 minutes?"
"Of course not. But the class president can't do 15 minutes either. So if we switch off and one person exits at the 14 minute mark, it'll work."
"How will we keep time? I don't have a watch."
"I borrowed a watch and left it in the safe zone. Exit when it's 1:08. Then this time it's the class president's turn to go to the safe zone."
I thought he was an irredeemable fool, but... He wasn't a fool.
"From the safe zone, run left, then turn before reaching the right ridge and go around. There's no uphill, so that'll be easiest."
"Confirmed."
I entered the safe zone and immediately collapsed.
I really thought I was going to die. Looking around, fortunately the watch isn't far away.
I crawled over to use as little stamina as possible and checked - it's only 12:55 now.
I need to hold out for 13 more minutes.
I thought Jae-hyeon might hold out for about 3 minutes, but he looks quite precarious.
Well, that guy had to go back and forth to the safe zone and give explanations too, so he couldn't have rested properly.
"Class president! Switch!"
12:57.
I wasn't fully recovered and all my muscles were screaming, but if I hold out just a little more, I can save everyone, so I forced myself up and came out of the safe zone.
"It's 57 minutes now, so switch at 1:02."
"HUFF, HUFF... Can I last 5 more minutes? No wait... You want me to hold out the remaining 6 minutes alone?"
"You barely held out for 2 minutes and you're talking about 6 minutes. Still, if you rest for 5 minutes, you can run for 3 minutes, right? I'll switch with you again at 1:05, so you exit at 1:08."
"Ah, got it."
He'll obviously switch when needed, but making me talk so much is annoying. I endured it and held out for 5 minutes, then switched again.
It really felt like 5 years in those 5 minutes. Just as I was about to catch my breath, that guy is limping.
It looks like he twisted something while running... If he twisted it, he should have said so.
At this rate, he'll get caught quickly. I checked the watch and it just turned 1:04.
If I switch now and send that guy out, can I hold out until support arrives?
Barely resting for 1 minute and then 5 minutes... No, if the Hunter hasn't arrived, I'll have to hold out for more than 5 minutes...
My body feels like it weighs a thousand pounds and I really feel like I'm going to die, but there's no choice.
"Lee Jae-hyeon, I'll switch, so you get out now!"
"WHOOSH... Has it been 5 minutes already?"
"You idiot. If you're injured, you should say so! Don't make me talk a lot when it's hard. Support might have come early, so get out now."
"Tha, that's possible. Will you be okay?"
"Fi..."
… Ne. I need to save energy even for these three syllables.
***
"I should have run more... If I had, the class president wouldn't have ended up like that... I'm a pathetic idiot."
Jae-hyeon, who was telling the story, finally burst into tears.
"Lee Jae-hyeon, why are you crying? The class president didn't die."
"The arm... The arm... It wasn't there."
Ah, this guy saw it too.
"It's not your fault, so don't cry."
"No... Because of me, because I'm a stupid idiot..."
"Who says that? You're not an idiot, not a fool, and not pathetic. If it weren't for you, she might have lost her life, not just her arm. It's not that Minha lost her arm because of you - you saved Minha's life. I'll say it again, it's not your fault."
It's my fault.