Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Absolute Zero Super Cool Guy
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Look at the expedition team gathered under Eve's banner.
Clear out the extras.
They're not that important.
Eve probably doesn't plan to use them as immediate combat forces anyway.
In the end, they're nothing more than a rear guard that can rush the main squad members straight to the hospital if an emergency hits.
Someone with 20 magic power might scrape by against 21 if they try hard, but they can't compare to 22.
This game isn't about standing out among peers—it's a game for the one true dragon among cranes.
That's why expeditions are always small elite teams of those with overwhelming stats.
Judged by that standard, our stats are no issue.
First off, we've got 20, 21, and 22 magic power all in one place.
The front line? Sylphia's solid across the board, and while Isolde's stats aren't quite peak, her skill tiers are leagues above. Me? I'm my own damn stats.
Holy shit.
But check out this party synergy.
"Miss Cielra. Long time no see. Doing well? As top student, I've been just fine."
"Oh... Miss Trista. Of course. With magic power at 21, I've barely had a moment to refine my spells. Must be nice handling less mana at 20."
"Crunch... Isolde Cruelle. Looking forward to working with you on this expedition."
"Sure thing. Gotta nail this for those grad school bonus points. Hehe. Miss Sylphia, you're undergrad graduation, right? Too bad. I thought you'd make a great grad student."
"......Eve."
"I know, so shut it."
You know, right?
Can I trust you guys?
I have no idea which lunatic thought it'd be smart to party up the 1st and 2nd place from the same year and division.
What, that's under my bloodline? Haha, don't bullshit me. Even Wolfram wouldn't buy that.
If it were true, Hark would be sobbing up in heaven, wouldn't he?
"Hm."
"Hm."
I figured it'd be a total clusterfuck beyond imagination, but surprisingly... no, shockingly...
"That's the info on the Blackgreen Thicket."
"Terrain confirmed. So the biggest threat is still ambushes."
"Right. That's why I'll say it again: first, secure visibility. Second, secure visibility. Lock down sightlines and stay vigilant, and the clear won't be tough."
"Ideal would be all of us watching every direction, but that slows us to a crawl. So... split the front line? No, put the mana-sensitive up front? Hm... Tricky. We need to settle the formation first."
They're all listening to me intently.
More precisely, no one's raising petty objections just to bicker. Individual beefs aside, no kids whining in here.
Proof? Not one questions how I know so much about the Blackgreen Thicket.
They want to hear how we'll use the info to proceed.
Even rotten, it's Jefrin. Standing at the peak of those ten thousand, huh.
"Like Wolfram said, I'll take front line. I can handle mid-range too. Wrap it with Black Crystals, and it'll be quick."
"Miss Trista, you're a mage at heart. I'll guard right behind. You won't refuse the vice-top's protection, right? My swamp will help."
"I'm vanguard... huh. Worried about my liege, but... yeah. Double perimeter with wind spirits gets my vote."
"I'm free role, then. Handle monster hordes solo with Jewel Sword... Hehe, a tactic worthy of Your Highness's ruthlessness."
Watching them hash out positions, I clenched my fist tight.
This might actually work.
Thinking about it, we might be a real super team.
Isolde, Eve, and Regina could never be in one party. Different routes entirely. Add the original boss Aila—who couldn't join at this point anyway—and Sylphia.
A party even Yi Young-jin never built.
Peak performers matching their skills. Plus a newbie-shredding boss!
These guys just might pull it off.
The ones standing at Jefrin's pinnacle, splitting top and vice-top between them!
Strategy meeting wrapped.
Toward the end, I was certain.
We can do this.
We'll pull it through.
Yeah, I thought that once too.
"Kyaaah! B-bugs! Human-sized bugs!"
"Hold up, Regina Cielra! Where are you running!? You're supposed to guard me from mid-line! What's a bug got that scares you like this!? I'm a forest elf!"
"I-I wasn't born in the forest! I'm from the capital, Loengrin!"
......
Aila on front line was... better than expected.
But Regina Cielra was the problem. Watching that elf freak over bugs gives me a headache.
"Hm... Bugs aren't my thing either. But I'm here to protect my liege!"
Sylphia was fine with bugs but declared right in front of Eve that she'd only guard her!
Wasn't your spot front line with Aila?
"This Blackgreen Thicket's crawling with fascinating creatures. So much to study. I want samples."
Isolde Cruelle's burning with academic zeal, slipping front line to collect plant and bug specimens.
I'm in the rear cart under Patrascheu's watch, surveying the field. Eve—the weakest in stamina—is parked next to me.
Tsk.
Can't even watch this mess.
My words halt everyone dead.
Starting with Aila—who's acting spot-on for her role—I issue orders.
"Yes! Wolfram!"
