Second Task (3)
Second Task (3)
Ha-rin Ju observed the mages casting spells at the ghouls ahead with her fairy-like beauty and shimmering violet eyes.
"I'll grab them!"
A man in a short-sleeved shirt stretched his arms forward, his limbs elongating like rubber. His lengthened arms wrapped around the ghouls, trapping them all. The captured ghouls thrashed wildly, limbs flailing as they struggled to break free.
"My turn next."
A man in a yellow hoodie stepped forward, removing his top. His long green hair, previously hidden, stiffened like needles before shooting toward the ghouls.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
The ghouls struck by the hair-needles slowed, their movements turning sluggish. The hoodie-clad man retreated, replaced by a middle-aged mage.
"Slaughter!!"
Boom—
As he shouted with hands clasped in a seal, small explosions erupted from the ghouls' bodies.
An impressive combo. Yet Ha-rin watched with nothing but disdain.
"Stretching," "Transformation," and "Word Spirit," huh?
Pathetic spells, obvious even at a glance. The Word Spirit magic might have been decent, but with a user like that, it was like hanging a pearl necklace on a pig. Magic only shines when paired with true talent.
That old man's only 4th Class? What a worm.
[Grrrrrl...]
As if proving her point, the ghouls struck by the "Slaughter" command gradually began moving again.
"Dammit...! Ghouls really are... too resistant."
"Let's go again!"
"...Shit."
Ha-rin openly laughed at the middle-aged mage grinding his teeth in frustration.
Watching talentless worms hit their limits never got old. Especially for someone like her, already evaluated as having the potential to reach 8th Class.
Just then, the cold-faced man beside her stroked his chin and spoke.
"Were the ghouls enhanced?"
Even with her Heavenly Eye—a unique ability—she couldn't discern his magic. The only thing clear was that he stood on equal footing with her.
"Those worms are just weak. This level of domain doesn't enhance specific entities."
He intrigued her.
That curiosity, for the first time in her life, made Ha-rin—who had never bothered explaining anything to anyone—offer a patient clarification.
Her gaze no longer lingered on the mediocre mages ahead. She focused solely on Si-woo, eager to see what magic he'd display.
What kind of spell could even her Heavenly Eye fail to perceive?
How extraordinary was his talent to reach a level comparable to hers at such a young age?
Her violet eyes, brimming with excitement, scrutinized his every move. But when he pulled out a talisman from his pocket, her expression twisted into disbelief.
Her radiant eyes read the characters inscribed on the yellow talisman paper.
Ghost Fire Talisman.
A basic talisman—one used to summon faint goblin fires, typically for illumination. But as she witnessed the devastation it wrought upon the ghouls, realization struck.
These enemies aren't even worth using real magic on.
Ghouls weren't weak. Long ago, they were created as combat units by magicians resisting mage oppression—undead husks of rotting flesh designed to counter magic itself. Their absurd resistance to spells was so notorious it spawned the term "Mystic Resistance."
KABOOOM—!
And yet, a single Ghost Fire Talisman obliterated them all. Limbs torn apart by the explosion rained down as the stunned mages turned their awestruck gazes toward Si-woo.
Heh.
As they should. A mage of her caliber deserved nothing less than worship.
Ha-rin basked in the admiration directed at Si-woo, reveling in the spectacle as if it were her own.
This makes no sense.
That was the only thought in Tae-ho Kim's mind as he watched the ghouls engulfed in blue flames.
Blue fire—the hallmark of goblin flames. That should've been a basic Ghost Fire Talisman.
But this power? It defied all logic, far surpassing anything he knew of the spell.
To pull this off... you'd need to be 5th Class. No—higher.
Mages rarely relied on talismans. Spells were stronger, and higher-class mages could cast them more flexibly. So why would a mage capable of this use a talisman instead of magic?
A ludicrous hypothesis flashed through his mind.
No way...
Gulping, Tae-ho tore his gaze from the burning ghouls and turned to the mage who'd thrown the talisman.
The young mage he'd seen waiting earlier. Dressed plainly, he had seemed unremarkable—but now, his sharp eyes locked onto the blue inferno. Tae-ho stared silently.
Then their eyes met.
"!!!!!"