"...Hah. Yes, Your Imperial Highness."
"Don't order me...! Back to front."
"No choice. Teamwork matters in lab life too. Hehe."
The newbies nod at my words. Glancing down at Eve von Loengrin, her face flushes with shame, lips bitten tight as she nods.
"I could've handled it."
"You say 'I can' after you do it."
"Ugh......"
After that, scouting went smoothly enough.
Damn newbies bending this vet's back. At this rate, they'll all die.
No major issues after that.
Not the heroics I envisioned, but compared to game days, we're barely scraping 50%.
Most intriguing in the party? Aila, hands down.
Party window peek: she's handling bugs without status ailments or mental damage.
"Aila must have bug resistance."
"Mining development means facing worse monsters repeatedly. Bugs infest the shafts too."
"Iron Worms, Stone Cockroaches... Yeah, plenty."
"......Yeah. Used to it now."
Makes sense for the firstborn of the pioneer Trista house, thriving on western mining. Bug resistance checks out. Squeal in the distance—another bug skewered by Black Crystal.
"And traveling with Wolfram... made me stronger too."
"I trust you, Aila."
"Yeah. Leave it to me."
Right. For this moment, she's the most normal one here.
I'm counting on you, Aila Trista.
Back to the cart, asking Eve at the map.
"Where's the Black Flag base?"
"...Mm. Intel says they're off today; we arrive tomorrow."
"Got it. Time to prep camp, then."
"Yes... Hoo. Let's get to it."
Eve clenches then releases her fist.
Palm sweaty, she wipes it on her clothes.
All thanks to the Blackgreen Thicket's terrain traits.
Like Poyoung's snowfields inducing hallucinations, this thicket forces status ailments by season. And this season's a pain.
"This time's trait?"
"【Sleep Pollen】, right?"
"Yep. The forest's sleep pollen syncs with mana patterns to induce sleep. Higher mana makes resistance harder."
"Weird forest. But other seasons have 【Paralysis Pollen】, 【Poison Pollen】, 【Charm Pollen】—worse stuff?"
"Yeah. Sleep's the mildest."
"...Why'd our ancestors make a place like this?"
"So we don't strut like stats alone make us world rulers. Get arrogant atop high stats, and you judge everything by numbers."
Eve nods with an "Ah."
Then smiles bitterly.
"...True. Jefrin must be a holy ground for student growth in all environments. Feels like a scolding."
Eve's self-mockery.
Yeah. Outside her route, Eve's a fool judging all by stats.
"Whatever. You're fine now."
"For real?"
"If stats were your judge, I wouldn't be here."
"...Fair."
Eve fidgets fingers, looking like a scolded kid.
"More to say?"
"Um... You sure you're okay? Standing watch alone."
"Fine. Low mana lets me resist sleep pollen."
"...Alright. I'll trust you this time."
"But tomorrow, I get solid sleep. No waking me."
That's not all.
My Imperial Bloodline nullifies all mental statuses.
"I'll help set camp."
"Mm. Good luck. Since I suck at setup, I'll handle cooking."
"Looking forward. Oh, Wolfram."
"Yeah?"
"...Thanks. Owe you again."
Eve bows slightly before scurrying off.
Dinner wrapped easy. Stew crammed with whatever, boiled with butter—better reviews than expected.
One by one, they grab improved hot packs and hit their tents.
As said, I'm solo watch tonight.
Sitting by the fire, lost in crackling thoughts.
Patrascheu eyes closed beside me. A small doll. An envelope.
Eyes closed, deep in thought.
Not twitching a muscle, like I'm asleep.
Soon, a drowsy voice drifts from afar.
"Idiots. What kinda place is this..."
"Pot calling kettle."
"Wha...!?"
She lunges fast, but 15 dexterity lets me move a tad quicker.
Plenty of time to shove a fortune cookie into the Curse Doll.
"Guh......"
"Rough?"
"W-wait, this damn stomach pain, ugh......"
"What else? Your curse on me."
"Y-you're Wolfram......"
"Dare mouth an imperial name lightly?"
"Guh...... Ack."
Me, Yi Young-jin.
Live wretched, but never grovel.
Pay back assholes tenfold, ready to die standing if things don't go my way.
Who the hell is this?
Villain who punched first and still breathes.
Curses me. Curses Eve.
How d'you think that makes me feel?
Even as Absolute Zero Super Cool Guy Yi Young-jin in this era—pissed or not?
What? I vent by stuffing fortune cookies in the Curse Doll anyway?
That's that, this is this.
Won't kill you. Need you for story later.
But.
"Pisses me off."
"Guh...... Ugh......"
I get pissed too, so cut me slack?
No?
Gotcha.
Too bad. You'll understand.