The moment he met Si-woo's icy gaze, Tae-ho's body froze. Those cold, piercing eyes radiated the aura of a high-class mage, belying his unassuming appearance.
"No way..."
Tae-ho muttered unconsciously as he glimpsed the frigid flames quietly burning in those eyes. A seed of doubt sprouted. In that instant, an ancient memory resurfaced.
The Spell Emperor...
Back when he was just starting as a mage, he'd heard of an eccentric who reached 9th Class without casting a single spell. A being who ascended to the pinnacle of sorcery the moment he appeared. Why did this rookie mage remind him of that?
They're similar.
Their appearances were nothing alike. But that cold stare—it mirrored the frigid gaze of the man who'd once looked down on him like he was nothing.
Maybe... his child?
The seed of doubt bloomed into certainty.
Tae-ho was convinced. This rookie and that monster were related by blood.
What did I say earlier?
"I'll kill you if you get in my way."
Ah... I should've been nicer...
Too late for regrets now.
The stares were intense.
Mages with widened pupils gawked at me, while Ha-rin's heavy gaze remained fixed on me. I tilted my head. Was this really that impressive?
I just threw a talisman. Given how many Se-chan Gu dumped on me, they couldn't be that rare. So why weren't the other mages using them instead of their weaker spells?
"You're just showing off, aren't you?" Ha-rin smirked, looking down at the mages with arrogance. "You wanted to prove your talisman was stronger than their pathetic spells, right?"
"Not really."
"Tch, liar. I have talent too—I get it. They look like insects to you, don't they?"
What was she talking about? I gave her a flat stare as she grinned smugly.
She seemed to be trying to bond over some weird shared sentiment. Sorry, but I wasn't following.
"L-Let's proceed," the guide stammered, peeking out from his hiding spot.
Right. Work to do.
Ignoring Ha-rin's nonsense, I followed the guide. But something felt off.
I glanced back at the mages trailing behind me. "...Why am I leading?"
Ha-rin, glued to my side, answered. "The weak always hide behind the strong."
...Was that it?
Recalling the spells they'd used earlier, I silently conceded. My talisman had been stronger.
Well, fine then.
I knew leading was dangerous, but forcing that terrified middle-aged mage to the front would've been stupid.
Fear breeds mistakes. Better to have someone steady take point.
Besides, I wasn't really at the front. The trembling guide ahead of me was in far more danger. Watching his shuddering back was almost pitiful.
And so, with Ha-rin clinging to me and chattering nonstop, I followed the guide.
"Hey, hey. My legs hurt—carry me?"
"No."
"Whhyyy?"
"Grown women shouldn't cling to men like that."
"Ugh. You sound like the old farts back home."
Seemed like common sense to me.
I imagined my little sister being carried by some random guy—hugging his broad back, resting her chin on his shoulder, chatting happily.
Grind teeth.
Just the thought made my jaw clench in irritation.
"Oho? You mad? You are mad, right?"
"Not at all."
"Keke! Liar!"
Sigh. I exhaled quietly and kept walking.
"What? Ignoring me again?"
Just as I prepared a half-hearted reply—
"We're here."
The guide stopped. Ahead lay the forest's edge—where dense trees gave way to an open field.
Beyond it stood a massive castle. A grotesque structure of rotting, tangled wood, radiating an eerie aura that sent chills down the spine.
Huu...
The guide took a deep breath to steady himself before addressing us.
"To reiterate: Our objective is the necromancer's elimination. The target is confirmed to be hiding inside that castle."
"Hmph. They've probably set traps," Ha-rin remarked.
"Correct. We've identified approximately 100 ghouls. However, given the target is a necromancer, please prepare for curses as well."
"Ha! Do you know who I am?"
Ha-rin stroked the worn broom in her hand. "Curses don't work on a Witch."
"...My apologies."
"Tch. Let's finish this quick."
With Ha-rin taking the lead, we advanced toward the castle.
...How did things end up like this?
"...Where did everyone go?"
Standing alone in the middle of a vast corridor, I surveyed my surroundings.
The only things in sight were the scattered, blue-burning remains of knight armor.
No people.
"..."
I fell silent as realization dawned.
I'd been left behind. Alone. In this dangerous place.